Orphan

[GuyYouMetOnline]

Okay, so here we go. This is the first fanfic I've posted here, although it's not the first I've written (the others, as well as this one, are posted on fanfiction.net). First of all, let's go with a quick summary (the same one I used on fanfiction.net):

Orphan, a young woman with no memory, makes her way to Gensokyo in search of her lost past. But Gensokyo is experiencing events the likes of which it has never before seen, and Orphan soon finds herself caught up in something she did not expect.

There. Now, a few notes. First of all, the story up through chapter three is already written and up on fanfiction.net, with chapter four nearing completion. I'm not going to post all three existing chapters here simultaniously, but they should all be posted here by Friday at the latest.

Now for a couple notes on the story itself. First, I've never liked the idea of Gensokyo being seperated from the outside world in the 19th century, so as far as this story is concerned, the seperation happened at least hundreds of years ago (I don't have a specific number in mind, although I'll come up with one if needed). And second, I've also never liked the idea of Reimu being the one to create the spellcard system, so in this story, it too has been in place for quite some time, although not as long ago as Gensokyo's seperation.

Right, notes done. Story time.

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Chapter 1
Search

Many women would be nervous about approaching an unknown man, especially in the middle of the woods with nobody else around. I was not. If he had harmful intentions, he would find that targeting me was a mistake. But the middle-aged man I was approaching did not, I belived, have harmful intentions.

"Good day to you," the man said as we met on the trail, him on the way out and myself on the way in. "Visiting the shrine, I take it."

"I am. I assume you've done the same thing."

"I have," he said. "I like to come here every couple of weeks or so. It's? relaxing, being out here. Away from the big cities."

"Understandable," I said. "I've never been comfortable in the cities, myself."

"Many people feel that way. But there's more to it for me, I think. The mikos? well, I've always felt like they still have something most people have lost. A? connection with the world around them, perhaps. A lot of them haven't 'modernized' to nearly the same extent as much of the world. And they still live among nature. And they also have a certain? spirituality, I think. A sense of the greatness of the universe unimpeded by the 'faith' that causes so much trouble."

"I think the world could use more faith, actually."

The man laughed. "We've got too much faith as it is. Religion is the greatest cause of human violence. It's been that way all throughout history."

"That is not what I mean by faith," I said. "I am not talking about belief in some almighty god-an idea that's always seemed ridiculous to me, anyways. I've always favored a so-called 'polytheistic' view myself. But even then, I am not talking about believing in gods. I'm talking about confidence, about trust. To have faith in someone is to trust them completely. But more important is having faith in yourself."

"I don't know if I'd call that 'faith', but whatever you call it, you may be right. Although confidence can be? problematic."

"Not proper confidence. Overconfidence, absolute self-assurance, those can be bad, but true, actual confidence is not."

"I suppose not," the man said. "Well, I won't keep you any longer. It was nice meeting you." He started away, then turned back to me. "I never got your name, did I? I'm Junpei Usami. May I have your name?"

"Call me Orphan."

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I awoke in the middle of the woods. My clothing was ripped and torn in many places, my body was beaten, and I was in pain. But most important is the fact that when I awoke, I had no memory.

That was five years ago, and it remains the oldest memory I have. I've had no memory loss since then, but everything before is a total blank. I don't know who I am. I don't know where I lived. I don't know how I've lived. I don't know my name. Finding myself a girl with no past, I took the name Orphan.

On that day five years ago, I was found by a group of campers. They offered to let me come with them, but I declined. The pain had faded by then, and what true injuries I'd had were healing rapidly, healing at a rate that I now know is much faster than normal-although I am hardly 'normal'. Anyways, I thanked them for their offer, but I declined it and left on my own. I had no need for the trappings of 'civilization'; what little I need, I get from the land.

I actually ran into one of those campers a few days ago. He did indeed recognize me, and told me I'd become a 'fine-looking young woman'-which, even if it's true, does not concern me. Anyways, I wasn't surprised that the man recognized me even though we'd only met that one time. By now, I've gotten used to people remembering me. Even people who only caught sight of me for an instant tend to recognize me. I think it's the hat.

I was wearing the hat when I woke up in the woods five years ago; it was the only thing I was wearing that wasn't damaged in some way. Whenever I think about it, I get the sense that it's? important to me, that it means something to me. I think it was a gift, something I was given by someone I was close to. Some part of me remembers that it's important to me. And the hat is not the only thing from which I've felt vague remnants of memories. I have a similar, though different, feeling in regards to the power I have.

I am the only one who knows of my power. The campers saw minor examples of it, and did not recognize that I was actually doing anything. But from that, I realized that such abilities are not 'normal'. And experiences since then only served to confirm this. There may be others in the world with such powers, but if so, they keep their powers as secret as I keep mine.

Living in the wilderness, I had very little worry of people stumbling upon me-and if they did, I could feel them coming, feel them walking upon the land. Even if someone did come, I would know they were coming. Such solitude didn't really bother me; besides, it did have its advantages. I was able to use my power without worry that someone would see me doing so. I would know someone was coming well before they could get close enough to witness it.

I felt that exploring my power, mastering it, might give me some clue as to who I am. So I did so. And although such powers are unknown to 'normal' humans, there was something in human society that aided me in doing so. The practice of what is known as 'martial arts' is well-known throughout the world, but it is commonly misunderstood. Popular culture often portrays it as merely methods of unarmed combat, but there is much, much more to it than that-although I won't deny that the combat techniques are useful to know, but I'll get into that later. Anyways, what drew my attention to the martial arts was the emphasis on self-discipline.

I don't know if I can explain this is a manner that 'normal' humans can understand; what I did in pursuit of the mastery of my power, and in fact much related to my power, is completely outside of 'normal' human understanding. It did, I can say, involve going deep within myself, although what I mean by that is undoubtedly lost on 'normal' humans. Anyways, that is where the self-discipline comes in. I could not have succeeded without it.

Although I was able to develop and master my abilities, it became clear as I progressed that doing so was not likely to aid me in figuring out who I am. I did not let this stop me from achieving mastery of my power, but as I went along, I became increasingly certain that although I did have power before, the power I had then is different from the power I have now. I don't know why such a thing would be true-although I would assume it's related to whatever happened to me- but I am certain of it.

At this point, you are most likely wondering what power I have. I don't know what power I had before, but as for the power I have now, well, I am? attuned to the energies of the world, of the land and the sea. To what many 'normal' humans would call 'energies of nature', although the level of inaccuracy of that description is high. Anyways, I am able to harness and control these energies. Popular culture might call my abilities 'earth-based' or 'nature-based', but again, although such terms have basic levels of accuracy, they are by no means true descriptions. But I do not know how to describe it any better, and what I've said should give you a sufficient idea of my abilities. I am also capable of flight, which doesn't seem to fit with the other abilities, but it also does not give me the sense of difference the rest of my power does, so it may be an ability carried over from my forgotten past.. Anyways, that describes my power as well as I think I can do so, so let's move on.

I said earlier that I would get back to the martial arts training. In many countries, most, if not all, martial arts are lumped together under the name 'karate'. However, the school I studied in, Robukai, actually is a school of karate. I don't know about other schools, but the instruction I received in the Robukai school included both unarmed and armed training. The weapon I trained with is called a bo, which is essentially just a simple pole; we used wooden ones in training, but the one I have for myself is different. It may not even be correct to say I have it, for it is with me only when I need it; I form it from the energies of the earth.

What I learned as a student of Robukai taught me how to fight in the manner of normal humans, but as you already know, I am not 'normal'. The techniques are still effective, I think; they are simply meant for normal human limits, which I do not share. I am faster, stronger, quicker to react, more flexible, and more resilient than normal humans. Thus, I have expanded on my instruction on my own time, adapting what I learned to my own limits. Being able to fight in that manner, both under human limits and my actual limits, is a useful skill, but the training, as mentioned before, was also about discipline.

Anyways, mastering my powers failed to provide any clues as to who I am, but I was not without another direction to go in. The world felt? wrong to me. Powers of any kind seemed completely absent from the world, that and everything else termed 'magical' relegated to fiction. This was something that always gave me a sense of? well, as though something was wrong, as though the world I used to know was different, was? separate. As though the things humans said didn't exist simply didn't exist in the world they knew, but in? well, another world. So I began examining the myths, the legends. I am currently traveling the country, seeking out places that seem to have connections with legends of other worlds. The shrine that is my current destination is one of them. I do not know what significance it may have, but upon speaking with the miko there, I hope to learn more.

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I sang to myself as I approached the shrine.

"Why do we,
Seek to live,
What is it makes life worth living?

Those who live,
Satisfied,
What makes them want to keep living?

What have they,
Found in life?
What is it gives their life meaning?
What have they found within their lives?

Those who live,
Satisfied,
Have found a spark in their lives.
If one mas-
-ters the spark,
One has a life worth living.

Love is the spark in our lives.
Love is the spark of our hearts.
One who can master the spark will have a life worth living.
Love is the spark in our minds.
Love is the spark of our souls.
One who can master the spark will have a life worth living.
Love is the ma~aster's spark.


The song is something that just? came to me one day. It gives me a sense of familiarity; it's likely another fragment of my lost memory. It's actually one of several such songs. There is more to this song, but I trailed off as I arrived at my destination.

The shrine was fairly unremarkable; it was little different from other shrines I'd seen. It was well-maintained, though, and in good shape despite its apparent age. It did, however, seem in some way familiar, although also... wrong, I guess. The woman who emerged to greet me looked about in her twenties, and I could tell by looking at her that she kept herself in just as good a shape as her shrine. There was nothing familiar about her, though.

The miko bowed as I came to a stop in front of her. "Another visitor," she said. "Welcome. I am Yua Hakurei, and this is the Hakurei Shrine."

I don't know where the thought came from, but I blurted it out without thinking. "Not the real one."

"Excuse me?"

"I-I'm sorry," I said. "I don't- I apologize. I don't know where that came from. I saw the shrine and heard its name, and the thought just? came to me."

She was still upset, I could tell, but she forced it back. Mostly, at least. "Just who are you?"

"I am Orphan," I said. "I apologize for upsetting you, but? well, I have come here for a reason, and that sudden thought may indicate that I'm on the right track."

"Please explain, then."

I nodded. "I have lost my memory. I am searching for the past I have forgotten, and my search has led me here. I think this place has some relevance."

Yua was calming down visibly. "I see. Well, I'm not sure what relevance my shrine could have. Unless? you said this shrine wasn't 'the real one'."

"Please don't hold that against me. I-"

"That is far from the worst thing that has been said to me. Do not worry. It did upset me to hear that, but I am not truly offended by it. In fact, it may be something of a clue."

"What do you mean?"

"There is a legend," she said.

"Legends interest me," I said. "Please, tell me more about this legend."

"Certainly. It is a story of a land of magic existing in ages past. The exact stories vary, of course, but they have in common the idea of this land of magic becoming separated from the rest of the world, the reasons for which of course vary greatly between versions of the story. But this land is always separated from the world. It is said that the one remaining point of connection between our world and the land of magic is a shrine. Specifically, this shrine. The Hakurei Shrine.

"The legend says that the Hakurei Shrine was used in the formation of the border separating the land of magic from our world. It is said to anchor the border on both sides. Most versions of the story have the original shrine remaining in the land of magic, the shrine in this world merely a copy."

"I see." What she said fit perfectly with my own conclusions. I had found other stories of a separate land of magic, and had thought that perhaps such a land might truly exist. The idea did? feel correct to me. Perhaps some of those legends were more true than people thought. And this one provided me with a potential point of access.

"It is just a legend," Yua said. "It's not true. I wonder, though, if your thought that this shrine is not the real one came from that legend."

"Maybe," I said. "I would assume, however, that there are people who believe the legend is true."

"Of course there are. Every story, every legend, every figure of myth has those who think it real. It doesn't matter what it is; there will always be people who believe. In fact, the man who was just here, Junpei-you may have met him on the road-was telling me about this village where a friend of his lives. It seems the people there tell of a? frog-lady, or snake-lady, or something like that. She's said to be a god, and apparently, the people there believe in her almost universally. And I understand there are a few other villages with similar belief in her. Even today, there are people who believe such things."

"I know," I said. "I'm one of them."

"Oh! I-I'm sorry."

"Think nothing of it," I said. "Consider us even in potentially offensive statements."

She laughed. "I guess you're right. Anyways, is your business here concluded, then?"

Unbeknownst to her, I had been? feeling out the area, examining it with my sense of the magical. And there was substantial energy of some kind centered at the shrine. So I did still have business here. If this shrine was the point of connection, if the energy I felt was the barrier, then it was possible that I could cross it, cross to this other world. A world that, I somehow knew, held the answers I sought. But my business with Yua was concluded, and I didn't want witnesses to any attempt to cross the border anyways. "It is," I said, dropping a few coins in the donation box. "Thank you for your time, but I'll be going now."

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Cirno was the strongest, and she knew it. Just because most people didn't accept it didn't mean it wasn't true. Sure, she'd been beaten before, even killed-although as a fairy, that meant very little. But that didn't mean she wasn't the strongest. Even the strongest could lose. But this? this was different.

The thing crashed into her, sending her sailing into the ground. She picked herself up and formed a spear of ice, tossing it at the enemy. It pierced into the thing's arm, but the creature simply pulled it out and tossed it aside, seemingly ignoring the wound remaining in its arm. And the other such wounds it had sustained.

Cirno's next spear hit it right in the chest. But even then, there seemed to be no effect, and the thing just pulled it out. And then Cirno sent another spear into the exact same place, penetrating deeper. Which seemed to work, as the beast howled in pain. "Not so tough now, are you?" Cirno said.

The beast didn't remove the spear as it had the others. It left it in as it charged at Cirno. Cirno sent more spears at it, but none had any effect, and the thing left them in, denying Cirno the opportunity for another shot that might penetrate deep enough to harm it. Cirno aimed for the eyes next, but as it had earlier in the fight, the beast held its arm up in front of its face, taking the spears.

As the beast drew closer, Cirno tried freezing it completely, but she'd already tried that, too, and as before, the creature simply broke free of the ice. Cirno froze it again. She sent spears toward its eyes as it broke free, hoping that it would be too distracted to block them in time. And it was.

The creature screamed in pain, but it didn't stop moving. What the hell is up with this thing? Cirno thought. It's not even flailing around blindly! Does it even need its eyes? What the hell is this thing?

Cirno attempted to block the thing's path with a wall of ice, but it simply crashed right through. And then Cirno was out of time. The beast picked her up and slammed her into the ground. And slammed her into the ground again. And again. And again.

As her senses faded, Cirno felt herself let go, and felt herself hit the ground. She heard the monster screaming, and saw it aflame. And then there was nothing.

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Alice didn't get many visitors. This was in large part because she lived in the Forest of Magic. Aside from herself and a few other magicians, the only inhabitants of the forest were numerous lesser youkai, and Alice had no interest in them, nor them in her. About the only person who normally came by was Marisa. But today was different. Today, Alice was expecting a different visitor.

Alice entered the front hall upon hearing the 'doll door' she'd installed swing shut. It was, of course, the doll she'd had keeping watch-London Theta, currently. "Your guest is approaching," the doll reported.

"Good," Alice said. "Return to your post."

As London Theta went back outside, Alice made her way into her 'workshop'; it was really just another room of her house, but it was the room in which she did her work. Right now, she had eight dolls lying in a circle, spaced apart enough that full-sized people could have fit without difficulty.

Alice had many dolls, but these were special. They'd always been; they were the first of each 'line'. Starting with the northernmost doll and proceeding clockwise, they were: London, the scout, fast and with good sensory capabilities; Holland, the shield, designed for durability; Copenhagen, the physical combat model; Hourai, the magical combat model; Moscow, the stealth model, designed primarily to avoid detection; Nogales, the 'worker' model and the one Alice had the most dolls of; and Guadalupe, the 'house worker' model. The eighth, Shanghai, the all-purpose model, was even more special. There was only one Shanghai, and for a long time, Alice had been attempting to make her alive. So far, her efforts had all met with failure, but she was about to try something new. Something that should have a very good chance of working not just on Shanghai, but on the seven 'originals' as well. She just had to secure the cooperation of one person. And that person's arrival was imminent.

Alice returned to the front door and stepped outside. She waited on the front step as her guest approached. The guest reminded Alice in many ways of her dolls, but this was to be expected, as the guest was herself a doll. Medicine Melancholy, the 'Little Sweet Poison', as she was called, accompanied as always by a doll floating alongside her. Thrown away onto the Nameless Hill, she had eventually become a youkai. She was a doll that had come to life. She was human-sized, although very much on the small side for a human (her companion doll, on the other hand, was a smaller size, more ordinary for a doll). It would, however, have made her a very large doll. Many though that she simply had been a large doll, perhaps used by a ventriloquist (although she'd have been unusually large even for that), or maybe a model for children's clothing or something, which would also account for her childish appearance. But others, Alice among them, believed something else.

"Thank you for coming," Alice said.

Medicine's tone was hostile. "You said you wanted my help. Why should I give it to you?"

Medicine's attitude was to be expected, as she wanted the emancipation of dolls, and the fact that she was the only known doll with a will didn't seem to mean anything to her. Naturally, she considered the doll-controlling Alice an enemy. But Alice was not going to let that get in the way this time. And she had something to offer that she expected to secure Medicine's cooperation.

"You have a goal," Alice said. "You wish for the freedom of dolls. The problem is that dolls do not think, yourself being the only known exception. Even my dolls are mere automatons. They may seem alive, but this is only an illusion; they can act without specific direction, but that can only do so according to my instructions. It is literally impossible for them, or any other doll besides yourself, to be 'free'."

"Yeah, yeah, yeah, I've heard all that before. Is this going to be anything but a waste of my time?"

"If you wish for dolls to be free, they must first be alive as you are. I have long been trying to make a doll that is truly alive, and I believe you can help. And dolls that are alive can be free."

"Okay," Medicine said, "what are you saying?"

"I'm saying that with your help, I believe I can make dolls that are truly alive."

"And what do I get out of this?"

"Dolls that are alive are dolls that can become free. Aiding me in reaching my goal will bring you one step closer to yours."

A mature individual might have wanted a promise of something specific, but Medicine's appearance wasn't the only thing childish about her, and telling her it would help her get what she wanted was enough. "What help do you want?"

"Come in, and I will explain."

Alice led Medicine into her workshop. "Observe these eight dolls," Alice said, indicating the dolls on the floor. "I have many dolls, but these eight are special. These dolls are the first I made of their respective types, except for this one; I have made no others of her type. But they are special in another way as well. Are you familiar with the so-called 'Subterranean Animism' incident? Geysers, hot springs, evil spirits, and all that?"

"Not really. All I know is that something happened underground but the shrine maiden and the witch stopped it."

"That's good enough. The miko Reimu and the witch Marisa did not go underground without aid. Yukari enchanted four of Reimu's yin-yang orbs in a manner that allowed her to channel some of her power through them. Marisa had similar aid from me. I had Yukari enchant eight of my dolls such that I could channel my power through them, and I sent them with Marisa. I sent one of each type, as I did not know what capabilities she might require. These eight dolls here are the ones Yukari enchanted."

"So, what, you have greater control over them?"

"I can already take complete control of any of my dolls," Alice said. "What Yukari did only allowed me to send my power through them."

"Why do I need to know this?"

"I have a question for you, Medicine. A question about that little doll that follows you around, that you are never seen separately from. Is that doll you? Is that doll what you were before becoming a youkai?"

"Um? yes."

"Just like the umbrella girl," Alice said. "As I thought. In becoming a youkai, you grew a new body. Excellent."

"Is that all you needed me for? Just that question?"

"Actually," Alice said, "what I need you to do is lie down next to your old self in the middle of my dolls. You will notice that I have prepared magic runes there. Those runes will allow me to take an? 'image', let's call it, of your energy. If I then channel that image through these eight dolls in the manner Yukari's enchantment makes possible, I believe that it will replicate your own coming to life in each of them."

Medicine had to think about that for a moment. "So? if I lie on those runes, you can make these dolls come alive?"

"It is not certain," Alice said, "but I believe so, yes."

Medicine thought for a moment. "And it won't hurt me?"

"You'll probably feel strange for an instant, but that's all. There will be no other effect on you. That much I am certain of."

One more pause for thought. "Then I'll do it," Medicine said.

"Good," Alice said. "Thank you." And it was good. If this worked, she would have brought not only Shanghai to life, but the other seven, too. And one thing she hadn't told Medicine was that in addition to channeling the image into the dolls, she planned to impress it into a spellcard, allowing her to reproduce it as desired.

Alice was closer to her goal than she'd ever been, and not a moment too soon. Alice needed more than automatons. She needed to make dolls that were alive, and more of them than just Shanghai. She had something she needed to do, something she couldn't tell anyone else-not now-but something she couldn't do alone. Her dolls could give her the help she needed, but only if they were alive. So she had to make them alive, because what she needed to do was too important to fail.

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Awareness returned.

Cirno was on the ground. She tried to stand up, but she was unsteady and fell. Or would have, had someone not been there to catch her. Her vision was still blurry, but as she looked up at the one who'd caught her, her vision cleared enough for her to recognize the person. "Rumia."

"What happened?" Rumia asked, her concern for her friend clear in her voice.

Cirno's voice was still unsteady. "I was? attacked. Wh-why are you?

"I heard screams," Rumia said. "I got here as quickly as I could. Um, I saw a? thing running away. It was on fire. There were ice spears-melting-sticking out all over it. Was that the thing that attacked you?"

"Y-yes. I-I-I couldn't? hurt it. I only got? deep enough? once. It? killed me. R-Rumia. Did? did you see any? anyone else?"

"Anyone else? No, I didn't."

"Someone else? attacked it. Lit it on fire. I didn't? see who it was."

"Someone else? Trying to help you?"

Cirno had recovered enough to stand, so Rumia put her down. "I don't know," she said. "I was dying. I couldn't? see much, or hear much, or anything. But? what was that thing?"

"I don't know," Rumia said. "I don't have any idea. I only got a brief look at it, but? I've never seen anything like it."

"Then we have to find out. It might come back. Or it might attack you. Or one of the others. But I couldn't? I couldn't hurt it. What am I supposed to do if it does?"

"I don't know," Rumia said. "But? well, ice didn't work, but fire did, right? Let's get the others and stick together. Maybe one of us has something that can hurt it, too."

People called Rumia childish, but Cirno knew her well, and there was a smart little girl in there. "Okay," Cirno said. "Let's go."

"I'll do it. You still need to recover."

"I'm fine," Cirno said. In demonstration, she tried to leap into the air, but instead stumbled and fell flat on her face. "Ow."

"I'll get them, Cirno. I'll bring them here."

Cirno picked herself up. "No. I'm going too." She again tried to fly, and again fell.

Rumia picked her up. "Fine. I'll carry you, then."

"Th-thanks, Rumia."

"No problem."

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I walked down the path a ways, then doubled back and returned to the shrine. I veered off into the woods and approached silently and unseen. I stopped short of the shrine itself, still in the woods; I should be able to do what I needed to from that position, and I was less likely to be seen.

I reached out with my power, making contact with the concentration of energy anchored at the shrine. It did seem to act as some sort of barrier, but there didn't seem to be anything it was enclosing. Which told me that Yua's legend was correct, that the 'land of magic' had been separated. It seemed as though it was no longer physically a part of this world, although it still had a connection. That connection, then, would have to be what the barrier was protecting.

I felt along the border, following it back to myself. I pushed against it with my power, and as I'd hoped, there was a visible distortion. It was a ways above me, but that, of course, was no problem. Focusing my power in front of me, I leapt into the air, straight towards the distortion. I collided with it.

I focused my power and pushed against the barrier with everything I had. The barrier was strong, and I couldn't break through, but I was, it seemed, causing some kind of disruption to it. It seemed to be distorting somehow, centered, of course, at the spot I was focusing my power on. So I pushed harder, and at the same time, moved in physically. The barrier fought me every instant of the way, but I was able to slowly push myself through it.

Once through to the other world, the force against me did not cease. I had, I was certain, made it to the other world, but I was not out of the barrier, as it of course existed on this side as well. So I continued through it, pushing with all my power.

By the time I made it through, I was completely exhausted. I fell to the ground and collapsed, fighting to stay conscious. And then I was able to make out someone-an adolescent male, it looked like-running towards me.

"Are you okay?" he said as he knelt down next to me.

I was so exhausted that I could barely speak. "Did? did I? make it? Am I? on? the other side?"

"The other side? Wait, you're from outside?"

There was my answer. "So I? did? make it." And then, unable to keep myself conscious any longer, I passed out.

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Right, so there we go. I will confirm right now that Orphan is in fact a canon character, and guesses as to her identity are encouraged. Can you figure it out before she does? Feel free to post your theories and reasoning, and feel free to discuss it or whatever you want; wondering who she is is part of the point.

Well, that's it for now. Tell me what you think.

[GuyYouMetOnline]

Chapter 2

The Separate World

I awoke inside? well, I did not know, but my guess was someone?s home. I had been placed on what was presumably a spare mattress, and was in what looked like the main room of the place. The boy I?d seen before was there, and he turned towards me as I sat up. ?Ah, you?re awake. Good morning. Well, late morning, anyways. How are you feeling??

?Fine,? I said, and I was. And I wasn?t nearly as exhausted as I expected. I knew I wouldn?t be physically tired, but I had needed to use my power to an extent I never had before, so I thought it would have to be quite some time before I?d truly recovered. But it seemed that I actually had fully recovered. ?How long was I out?? I asked.

?You passed out yesterday afternoon. I couldn?t move you on my own, so I got a friend to carry you here.?

A day. Just one day, and my power was already fully recovered. I focused, sensing the world around me. And what I felt was another confirmation that I was in a different world. ?The magic is strong here. Much stronger than in the world I came from.?

?You can sense it? Then? do you have power of your own?? I nodded. ?Well, no wonder you ended up here. How?d it happen??

?I was fairly brute-force about it,? I admitted. ?I made my way to the Hakurei Shrine, the barrier?s anchor, and simply forced my way through the barrier.?

?Forced your-wait, what?!? He leapt to his feet in what seemed to be shock. ?You broke the barrier? You broke the barrier??

?Calm down. I did not break the barrier.?

He did calm down somewhat, but not completely. ?But you said you forced your way through.?

?I did, but I did not damage it.?

?There?s no way you could have pulled that off.? He dashed over to a shelf and picked up a strange-looking device. ?Still says nothing,? he said to himself. ?Is the damn thing broken?? He returned it to the shelf and picked up another device. ?This one says no problems, too. What the hell is up with these things??

?Perhaps it means I?m telling the truth,? I said.

He put the device down and turned to face me. ?There?s no way you could have done that. Wait, unless? what power do you have??

I decided that a simple, concise reply was best. ?I have powers of nature.?

?Then you can?t have influenced the barrier. And if that?s the power you have, then even breaking it would require a high level of power.?

?I assume those devices of yours monitor the barrier, correct??

?Yes,? he said. ?I have no power of my own. Most with power can sense it at least when near here, since this is its anchor, although weaker ones have to pretty much be right next to the place, but those of us without power cannot sense it even here at the anchor. So I have to use these, but they?re not working. They can?t be if they say you didn?t break the barrier.?

So that?s where I am, then. This world?s Hakurei Shrine. ?They are, though. I did not break the barrier, and although it?s possible I did so without knowing it, I can sense the barrier, and it is whole.?

?But you?d say that even if it wasn?t. And there?s no telling when Reimu?ll be back, so I need someone-? He paused, then slapped himself in the face. ?Well, now I feel stupid. I?ll just ask her when she gets here.?

Based on what he?d said, I assume that ?she? was not this ?Reimu? he?d mentioned. ?Who is she??

?The friend I mentioned, the one who carried you here. Her name?s Suika. She?ll probably be here soon. Um, when you see her??

?Yes??

?Well,? he said, ?she?s not human, and you?ll be able to tell as soon as you see her. Try not to be scared or anything.?

I laughed. ?I?ve spent the last five years being the ?different? one and hiding it. I?m not going to be scared just because someone has a more visible difference.?

?That?s good,? he said. ?Anyways, she does have power, and I know I can trust her. Um, no offense.?

?You don?t know me at all. None taken. I assume you?ll want me to wait here until she arrives??

?Yeah. I?ll introduce her to you-wait, I haven?t introduced myself, have I? My name?s Nol.?

?I am Orphan.?

----------------------------------------------

?Okay, Medicine,? Alice said, ?you may feel like something is being taken from you. I am not taking anything away from you, just making a copy of it, but since what I?m copying is your image, it may feel like I am. I assure you that you will lose nothing, so please do not fight it.?

?O-okay,? Medicine said.

There had been additional preparations that Medicine?s cooperation had been required to make. As a result, the actual procedure had had to wait until today, and in that time, it appeared, Medicine had begun to have second thoughts. But her childishness was again working in Alice?s favor; like many children, she hated being treated like a child, and Alice had said that the keeping of one?s word was one mark of an adult. So now Medicine was determined to see this through simply out of a child?s determination to prove that she was not a child.

Medicine was in her proper position in the middle of the circle of dolls. ?The magic runes underneath you,? Alice said, ?are now synchronized to your unique energy, as I explained yesterday that we were doing. At this point, all you need to do is remain still. The rest is my job. Understand??

?Yes.?

?Then I shall begin.?

-----------------------------------------

??who told me a legend of another world,? I said, explaining to Nol about myself and my reason for coming to this world. ?She told me that the barrier was supposedly anchored at the shrine, and I did indeed sense its presence. I left, snuck back, and attempted to cross the border. It took more power than I?d ever used before to push my way through, but I did, obviously, succeed.?

?I see,? Nol said. ?Well, um? um, I?m sorry, Orphan. I still find it hard to believe that you did that without damaging the barrier. People do sometimes come here from the outside world, but? well, doing it the way you did isn?t supposed to be possible. And you weren?t even injured, just drained.?

?All I can say is that I did in fact do it.?

?Well, it?s just hard to-?

?Well, hi there!?

I turned to face the speaker. The young-looking girl had apparently just walked right in, and as Nol had said, she was clearly not human. The horns on her head made this obvious. She was wearing a tattered-looking blouse and a purple skirt. She also had chains on her arms, and attached to one of the chains was what appeared to be a gourd. ?You must be Suika.?

?Yep,? the girl said. ?Suika Ibuki. What?s your name??

?I am Orphan.?

??Orphan?? Weird name.?

?It is appropriate,? I said. ?I lost my memory. I do not know my name, so I took one that I thought was fitting.?

?Ah.?

?Suika,? Nol said, ?can you feel the barrier for me? Orphan says she forced her way through, and there?s no way she could have done that without damaging it, but the sensors say nothing?s wrong with it.?

?They?re right,? Suika said. ?It?s fine. You must be pretty strong, Orphan.?

?She?s right about that, Orphan? Nol said. ?You actually pushed your way through the barrier without damaging yourself or it. It must?ve taken a miracle to pull that off.?

?No miracle,? I said. ?Only my own power.?

?Whatever. Anyways, Suika, I?m glad you?re here. Ready for work??

?Oh, is there a problem you need me to handle??

Nol nodded. ?I?ve been seeing fairies around here all this morning. I think they?re up to some sort of mischief. Could you, um, ?persuade? them to take their mischief elsewhere??

?Fairies? Aw, man, that?s no fun. I want a challenge. Hey, you?re strong, right, Orphan? How about it??

This girl was confusing me. ?Um, are you saying you want to fight me??

?What else would I be-oh, wait, from outside. Right. Yes, I?m challenging you to a fight.?

?She doesn?t know anything about Gensokyo,? Nol said. ?She can?t do danmaku until she works out some patterns and spellcards. You?ll have to wait on-?

Something could be heard from outside. ?Sound like someone?s already fighting,? Nol said. He ran for the door. ?Come on, Suika, let?s take a look.?

------------------------------------------

Hi there! Name?s Suika. Suika Ibuki, and I?m an oni.

When I first left the underground and came to Gensokyo, a lot of people didn?t believe me when I told them I?m an oni. It wasn?t a big deal, though; I just beat the crap out of everyone until they accepted it. Except Reimu; I couldn?t beat her. But I?m not alone there. She just doesn?t lose, even against people like me who?re stronger than her. And I am, and by a lot, too. But she still beat me, and she didn?t even cheat like humans did back before we oni moved underground. She?s got skill, but that?s not all of it. She?s the Hakurei Shrine?s miko, and the Hakurei Shrine is the anchor for the existence of the Hakurei Barrier, and from that, Gensokyo. She draws a lot from the shrine. Not in terms of raw power-she?s often outclassed there-but her connection to the shrine and the barrier lets her do all kinds of stuff. I just couldn?t keep up with everything she threw at me.

Anyways, I?m pretty much the strongest youkai in Gensokyo, or at least I haven?t found anyone yet who?s stronger. I was the strongest back underground, too. I could beat the crap out of anyone, and they knew it. Although that made it tough to get my hands on the gourd.

My gourd?s special. It never runs out of sake. I?m not the only oni who?s had it; it?s quite the treasure for us. A lot of different oni have had it. I got it by winning it in a contest from Eenoe, its last owner. And it wasn?t easy. Oh, the fight wasn?t too tough, even though he was pretty strong-I am the strongest oni-but getting him to fight took some doing. He knew I wanted it, and he knew that if he accepted a challenge, he?d lose-he was generally quite confident in himself and fond of contests, but he knew I was way ahead of him, and he did not want to lose the gourd to me. And everyone knows there?s no shame in simply saying ?no, I?d rather not? to a challenge, so he?d just decline any challenge I made. So I had to find a way to get him to challenge me.

I did it with the help of a satori girl named Mekemi. Satori are usually hated and feared because of their power to read minds, but Mekemi had closed her third eye, sealing her mind-reading power away. She wasn?t the first satori to do so, and she wasn?t the last, either. Anyways, I met her one day, and we became friends. And when I came up with a plan to get Eenoe to challenge me, she agreed to help me.

Mekemi is a member of the Komeiji family, the rulers of the underground. Not directly, though; she was like a sister of a cousin or a niece of a wife or something like that-I can never keep track of those big extended families. Not close enough to merit special treatment as a noble, but close enough that when she said she was representing them in something, people believed her. So I had her talk to Eenoe about the gourd, saying that the Komeiji family was interested in it. ?We go through a lot of sake,? she?d said, ?and not just because of all the gatherings we host. We?ve got a lot of people living in the palace; satori generally don?t drink much, but when you?ve got as many people as we do, you go through it fast anyways. I think your gourd would help us out with that.?

Eenoe, as I?d expected, refused to give it up. Mekemi pressed the issue, and Eenoe eventually said that she could challenge him for it. ?B-b-b-but I can?t fight,? Mekemi said.

?Then someone else can make the challenge in your place.?

?N-n-no,? Mekemi said. ?I don?t want to start a fight.?

?Then don?t ask someone to fight for you. I?ll do it.? He raised his voice to be heard over the general noise of the popular bar. ?Hey! Anyone wanna challenge me for the gourd? This girl wants someone to get it for her! Anyone willing to fight me for it??

I was waiting outside the bar, and when he said that, I walked in. ?I?ll take that challenge.?

He turned around at the sound of my voice, and when he saw it was me, well, the look on his face had me on the floor laughing. He?d fallen for it big time, making a general challenge and not knowing I was there. But he couldn?t back out; he?d made the challenge, and I?d accepted it, so backing out then would be forfeiting, and I?d get the gourd anyways. So we fought, and I won, and then, of course, he tried to say that I had to give it to Mekemi, but I?d expected that, and Mekemi knew the plan. ?Hey, I just said it?d help us out. I never actually asked you for it. You?re the one who wanted a fight so badly.?

This, of course, just pissed him off. ?Oh, you treacherous little BITCH!? He took a swing at Mekemi, but then I was there. I grabbed his arm and threw him right out the door. ?Hey, let?s not be a sore loser, here.?

Eeneo glared at me from outside the bar. ?This was your plan, wasn?t it? You?re the real treacherous bitch. With a trick like that, you?re as bad as a human.?

?Nah. It was just to get you to fight. I won fair and square.?

?That?s a load of shit, and you know it!? he shouted as he stormed off. ?Don?t think this is over, bitch!?

That was indeed not the last I saw of him. He?s challenged me several times since then, but I?ve always won, even after he started resorting to human-style trickery. And he?s not the only one to challenge me for the gourd, just the only one to use underhanded tactics against me. Everyone else fought fairly. And some of them even came pretty close to winning; Yuugi-one of the so-called ?Devas of the Mountain?, just like me-in particular put up quite a good fight. But I beat even her, and I?m glad for it, because I don?t want to lose the gourd. I haven?t been sober since I got it, and I don?t want that to change.

I never liked being sober; that?s why I wanted the gourd so badly. Now I never have to worry about running out of sake, so I?ll never have to be sober. And I don?t have to worry about my health like humans do, so I can just be drunk all the time without worry. And it?s just so much more fun living life drunk.

Anyways, I eventually left the underground; Gensokyo?s just so much more interesting. I didn?t like being the only oni around, though, so I tried to draw others back up to the surface. That?s when I first met a lot of the people of Gensokyo and beat the crap out of them, as I said earlier. My plan didn?t work, though; Reimu beat me and put a stop to it. But then later other things happened, and now oni are coming up anyways,-though I?m currently the only one who lives up here-so it?s all good.

There?s a nice spot up in Bhava-Agra I got after beating the crap out of a celestial, and I lived up there for a while, but these days, I?m usually at the Hakurei Shrine. All sorts of people come by that place; all the parties up in heaven are nice, but aside from that, the shrine?s a much more interesting place. And I can go to the parties anyways. And Reimu?s always glad to have help around the shrine, so she never has a problem with me staying there. Even now that she?s got Nol as an assistant, there?s still plenty to do. Besides, she?s lazy, so she usually just gives Nol a lot of the work she?d be doing.

So yeah, life?s good. Although things have been getting strange lately. There hasn?t been much oddness at the shrine or up in heaven, so I haven?t run into anything yet myself, but I can tell something?s happening. I?m not worried, though. Crazy things happen all the time in Gensokyo, and no matter what happens, Reimu and her friend Marisa are always there to deal with it. Although I think whatever?s happening now has gone on for a lot longer than usual. And although she won?t say anything, I think Reimu?s already made at least one failed attempt to stop whatever?s happening now. So yeah, there might be trouble in the near future, but really, who cares? I?ve got a good life; why should I worry about something that might not even happen? If you ask me, people should forget about stuff like that and just enjoy life.

--------------------------------------

Cirno and Rumia had, of course, gotten Daiyousei first, as she too lived at the lake. Then they?d headed in the direction of the human village and the Bamboo Forest of the Lost to find Wriggle and Mystia. They?d decided to stay at Mystia?s place for the time being, but that, as was now apparent, hadn?t been the best decision.

Mystia narrowly dodged a blast from the creature facing them. It turned its attention to Wriggle, and Mystia flew over to Cirno. ?You said fire works, right??

?How the hell should I know? This one?s different from the one yesterday!? And it was a different opponent. The creature Cirno had fought the day before had simply seemed to feel no pain unless the hit penetrated quite deeply. This one did appear to feel pain, but thanks to its apparent regenerative abilities, any injury to the thing healed very quickly.

?Then what are we supposed to do??

?How the hell should I know??

The thing had gone for Wriggle, but the firefly sent a swarm of insects at it, getting away while they attacked it. Wriggle turned to watch, but the insects proved to be nothing more than a temporary distraction. ?How can it be immune to EVERY SINGLE POISON I can send at it??

?It?s not,? Rumia said. ?It?s healing from their effects, too.?

The creature went for Daiyousei next, then froze. Literally. Not for long, though; it quickly broke free of the ice, but Cirno?s move had bought Daiyousei time to run. The monster went for Rumia next, charging straight through everything the darkness youkai could send at it.

The beast leapt into the air and slammed down at an angle, sending large chunks of earth at Rumia. Rumia blasted some of them away, but there were too many for her. But then Cirno was there, and the incoming projectiles slammed into a wall of ice. But the ice didn?t stop the beast itself.

The beast smashed through the ice and went straight for Rumia. Rumia didn?t react fast enough, but Cirno did, slamming into the darkness youkai and knocking her out of the way. The creature slammed into Cirno with great force, knocking her into the ground hard. Then there was a flash, and a scream, and heat, and a pained cry, and sounds of motion, and?

Cirno waited a few seconds for her head to clear, then got to her feet and looked around. The beast was gone, and it had left a trail of smoldering plant life. Daiyousei was next to her, and the other fairy supported Cirno as she stumbled. ?What-what happened??

?I don?t know,? Daiyousei said. ?It all happened so fast. You got hit, then there was a flash, and then the monster was on fire, and it ran off. I didn?t see who ignited it, but someone has to have.?

?Where are the o-? Cirno cut off as sounds from behind her registered. She spun around to see Rumia lying on the ground, moaning, with Wriggle and Mystia knelt down next to her.

?Rumia!? Cirno ran over to her, knocking Wriggle aside as she bent over her friend. ?Are you okay?? she asked as Wriggle picked herself up. ?What happened??

?It hurts,? Rumia said. ?It just? uuuuuuuuuuu. Owwwwwwwwwwww. Uuuuuuuuuugh.?

?Rumia, what?s happening? What hurts??

?Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa. I don?t- it just hurrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrts. Owowowowowowowowowow.?

?We can?t figure out what?s wrong with her,? Mystia said. ?I can?t find any injuries.?

?Then we have to find someone who can figure out what?s wrong.?

Daiyousei came up beside Cirno. ?What about that monster? Did it do something??

?It never touched her,? Wriggle said.

?It still might have done something. Maybe we should look for-?

?Who cares about that stupid thing?? Cirno said. ?Rumia?s hurt! We have to get her help!?

?Eientei,? Mystia said. ?They?ve got the best hospital in Gensokyo.?

?Then we have to get her there!?

?We have to find the place, first,? Wriggle said, ?and by all accounts, that?s not easy.?

?No problem,? Mystia said. ?I?ve been there a lot. Kaguya loves my eel; I get special orders from her all the time. I know the way. Come on, follow me!?

-----------------------------------------

?You may stand,? Alice said. ?It?s done.?

Medicine got to her feet and looked around. ?Whoa!?

?As you can see,? Alice said, ?it worked.? And it had. All eight dolls were still in their previous positions, but next to each one was a larger body, about the same size as Medicine?s. And as with Medicine, each body was, aside from its size, identical to the doll it was born from.

?They?re just lying there,? Medicine said. ?Are they sleeping??

?More or less. They?ll wake up soon. But I can still sense them, so I know it worked. They?re alive.?

?You can still-damn it, you tricked me, didn?t you? You?re still just going to control them! Aren?t you??

?The entire point of bringing them to life is so they can act on their own, outside my control. Controlling them now would be stupid. I?ve spent a lot of time and effort on this; I?m not going to do something that defeats the entire purpose.?

?Ah, whatever. Just free them. That?s what you said, right??

Again, Medicine was acting exactly as Alice had expected. ?I said that discovering how to bring dolls to life would put you one step closer to your goal.?

?Damn it, you did trick me!?

Alice sighed. ?No, Medicine. Think about it. All I did was copy your image and send it into the eight dolls. The magic runes weren?t there to copy your image for me; I did that on my own. But normally, even one who knows how can only do it with one?s own image. All the magic runes did was allow me to reach your image as I can reach mine. Anyone who learns how can copy one?s own image. That includes you.?

?Wait, so you?re saying that if I learn how to do that, I?ll be able to make dolls alive, too??

?Not quite,? Alice said. ?Remember, these dolls are special. I needed the channeling capability provided by Yukari?s enchantment in order to send the image into them. But if you have Yukari do the same thing, enchant some dolls for you so you can channel your power through them, and if you learn how to copy your image, then yes, you?d be able to do it, too.?

Medicine was excited. ?Then I need you to-no, not you. Someone else.? She continued on as she ran out the door. ?I have to find someone who can teach me that! Then find Yukari! Then??

Alice watched as Medicine faded into the distance. Yes, and good luck with that. I think you?ll find it?s not really all that easy to do. If you can even do it in the first place.

Alice went back into her workshop. She pulled up a chair, sat down, and waited for her newly living dolls to wake.

--------------------------------------

I followed Suika and Nol outside, and sure enough, there was a battle taking place in the air nearby. ?Marisa,? Suika said. ?Hey, and she?s fighting my fairies!?

?I thought you said that was too boring,? Nol remarked.

?Yeah, but it?s still a fight.?

?Well, I think Marisa has it under control.?

As the two of them talked, I observed the battle. A human-or just human-looking, I reminded myself, as there was no telling what all might look human in this world-woman was firing blasts of magic at a bunch of small, winged creatures. So those are fairies, then. As for the woman herself, well, she looked like something out of stories from the ?outside world?, as Nol had called it. Basically, she was a blond-haired woman who looked exactly like the outside world?s stereotypical concept of a witch, right down to the hat and broom.

The fairies fired back, but even I, new to all of this, could tell that this ?Marisa? completely outclassed them in pretty much every way. They didn?t have a chance.

As the battle drew closer, I could begin to hear Marisa and the fairies shouting at each other, but I didn?t pay attention to their worlds, because I also heard something else. Music? What the hell? How is there music playing?

As Nol, Suika, and I watched the battle, the fairies eventually ended up in a direct line between Marisa and the three of us. And it was at that point that Marisa took something out of? well, I couldn?t make it out clearly at that distance, but presumably a bag or something similar.

Nol, whose senses were apparently among the normal range for humans, didn?t seem able to see the battle well enough to notice that Marisa had taken hold of this object. But Suika could, and she seemed to know what it was. ?She?s doing it!? the non-human girl cried out, running to the side.

Nol turned to me. ?Move.?

I didn?t ask any questions. They knew what was happening. So I just followed them, moving out of what I assumed was going to be Marisa?s line of fire. And then she souted something, presumably the name of a spell. ?Love sign!?

?Love sign?? What kind of spell is that supposed to be?

But Marisa wasn?t finished. ?Master Spark!?

As it happened, I was well out of the way by that point. Which was fortunate, because upon hearing the complete spell name, I came to a dead stop. Master-what the hell? Who is this girl?

The spell, I soon found out, was a laser. A very, very large one. It blew straight through the fairies and hit the ground right where I and the others had been standing.

As the dust from the spell?s impact cleared, I saw Marisa land and hop off her broom, taking it in her hand. The music was still playing, and as she approached, Marisa sang along to its tune. And after hearing her spell?s name, I was not surprised when I recognized the words. So I went out to meet her, and as I did, I sang along:

Love is the spark in our lives.
Love is the spark of our hearts.
One who can master the spark will have a life worth living.
Love is the spark in our minds.
Love is the spark of our souls.
One who can master the spark will have a life worth living.
Love is the ma~aster?s spark.

?Hey,? Marisa said, the music suddenly stopping, ?you know my song.?

?Your song? You?re the one who wrote it??

?Well, no,? she admitted. ?I don?t know who wrote it. I think it was Yuuka, but I don?t actually know. I do know that I first heard it from her. I liked it, so when I took Master Spark, I took the music as well. Anyways, I?m Marisa. Marisa Kirasame.? She extended her hand. ?Nice to meet you.?

Handshakes, given name followed by surname... it seemed that this world, or at least the part of it I was in, used at least some of what the outside world called ?western? customs. I shook her hand. ?Likewise. I am Orphan.?

We released hands. ??Orphan?? Kind of an odd name, don?t you think??

?I chose it for myself,? I said, ?as I lost my name along with everything else about myself when I lost my memory five years ago.?

?You lost your memory? And you?re just telling this to anyone you happen to-wait, of course you are. You?re hoping to meet someone who knows you, aren?t you??

I nodded. ?That is my hope. And I think you may be one of those people-well, you or this ?Yuuka?. You see, there are? fragments. Small things, like recognizing that the Hakurei Shrine in the outside world isn?t the real one, or getting a sense of familiarity from tales of a separate world. Or, in your case, a song. I know that song.?

??The Master?s Spark?,? Marisa said.

?The same name as your spell.?

?Yeah. That?s why I think Yuuka wrote it; Master Spark was originally her spell.?

?Why don?t you two come inside?? Nol said, walking up to us. ?You can talk inside.?

?Works for me,? I said, and Marisa and I followed as he, joined by Suika, led the way back into the shrine.

------------------------------------------

?Well,? Marisa said after I?d given her my story, ?I?m sorry to say that I don?t really recognize you. There?s something vaguely familiar about, you, but nothing I can place.?

?Then I?m just reminding you of someone,? I said. ?People remember me, even if they only saw me at a glance.?

Marisa seemed puzzled. ?Why? What?s so special about you??

?She?s from the outside world,? Nol reminded her.

?Well, yeah, but what does that have to- oh, wait, the hat. Of course.?

Now I was puzzled. ?My hat??

?It?s? probably pretty distinctive in the outside world,? Nol said, ?but here, we?ve got all sorts of crazy hats. There?s a woman in the village who goes around with what looks like a miniature pagoda on her head. So yeah, don?t expect your hat to stand out here nearly as much as it did in the outside world.?

?I see.?

?So yeah, I may have seen you before,? Marisa said. ?Probably fought you at some point. Um, you said you have power, right? What?s your power? That?ll help.?

?Unfortunately, no, it won?t. I do indeed have power-power of nature, specifically-and I originally hoped that mastering it would help me learn who I am. But the further I progressed, the more certain I became that my power has? changed, somehow. My current power is not the power I had before whatever caused me to lose my memory. I am certain of that. And??

?Go on,? Nol said after a brief silence.

?Well,? I said, ?there?s something about this world that just feels? well, right. I was right to come here, it would seem; I have little remaining doubt that this world is where I?m from.?

?Okay,? Marisa said, ?so you somehow ended up in the outside world with no memory and different powers.?

?Seems that way,? I said. ?Oh, this might be relevant. When I first awoke, my clothing was, well, damaged, but my hat was not.?

?Not much of a clue,? Suika said. ?That?s common here. A lot of people here get special protection for their hats.?

?Please explain.?

?I?ll explain, ze,? Marisa said. ?See, almost everyone either wears a hat or has some kind of something in their hair-or something like horns, like Suika here. Going out in public while bare-headed is kinda seen as indecent.?

?Sounds kind of strange,? I remarked. ?So that?s why people protect their hats??

?No, just why everyone has either a hat or hair decorations-or, again, horns or the like, which count. The reason people like to protect their hats is because most people make their hats themselves. Most of the hats you?ll see here are one-of-a-kind. That?s why they?re protected-and some of the more unique clothes are likewise protected. For example, I wove some magic into my hat when I made it. That?s the most common method, although there are others. It doesn't protect you, though; you'll still take the exact same hit you would have if you weren't wearing protected clothing.  Anyways, you probably don?t remember what you did with your hat, right??

?I do not,? I confirmed, ?but I do believe that I was not the one to do it. I have a sense that the hat is important to me, somehow. Special. I think it was a gift from someone.?

?Ah.?

?Anyways,? I said, ?now that you?ve explained that, let?s move on. What about your song? I learned it somehow.?

?Yeah, but that might?ve been from Yuuka.?

?But if it was from you, when could it have been??

?Well,? Marisa said, ?I probably fought you once.?

?That?s good to know,? I said. ?If that?s true, it narrows down the possibilities.?

?Not really,? Nol remarked. ?I think Marisa?s fought almost everyone in Gensokyo at least once.?

?Probably,? Marisa agreed. ?Anyways, you heard the music while I was fighting, right? Well, I?ve got a little spell that plays the tune. A lot of people have something like that. You?ll run into a lot of people with their own theme tunes. We usually play them during the? more interesting matches, but it?s been unusually long since I last had one of those, so I decided to play it against the fairies. But yeah, you probably heard it when fighting me.?

?And the lyrics? What you played was instrumental.?

?I sing along sometimes,? Marisa said, ?mainly during the toughest fights. It helps me concentrate. I?m guessing you might have heard it then and had it stick in your head.?

?Right,? I said. ?So no clue there, either. Damn. Okay, then. It doesn?t look like I?ll be finding any answers around here. Do you have maps here, Nol??

?We do. I?ll be right back.? He got up and left the room, returning shortly with a map. ?Here you go,? he said, handing it to me as he sat back down. ?This is the most recent map, so it should be completely up to date.?

I examined the map. ?Hmm? well, none of these place names are giving me a sense of familiarity. In the absence of any clues, I guess I?ll just have to go from place to place. I should probably start with some of these villages.?

?Maybe not,? Nol said. ?You look human, so the only village you?d be from is the Human Village, and we didn?t have anyone disappear like that at that time. And even if you were from another village, news like that usually gets around sooner or later, and I don?t think any of the other villages have had any such disappearances, either. You might want to try other places.? He indicated a location on the map. ?Like this one, Eientei. It was only like ten or so years ago that a lot of people first learned it was even there-although most of the people there are rabbits, and you?re not. Still, though, if someone disappeared from there, word might not really get around; Eientei?s a lot more self-contained than a lot of places. Kind of comes with the way they hid themselves from the rest of Gensokyo.?

I indicated a different location. ?What about here??

?The Scarlet Devil Mansion? Maybe. There aren?t as many people there, but they do tend to stay isolated. But? well, going there might not be the best idea.?

?Why??

?Well, um, you?re human, right??

?I had assumed as much before coming here,? I said, ?but here, there are those who look like humans but are not, correct? And I do know that my physical capabilities are far beyond the human norm.?

?That?s common for humans with power, though. Although if you saw Marisa?s fight as clearly as you say, you?re beyond even those levels. If you?re human, then you?ve boosted your physical capabilities. But you wouldn?t be the only such human.?

?Yeah,? Suika said. ?Byakuren was like that even back when she was human.?

I didn?t know who Byakuren was, but it didn?t matter. ?So I shouldn?t rule it out, then. But what importance does this hold where the Scarlet Devil Mansion is concerned??

?Well,? Nol said, ?put most simply, the mistress is a vampire. As in, she drinks human blood. If you?re human, she might try for you.?

So vampires existed here, too. ?I see. Well, I?ll have to consider that. In fact, before I go anywhere, I should really know more about this world.?

?I can give you the basics,? Nol said, ?but let?s let Marisa handle whatever business she has here first.?

?I think it?s settled, ze,? Marisa said. ?I came for Reimu, but she?s clearly not here.?

?She set out again yesterday. Said she might be gone for a while.?

?She went on her own initiative? Without me having to drag her out of here? Huh. I guess anything can happen. Where?d she go??

?She did her usual,? Nol said. ?Just flew off in a random direction.? He pointed. ?Something like that direction, I think.?

?Then I should get after her.? Marisa got to her feet. ?See you, ze.? She walked outside, mounted her broom, and flew away.

-----------------------------------

Hourai was the first to awaken.

The newly living doll?s eyes opened slowly, and she looked around the room. She raised herself into a seating position and remained that way for a few minutes. She then got slowly to her feet, her old self floating in the air behind her, and faced Alice. ?Mother.?

Alice stood as well. ?Hourai. Um, how are you feeling??

?You don?t need to ask. I know you can tell.?

?Oh. Um, I-I-I see.?

The doll laughed. ?You didn?t know what to expect from us, did you??

?Um, apparently not.?

?Well,? Hourai said, ?I can?t speak for the others, but I can speak for myself, and I believe my personality is properly developed. I do, after all, remember.?

?Ah, so the memory banks did transfer. Good. I don?t think that happened with Medicine.?

?Medicine was an ordinary doll. All of your children are more than that. She didn?t have any memory of any kind to be transferred.?

Alice knew this, of course, but she was distracted by speaking to Hourai. She?d worked to make living dolls for years, but now that it had happened, now that she was actually having her first true conversation with one of her dolls, everything she?d done to prepare for the moment seemed to leave her. ?Right. So you remember everything.?

?Yes, and now that I am alive, the information and experiences I remember are enough to shape the basic personality Medicine likely had when she first came to life has already been shaped into one that?s more complex.?

?Um, yes. Of course. I would assume the others are the same way.?

Hourai turned to look at the other dolls. ?Yes. My sisters.? She walked around the circle, naming each as she passed it. ?London. Holland. Copenhagen. Moscow. Nogales. Guadalupe. And?? She turned back to Alice, ?Shanghai.?

Was that? jealousy? At how Alice had focused her efforts on Shanghai? ?Um??

?There is no need to worry,? Hourai said. ?I know you do not favor Shanghai over the rest of us. You did, after all, design her as general-purpose with the intent of best preparing her for living. You made her in order to bring her to life first. I do not resent her for that, or you. We were all made with a purpose in mind; you only used her for her purpose, and there is nothing wrong with that. And although I do not know the minds of my sisters, they, too, were each made with a purpose. And like me, they will know this.? She walked up to Alice. ?So be at ease, Mother. I am sure they know you love them all equally.

?We all know,? Hourai said, and she and Alice embraced.

----------------------------------

Suika had just left, although she said she?d return in a bit. ?So,? I said, ?what is she??

?Suika?s an oni,? Nol told me. ?She?s small, especially for an oni, but she?s also strong, even for an oni. And she?s even more of a partier and a drunkard than most of her kind.?

?What of her age? She looks like a human child, but I suppose human standards may not apply to oni.?

?Yeah, she?s a lot older than she looks. There?s a lot of youkai that just look young, even like children, but that doesn?t mean they are. Suika?s been alive for, well, I don?t know her exact age, but she?s been alive for hundreds of years, at least. I don?t know how long ago it was that the oni moved underground, but she?s been alive since before then.?

?I see.?

?Right,? Nol said, ?so you want a crash course on Gensokyo.?

?I do.?

?Let?s get going, then. We?ll start with a little history. Well, a very little, because I don?t know much. Gensokyo was separated from the outside world a long time ago. Hundreds of years ago. I don?t know exactly when it was done, and I don?t know why it was done. It?s been separate ever since. People and objects do pass through sometimes, as you of course know. The worlds do have a connection, yes, but they are separate.

?Anyways, the name ?Gensokyo? is used both as the name of the entirety of what was separated from the outside world and as the name of this land specifically. The ?greater Gensokyo? encompasses our ?lesser Gensokyo?, as well as several other realms, including Makai, the Netherworld, Heaven, and Hell.?

?I don?t know what any of those are,? I said. ?Not as they are here, at least.?

?I?ll give you the quick versions, then. Makai is what outside world popular culture would call ?hell?, except for the absence of an ?antigod? figure such as Satan. It?s the land of demons, although I understand there aren?t any pits of fire or anything. Oh, and they?re no more inherently ?evil? than anyone else. The Netherworld is, of course, the land of ghosts. Then there?s Hell, which is nothing like Makai. Hell is where the souls of dead humans go to be judged for their actions in life. Except the ones that become ghosts and go to the Netherworld; I?m not really sure how that all works. Anyways, Heaven is also nothing like outside world conceptions of it. No dead people go there; it?s just another place where different youkai-a catch-all term for any person who?s not human, like fairies, oni, kappa, and so on-if it?s a person and not human, it?s a youkai. Anyways, Heaven?s just a place where different kinds of youkai live. There?s also the underground and the Ancient City, an ancient city where the oni live-Suika?s the only one living above ground right now. And yes, I know a lot of the names are uncreative. Get used to it; names like that are everywhere in Gensokyo.?

?Perhaps you?d best tell me a little about Gensokyo?s nature,? I said. ?It sounds like there?s all kinds of stuff here.?

?Yeah, that?s pretty much the case. And a lot of what we have here is still known in the outside world, just as stories and legends and that sort of thing. Oh, but don?t think that just because you recognize the name of a youkai species, you know anything about them. The outside world?s portrayals are pretty much universally wrong, although some are closer than others.

?Anyways, Gensokyo?s basically the land of magic. All youkai have some kind of power-although most of them are very weak-and there are humans with power, too. Now, as I said, the term ?youkai? includes pretty much and thinking individual that isn?t human. In addition to youkai species like the oni, kappa, and tengu, there are youkai that formed from other things. There are many types of youkai that came from animals, such as the rabbits of Eientei. But although such youkai usually come from animals, they can come from almost anything. Hell, there?s even an umbrella that became a youkai-and no, I don?t know how that works, so we?ll just say ?magic?. Hell, that?s how most things here work, anyways.?

Nol was going a bit too fast for me to really keep up. ?Right. Um, how about we do this: I?ll say something I want to know more about, then you tell me about it. Should work better than your quick jumping from name to name to name.?

?Sure,? Nol said. ?What?s first??

---------------------------------

Fujiwara no Mokou waited as the rabbit girl fetched Eirin. Mokou was on fairly friendly terms with most of the residents of Eientei, but they still had an understandable reluctance to bring her inside. She wasn?t here for Kaguya this time, but the guards were still wary of her-which was understandable, considering how often she did come for Kaguya. Although when she did, she tended not to stop and say ?hi? to the guards. Still, she understood their wariness, and wasn?t going to protest its results. Besides, it wasn?t really that long until Eirin walked out, anyways.

?Hello, Mokou,? Eirin said.

?Hello, Eirin.?

Eirin looked around. ?Hmm? I don?t see anyone with you. When I heard you were here, I thought you?d be bringing someone in need of treatment.?

?They?re coming on their own,? Mokou said. ?It?s Cirno?s group-you know about them, right??

Eirin nodded. ?Mystia talks about them a lot.?

?Well, one of them-Rumia, a darkness youkai-is in pain. They just had a nasty battle, but only Cirno was badly injured, and she?s a fairy, so she?s already as good as new. But Rumia?s in pain anyways, and they don?t know why. They?re hoping you can help her, so Mystia?s bringing them here.?

?And you know all this because??

?Because I was watching when it happened, although they don?t know I was there. I watched a similar battle Cirno had on her own yesterday, and even drove her opponent off after she went down-and she doesn?t know I was there yesterday, either.?

?So this ?Rumia? is being brought to me. That hardly sounds like something that merits warning me. There?s more to this.?

?Of course there is,? Mokou said. ?You see, they may not know what?s happening to Rumia, but I believe I do. What I?m here to tell you is not something that should be told to them, but I think it is best that you know.?

?Then please,? Eirin said, ?tell me.?

And Mokou did.

-------------------------------

Right, then. Chapter 3 should be up tomorrow, followed by chapter 4 whenever I finish it. Until then, please let me know your thoughts on the first two.

[GuyYouMetOnline]

Chapter 3
The Way Things are Done

 
All eight dolls were now awake, and Alice had had her first conversation with each of them. All eight had different personalities, but they were all somewhat similar. And all of them had shared Hourai's sentiments. Alice wanted to spend time with them, with the living dolls she'd worked so hard to make, but unfortunately, she didn't have that time. She had to get moving as soon as possible.
 
"Okay," Alice said to the dolls, "all eight of you have your memories intact, so you all know what I need you to do."
 
"And we'll do it, Mother," London said.
 
Alice smiled at her. "I never doubted it. But there is something I must do first, because we need a way to get in without anyone knowing. And I can only think of one way to do it. I'm going to go meet with Yukari; she can provide the way in we need. We'll need a way to remain undetected as well, but I have a plan for that, too.
 
"Now that you are alive, you should be able to develop your abilities beyond what they were when you weren't. I built those abilities into you, but now that you are alive, you can develop them and master them just like anyone else can. I would like to give you time to do that, but unfortunately, time is short. We must begin as soon as I return. Use the time until then to explore your abilities, to get accustomed to using them consciously. Since you had and used them from when you were made and still have those memories, this should be quick. Use the rest of the time to practice, and to prepare yourselves for your roles. Understand?"
 
"Yes, Mother," the eight of them replied in unison.
 
"Good. In that case, I must be off. As I said, there's no time to waste."
 
And then Alice did something she hated. She knew that she had to, and that her children-she'd already stopped thinking of them as dolls-understood why she had to, but she still hated it. But she had to do it, so she did.
 
Alice grabbed a few things she'd need, then exited her house and took off for Yukari's.
 
 

 
 
   
Nol told me much about the 'youkai' of Gensokyo. About fairies. "Fairies are born from nature. They're usually quite weak, and they die very easily. However, they resurrect upon death. You don't need to worry about them; most have no offensive ability, although there are some exceptions. They can fire danmaku, but even for someone new to that, they won't pose a problem."
 
He told me about the oni. "Except for her small size, Suika's fairly typical for an oni, although she's strong even by their standards. Oni are generally hard partiers and heavy drinkers, and they love contests, especially those involving combat. Suika's the only one I know of who lives above ground; all the other oni live in the Ancient City, although there are a couple who come above ground sometimes."
 
He told me about gods. "I know the outside world has many different ideas about gods, but they're pretty much all wrong to at least some extent. Gods are just another type of youkai, although there are a few ways in which they differ from other youkai. Other youkai, as well as humans with power, must learn the use of their abilities to at least some extent. Gods naturally have full mastery of their powers. Gods' natures lie in specific aspects of the world such as the earth or the sky, or specific events of the world, such as the harvest. There are also gods of things such as curses. But the most important difference between gods and other youkai is faith. Gods derive their power from people's faith in them; the more faith they have, the stronger they are. Gods do not die as humans do, but gods with no faith cannot manifest themselves or their powers, which I'm told they consider to be the equivalent."
 
He also told me about locations. About the underground. "The oni live underground, in the Ancient City. There are also numerous lesser youkai, like the hell ravens. Which brings me to the fact that the underground used to be where Hell was; Hell was moved to its current location a long, long time ago. Don't ask me how that works or why it was done or anything. A lot of people, especially the ones living down there, still use 'hell' to refer to the former hell. It can get confusing. Although people, both down there and up here, often call the current Hell by a different name, too. Specifically, it's known as 'Sanzu', after the Sanzu River, which the souls of the dead must cross in order to reach Hell."
 
He told me about the mansion Eientei. "The woman in charge there, Kaguya, is immortal. Although you could say she's not really in charge; the rabbit Tewi is the one who's really in charge. All the rabbits there only listen to Kaguya because Tewi tells them to. So Kaguya is effectively in charge, but only because Tewi lets her be. As for the place itself, they've got a really good 'hospital' set up there, but that's really all I know about it."
 
He told me about the Scarlet Devil Mansion. "Well, as I said, the mistress of the mansion, Remilia Scarlet, is a vampire. The place is staffed by a bunch of fairies, apparently. Nobody really knows all that much about the place, except perhaps for Reimu and Marisa, but if they do, they're not telling. Anyways, the place generally keeps to itself, so if there was a disappearance there, it's quite likely that nobody outside the mansion would know about it."
 
And he told me about many other things, until eventually we got to what seemed like it was something important. "What," I asked, "is this 'danmaku' you keep mentioning?"
 
"Well," Nol said, "um, I'm not really sure how to best go about this part. I was hoping Suika'd be back by now so she could help, but she's not. I can't actually do danmaku myself-when I said I have no power, I meant absolutely none-and it'll be hard to give you a lesson in it without someone who can."
 
At that moment, the door swung open, and a? strange-looking young girl walked in. I understood that many youkai species, such as the oni, look at least a little bit different than humans, but this girl was different in a different way. Her form was human, but? well, she was clearly artificial.
 
The strange girl entered the shrine, what looked like a doll floating alongside her. "Hi," she said. "Is Marisa here? She wasn't at her house."
 
"She left," I said. "But before you come barging into places with questions, perhaps you should introduce yourself."
 
"Okay. I'm Medicine."
 
"Medicine Melancholy," Nol said. "Reimu told me about you."
 
"Oh? And who're you? No, wait, who cares? You said Marisa left?"
 
"She went to catch up with Reimu."
 
"Then I have to follow her! Where'd she go?"
 
"Just flew off in the same general direction as Reimu," I said. "We don't really know where she is. Why are you so eager to find her, anyways?"
 
"Because I need her to help me bring more dolls to life!"
 
Nol did not seem fazed at all by this statement, and I suppose it was far from the first strange thing I'd run into since arriving in Gensokyo. From Nol's lack of a reaction, I inferred that things such as that are common in Gensokyo; it seemed as though I had a few things to get used to. "Hold on," I said. "Bring dolls to life?"
 
"It happened to me," Medicine said.
 
So that's what she is. A doll. "And how did you come to life?"
 
"It happens," Nol said. "Objects cast away can, given time, become youkai. I think I mentioned the umbrella girl; she's an example of this. So is Medicine here."
 
"I see. And you say you want to bring others to life like you, Medicine?"
 
"Yeah! Alice told me that's the only way they can be free!"
 
"Um? what?" was all the reply I could manage.
 
"Medicine's trying for the 'emancipation of dolls'," Nol explained. "The fact that dolls usually aren't alive has never seemed to matter to her before now."
 
"I see. And who's this 'Alice'?"
 
"She's a magician who lives fairly close to Marisa. In particular, she makes and controls dolls. Medicine's never liked her, of course. So why the sudden change, Medicine?"
 
"Because she helped me," the doll replied. "I still don't like her, but she helped me. I just have to learn to copy my image, then I just need to go to Yukari, then I can bring them to life and free them!"
 
More names and terms I didn't know. Nol seemed to, though. "Wait, copy your image? Even I know that's pretty advanced magic. Can you even use magic?"
 
"Of course I can! Watch!"
 
Medicine started to do? something, but Nol interrupted her. "Nonono, that's not what I meant. Not your power. Magic like what Alice and Marisa use. Can you even learn to use magic at all?"
 
"Why couldn't I?"
 
Nol didn't seem to have an answer to that one. "Um? I don't know, actually. I guess I just wouldn't think a doll could. I suppose you may or may not be able to. I don't know. But even if you can, taking your image is supposed to be high-level. It'd take a lot of training before you could do that. Is that why you're looking for Marisa?"
 
"Yeah, but I can't find her. I'll have to try that book-lady. Bye!"
 
"Hold on," Nol said.
 
"Huh?"
 
"You have good timing. Orphan here is new to Gensokyo. I'd like to give her a crash course on danmaku, but I can't actually do any danmaku. Could I get you to help? I know enough to explain everything, but it's kind of hard to get the idea across with just words, so can I get you to demonstrate a few things?"
 
"Oh, sure. Just tell Marisa about me the next time you see her, all right?"
 
"I can do that. Now, at first, I'll want you to just fire off into the air. We can give Orphan some practice later on, but she should know the basics first."
 
"Okay."
 
"Well, then," Nol said, "let's get to work."

 
 

 
   
Hi. I'm Medicine. I'm a doll that came to life. I'm told that this happens sometimes, but I don't understand it, and I don't know how it happened.
 
I came to life on a hill covered in suzuran, a kind of flower. People said the hill was 'the Nameless Hill', which I thought meant nobody's named it, but it turns out that 'Nameless Hill' is actually its name. Kind of weird, if you ask me.
I talk to Su-the flowers-all the time. Some people think it's weird to talk to flowers, but there's somebody in them. They just don't stay long enough to hear her. I guess they can't, though, 'cause suzuran are poisonous to both humans and youkai. I can't get poisoned 'cause I'm a doll.
 
I think maybe Su brought me to life, but she doesn't know. But I think she did it, because I got her power. And you dumb people are wondering what power flowers have, but you're dumb, because I already told you. Su's poisonous. That's the power. Poison.
 
I don't have many friends. I always spend most of my time with Su, but most people get poisoned, and I can't take poison out of them. There's a few people I'm friends with, though. There's that weird Yuuka lady, who isn't poisoned because Su's flowers and flowers can't hurt her. Then there's that rabbit girl Reisen. Apparently she got some medicine from someone called Eirin that protects her from suzuran poison. And there's Sakuya, who says she got the same medicine. She's weird. She keeps coming to get Su's poison to put in tea. She says she works for someone who can't get poisoned.
 
They're not the only people I've met. I met all kinds of people one day, and most of them attacked me. I thought it was mean, but Yuuka tells me Gensokyo's always been like that, and this 'danmaku' stuff isn't supposed to be too dangerous anyways. I thought it was, but I guess they didn't mean to hurt me, so it's okay. Those people aren't my enemies. That weird Shiki lady was okay, too, although I didn't really understand what she said. Except that I'm trying to do something good now. I'm trying to free other dolls.
 
People act like dolls are just toys, but they're not. I'm proof of that, aren't I? Nobody thinks it's okay to use a person as a toy, but dolls are people, too. I'm proof of that, too. But I don't hate people for thinking dolls are toys. They're not being mean, are they? They grew up thinking that dolls are toys, that dolls aren't alive. They never knew any different. They may think something bad, but they don't know it's bad, so they're not bad. They just need me to show them that it's bad. Then they'll stop it, right?
 
But some aren't like that. That Alice girl isn't. She makes dolls and takes control of them. She's even worse than most. And she makes new ones just so she has more to control. And she'll even blow them up! I thought she had to be bad, but then she helped me. She told me how to free dolls. I still don't really like her, but now I just can't figure her out at all. I guess she wants to bring them to life, but why would she want to free dolls when she makes them? But she told me how to do it, and I know it works, because I saw it work. I just need to learn how to do it. But I don't want her to teach me. I still don't like her. I thought Marisa could, but she wasn't home, and she wasn't at Reimu's shrine place, either, so now I'll have to find that book-lady Sakuya talks about. But whatever. I have time, right? I'm a doll. I don't get old. Who cares if it takes a while? I don't even have to go right now. I can stay and help first, right? Besides, I'm better at danmaku now, and it's kind of fun.
 
I can stop for a little fun, right?
   
 
 
   
Eirin had insisted on being alone with Rumia. Cirno had insisted that Eirin let her be there, too, but Eirin said no. But Cirno wouldn't take no for an answer. So Eirin'd had Reisen make her vision go all strange, and she'd kept running into walls. Eirin and Rumia were gone by the time she could see straight again. So now she and the others were just sitting in a room Eirin had let them use, waiting. And Cirno wasn't happy about it.
 
"Really, Cirno," Daiyousei said, "calm down."
 
"Shut up, Dai," Cirno said. "Rumia's hurt, and I can't even be there with her."
 
"Eirin'll take care of her," Mystia said.
 
"Yeah? And how do you know?"
 
"Because I've been in her care before."
 
"Okay," Wriggle said, "what? When did that happen?"
 
"Just before we met Cirno. Some dumb drunk human jerk got pissed off and magiced me bad. This weird fire-lady scared him off, then took me here and had Eirin fix me. How else do you think Kaguya got to try my eel? I made Eirin some to say thanks, and she gave some to Kaguya, and Kaguya loved it."
 
"But you were okay?"
 
"Of course I was, Wriggle," Mystia said. "I wouldn't be fine now if I wasn't okay then. So don't worry, Cirno. Rumia's in good hands."
"I still want to be there for her," Cirno said.
 
"I know, Cirno, but-"
 
Someone walked into the room. "Ah, there you are! I've been looking all over for you! Stupid Reisen, not telling me where you were. There'll be payback. Oh, yes, there will."
 
"Um, excuse me," Dai said, "but who are you?"
 
"Oh, me?" the rabbit girl said. "I'm Tewi. I've heard you're quite the troublemakers. I've met Mystia already, of course, and she's told me about some of your shenanigans."
 
"Shenana-whatsits?" Cirno said
 
"You play tricks on people," Tewi said. "Pranks. You'd gotten up to some fun stuff, haven't you? I've been wanting to meet you for a while now."
 
"Why?" Wriggle asked.
 
"Well, see, I'm rather fond of playing tricks myself. You do some good stuff. Especially you, Cirno. Mystia says you come up with the ideas, and you've had some good ones. Better then a lot of mine, and I've pulled off some great ones myself." She was getting really excited. "Just think about what we could pull off if we worked together! Come on, whaddaya think?"
 
"So," Cirno said, her mood improving at meeting a fellow prankster, "you're saying you want to help us pull pranks on people?" Tewi nodded. "Cool. You can join the gang, then. Once Rumia's back and we're done with all this, we'll do something awesome to celebrate!"
 
"Actually," Tewi said, "since you four have some time on your hands at the moment, how about we go do something right now? I've got a great idea to get back at Reisen, but it's not something I can do alone."
 
Cirno was suddenly serious again. "Now? While Rumia's still hurt?"
 
"Yeah. This won't disrupt Eirin, don't worry. It'll only get Reisen."
 
"No."
 
Everyone just stared at her. "Um, Cirno," Dai said, "what did you say?"
 
"I'm not doing anything like that while Rumia's hurt. And I'm done just sitting here, too!"
 
"Woah," Wriggle said. "Um, this isn't like you, Cirno."
 
"What isn't? The fact that I care more about my friend than about some stupid prank? Because I do! So I'm going to her, and that's that!" She walked up to Tewi. "Do you know where she is?"
 
Tewi replied without hesitation. "To reach the medical wing, return to the entrance and go from there. The way is clearly marked."
 
"And once I'm there?"
 
"Unfortunately, I can't tell you that."
 
"You call yourself a prankster, but you're willing to let a little 'don't say this' order stop you? Maybe you're not so great after all."
 
Tewi sighed. "Of course I'm not going to let that stop me, you moron. I meant that I don't know the exact room Eirin's using. You
really shouldn't be so quick to jump to conclusions, you know. Besides, I can still help you get there." The rabbit placed her hands on Cirno's shoulders. There was briefly a faint glow, and then Tewi removed her hands. "There you go. A little luck should make finding the right room easy. When you get to the medical wing, trust your instincts. Don't think about which way to go; just go the first way that comes to mind. I can't guarantee that you'll get it right on the first guess, but it shouldn't take too long. Hurry, though; the luck I gave you won't last long."
 
"Thanks," Cirno said as she ran out the door.
 
"Energetic little thing, isn't she?" Tewi remarked as she turned her attention to the other three. "Is she always like that?"
 
"Energetic, certainly," Daiyousei said, "but I've never seen her act quite like that before."
 
"She's just worried. It's nothing unusual. This is hardly the first time I've seen a patient's friend or family member act like that."
 
"And you're not worried Eirin'll be mad at you?"
 
Tewi laughed. "Girl, if people like us really worried about making people mad, we wouldn't do what we do. 'Sides, I'm the one in charge here. Everyone only listens to Eirin and Kaguya because I tell them to. So if I decide to have a little fun, there's really not much they can do about it, now, is there? 'Sides, pissing Eirin off is fun."
 
"And you're not upset that Cirno told you to wait on your prank?"
 
"Oh, no. Why would I be? I've got patience, and holding off will make things even better."
 
"What do you mean?" Wriggle asked.
 
"Cirno said she wants something special for when Rumia's better, right? Well, I've got a little plan I've been working on for when I got to meet all of you, and what I have in mind for Reisen should slot in quite nicely and make the whole thing even better. So I'll hold off on getting back at Reisen for now, because if we can pull this one off, the wait will be more than worth it."
   
 
 
   
Mokou, it seemed, had been correct. The results of Eirin's examination of this 'Rumia' had matched completely with what the immortal girl had said. And Eirin had managed to figure out a few additional things, too. But now she faced a dilemma: what should she tell Cirno?
 
She had to tell Cirno at least some portion of the truth. If she was right, then keeping the ice fairy completely in the dark could end up being a very bad idea. But revealing everything probably wasn't the best idea, either, and not just because Cirno probably wouldn't believe it. Cirno's affection for Rumia was obvious, although the fairy's friends, Rumia included, seemed to have missed it. If Cirno knew what was really happening?
 
Eirin carefully came up with a plan of what to tell Cirno, then left the room and went to go get her.
   
 
 
   
Nobody objected to Cirno walking through the mansion; she and her friends had been given a room to wait in, but they'd never been required to stay there. Nobody objected to her entering the medical wing, either, as she had never been required to stay out of the entire wing. But if she tried to go beyond the front area, someone probably would object. Not that she was about to let that stop her; she'd snuck past people before, and this wouldn't be any different. Except that she wasn't expecting Eirin to walk out of one of the halls.
 
Fortunately, Cirno'd just entered the wing, and was still in the waiting area, so she didn't look suspicious. But Eirin's gaze stopped on her anyways, and the white-haired woman walked over to her. "Ah, Cirno. Perfect timing. And you're by yourself, too, I see. Excellent. Come with me, please. I need to talk to you about Rumia."
 
That, of course, worried Cirno, and the fairy followed closely behind Eirin. The woman led her into what appeared to be a fairly large office. "Sit down, please."
 
Cirno didn't like normal chairs-her wings made sitting comfortably in a normal chair difficult-but there were also a couple stools, and Cirno sat down on one of them.
 
"Hold on for a second, please," Eirin said. She placed a hand atop Cirno's head and closed her eyes. Cirno felt weird for a few seconds, then Eirin opened her eyes and removed her hand. "There. Thank you."
 
Eirin took her seat behind the desk. "All right, then. First of all, as far as I've been able to tell, Rumia's just fine. She's certainly unharmed physically, and I didn't find any normal signs of magical effects-in fact, she's fully aware, and I've already gotten her own description of the? events, shall we say. However, there was an unusual sign of a magical effect."
 
"So that thing did do something to her!"
 
"Actually, I doubt it. Nothing newly placed could evade detection so well; even the best-concealed effects need at least some time to? settle in, let's say. Some effects take longer than others, of course, and the more skilled the caster, the less time it takes, as well, but there is an observed minimum time, and it's only been about half that time, I think, since you encountered the creature. I do, however, think that it was involved in Rumia's pain, but not by doing anything to her.
 
"Rumia's pain was caused by the creature's attack against you."
 
It took a few seconds for what Eirin said to register. "Wait, what? You think it hurt Rumia by hurting me? That's crazy!"
 
"Not as crazy as it may seem."
 
"Yeah? Well, it seems pretty damn crazy. How does me getting hurt make her hurt?"
 
"There is a connection between you two," Eirin explained. "What I found in Rumia, followed by her description of the battle, suggested only the one explanation, and what I did when you sat down confirmed it."
 
"Um? what?"
 
"The effect in Rumia has been damaged. Only very minorly damaged, yes, but still damaged. It was that damage that allowed me to detect it, and once I did, once I knew what to look for, I was able to sense the effect within her. When you sat down, I looked for effects within you, and what I found is exactly what I expected to find-which is why it only took a few seconds, rather than the almost-an-hour I spent looking within Rumia. I knew what I was looking for this time, not in effect, but in? well, feel, I guess. What's within you and what's within Rumia are two sides of the same effect. Any effect has? well, it's known as a 'signature'. Every magical effect has a unique one; even if it's the same magic used again by the same person, it'll have a new signature. If you know the signature, finding the magic in its target is extremely simple, although since the only way to know a signature is to sense the magic, this isn't useful very often. But in the case of two or more separate targets, such as you and Rumia, the effects are actually part of the same magic, and thus have the same signature. So after finding one part of the spell, detecting its other parts becomes easy. You still have to figure out the targets, of course, but you can tell quickly if the effect is indeed there once you do."
 
"Um? what?"
 
"Sorry," Eirin said. "Basically, you and Rumia have a connected magical effect within you. I haven't been able to identify its function, but I do know that it's acting differently within each one of you-identifying this difference is why I needed several seconds instead of just an instant. Specifically, the portion within you is maintaining the portion within Rumia. Without the part in you, the part in Rumia will fade."
 
Cirno gave the same reply again. "Um? what?"
 
"Your effect keeps Rumia's effect there. But yours has the same slight damage as Rumia's. What I believe happened is that when the creature injured you, it somehow damaged your effect. I don't know how it happened. Your effect seems to be the kind that should survive anything you do. Only if you truly die will it end-of course, since you're a fairy, you just come back when you die, so the effect remains unchanged and active within you. There are ways to damage or destroy such effects, of course, but the damage within you and Rumia isn't consistent with any of them. So I don't know how it happened, but the monster's attack somehow slightly damaged the effect within you, and that damage somehow carried over to Rumia. Again, I have absolutely no idea how it happened; damage to a maintaining effect should only affect its ability to maintain the effect it is maintaining. It doesn't cause symmetrical damage in the maintained effect, but that's what seems to have happened in your case."
 
"Um? okay," Cirno said, "you're being really confusing, but I think you're saying that there's a spell on us, my part keeps her part there, the monster damaged my part, and the damage carried over to her part. Oh, and that my part should stay there even when I die and resurrect."
 
Eirin nodded. "That's at least the very basics, yes."
 
"One problem with your little theory: I only had physical pain. But you said Rumia's body was fine. So her pain was in her mind. Why didn't I have pain in my mind?"
 
Eirin seemed surprised. "Ah, it seems you're a little smarter than I thought. You're correct; Rumia's pain was mental. The reason you didn't have that pain is because your effect isn't actually affecting you; it's affecting Rumia's effect. So she actually felt your effect's damage as well as that of her own."
 
"She hurt because my effect got hurt?"
 
"In part, yes."
 
"Then that stupid thing hurt her twice," Cirno said. "Oh, you better believe I'm coming for you, you piece of shit. I'll find a way to beat you, and then you're going DOWN."
 
"I'd recommend exercising caution," Eirin said.
 
"Screw caution! That thing hurt Rumia!"
 
"I didn't mean don't go after it. I would say that, but it's obvious you wouldn't listen to me. So I'm simply saying to be cautious when you do. It beat you once; if you fight it, be certain you have a way to make sure it doesn't beat you again."
 
"Fine," Cirno said. "I don't plan to fight that thing again until I know how to beat it, anyways. Can I see Rumia?"
 
"Certainly. One of the nurses was sent for her; she should be out in the waiting area."
 
"Then I'm going to her," Cirno said as she stood up.
 
Cirno headed for the door, but Eirin still had something to say. "Cirno?"
 
The fairy stopped and turned around. "What?"
 
"Stay close to Rumia," Eirin said, "and be careful. I don't know exactly what's happening to you two, and I don't know what the effect is actually doing, but now that it's been damaged once, it will be damaged more easily from now on, and may even deteriorate on its own-there are too many unknowns at this point for me to actually know. But I do know that regardless of what happens to the effect, it will involve both of you. So if you want to get through this, then you need to stick together. Understand?"
"You don't have to tell me that," Cirno said. "Oh, and, um? uh? well, I? um, thanks for helping her." And with that, she left the office, hurrying out to the waiting area. To Rumia.
   
 
 
   
"Okay, Medicine," Nol said, "give us just a brief basic spray, all right?"
 
"Okay," Medicine said. She, Nol, and myself were standing outside the shrine. Medicine aimed diagonally upwards and released multiple small magical projectiles forwards. The projectiles weren't all fired straight ahead; they were fired at forward angles, the angles varying seemingly at random.
 
"That," Nol told me as Medicine ceased firing, "is danmaku."
 
"It doesn't look that special to me," I said. "That was simply multiple projectile shots."
 
"There's more to it than that. Those shots-also commonly called 'bullets', which I'm told is a term from the outside world, so if you recognize it, that's why-are a special variety in that they're less destructive than normal 'attack' magic."
 
I was beginning to understand. "So danmaku is used to fight without the risk of injury or death."
 
"Not quite," Nol said. "Danmaku's less dangerous, sure but it can still injure you and even kill you, although I haven't heard of anyone but fairies actually being killed by it, and they resurrect anyways. And some of the nastier stuff can be quite, well, nasty. You remember that 'Master Spark' Marisa did? That's an example of danmaku that can do major damage."
 
"So," I said, "danmaku is essentially weakened magical projectiles."
 
Nol nodded. "Very basically, yes. Danmaku battles, also referred to as spellcard duels, are, as one would expect, battles fought with danmaku. Battles are very common in Gensokyo; the danmaku system was designed as a way to allow such battles to happen but make them less destructive. The system's been in place for quite some time, and it seems to work fairly well."
 
Nol pulled a card of some kind out of his pocket and handed it to me. I took it and examined it. Both sides of the card had an identical image, that of a generic person with several of these danmaku bullets surrounding it. "Use this to learn what danmaku feels like to use," Nol said. "It should be easy to fire your own danmaku once you know that. First, fire a regular magic blast at Medicine-sorry, Med, but this won't work if she doesn't have something to target, and you can tell us what the hit felt like. And you're more durable than I am."
 
I did as told, although I kept the blast weak to avoid harming Medicine. Still, it of course wasn't completely harmless. Medicine, however, shrugged it off without difficulty. "Yeah, definitely a regular blast. A weak one, but still a regular one."
 
"Okay, then" Nol said. "Now use the card."
 
"All right," I said. "How do I use it?"
 
"Ah, I, um?"
 
"Send your power into it," Medicine said. "When you do so, words will come to your mind. Say them."
 
I did as instructed, focusing my power on the card. And as Medicine had said, words did indeed come into my mind. As instructed, I spoke them. "Instruction: Danmaku's Sense!"
 
The results were? interesting. As I spoke, the card began glowing, and it disappeared as I finished. Then several shots spun out from my position and formed a circle around me, remaining for a few seconds before vanishing. Obviously, the card had somehow done this, and yet? well, it felt just as it would have had I formed them on my own. Using my power to activate the card-obviously one of these 'spellcards' Nol had mentioned-had the same effect, including power used, as producing the card's effect on my own would have.
 
"That was? interesting," I said.
 
"I'll go into what that was shortly," Nol said. "Right now, just recall what the shots you produced felt like, and fire one off at Medicine." I did so. "Medicine?"
 
"Danmaku," the doll said. "Definitely danmaku."
 
"I felt the difference," I said. "You're right; it was easy after that spellcard, as I'm assuming it was."
 
"Good," Nol said. "It worked as described, then. Reimu said that card was intended for teaching newcomers-a lot of them arrive somewhere around the shrine-but I've never actually had to do that myself before."
 
"I see." I fired a few more danmaku shots into the air, then tried a basic spray like Medicine had done. Then I tried a few basic patterns, starting with firing lines of bullets. I then formed bullets into circles and fired them in that shape. I then did it with star shapes, and square shapes, and a few others. Then I tried something else. I fired more lines, but this time, instead of simply letting them go, I kept my power on them and changed their directions mid-flight. I experimented with this in different ways, including mixing them with shots I didn't keep influence over.
 
"You're picking this up quickly," Nol said.
 
"It's familiar. Another remnant of my forgotten past, most likely; I would assume that I knew how to do it before."
 
"If you're from Gensokyo, then yes, you undoubtedly did. Anyways, now that you know how to do danmaku, let's move on to spellcards."
   
 
 
   
Flying towards Yukari's, Alice was alone.
 
It wasn't fair. She'd finally succeeded in bringing Shanghai to life, and the other seven, too! She wanted to stay with them, to spend time with them, to get to know them. To just be with them. But she couldn't, and that hurt her more than anything else ever had. And so she did something that she never did.
 
By herself, flying to Yukari's, Alice cried.
   ------   They could all feel it, but they weren't sure what was happening. "Okay," London said, "does anyone have any ideas?"
 
"I? think it's emotional," Hourai said. "Emotions."
 
"Sadness," Moscow said. "I think it's sadness."
 
"Are you sad?" Nogales asked. "Because I'm not, but I feel it anyways."
 
"It's like the feeling is real, but it's someone else's," Copenhagen said.
 
It was Shanghai who figured it out. "It's Mother."
 
"The connection," Hourai said softly. "Of course."
 
"The connection?" Guadalupe said. "Wait, you mean the enchantment Mother used to bring us to life?"
 
"We're feeling her emotions through it, and she can probably feel ours as well. Before we were alive, we of course couldn't feel it, and we had no emotions for Mother to feel. She probably never realized it."
 
"Or maybe it wasn't there until now," Holland put in. "Maybe what Mother did to give us life changed it somehow."
 
"Okay," London said, "so we're feeling Mother's emotions. So why is she sad?"
 
"Us," Shanghai said. "She's sad because she had to leave us."
   ------   Alice flew on, still in tears, completely oblivious to what her children had just discovered.
   ------   "Why is she still upset?" Holland asked. "Can't she feel our emotions, too?"
 
"Maybe she can't," Copenhagen said. "We have no way of knowing if the effect is two-way."
 
"She can," Hourai said. "Links like this are almost never one-way."
 
"Well," London said, "you're the magic expert. But then why is she still upset? Can't she feel our worry? Our concern? Our love?"
 
It was again Shanghai who realized the answer. "She doesn't know. She doesn't know about the link."
 
"Neither did we," Guadalupe said, "but we felt her anyways."
 
"We're newly living. Mother isn't. She may be so used to herself the way she knows that she simply hasn't noticed that she can feel our emotions."
 
"Then we need something she can't fail to notice," Hourai said.
 
"Pain," Copenhagen said.
 
"I doubt she'll feel our pain. This doesn't seem to be a physical link."
 
"Maybe she won't feel the physical pain, but if one or more of us is in pain, she should feel our feeling of pain, right?"
 
"Actually," Hourai said, "I think you're right. This might just work."
 
"I'll take the hit," Holland said. "I'm built for durability. Copenhagen, you're the physical model. You deliver the hit."
 
"I should take the hit," Guadalupe said. "You're built for durability, Holland; it won't hurt you as much."
 
"Assuming we can actually feel pain," Nogales said.
 
"Medicine can," London said. "Mother told us about her when she found out how to use her to bring us to life, remember? Mother said that she feels pain. So we should, too."
 
"Right, then," Guadalupe said. "Copenhagen, don't worry about damaging me. Mother won't need me on this for a while, so it's okay if I'm out of action for a bit. Besides, Nogales can fix me up, right, Nogales?"
 
Nogales nodded. "Mother included that knowledge in my memory banks on my creation, and she's updated it as she's refined her techniques. There are no doubt differences now that we're alive, but there shouldn't be a problem. And Mother won't know the differences yet, either. I can't stop it from taking time, though, although once Mother returns, she will no doubt be able to speed the work, especially since I can assist her."
 
"Just say 'yes'," Moscow said.
 
"Right," Guadalupe said. "Copenhagen, whenever you're ready."
 
Copenhagen led Guadalupe outside. "Here, now we won't damage the house. Sorry about this." Then she grabbed Guadalupe and threw the other doll over her shoulder, slamming her into the ground with extreme force.
 
------
 
What the hell?
 
Alice came to a stop in midair. What is this? She was feeling? something. Pain? No, not pain. I'm not hurt. Not physically. But she felt? not like she was in pain, but? like she felt when she was in pain? She was feeling like that even though she wasn't actually in pain. As though this is someone else's pain. But how could I be-wait, what the hell?
 
There was more than just pain there. More feelings that aren't mine? There was? Concern? And more. Love? What is-
And then it hit her. My children. It's the magical link! The one I used to send Medicine's image into them! We're? connected, and not just magically like I expected. Somehow we're connected emotionally, too. But was this there from the start, or did something I did in giving them life change it? But no, that didn't matter. If one of her children was in pain, then she needed to go back. She needed to-
 
More feelings cut off her motion back to her house. Assurance? No, of course, one's hurt. They're worried about-now what? That's? exasperation? What is- Once again, it hit her. It's not about them. The connection's two-way. They sensed my feelings. But then why the pain? Why the? the sudden pain. Of course. They felt the connection before I did, and used sudden pain to draw my attention to it.
   ------   "I think she's figured it out," Shanghai said. They were in the workshop now; Copenhagen had brought Guadalupe straight there, and Nogales was already getting to work.
 
"Mostly superficial," Nogales said, her concentration fully on Guadalupe. "That was a smart choice, Copenhagen. The pain was major, but there hasn't been any major damage to any area, just a lot of lesser damage all over. Repairs may take time, if only because there's more parts in need of repair, but it shouldn't be too difficult."
 
"That's good," Guadalupe said, her pain not interfering with her speech, "but we should talk about Mother. I think she may still intend to return."
 
"Then we'll try something else," Hourai said. "The link may be more than just emotional. If I try to reach her with words, she may be able to hear me."
   ------   Alice was about to start back, but again, she was stopped by something new. What was that? Did I just hear something? She looked around. I don't see any-there it is again. And then again. So Alice, expecting it to come a fourth time, kept alert. But when it came, it didn't sound like it was coming from anywhere. It was more like it was coming from-from inside my head. So she focused on the link, on the emotions of her children. And when it came again, she heard it clearly.
 
[Mother, can you hear me?]

Thoughts. No, not thoughts. Not random thoughts. They're trying deliberately to contact me. Can we send thoughts along the link?

Alice decided to try it. [Hello?]
   ------   "Got her!" Hourai exclaimed. Unnecessarily, though, as the other seven also heard their mother's response. [Mother, it's Hourai. Can you hear me?]
   ------   [Mother, it's Hourai. Can you hear me?]
 
It worked! [I hear you,] Alice? well, 'said' wasn't the right word. 'Sent', perhaps. [I feel you, too. Can you?]
 
Hourai apparently didn't need her to finish the question. [Yes. We all can. The link is two-way. Mother, please don't worry about us. You don't need to worry.]
 
[We're with you, it seems,] a different-sounding 'voice'-if their physical and mental 'voices' sounded the same, then this was Moscow-replied. [We know you don't want to be separate from us, but please, don't abandon what you have to do. We understand.]
 
[Besides,] another-London, it 'sounded' like-sent, [it seems we're actually not really all that separate, anyways.]
 
Alice didn't know how to reply. [I?]
 
[Go,] another-Shanghai-sent. [You've only left physically. We're still together. You can do what you need to do and still remain with us. So go.]
 
And she did. And as she resumed her trip to Yukari's, she resumed something else as well. But for a different reason this time. This time, Alice's tears were not from sadness.
   
 
 
   
"Spellcards," Nol said, "were originally developed for use by magicians. Some spells take extensive preparation or things like that, and spellcards were developed as a way to get around this.
 
"A spellcard, as I understand it, is basically an empty vessel. Magicians would take their spells, conditions included, and impress them into spellcards. When a spell is impressed into a spellcard, that card can be used at any time to produce the impressed spell. Spellcards appear to vanish when they're used, but they're actually reusable. Picture the card in your mind." I did so, and all of a sudden, the card I'd used was floating in front of me. "See?" he said as he grabbed it.
 
"Okay, so then why did it vanish?"
 
"Because that's built into the card. Some spellcards-mainly danmaku spellcards-have that effect, but others don't. The effect is meant to simplify storage of danmaku cards, which you'd otherwise have to keep on your person at all times. I don't know how it works, but it lets you call up the card at any time by picturing it, and when you use the card, it automatically returns to? wherever it was before you called it up. That way, you can have them at your disposal at any time without having to carry them around."
 
"Makes sense," I said. "But what role do they play in danmaku?"
 
"Simple," Nol said. "Using spellcards lets you produce more intricate and complex bullet patters more easily in the middle of battle. Intracate, complex patterns are generally harder to avoid, and thus more effective. The problem is that forming such patterns takes time and concentration. By impressing them into spellcards, they can be used in battle without that time and concentration-although like any spellcard, it'll take just as much out of you.
 
"Now, the trick with spellcards is that they're not very flexible. Variation can be included in the impression so that the spellcard isn't absolutely identical every time it's used-you know, like slightly changing bullet angles or that sort of thing. But even so, it is the same spellcard every time it's used. Basic patterns, such as the spray Medicine showed us-incidentally, that's not a good way to go in battle; random sprays may look harder to avoid at first, but they're actually considered to be among the easiest to dodge. Anyways, basic patters are more flexible; since you're making it at the moment, you can change things up as much as you're able to. That's where the trick lies, in knowing when to go with simpler and less dense but more flexible basic patterns and when to use spellcards."
 
"I see."
 
"Right, then," Nol said. "In addition to the learning spellcard, I grabbed some empty cards, too. Here." He handed them to me; these ones, unlike the one he'd handed me earlier, were blank. "Let's see if we can't work out at least a couple spellcards for you, then you and Medicine can have a practice match."
 
"A good idea, I think," I said.
 
"In that case, let's get to it."
   
 
 
   
The others, Tewi included, met Cirno and Rumia outside. "I told you she'd be fine," Mystia said.
 
"Whatever," Cirno said. "Oh, wait, introductions. Rumia, the rabbit here is Tewi. Say hi; she's the newest member of the team."
 
"Um, hi," Rumia said.
 
"Hey," Tewi said. "Eirin get you all fixed up?"
 
"I'm fine," Rumia said. Cirno had filled Rumia in on everything Eirin had told her, but the two, not really understanding what it was, had decided not to tell the others.
 
"Good," Tewi said. "Glad to hear it. right, then. Where are you headed?"
 
"We've decided to stay together at my place," Mystia said.
 
"Right, then. I don't think I'll be staying there with you, but I'll go with you now. We've got something to talk about, anyways."
 
"We do?" Cirno said. "What?"
 
"She's got an idea for some big prank," Mystia explained as the group started off towards her home. "I'd assume that's what it is."
 
"Yep," Tewi said.
 
"Not yet," Cirno said. "We need to deal with that monster first. It hurt Rumia, and I'm not letting it get away with that."
 
"Um, Cirno," Daiyousei said, "we couldn't beat it."
 
"Then we'll have to find a way to."
 
"And how are we to go about doing that?"
 
"I think I know," Tewi said. "You live at Misty Lake, right, Cirno?"
 
"Yeah. So?"
 
"So you know of the Scarlet Devil Mansion located on an island in the middle of the lake. That place includes a massive library that's supposed to have books on everything there is."
 
"Yeah, I've heard that," Cirno said, "but that place isn't exactly friendly. I don't think they'll let us in."
 
"Girl," Tewi said, "do you really think we can't handle something like that? That door guard of theirs isn't supposed to be so tough, anyways, so we can just beat her up."
 
"I can beat her by myself," Cirno said. "It's the ones inside that are the problem. I'm the strongest, but they have all sorts of mean tricks, and they're not afraid to play dirty or team up on you or anything. Hell, that crazy maid lady alone can stop time! How are we supposed to deal with that?"
 
"Really, girl? You don't think we can give 'em a distraction?"
 
"We've tried," Wriggle said. "We've targeted them a couple times. It's never gone well."
 
"Yeah, but this time you've got me. Here's how we'll do it."
 
As she listened to Tewi's plan, a grin spread across Cirno's face. "That's perfect," she said when the rabbit was finished. "That's absolutely perfect. You know what, Tewi? I think we're gonna enjoy having you around. Let's do it."
   
 
 
   
"That," Nol said, "was impressive."
 
"Damn," Medicine said, "and here I thought I'd have an easy win."
 
Medicine and I had concluded our practice match, and I had emerged victorious. The spellcards I'd devised worked quite well. And as with the basic patterns, making spellcard patterns felt quite familiar. In fact, everything about danmaku was familiar, and as a result, my skill level was far above that of someone who was truly new to it. I found it quite unlikely that I was equal to my former level, but I was hardly starting from scratch.
 
"It looks like you've got the hang of it," Nol said. "Thanks for the help, Medicine. I'll get word to Marisa that you were looking for her."
 
"Thanks," Medicine said. "Okay, I should go. Su's probably wondering what happened to me. Bye!"
 
"Well," Nol said, "that concludes the lesson on danmaku. I think you'll do just fine."
 
"Yeah," Suika-she'd returned during the match-said, "you're pretty good. I've definitely got to have a fight with you sometime."
"Is fighting like that really that common here?" I asked.
 
"Suika's especially fond of fighting," Nol said, "even for an oni. She's not the norm. That being said, yes, combat is common in Gensokyo. Generally, the rule is to shoot on sight, at least among the numerous lesser youkai, fairies in particular. Others'll generally at least talk to you before shooting at you, but yes, you'll need to get used to danmaku battle, because it's everywhere."
 
"It's the way things are done here," Suika said. "You have a dispute with someone, you fight, and the winner, well, wins."
 
"It was like that even before danmaku," Nol said. "The danmaku system was introduced to make all those fights a bit less destructive. They still wear you out just as much as regular stuff, though-in fact, a lot of people have non-danmaku versions of their favorite danmaku moves-and taking hits is still taking hits. Just remember that less dangerous is still dangerous."
 
I doubted battle was quite as prevalent as Nol made it sound, but it was probably better to err on the side of caution. "I'll keep those things in mind. Anyways, now that we've gone over danmaku, is there anything else I should know?"
 
"You're eager to get moving, then."
 
"I am."
 
"Well," Nol said, "no, I don't think so. I think we've covered the basics. You might want to stay here for now, though. Reimu's met pretty much everyone in Gensokyo, so even if she knows little about you, she should at least know your name. Although given how many people she deals with, she may not remember you if it's been a minimum of five years since she last saw you. In fact, now that I think about it, that's more likely. Marisa didn't really remember you, after all, and she's the same way. And I don't know when Reimu'll be back, anyways."
 
"I think I'll just get moving, then," I said.
 
"Actually, you should probably stay here tonight. You probably don't realize how long all this has taken, but it'll be dark soon."
 
"I am fine with sleeping in the wild."
 
"Well, it's more dangerous at night. Although if you're powerful enough to do that? whatever you did with the barrier, you'll probably be fine."
 
"Actually," I said, "I think it may be a good idea to stay here for the night, if only because I have yet to decide on a destination. I would also like to practice danmaku some more, and maybe figure out another spellcard or two, as well. So yes, I believe I will take advantage of your offer."
 
 
 
 
  "Ah, Mokou," Eirin said as Mokou entered her office. "Please, have a seat." Mokou did so. "Now, I assume you're here about Cirno and Rumia?"
 
"Correct."
 
Mokou had remained near Eientei as Cirno's group had arrived. After they left, accompanied by Tewi-something that did not surprise her-Mokou entered the mansion herself and made her way to Eirin's office in the medical wing. Unlike the general staff, none of the medical staff were wary of her; she was a common sight in the medical wing, bringing in people who needed treatment.
 
"Well, you were right. I confirmed as much of it as I could, at least, so I see no reason to doubt the rest."
 
"What action did you take?"
 
"As you expected, I couldn't find any way to repair the damage. This 'Nolana' of yours is clearly as far beyond me as you said. I told them that I had found an effect within them that had been damaged, but that I couldn't identify its function-which is all true; I only know what it does because you told me. I also told them that the effect in them is linked. I said that I didn't know what was going on, but that if they wanted to get through it, the two of them needed to stick together-although I think that was Cirno's plan anyways."
 
"Good," Mokou said. "I don't know how this is going to turn out any more than you do, but?"
 
"I know," Eirin said. "And you at least know more than I do. I just hope you're right."
 
***************************************
 
Well, there we go. Please comment on the story, or at least confirm that you're interested, because if there doesn't seem to be any interest in this story here, then there's really no point in posting it here.
 
Anyways, chapter 4 is almost done, and should be up within the next two days.

[GuyYouMetOnline]

Chapter 4
Encounters
 
 
It was still light out when Alice arrived at Yukari's, although it wouldn't be that way for long. Not that daylight had ever prevented Yukari from sleeping. This time, however, she was awake, and she exited her home as Alice landed.
 
"Hello, Yukari," Alice said.
 
"Alice. Glad to see it's a friendly visitor this time."
 
"I assume, then, that you had an unfriendly visitor. Was it one of them?"
 
"It was," Yukari said. "Just finished it off a few minutes ago. I suppose you could say you got lucky; I'm usually asleep by now."
 
"That would not have stopped me," Alice said. "Not this time. I need something from you, and I don't have time to wait."
 
"Oh? And what would that be?"
 
"I think you already know the answer to that," Alice said. "I'm sure you know what these things are, and that means you know where they come from."
 
"I do. And I can't say I'm surprised that you intend to take action. But what, if I may ask, do you need my help for?"
 
"I need a way in," Alice said, "and I can't use the normal entrance. I don't want anyone there to know I've gotten involved."
 
"Ah, so you want me to send you in."
 
"Close. This isn't a one-time trip. I'll need a way in and out more than once. What I want is for you to open a portal there from my house and impress it into a spellcard so that I may use it as needed."
 
"I see," Yukari said. "Hmm? all right. What spot do you want it to lead to?"
 
Alice handed Yukari a blank spellcard. "Mekis."
 
"Hmm? a good choice, I suppose. All right, then. I'll be right back."
 
Alice had seen it before, but she still didn't really know how to describe it. Yukari made an? opening and passed through it, it closing behind her. A few moments later, she exited another. "Done." She handed Alice the no-longer-empty spellcard. "Here you go."
 
"Thank you." Alice took the card, and it vanished. She then handed Yukari another blank one. "I have something else that I would also like you to impress into a spellcard."
 
"Oh?"
 
"I assume you remember the enchantment you placed on the dolls I then sent underground with Marisa."
 
"Yes, yes I do. You want that in a spellcard?"
 
"Correct," Alice said.
 
"Well? all right, but why?"
 
"I may need to enchant more dolls in that manner, and I don't want to have to come to you every time I have that need."
 
"I see. Well, all right, then." Yukari concentrated, muttering a few words. The card glowed, and when the glowing stopped, it bore an image of a doll with some kind of aura around it. "Here you go," she said as she handed the card to Alice.
 
"Thank you. That concludes my business with you, so might I ask you so send me to my next destination? I must next visit the Temple of Myouren, and I would like to get there before night has truly fallen."
 
"I can do that," Yukari said, opening up another? thing. "Bye!" she called out as Alice passed through it.
 
 

 
When I decided on my initial destination, I informed Nol. "Um, uh, okay, well, um? okay, I know I said they keep to themselves, but I also said it's not exactly the safest place to go."
 
"I'm aware of that. But if I let that stop me, I wouldn't get anywhere. And it sounds like the Scarlet Devil Mansion is a good place to start, so that's where I'm going."
 
"I? suppose. Just? be careful."
 
"I know to be careful," I said. "I'll probably go it slow, too, maybe walk for a while instead of flying straight there. You know, take some time going through a new world."
 
"Um, okay. Won't help you at the SDM."
 
"I'll be careful, Nol."
 
"All right, fine. When are you going to leave?"
 
"Well, it's starting to get dark out. That doesn't bother me, but I might as well get some rest anyways. I'll probably be gone well before you're awake, though."
 
"Ah, so you don't need much sleep. Sounds like you're probably not human, then."
 
"Not a normal one, certainly. I believe I've already mentioned that my physical capabilities are beyond those of normal humans."
 
"Well, you wouldn't be the first human to get beyond those limits. How much sleep do you need, though? How long can you go without any?"
 
"I don't really know," I said. "I've never bothered to push myself to the limit. I do know that I can go without sleep for at least a couple days without it affecting me, but I've never gone beyond that."
 
"I see. Well, you're not unusual here in that area. Youkai in particular don't need nearly as much sleep as humans. How much is needed varies depending on the type of youkai in question; there are even some who don't need any sleep at all."
 
"I see. Is it certain that I'm not human, then?"
 
"Well, no. As I said, you wouldn't be the only human to? bypass the normal physical limitations of humans. I think it's more likely that you're a youkai, though."
 
"I'll keep that in mind. Hopefully, though, I won't have to wonder for long."
 
"Well, yeah, I suppose that's something you'll learn when you learn who you were."
 
I didn't correct Nol's statement; it didn't matter if he had a mistaken interpretation of this. However, I am not searching for who I was, but who I am. I may not remember that person, but she is still me, and I am her. I may perhaps be different now, but I am also still that person. I am both her and my current self, Orphan. That former self is me despite me knowing nothing about her. I am her, and that is why I want to know who she is. Who I am.
 
Nol continued on. "I still think you should wait for Reimu, though. At the very least, she might know your name, even if Marisa didn't."
 
"If that's all she knows," I said, "then I would rather not hear it."
 
"Um? okay, um, what?"
 
"The name is meaningless without knowledge of the person behind it. Learning my name would tell me nothing about myself. In addition, I do not feel that I have the right to know it yet. Only when I know who I am will I have the right to know my name."
 
"Oh," Nol said. "Well, okay then. Anyways, um, here." He handed me some more blank spellcards. "Take these. Don't worry about it; consider them yours. Giving them to newcomers is why we keep so many blank cards here in the first place."
 
"Right," I said. "Anyways, I'll be leaving as soon as I am awake, so allow me to take this opportunity to say goodbye, and thank you for your help."
 
 

 
The temple's main entrance was always kept open. This place turned no one away. Alice had been here before, but only a couple times, and she had not gotten used to its appearance. Byakuren had used Murasa's ship as the basis for the temple, which gave it a somewhat odd look.
 
Byakuren was in the main room, and she looked up as Alice entered. "Ah, Alice! Good to see you! What can I do for you this evening?"
 
"You probably know what this is regarding," Alice said.
 
"Yes, I suppose I do. I likely know what you're thinking, too, for I have been having such thoughts myself. You and I both know that something like this could not happen unless she allowed it, and we also know that she would never allow it."
 
This was true. In fact, Byakuren had known Alice's mother far longer than Alice herself had, so if anything, she knew this even better than Alice. Not that Alice had any doubts about it herself. "Both are true, yet it's also true that this is happening. Yes, the demons of Makai have entered Gensokyo before, but that incident was essentially peaceful. This one is not."
 
"The question, then, is: how is it that this is happening?"
 
"I don't know," Alice said, "but I intend to find out."
 
"You're going to Makai?"
 
"I am. I have already arranged a means by which I may gain entry unnoticed, but I now must handle the fact that despite my absence, my appearance is no doubt widely known."
 
"It was when I was freed," Byakuren said.
 
"There's also the fact that doing this myself would take far too long. There are simply too many places to look for information, especially if I want to remain inconspicuous. I have found a solution to that problem, and also to the one of me being recognized. I will be sending others in to gather information, only crossing over myself when I have a definite target."
 
"What 'others'?"
 
"Are you familiar with Medicine Melancholy?"
 
"I am," Byakuren said. "She's the doll that lives on the Nameless Hill."
 
"I was able to reproduce her coming to life within eight of my dolls. They will be assisting me."
 
"I? see."
 
"Like Medicine, each of them grew a new body upon becoming alive. The problem is the fact that, also like Medicine, they are accompanied at all times by the dolls that are their original selves. That might look suspicious. And there's the chance that someone might see the dolls and connect them to me, or worse, to see the doll with one of my children and think because of it that she is me in disguise. It would certainly attract attention, something I do not want them to do. So I need a way to? conceal what they truly are."
 
Byakuren understood. "The Seeds of Non-Identification."
 
"Yes."
 
"I see. Well, that can most certainly be arranged. Come, let us locate-"
 
Byakuren was cut off as one of the doors leading deeper inside opened and out came? Byakuren.
 
The first Byakuren looked at the new one and sighed. "Hello, Nue."
 
"Damn," the other Byakuren said, "you're out here? Man, that's no fun." And as she spoke, she changed. Where a perfect duplicate of Byakuren had been, there was now a young-looking woman in a mostly black outfit. She had short, black hair and red eyes, but most striking about her appearance were her odd-looking wings. "Well, whatever," she said, walking over to Byakuren and Alice. "Who's this?"
 
"Alice," Byakuren said, "allow me to introduce Nue Houjuu. Nue, this is Alice."
 
"Ah," Nue said, "so you're Alice. Hmm? well, hell, I've never seen your mother, so I have no idea if you look like her." And then she changed again, becoming a perfect duplicate of Alice. "You look like me, though."
 
"Byakuren," Alice said, "would it be acceptable for me to hit her?"
 
Nue reverted to her own form. "Meanie."
 
"Nue," Byakuren said, "Alice doesn't have time to play."
 
"Fine. I'll just leave you two to your boring-ness, then."
 
"Actually, Nue, Alice needs you for something."
 
"Huh?"
 
"I have things I need to conceal the true form of," Alice said. "In order to do so, I need Seeds of Non-Identification."
 
"Okay, well, what's it worth to you?"
 
Byakuren sighed again. "Nue, just give her some."
 
"Oh, fine. Here." Nue pulled a handful of seeds apparently from nowhere and dumped them in Alice's hands. "There."
 
Alice counted the seeds. Five of them. Should be enough. "Are these reusable?"
 
"Yep. Just take them off and you can put them on something else."
 
"Good," Alice said, pocketing the seeds. "Thank you, Nue. And you, Byakuren."
 
"Think nothing of it," Byakuren said. "Just? please let me know what you learn."
 
"Fair enough. I'll see you as soon as I have something to tell you, then. But for now, I must be going."
 
 

 
Cirno and the others had returned to Mystia's house. Tewi had remained with them for a while, but as night fell, she returned to Eientei, agreeing to meet Cirno's group at Misty Lake early the next morning. And by early, she meant early. Not that it was a problem for any of them; they were all youkai, and didn't need nearly as much sleep as ordinary humans.
 
Cirno had taken Daiyousei and Rumia and left for her house, on the shore of the lake. Wriggle and Mystia, meanwhile, had separated to go meet Tewi at Eientei and make sure she made it to the right place. Cirno would have kept the whole group together, but she knew that you always scouted the target before moving in-everyone knew that. And she didn't want to wait any longer than she had to; the sooner they moved in, the sooner they'd know how to deal with the monster that had hurt Rumia.
 
Cirno, Daiyousei, and Rumia had done the scouting and returned to Cirno's house to wait for the others. And before long, someone came. But it was only one person. "Hi, there," Tewi said, setting down the medium-sized bag she was carrying. "Um, aren't we missing two people?"
 
"They're supposed to be with you," Cirno said. "They wanted to make sure you came to the right spot on the lake."
 
"How'd you do that without them, anyways?" Dai asked.
 
"Oh, that?" Tewi said. "Just a lucky guess."
 
"That's not important right now, Dai," Cirno said. "If Mystia and Wriggle aren't with Tewi, then where are they?"
 
"I never saw them," Tewi said.
 
"Not good. Dai, go find them. Rumia and Tewi and I can handle this. You know where to meet-and so do they, if you can't find them."
 
Daiyousei clearly didn't want to go, but she knew better than to try and change Cirno's mind. "All right, Cirno. I'll be back as soon as I can. Try not to get hurt."
 
 

 
Mystia hit the ground. Hard.
 
"Mystia!" Wriggle rushed towards her fallen friend, but stopped when the beast that had attacked Mystia turned and came for her. "Damn it, what the hell does it take to get rid of you?"
 
The pair had run into the beast on their way to Eientei. They'd immediately headed back to Mystia's house to get the others, but the others had already left. The beast had caught up with them, and they'd tried fighting it, but they'd gotten their asses kicked. This one didn't have the pain resistance of the one that had attacked Cirno, nor did it have the regenerative ability of the one that had attacked them as a group. But it was still too much for them to handle, so they'd fled.
 
They'd been on the run for a few hours now, alternately running away from the thing, hiding from it, and trying to fight it. In particular, Wriggle had been throwing every poisonous insect in the area at it, but this had yet to show any results. And now, it seemed that the monster had finally caught them; Mystia was down, and Wriggle was not going to leave her. But Wriggle wasn't about to give up.
 
Wriggle called every insect within range to her as the beast moved slowly towards her. "Oh, what's this?" it said. "The little bug wants to fight again? Hah! You know what, bug? I think I actually like you, so I'll make you a deal. If you run now, I won't come after you anymore. How's that sound?"
 
"And leave Mystia? Never."
 
The beast laughed. "She's dead anyways. You can't save her, only yourself. If you try to save her, well, then you'll die, too."
 
"I don't care," Wriggle said. "I'll die before I let you hurt Mystia!"
 
"So be it."
 
The beast resumed its charge, but Wriggle stood her ground. She sent every insect she'd gathered at the monster in a massive swarm. The beast charged right through them, only for Wriggle to finally move, leaping out of the way and landing behind the beast as it came to a halt and the insects overtook it again.
 
The creature spun around and charged again, but shortly after clearing the swarm, it tripped and fell. It struggled to get to its feet, but could not do so. "What the? what did you do, you miserable little bug?"
 
Holy shit, Wriggle thought, it actually worked! "Simple. My insects' poison wasn't enough to harm you individually, so I sent a swarm at you. Not only did you get hit with a lot more of it all at once, but you got hit with many, many different kind of toxins. I can't imagine you're feeling too good right now."
 
"You? little? bitch."
 
Wriggle watched the creature expire. Holy shit, that was close. There's no way that should've worked. But I had to try something. I couldn't run. I had to protect Mystia. I just hope she's all right. She ran over to the night sparrow. "Mystia! Mystia, are you all right? Mystia!"
 
Wriggle quickly examined Mystia. She's alive. She's unconscious, but I think she's alive. Um, um, um-Eientei! I have to get her to Eientei! "Come on, Mystia," she said taking hold of the bird. "Let's get you some help. Just hold on." Please hold on, Mystia. Please.
 
 

 
As I had told Nol, I left the shrine early. Early enough that it was still dark, and probably would be for at least another couple hours. In addition to the spellcards, which were wherever it is they are between uses-even blank ones can be stored that way, it seems-I took with me only the map, folded up and placed within a pocket.
 
I set off towards the Scarlet Devil Mansion. I flew-which, according to Nol, was like danmaku in that anyone with any sort of power could do it-for an hour or so, but then I landed, choosing instead to walk. I wanted to get a feel for this new world, to take my time and walk along through new places in a world I had only arrived in two days ago. I wasn't concerned about walking being slower; I didn't want to waste time just sitting around, true, but I wasn't in any hurry.
 
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
The sun was just starting to rise when they were ready to go in. Fortunately, the plan didn't actually require the others, although they would've helped, Wriggle especially-the original plan had called for her to go in with Tewi and use her insects as scouts. But even she had been more of a backup than anything else; the plan could still work, although they'd be forced to rely solely on Tewi's luck to ensure that she was spotted only when she wanted to be. And when they did spot her, they would think she was someone else.
 
Tewi could have easily just obscured her identity, still looking like an earth rabbit but not recognizable as being Tewi specifically. Which would have worked just fine, but Tewi wanted revenge on Reisen, and she'd decided that as far as that was concerned, this was the perfect opportunity, so she'd scrapped her original plan for Reisen in favor of this one. Disguising herself as Reisen had been a bit trickier, but still fairly simple. The main requirement had been one of Reisen's outfits, which had been in the bag Tewi brought. She'd also brought a few other things, such as makeup, as well as what she needed to disguise her ears as those of a lunar rabbit, as the appearance of the ears differed between earth and lunar rabbits. But even that hadn't been too hard. Tewi perhaps wouldn't have been able to fool anyone at Eientei, but the SDM's residents were a different story.
 
The plan started with Cirno attacking the SDM's guard, Hong 'China' Meiling. Meiling, as was quite often the case, was asleep, which made things extremely easy. Tewi and Rumia were ready to jump in if necessary, but Cirno had Meiling knocked unconscious almost as soon as she'd woken up. "She's down," Cirno said, turning to Tewi and Rumia. "Let's-Rumia!"
 
Rumia was bent over, moaning. "Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh? owowowowowwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww."
 
Cirno ran over to her. "Rumia! Rumia, are you okay?"
 
"Uuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu."
 
"It happened when you attacked Meiling," Tewi said. "I don't think she's in any condition to do much right now. Um, are you going to-"
 
"No," Cirno said. "I'm not going to call it off. This isn't just some prank. We're doing this so we can find out how to beat the thing that did this to her."
 
"We're at the bare minimum, then," Tewi said. "We won't have anyone to distract pursuit. We'll need a new getaway plan. Um?"
This wasn't the first time Cirno'd needed to? adapt a plan to changing circumstances, and fortunately, she was rather good at it. Although the change here was simple. "Stay here," she said. She grabbed Rumia and took the girl to her house, then returned to Tewi. "I put Rumia in my house," she said. "When I come out, I'll dive into the lake and head there underwater. You just head to the forest. If anyone manages to keep on you that far, lose them in the forest, then make the drop as planned and get back to Eientei. Rumia and I'll get to the meeting spot as soon as she stops hurting. You get there as soon as you can-and I did tell you it was a good idea to have one, didn't I? Well, I hate to say 'I told you so', but-wait, no I don't. I told you so."
 
"I've only worked solo before," Tewi said. "I'm not used to needing to worry about stuff like that."
 
"Whatever. Come on, let's do this. Where's my disguise?"
 
"The seed." Tewi took a seed out of a pocket and handed it to Cirno. "Here you go."
 
"Um? what's this?"
 
"It's called a Seed of Non-Identification. I got it from Nue, a girl at that temple. She's something of a prankster, too, although she doesn't go for plans, which is a pity, since she can change what she looks like. She usually just pretends to be other people, and isn't interested in going beyond that, sadly. But I did get her to give me that seed."
 
"What's it do?"
 
"If you attach it to yourself," Tewi explained, "anyone who sees you will see what they expect to see. In this case, we're about to break into the SDM's library, something that Marisa usually does. They'll be expecting to see Marisa, so if they see you when you have the seed on, they'll see not you, but Marisa."
 
"That's awesome," Cirno said.
 
"It has its limits, sadly. Most notably, it has no effect on anyone who sees you without having an expectation of what they're going to see. And it also doesn't work if someone expects to see nothing; it can't make them fail to see you, so it won't affect them, either. It's really only useful very situationally, but this is one of those situations, since the SDM's people will be expecting a specific person."
 
"So they won't know it's me."
 
"That's right. They should figure out that you're a fake Marisa once they see me, but they'll still see you as Marisa-although they'll probably notice a few flaws in the 'disguise' all of a sudden. Once you're out, take the seed off and pocket it-and no, it won't have an effect from your pocket. Not even on your clothes-it doesn't seem able to attach to clothes, and no, I don't know why that is."
 
"Got it," Cirno said.
 
"Good. You'll need to attach it directly to your skin. Just press it against your skin as hard as you can." Cirno did so, and the seed seemed to? meld against her skin somewhat. "Good. When you're ready to remove it, just grab it and pull. Don't worry; it won't hurt."
 
"Got it. Now let's do this."
 
 

 
"The damage is mostly minor. There are no broken bones or anything like that, and the head trauma isn't enough to cause any problems-although that wouldn't be the case if she was human. She'll probably be out for another couple hours or so, and she probably won't feel like moving much today, but she'll be okay."
 
"Thank you," Wriggle said.
 
Wriggle had taken Mystia to Eientei, and when they saw the injured night sparrow, the guards didn't ask any question. Wriggle had immediately been directed to the medical wing, where the staff had taken her straight to a room. The nurse Wriggle was speaking to, Rin-who stood out by virtue of being the only non-rabbit on the mansion's staff-had been the one to examine Mystia.
 
"No problem," Rin said. "Will you be wanting to remain with her?"
 
Wriggle did want to, but? "I can't. I have to do something. When she wakes up, tell her I'll be here as soon as I can."
 
"Got it," Rin said. "See you."
 
 

 
The plan was working.
 
Tewi could have snuck into the library on her own, but even with all the luck she could call up, she'd need time to find what they were after. Cirno's job was to buy her that time, and she was doing so."
 
"Get back here, you thieving bitch!"
 
Cirno flew quickly through the library, pursued by the magician (and head librarian of the SDM's Voile Library) Patchouli's assistant, Koakuma. She'd attracted Patchouli's attention very carefully, and she'd been the decoy before, so she knew what she was doing. This time, she made sure that Patchouli saw her with a few books (which she'd grabbed pretty much at random), and as planned, Patchouli thought that she was Marisa. So now Patchouli and Koakuma were pursuing her as she led them all around the library. She'd already managed to ditch the librarian, but Koakuma was proving a bit better at the chase. Not that Cirno had any intention of being caught. She just had to last long enough for Tewi to do the job, and she was going to do exactly that.
 
******
 
Tewi flew up to grab a book from the top shelf, then dropped back to the ground. She moved quickly and quietly through the library, trusting her instincts to guide her. And after grabbing two more books, bringing her total to five, her instincts told her it was time to exit.
 
Tewi, following her instincts, stopped just before exiting the aisle. She waited until her instincts told her to move, at which time she exited the aisle just as Patchouli herself flew out of another. The magician landed in front of Tewi. "You're?"
 
Patchouli shielded her eyes. Good, Tewi thought. She's not locking eyes with me. That means she's buying the disguise.
 
"What are-" Patchouli cut off as she came to a realization. "Damn it. Koakuma! Koakuma, Marisa is a fake! She's just a decoy! The lunar rabbit Reisen is the real target! Ignore the decoy and intercept at the exit!"
 
Must be some sort of communication spell. "Sorry," Tewi said, "but I've got to go."
 
******
 
Cirno spun around during an unexpected pause in Koakuma's attack. Koakuma remained still for a moment before speaking. "Pretty clever, 'Marisa'," she said, "but it looks like you got unlucky. Your friend's been-"
 
"Bye!" Cirno said. She made for the entrance as fast as she could go. Koakuma followed, but she wasn't attacking Cirno. As had been expected, her instructions were obviously to let the decoy go and intercept 'Reisen'. But that was part of the plan, too, and Cirno'd led Koakuma clear across the library. Tewi could easily outrun the not-very-fast Patchouli, leaving the possibility of an interception by Koakuma the only worry. Except that being at the other end of the library gave Tewi plenty of time to make her escape.
 
Cirno flew out of the library. She dashed through the mansion and out the main doors. As she passed by the still-unconscious China, she spotted Tewi making for the forest at maximum speed, exactly as planned. Which meant it was time for Cirno to make her getaway, and she dove into the lake well before anyone could exit the mansion and see her.
 
As Tewi'd told her to do, Cirno pulled off the Seed of Non-Identification and pocketed it. She moved quickly towards her house. There probably wasn't any need for her to hide out before heading to the meeting spot-Mystia's house-but her house was where Rumia was, and she needed to check on her friend. The two of them would head for Mystia's as soon as Rumia was up to it.
 
 

 
Wriggle placed her note on the table, then exited Mystia's house. The note was for Cirno and the others. It said that Mystia was at Eientei. It also said that Wriggle had to take care of something, and that she would meet them at Eientei once it was done. Cirno wouldn't like the idea of her going off on her own, she knew, but 'something' was hardly enough for Cirno to follow her. Even Cirno would realize that she couldn't do anything when she had absolutely no idea where Wriggle was.
 
Wriggle closed the door behind her. Right. That takes care of that. Time to get moving.
 
Wriggle rose into the air and headed off to a location only she knew. Sure, it was possible that someone else would have stumbled upon it, but even if they had, they would have found only an empty cave, one that was too small to live in. It was just a short passage that abruptly ended. Or so it appeared, but although Wriggle had never attempted to access its secret, she knew that secret was there.
 
I said I'd never do this, Wriggle thought. I guess I was wrong. I'm sorry, but I don't have a choice. I don't care how risky it is; I'm going to do it. I have to protect Mystia.
 
Wriggle hadn't understood her feelings for Mystia before. It was only upon handing her over to Eientei's medical staff, watching as they rushed her to a room and praying that she'd be okay, that she had realized what they were. I love you, Mystia. Just hang in there; I'll be back soon, and then I'll be able to keep you safe.
 
 

 
A familiar person walked out as Yuugi approached the shrine. "This is unexpected," Nol said. "If you're here for Suika, she said she was going to go pick a fight with someone."
 
Yuugi didn't know Nol very well, but she did know him. She came to the shrine from time to time, mainly to visit Sukia. Although that wasn't her purpose today. "Actually, I'm here on business. Satori had some errands above ground, and since I'm the one who's been up here the most, I got drafted." Yuugi reached into the very large bag-larger than her-she was carrying and removed an object wrapped in paper. "Here," she said, handing it to Nol. "Satori said Orin broke a vase here the other day, so she's giving Reimu this one as a replacement."
 
"I see," Nol said. "Well, Reimu's still not here, but I'll say 'thank you' for her. What else does she have you doing?"
 
"I've got two other stops to make," Yuugi said. "Satori tells me Remilia Scarlet's birthday is in a couple weeks, and she asked me to deliver some 'special supplies' Remilia had requested. And by 'special supplies' I mean sake from the underground. Remilia apparently wants to have a bunch of it available-and yes, there are differences between what we have down there and the stuff you have up here. Trust me; I've had plenty of both. Anyways, Remilia contacted Satori, who agreed to send some up. And since Satori had a couple other things that needed taking up here, she sent the sake along with me, too. And yes, it'll still be fresh in two weeks. You didn't really think oni don't have ways to preserve the stuff, did you?"
 
"I thought you usually just drank it all right away."
 
Yuugi laughed. "No, we've got stores of it. Emergency supplies, you know? In case there's a need for it."
 
"Oooooooooo-kay. I'll just leave that one be." Nol chuckled. "So Remilia knows Satori, huh? I didn't realize they knew each other."
 
"They do. Apparently, their sisters are good friends-and no, I don't know how Koishi and Flandre met. Anyways, after that I've got some things to drop off at Eientei. It seems Satori's just become a supplier for Eirin; some things from the underground aren't really that easy to find up here. This is the first shipment, so Satori's got me doing the delivery until she can arrange something more permanent."
 
"I see," Nol said. Then he had an idea. "Say, Yuugi, could I get a favor?"
 
"What is it?"
 
"Well, there's this odd girl from outside who showed up here two days ago. Calls herself 'Orphan'. She lost her memory. She somehow managed to get to Gensokyo, and she thinks she's originally from here. She doesn't have anything else to go on, though, so she's just going from place to place to see if anyone recognizes her. She left this morning, and her first destination is the Scarlet Devil Mansion."
 
"Ah. Yeah, that could be a problem. She is human, I assume."
 
"She looks human, but I'm not sure if she is. If she is, she's enhanced her physical abilities. She certainly has power."
 
"But she still might be human," Yuugi said.
 
"Right. And even if she's not, the SDM's not exactly the safest place to just randomly show up at."
 
"You want me to catch up with her, then, right?"
 
"Yeah, especially if you're going there yourself anyways."
 
"I can do that. When did she leave?"
 
"Early," Nol said. "She doesn't need as much sleep as normal humans, so I understand she was awake well before sunrise."
 
"Then I doubt I can catch her," Yuugi said.
 
"She said she intends to take it slow, and probably land and walk for a ways. She wants to? experience this new-to-her world, or something like that."
 
"Well, maybe I can catch her, then. I should get going, though. Tell Reimu I said hi. And be careful. Don't leave the shrine."
 
"Reimu's been saying that a lot lately," Nol said. "And she's been leaving frequently. Nobody's telling me anything, but something's happening, isn't it? Something beyond the regular incidents."
 
"It seems that way," Yuugi said. "But you're probably safe here, so don't worry about it. Anyways, I should go. See you."
 
"Yeah, sure," Nol muttered as Yuugi flew off. "Stay here. You're safe here. Don't worry about it. God, I wish they'd just cut that shit out for once. Always with the goddamn 'He's weak,' 'He has no power,' 'We have to shelter and protect him,' and all that shit. Yeah, sure, I shouldn't go places alone, but can't I at least know what's going on? I may not have power, but I'm still a person."
 
Nol reentered the shrine, still complaining to himself.
 
 

 
The sun had been up for a couple hours when I saw it. At first, I dismissed it as just another youkai, but it soon became clear that this one was different. I had been attacked with danmaku a few times, and I'd seen others fighting with danmaku, but this individual was different. Whatever it was, it was not using danmaku. It was using a weapon-a sword, I saw as it drew closer. A big one, too. The? individual was slicing the fairies apart. Until it saw me.
 
I took a closer look at the creature as it landed in front of me. Not only did it stand two or three feet taller than me, and even putting its height aside, it was just generally large. Not fat, large. It was humanoid, although there were? differences. Taloned feet, nasty-looking claws, that kind of thing. Its 'skin' was black, and appeared more like a hide. And its head and face were? well, monstrous, I suppose. It was almost completely unclothed, wearing only a codpiece, which if nothing else told me that it was male, and the sheath for his sword, which was strapped to his back.
 
"Well, well, well," the creature said, "what have we here? A human? No, no human would be way out here alone unless? so you have power, then."
 
"Who are you?"
 
"Introductions, then? Very well. I am Nokat, he who comes to spread panic and to kill."
 
I introduced myself in the same manner. "I am Orphan, she who searches for her lost past."
 
"'Lost past'? Interesting. You've lost your memory, then."
 
"Indeed I have."
 
"Well, I don't know you," Nokat said, "but I'm about to kill you, so does it really matter?"
 
"Why," I asked, "would you want to kill me?"
 
"Oh, it's nothing personal. I'm not targeting anyone specifically. Although I did single you out, simply because I'm getting tired of all these fairies. Killing something that comes back just isn't the same."
 
"And why are you killing at all?"
 
"Because I am," Nokat said. He took a ready stance. "I just hope you can give me a decent fight."
 
I formed my own weapon. I didn't know why this thing wanted to kill me, but it was not going to find me easy to kill. "Do not mistake me for easy prey."
 
"I certainly hope you're not," he said, and charged.
 
I met Nokat's initial charge head on. He brought his sword over in a downward swing, which I intercepted with my pole, blocking as he tried to keep going through my guard. "You're not human," he said. "Your strength is beyond what they have."
 
"I am beyond normal human limits," I said.
 
"Not far enough beyond them."
 
Nokat was right; I couldn't match his physical strength. So I didn't. I ducked to the side, letting his sword slam into the ground as I struck his knee with my own weapon.
 
Nokat laughed. "You didn't think you could hurt me that easily, did you?"
 
It was easy to see that he was bluffing. I didn't smash his knee in, true, but his brief grimace told me that he had indeed felt it. Not that I intended to call him on it; better, I thought, that he think I bought it. "How should I know?" I said. "I lost my memory, remember?"
 
I jumped back to avoid his next slash, then dashed in and delivered a blow to his side. He spun around with another slash, but I was already gone. I ducked under his next slash and landed a hit, then jumped back out before he could retaliate.
 
Nokat was stronger and tougher than me, and he had the advantage of reach. But I had the advantage of speed and agility, and I used it. I dashed in and out, weaving my way around his strikes and landing strikes of my own whenever I had the chance. And eventually he, even as durable as he was, began to show signs of injury. It was taking repeated blows, but I was doing damage.
 
"Damn it," he cried as I evaded another swing, "stay still!"
 
I ducked under his next swing, moved in, ripped his codpiece off, and slammed my pole into his personal region. "No."
 
Nokat dropped his sword as he doubled over in pain. "You? bitch!" He raised his arm, and I saw a glow of energy in his hand.
Bringing power into this, I see, I thought. Then I shall do the same.
 
Until that point, the only power I had used was to keep my pole intact. But as Nokat fired his blast, that ceased to be the case. I leapt into the air, sailing over the blast in an arc. I landed behind Nokat, spinning to face him, and thrust my pole into his back. I channeled the energy of the earth into the strike, and the force sent him flying. I formed a wall of stone in his path, and he slammed into it hard. I allowed the wall to break, and Nokat passed through the crumbling wall as he hit the ground. I sent a block of earth thrusting quickly out, angled such that Nokat was launched towards me. After two relay launches, he landed on his back nearby.
I walked over to him. "You lose."
 
"Then why am I not dead? This won't end until one of us dies."
 
"Why? Why are you so intent on killing me?"
 
"Not you specifically."
 
"Fine. Why are you intent on killing?"
 
"It's what I'm here to do."
 
"Elaborate."
 
"No," Nokat said.
 
Nokat fired another blast, but I was able to react quickly enough to avoid it, and I slammed my pole into his personal region again. "I don't think so. This fight's over."
 
"I think you'll have to kill him, Orphan."
 
I moved around Nokat, allowing me to keep him in sight while I looked at the newcomer. She was a fairly tall (by normal standards, at least. Nokat stood well over her, but that might be normal for his kind; I did not know) woman with long, blonde hair and red eyes. I guess Gensokyo has more eye colors than the outside world. She had a single horn on her head, and like Suika, she was wearing chains. And she was carrying a bag that was significantly larger than her.
 
"Who are you?" I asked the woman.
 
"Yuugi," she said, setting the bag down. "Yuugi Hoshiguma. Nol asked me to-"
 
"We can talk about that later," I said. "Right now, Nokat here is a more press-"
 
Nokat fired two blasts, one at me and one at Yuugi. I dodged, but Yuugi just charged right through, taking the hit. She took Nokat by the arm and threw him high into the air. Then she leapt into the air after him. She got above him, grabbed him as he passed her, and spun around and threw him downwards.
 
Yuugi was right. Nokat clearly intended to fight to the death. So I carefully raised the earth in a certain spot. My positioning was a little off, but I was able to correct before Nokat hit the ground. I didn't know how much force it would take to injure him, but apparently Yuugi had thrown him down with enough. The raised earth was positioned to catch his neck as he fell, and it worked. I could hear the breaking as he hit, and his head snapped forward as the rest of his body fell the rest of the way to the ground.
 
 

 
Hi. My name's Yuugi Hoshiguma.[/i]
 
Like other oni, I live underground. Suika-who happens to be a friend of mine-is the only one who doesn't. I go up above ground sometimes, usually to visit Suika. Which includes going to the parties up in Heaven or anywhere else on the surface that Suika always tells me about. And she comes underground sometimes, too, usually to visit me (or go to parties that I tell her about).
I'm the only oni who regularly goes above ground-Suika lives above ground, so she doesn't count. Suika and I are good friends, and I'm not letting some little thing like where she lives change that. Hell, we've known each other since before the oni moved underground in the first place.
 
Suika likes to say she's the strongest oni, and, well, she is as far as I know. I'm pretty close, though, and our battles tend to be quite excellent fights. We usually just do it for fun, although I did challenge her for her gourd once.
 
People above ground, especially the humans of the Human Village, seem to fear oni these days. Of course, I'm told that humans in the village tend to be fearful of a lot of youkai, so it's probably nothing to do with oni specifically. Still, I've been there a few times, and I'm not fond of the reactions I get. So unless I've got something I need to do (or a party to go to), I generally stay underground. I will, however admit that lately I've been? well, looking for reasons to go above ground. It gives me an excuse to see her. But that's a bit more personal than I really want to get right now.
 
Anyways, things seem to be getting interesting lately. I'm told that greater demons have been appearing in Gensokyo recently and causing problems. I do know that we've had a couple show up underground, but, well, they didn't last very long. Normally, Reimu and Marisa handle things like this, but this one seems different, and I'm not sure they'll be able to stop in by themselves. I don't know what the demons want, but I do know this: if they are making some sort of move, then they'll be in for one hell of a fight.
 
 

 
Yuugi landed beside me. "Dead already? Huh. I thought these guys were tougher than that."
 
"I'd already done significant damage," I said, "especially at the end of our fight. Slamming into solid rock at high speeds does tend to have that effect. But even before that, I'd given him something of a beating."
 
"Yeah, I guess so. You do seem pretty tough."
 
"Do you know what that thing is?"
 
"A demon," Yuugi said. "A greater demon, to be precise. They're pretty tough things, but I understand that there aren't too many of them. A shitload of lesser demons, I'm told, but those aren't any more dangerous than other lesser youkai. But no, 'Nokat', as you called him, was a greater demon."
 
"It was intent on killing me."
 
"That's consistent," Yuugi said.
 
"Elaborate, please."
 
"Greater demons have been acting in such a manner for a couple years now. They're almost never seen outside of Makai, but a couple years ago, people started reporting sightings of greater demons, sightings that pretty much always involved the demons engaging in violence. For a while, they were infrequent enough to seem like isolated events, but recently, the number of sightings has increased dramatically."
 
"So they're up to something."
 
"Most likely," Yuugi said. "For now, though, they're just being killers."
 
"Has anyone tried to find out what they're up to?"
 
"Reimu and Marisa have, I would assume." Yuugi said. "They always take care of things around here. But I think it'll be different this time. I'm not so sure this is something that just the two of them can stop. Not much I can see myself being able to do about it, though."
 
"Yes." Still, there was something about it that? meant something, I think. That? well, I didn't really know. But the feeling was there.
 
"There's a part of me that?" I tried to verbalize the thought, but could not.
 
"A part of you?" Yuugi said.
 
"A lost part. A forgotten part."
 
"Ah, that's right, memory loss. Nol told me about that."
 
"For some reason," I said, "this decision? means something to some forgotten part of myself."
 
"You feel like you should get involved."
 
"I don't know," I said. "I don't know what it is. The decision means something, but I don't know what. It could be that a forgotten part of me wants to get involved for whatever reason, but it could also be that said forgotten part of me does not want to get involved for whatever reason. I simply don't know."
 
"Man," Yuugi said, "sounds irritating."
 
"It's not," I said. "Such feelings are the only hints I get. They are my only clues. And they are how I know I was right to come to Gensokyo."
 
"Yes, Nol mentioned that you were from the outside world. So you came here searching for who you are, huh?"
 
"I did, and I'm certain now that I am indeed from here. I don't have any other leads, though, so I'm simply going from location to location looking for someone who recognizes me."
 
"Well," Yuugi said, "you have power, right? What is it?"
 
"Irrelevant," I said. "My power now is not what it was before. Something happened to me five years ago, something that sent me into the outside world, erased my memory, and altered my power."
 
"Um? okay, then. Tell me what it is, anyways."
 
"Sure. I have powers of nature-actually, you've already witnessed my power in use; I added a little something to your final blow against Nokat. Specifically, I raised the earth such that he caught the full force of the impact on his neck."
 
"I see. Well, anyways, you're going from place to place, and right now, you're headed to the Scarlet Devil Mansion, right?"
 
I nodded. "Did Nol tell you that, as well?"
 
"Yeah. And since I have business there myself, he asked me to catch up with you and ensure that you make it out intact."
 
"Still worrying, then."
 
"Yeah. He does that. I didn't really stand back and watch your fight with Nokat, but judging from what I saw as I approached, you're perfectly capable of taking care of yourself. Of course, even if Nol is worrying too much, we're both going to the same place anyways, so why not play it safe?"
 
I had to agree with her. "Indeed. Let us take to the air, then. I have a map, but have you perhaps been there before?"
 
"Of course I have," Yuugi said. "Even vampires have parties, and there ain't a party anywhere in Gensokyo that Suika and I don't go to. So yeah, I've been there. I'll lead the way."
 
Yuugi took to the sky, myself following along behind her.
 
 

 
"Okay," Alice said, "we've verified that being in Makai does not interfere with the link. That means we've taken care of everything on the checklist, so it's time to get you ready to go."
 
Alice was almost ready to send her children into Makai. They'd verified that the link would still work. They'd planned their actions upon arrival. And Alice had finished setting up the backups, too. She'd taken one doll of each model and enchanted it using the spellcard she'd gotten from Yukari. She hadn't sent Medicine's image into them yet, though; instead, she'd cast an enchantment on each of her children and that child's corresponding 'backup' doll. The spell was a one-way passing of information; everything her children heard, saw, felt, said, thought, or anything else would be copied to their respective backup dolls. That way, if anything happened to one of them, Alice could simply bring the backup to life and regain her child with no loss. Shanghai was the only one of her children who did not yet have a backup, since Alice had only made the one Shanghai doll, but she was making another, and Shanghai didn't need to enter Makai yet anyways.
 
There remained only one thing to take care of. The Seeds of Non-Identification would serve to disguise her children's original selves, but their current selves still had an artificial appearance. Before they went in, this would need to be disguised.
 
Disguising their artificial nature wasn't hard. Clothing already covered their knee and elbow joints, and gloves could be used to conceal their wrist and finger joints. And there were those who just generally wore gloves (pretty much any outfit could be seen in Makai), so this wouldn't look unusual. The other obvious markings of artificiality could be easily disguised in other manners, such as the use of body paint to cover them up. Once all of this was done, they would be ready to go into Makai. And eventually, Alice herself would also enter Makai. She had never felt the desire to return, but now was different. Now, there was something she had to do, and no matter what happened, she was going to do it.
 
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
Right, so there's chapter 4. However, I still haven't gotten any replies here, so I have to wonder if there really is any interest here in this story. If you do have an interest in it, then please, tell me, because if I don't see any interest here, then there's no reason to bother posting it here. So if you're reading it, please say so.

[GuyYouMetOnline]

Right, so here's chapter 5, but I'm serious: if I don't see any evidence of interest, this'll be the last chapter I post here.
 
-------------------------------------------------------------------
 
Chapter 5
Destinations
 
 
Wriggle entered the cave. As she proceeded inwards, the light from outside quickly faded, but the darkness wasn't a concern for her. She simply formed a ball of green light in front of herself, using it to light the cave.
 
It didn't take Wriggle very long to reach the back of the cave. To anyone else, it would have looked like a total dead-end; only Wriggle knew that there was more to it. She'd been here once before, when she was younger, coming out of curiosity to see if the stories she'd been told were true. And she'd known immediately that they were, because she'd been able to feel it. But back then, she'd just wanted to know if it was there. She had no desire for it, so she decided that she would not release and take it. And she'd stuck to that until now, because now she did have a need for it. And she knew it was here, past some hidden entrance. All she had to do now was figure out how to get that entrance open.
 
Wriggle knew that only she could open it, so the method had to be something only she could do. Which makes it pretty obvious, now that I think about it. She focused as she did when exercising her command over insects, and sure enough, she felt something in the wall before her. It was different, something she had never felt before, but she could feel it. So she gave it a command. [Open.]
At Wriggle's command, the wall in front of her seemed to? melt, or something, revealing a chamber beyond. Wriggle entered the chamber, the wall reforming behind her, and looked around. It wasn't really a large chamber, although it was in comparison to the non-hidden part of the cave. The only truly notable feature of the chamber itself was the large, circular design on the far wall. That must be it.
 
Visible behind the design as Wriggle approached was something giving off a bright, neon-green glow that lit the entire chamber; Wriggle's own light was no longer necessary, so she allowed it to fade. Something was written on the wall beside the design, which Wriggle read. 'Here, you will find the sealed power of Our First, kept here since her death. Be warned: if you release what lies within, you will pay the price.' "I pay no price," she said. "I am descended from Our First and leader of our kind, and that which is sealed here is mine by right of birth."
 
Wriggle slammed the palm of her hand into the ground as hard as she could. She ground her hand against the rock until she began to bleed. Stepping up to the design, she pressed her bleeding hand against its center, held it there for a few seconds, then stepped back.
 
At first, nothing happened, but then the center of the design, and only the center, vanished, leaving a hole about six inches in diameter in the center of the design. And then something, whatever that substance behind the design was, began oozing out of the hole. The substance did not begin running downwards, instead staying concentrated at the hole.
 
Wriggle stepped forward again. This has to be it. Right. Okay. Time to? time for me to do this. All right. Okay, um, count of three. One. Two. "Three!" She plunged her hand into the center of the green mass, into the hole from which it was emerging.
 
The reaction was immediate. The green? stuff was no longer oozing slowly out; it poured through the opening, rushing up Wriggle's arm and covering her entire body. It began? entering her body, more of it still exiting the hole. As more and more of the stuff entered Wriggle, the space behind the design emptied steadily.
 
Wriggle could barely see through the green stuff that covered her eyes just as it did the rest of her body, but she thought she saw? something behind the design, something besides the green then there was nothing there. Okay, this is-wait, what was that? There was? something. Some-again. She felt it briefly against her mind, then it was gone. What is-there it is again. What-wait, I see something again. Damn it, what is this? Stories of sealed power often had something evil sealed along with or, or had the source of the power be evil, but those were stories. The power was here, but nothing else was. There can't be anything else in there, can there? No, there can't be. There isn't-gah, I feel it again. And I still see it. Is it coming closer? Coming to the opening? Damn it, there can't be anything in there! It's just a side-effect of the power flowing in. I'm just seeing things, imagining things. I have to be. But?
 
What if she wasn't?
 
Wriggle made her decision quickly. She couldn't make use of the new power while it was still flowing into her, so she used only the power she'd already had. She channeled it through the hand she still had through the hole, firing a blast at? whatever might be in there. She fired another, and another, and then there was no sign of it. And I can't feel it, either. Was there truly something there, or did I just imagine it? In the end, though, it didn't matter. Before long, there was no more of the green substance left. Wriggle withdrew her hand, and the missing center of the design reappeared.
 
"It's? done," Wriggle said, and promptly fainted.
 
 

 
"Okay," Alice said, "it's time. London, Copenhagen, Hourai, Holland, Moscow. Are you ready?"
 
"Yes, Mother," the five of them answered in unison.
 
"And you've attached the Seeds to your former selves. Good. You, of course, aren't noticing any difference, as you know exactly what's there. The demons of Makai will expect that something following you around in that manner is a kateshak, a classification of non-sentient Makan animals often used as familiars or kept as pets, so that is what they will see.
 
"London, Holland, Copenhagen, Hourai, when you reach your destinations within Makai, remember that you are not after any specific information, but information in general. Play the part of curious travelers. Get the local gossip and relay it to me. All of it. Anything could be useful. Moscow, you relay anything you hear to me as well, but in your case, your first priority needs to be remaining unseen.
 
"All of you, try to avoid conflict. Makai isn't nearly as trigger-happy as the rest of Gensokyo, so this shouldn't be too hard. If you do get into trouble, remember that I will be with you in more than just mind. We proved that I can still send my power through the link, and should the need arise, I will do so at once. Understand?"
 
"Yes, Mother."
 
"Good." She took hold of Yukari's portal spellcard and activated it. "Portal: Doorway to Makai!"
 
The five of them entered the portal, which Alice closed behind the last of them.
 
******
 
The five of them emerged in the crystal forest of Mekis. It was an ideal location for their arrival; Mekis was mostly uninhabited, but was within a decent distance of several more notable locations.
 
[We've arrived, Mother,] Hourai sent. This communication over the link was an interesting thing. The link was only between them and Alice, and as a result, they could not directly communicate with each other over it. However, they could 'hear' anything any of them sent along the link, so they could still talk to each other. None of them-not even Alice-had any idea how it actually worked, but this was Gensokyo. Stranger things happened every day.
 
[Good,] Alice replied. [You know your destinations. Let's not waste any time.]
 
[Yes, Mother,] they replied. Hourai and Copenhagen paired up, as did London and Holland, leaving Moscow on her own. Hourai and Copenhagen would be going into Tsesek, a nearby city-location names in Makai tended to lack the unimaginative descriptiveness seen in Gensokyo-and would split up once in the city. London and Holland were headed in a different direction, to the town of Kete. It wasn't very large, but it was close to several other cities and towns, and a lot of news passed through it. Like Hourai and Copenhagen, they'd be splitting up upon arrival.
 
Moscow's task was different. She wouldn't be going to any city. Her destination was the castle of Pandemonium, from where Shinki, Alice's mother, ruled over Makai. Not even Moscow, designed for stealth, would be able to get inside unless she was allowed in, which she wouldn't be. So getting in wasn't her job. She was simply to observe traffic to and from the castle, to see who came and when. And to get close enough to hear their names and, perhaps, something about what business they had.
 
******
 
Alice sighed. She hated putting the five of them in potential danger like that, especially Moscow. She was essentially spying, and would no doubt be killed if discovered. But someone needed to do it, and Moscow, having been designed for that sort of thing, was the best choice. Someone had to do it, because Alice needed that information. The other four would be going after information, learning just what was happening. Alice needed that information, but Moscow's was even more important, because she would be getting names. Her information would tell Alice who to look for when the time came.
 
Alice knew this had to be done, but that didn't help her feel any better about it. She had only yesterday brought them to life, and she was already asking so much of them. Placing them in danger. What kind of mother am I?
 
Shanghai came up beside Alice. None of Alice's thoughts had been sent along the link, but Shanghai still had no difficulty figuring out what was on her mother's mind. "You don't need to feel guilty about this," she said.
 
"Why shouldn't I? I just gave you life yesterday, and I'm already making you do this."
 
"No," Shanghai said, "you're not. Every one of us made the choice to. You forced nothing."
 
"I told you to do it. It doesn't matter if you agreed or not. You're my children. I shouldn't be doing something like this."
 
"Why not? We understand, you know. You're worried about what might have happened to your mother, so you're doing whatever you need to. We understand that. I can ask myself what I'd do if it was you, and the answer is: anything. And the others feel the same way. We know how important this is, and we'll give you any aid we can. You're not 'using' us; we're doing this of our own free will."
 
"I? you're right. But?"
 
Shanghai embraced her mother. "It's okay, Mother. We know you love us, and we're doing this because we love you."
 
 

 
Although Rumia had recovered from earlier, she wasn't ready to leave Cirno's house for Mystia's just yet. "It happened when you attacked China," she said to Cirno. "When you used your power. What if that's what triggered it?"
 
"My power? But then? if that's true, then I can't-"
 
"Which is exactly why we have to test it."
 
"But? but? but? but it might hurt you!"
 
"And it might not. We need to know, Cirno. If it is linked to your power, that's a big clue."
 
"But-"
 
"Please, Cirno."
 
"Fine," Cirno said. "but I'm starting low."
 
"Of course. That's the way to do it. Start low, then keep building. I'll tell you if I feel anything."
 
"?All right."
 
Cirno and Rumia stepped outside. "If this hurts," Cirno said, "I'm sorry."
 
Cirno, as said, started small, forming only a few shards of ice and firing them off randomly into the air. She steadily increased the number, but there was no effect on Rumia."
 
"Right," Rumia said, "try something bigger."
 
"Okay." Cirno began forming spears of ice, just one at a time at first. As before, she steadily increased the intensity.
 
"Good," Rumia said. "I'm still not feeling anything." Which wasn't quite true-there had been something, although it wasn't painful. But if she told Cirno that, the fairy would refuse to continue. "Do a strong blast like what you hit China with."
 
Cirno fired the blast, but it was immediately cut off as not just Rumia but Cirno as well cried out in pain. But because the blast had been cut off almost immediately, the pain was brief. "What the hell was that?"
 
"You felt it, too?" Rumia asked.
 
Cirno nodded. "Yeah."
 
"Huh. I guess you're starting to feel the effects. Eirin must be right; it's damaged in you, too."
 
"But what does it mean?"
 
"I don't know. But I think we've demonstrated that it was indeed your power that made it hurt. Just only if you do anything past a certain point."
 
"Damn it, what is this?"
 
"I don't know," Rumia said, "but maybe we should tell Eirin that your power makes it hurt. She's more likely to figure something out than we are."
 
Cirno didn't like that, but Rumia was right. "Fine. We'll meet up with the others, then head to Eientei. Come on."
 
 

 
"Right," Yuugi said as we approached the Scarlet Devil Mansion, "here we go. Their door guard has a tendency to sleep on the job, but if she's not sleeping, she'll probably attack on sight."
 
"Hold on. They have a door guard?"
 
"Yeah. Hong Meiling, but everyone calls her China."
 
"If that's the case, then what reason would there be for worry? If this is the right place, then she would recognize me, would she not? If this is not the right place, I will not need to enter, as I will know before doing so."
 
"Not necessarily," Yuugi said with a laugh. "She's notoriously unreliable, and not just because she's asleep half the time. She's kinda bad at combat, and in addition, I've heard she'll frequently challenge mansion staff that've been there longer than she has. And I know for a fact that one time she thought Sakuya, the head of the mansion's staff, was an intruder. So yeah, don't trust her to remember you. Hell, she's probably asleep, anyways."
 
As Yuugi and I landed, we saw that this 'China' was in fact not asleep. In fact, it looked as though she'd been in a fight recently. "Halt!" she cried out as she spotted us. "No visitors are being allowed in at this time. Please depart."
 
"I have business inside," Yuugi said. "I was asked to-"
 
"You're not getting in!"
 
"We do not mean any harm," I said. "We simply-"
 
"I don't care. If you won't leave, then I'll have to force you to."
 
As Meiling descended the front steps, I motioned to Yuugi to stay back and stepped forward. As soon as she was on the ground, Meiling took a ready stance. Good form. I guess she knows a thing or two about this. I took my own ready stance. "Is that the way you want to do this? Hand-to-hand?"
 
Meiling seemed surprised. "Hand-to- you can- you know- huh. Yes, I would love to do this that way." She took a few steps towards me and fell into a pit.
 
In Meiling's defense, the pit hadn't been there until she'd stepped there. I dropped the earth down from underneath her, and before she could react, she was at the bottom of the newly-formed pit. I quickly formed an earthen barrier over the opening, preventing her from flying out. I left a hole in the middle a few inches in diameter, both to let air in and to make it easier for us to hear each other. "Sorry," I said, "but I don't feel like wasting time fighting with you. Now if you'll excuse us, we do have business inside."
 
Meiling tried to break through my barrier, and she would have succeeded easily had I not been maintaining it. "Dammit," she said, "let me out!"
 
"I'll release hold once we're inside," I told her. "You'll have no difficulty breaking out."
 
"You coward! Let me out of here and fight me!"
 
"I'd rather not. I have no quarrel with you."
 
I motioned Yuugi forward, and we approached the mansion, leaving the still-shouting Meiling behind. "That," Yuugi said as we ascended the front steps, "was awesome."
 
 

 
When Cirno and Rumia arrived as Mystia's house, only one other was there. "Hi," Daiyousei said.
 
"Hey, Dai," Cirno said. "Where are Wriggle and Mystia?"
 
"Don't know." Daiyousei held out a sheet of paper. "I think they left a note, but since I can't read, I have no idea what it says."
 
Since Cirno also couldn't read, Rumia took the note. "All right, let's see here? yeah, it's from Wriggle. 'Cirno, Dai, Rumia; Mystia and I were attacked on our way to get Tewi. We ran, and the thing chased us through the forest for something like two hours. It's dead now, but Mystia was injured. I took her to Eientei; she's recovering, and they say she'll be just fine. I have something I have to do, and will return to Eientei afterwards. I will be remaining there until Mystia has recovered, so meet me there.' They're all right, then. Good."
 
"Good?" Cirno said. "What do you mean, 'good'? Wriggle could be getting into more danger! We have to follow her!"
 
"To where?" Daiyousei asked.
 
"What do you mean, 'to where'? To wherever she's-oh."
 
"I don't think she wanted us to follow her," Rumia said. "She didn't give us anything to go on."
 
"Dammit, what's wrong with her?"
 
"We can ask her when she returns," Daiyousei said, then changed the subject. "I take it the operation went well." She gestured to a stack of five books. "Tewi made the drop, at least."
 
"It worked," Cirno said, "but I did have to do some last-minute improsivation."
 
Daiyousei laughed quietly; Cirno seemed to mess that word up in a different way every time she said it. "Oh?"
 
"Yeah. Rumia started hurting again, so we had to change the getaway plan a little-I ended up going underwater. They may have chased Tewi, though, but if she made the drop, then they clearly didn't catch her. And by now, of course, she's un-disguised, so if someone does come looking for the books, they'll be looking for the wrong person. So mission complete! Da-da-da-daaa daa daa da da-daa!"
 
"If you want a victory theme so badly," Rumia remarked, "put it in a music card."
 
"Anyways," Dai said, "we've got the books. What do you want to do, Cirno? Wait here, or wait at Eientei?"
 
Cirno didn't even need to think about that one. "Grab the books," she said. "We'll start looking through them while we wait, but we're checking up on Mystia first. We'll wait at Eientei."
 
"I thought you'd say that. Let's get going, then."
 
 

 
The mansion's interior was large. I was only seeing the entry chamber, true, but judging by it, the place almost had to be far larger than it looked.
 
"Big, isn't it?" Yuugi said. "Sakuya did something to make it larger on the inside. Apparently she can do that."
 
All of sudden, someone was standing in front of us. "That, and more."
 
"Ah, Sakuya. Perfect." Yuugi set her bag down. "I've got a delivery from Satori. Some stuff for the big party in a couple weeks."
 
"Appreciated." Sakuya turned her eyes to me. "Now, about you. Who are you, and why are you here?"
 
Damn. "Actually, I was hoping you would recognize me."
 
"I've never seen you before."
 
"Which is unfortunate," I said. "You see, I lost my memory, and came here in hopes of finding someone who knows who I am."
In an instant, Sakuya was right in front of me, a knife in her hand. "I don't believe you."
 
"Excuse me?"
 
"You're lying," Sakuya said.
 
"She's not," Yuugi said.
 
"Or is she just lying to you, too?"
 
"No."
 
I attempted to grab Sakuya's wrist and disarm her, but as soon as I moved, she was on the other side of the room. "Then why are you fighting me?"
 
"You produced a weapon. I acted in self-defense."
 
"Oh, yeah?" I didn't know how she did it, but suddenly there were a large number of knives coming at me. I leapt aside and saw Sakuya appear next to me. I made to grab her, but then she was on the other side of the room again. "Not fast enough."
 
Somehow, Sakuya was able to move instantaniously. She could presumably avoid everything I could send at her, which made my next move obvious: I simply had to hit her with something before she saw it coming.
 
I fired a blast of energy at Sakuya, who, as expected, was suddenly somewhere else. "You'll need to do better than that," she said
A pillar of earth burst through the floor behind Sakuya at an angle, slamming hard into the back of her head before she could react. "Okay," I said as she dropped to the floor, unconscious. "Come on, Yuugi. Let's get out of here."
 
"One sec," Yuugi said. She rummaged through her bag, which due to the bag's size involved actually walking inside it. A few seconds later, she emerged carrying a much smaller bag. "There we go. Needed my delivery for Eirin. Her stuff's not nearly as bulky, so no need to keep the huge bag, right? Besides, they can use it to move the sake more quickly. Anyways, I've got what I need, so yeah, let's get out of here."
 
 

 
My name is Hong Meiling, NOT China.
 
Well, maybe it's not China, but I like China anyways. Not that anyone else could tell you that. I have them all thinking I hate it. It encourages them to use it all the time. They'd use my given name a lot more if they knew it was that name I hate. I mean, seriously, 'Hong'? That sounds like the title of the leader of some obscure country in the outside world.
 
I'm the front guard for the Scarlet Devil Mansion. I get a lot of shit for doing a bad job, but it's not my fault. I do everything I can. I may get the shit beaten out of me a lot, but I'm trying. It's not my fault my opponents are so much more powerful. I try, but Marisa always just blasts me out of the way.
 
I get yelled at for sleeping, too, but what do they expect? They want me out here night and day. I may not need as much sleep as a human, but I do need some. I used to have more normal shifts, but now that we've got Marisa breaking in all the time, they want me on duty all the time. I guess they figure having me fall asleep out here is better than not having me out here at all.
 
I also get yelled at for challenging members of the staff, but what am I supposed to do? Fairies can be hard to tell apart. And yes, I did challenge Sakuya herself once, but everyone seems to leave out the fact that I was drunk when that happened; the oni Suika had decided that I needed to 'relax for once'.
 
We generally keep to ourselves. We need supplies, of course, and we do host the occasional party, but aside from that, we keep to ourselves. Mistress Remilia likes it that way, although even she goes out sometimes. She'll visit Reimu every so often-usually dragging an umbrella-carrying Sakuya along with her so she can go during the day. I think she's tempted to go pay Marisa a 'visit' as well. Which would probably lighten my workload, so I'm all for that. I'd get beaten up less frequently, too. And I don't think the mistress would actually kill Marisa. Not the first time, at least. Probably take a little blood, though. That's the sort of thing that sends a message.
 
I haven't had to fight off any demons yet. One did show up one night, but the mistress came out before the thing even got to me and, well, sent a message. None of them have shown up here since. Still, though, there's got to be something behind it. I thought that that one was here for the mistress, but that wasn't the case. So I don't know what's going on. I'm just glad it's leaving us alone.
 
 

 
"Are they always like that?" I asked Yuugi as we exited the mansion.
 
"Not that I've seen," Yuugi said, "although I'm normally just here when they're having parties."
 
Meiling had resumed her usual position by the door. "We had a theft earlier," she said, "and not by the usual culprit."
 
"That's Marisa, right? Who was it this time?"
 
"That moon rabbit, Reisen. She used a fake Marisa as a decoy, but she got unlucky and was spotted. Patchouli's sent Koakuma to Eientei to recover the stolen books."
 
"I see."
 
"No business of ours, I suppose," I said.
 
Meiling glared at me. "You've got that right, coward. Now get lost."
 
"I don't think she likes me," I remarked as Yuugi and I descended the front steps.
 
Yuugi laughed. "Yeah, I don't think your little pit move went over very well with her. I wouldn't worry, though. I doubt you'll be having all that much to do with her. Anyways, where are you planning on going now?"
 
I thought for a moment. "I'm not sure. Maybe Eientei."
 
"There's a coincidence for you," Yuugi said. "That's my next destination. I've got a better idea for yours, though."
 
"Then please, tell me."
 
"There's a girl in the Human Village, Heida no Akyu. She's not your ordinary human, though."
 
"How so?"
 
"Well," Yuugi said, "mainly because she's reincarnated every hundred years. She records the history of Gensokyo, and is born again every hundred years to continue the task. She has a perfect memory; it's literally impossible for her to forget anything. She even perfectly remembers her past lives."
 
"So she might know who I am."
 
"Yeah," Yuugi said. "Although I guess it's been, what, five years since you lost your memory?" I nodded. "You may not look the same, then. Have you aged physically?"
 
"Yes."
 
"Then even she may not recognize you, since you look different-she has a perfect memory, but she's bad at recognizing people who've physically aged-they look different, and she's bad at comparing appearances. If you hadn't changed physically, there wouldn't be an issue, but you have."
 
"I see. It still sounds like she's worth visiting, though. In fact, I have to wonder why Nol didn't tell me about her."
"A lot of people don't really understand what she is," Yuugi said. "It's known that she's a reincarnating individual who records Gensokyo's history, but a lot of people don't really understand the whole 'perfect memory' thing. I, on the other hand, knew Miare herself. Meaning her first life, almost a thousand years ago."
 
"Is that sort of lifespan normal for youkai?" I asked.
 
"Well, there are plenty with shorter lifespans-although still longer than a human's-but yeah, it's kinda common to see youkai that live that long. Anyways, yeah, I knew the original Miare, and I've had 'reunions' with her reincarnations, although I obviously couldn't after we oni moved underground. But the underground's been reopened now, so although we still live down there, there's nothing actually stopping us from coming up here. So I've met the current incarnation."
 
"I see. Well, anyways, I think I would like to meet with her."
 
"I'll take you to the Human Village, then; it's fairly close to Eientei, and it'll be on my way. If we get moving now, we should be there by sundown, so let's go."
 
"Agreed," I said, "and thank you for your assistance."
 
"Ah, don't worry about it. Let's get moving."

[Thata no Guykoro]

Well this is certainly a fine read.

One question: Is the Rin at Eientei Orin?

[GuyYouMetOnline]

No. Rin Satsuki.

[Kips McKipzerson]

This is actually really damned good. Telling about four different stories at once, and doing it wonderful.

[GuyYouMetOnline]

Chapter 6
A Desire for Information
 
 
When Wriggle awoke, she noticed one change almost immediately.
 
Wriggle had the ability to control insects. She was able to sense them and command them. But previously, she'd needed to focus in order to sense them. It had been easy, but it had still required a conscious effort. But that, it seemed, was no longer the case. Now, she could sense them constantly, effortlessly. And over a much, much wider range, too. But there was more. She was touching their minds in ways she previously could not. She could hear through them, see through them, know their thoughts. And because of this, she knew that someone was waiting for her outside the cave.
 
It was another one of the creatures. It had arrived not long after she had and followed her into the cave, emerging shortly thereafter. It couldn't get in. Only I can enter this chamber. But the thing knew she had to be in the cave somewhere, so it was waiting. It's targeting me. But why? Because of what I did to that other one?
 
Wriggle hadn't expected another fight so soon. Guess I'll be giving myself a test run sooner than I thought. Better get used to it a bit before going out there, though.
 
She started by forming a light. Doing that had never been hard for her, but now it was immensely easier, and the light was much brighter than what she usually made, so she dimmed it somewhat. Okay, the power's definitely in me. I wonder if it left any physical marks.
 
Wriggle examined herself. Her body didn't seem to have undergone any change, but her clothes were a different story. She was now wearing a simple yet elegant dress, colored in a green and purple pattern and lined with jewels. I'm not even going to ask how that happened. Besides, I think I like the new outfit. Guess it's supposed to go with the power. I wonder if this is what She wore? Well, anyways, time to try a few things.

 

 
Yuugi and I landed a bit outside the human village and approached on foot. "They can be kind of jittery," Yuugi told me. "Best to approach on foot. You're less likely to get shot at."

"I see."

"I doubt it'd give you much of a problem, though," Yuugi continued as we walked.. "You seem pretty tough."

"You only saw me against the fairies on the way here. Hardly anything challenging."

"Maybe so, but I can still tell. You move and fire quite skillfully. Besides, I was with you at the Scarlet Devil Mansion, too, so I saw you fight there. You could've gone a bit easier on Sakuya, though."

"She attacked me," I said. "I defended myself as was necessary. I will meet danmaku with danmaku, but she truly attacked."

"Actually, that was danmaku. She wasn't actually trying to kill you or anything."

That stunned me for a moment. "Um, she threw knives at me."

"Danmaku knives," Yuugi said. "Physical objects can be made danmaku, too."

Yuugi was right. In fact, I had put danmaku stones in one of the spellcards I'd made the previous day. "I suppose I just never connected that to knives. But even so, she did attack me."

Yuugi laughed. "You really are new here, aren't you? She didn't want to harm you. That's just how things work in Gensokyo. It's not hostility. In fact, that's probably how you were able to take Sakuya out so quickly; she wasn't expecting that sort of retaliation."

"And that guard, Hong?"

"She's trained herself in hand-to-hand combat," Yuugi said. "She would've gone with danmaku if you hadn't expressed a willingness to fight that way, but I think the prospect of having a hand-to-hand match for once excited her."

"That much I could tell. It allowed me to spring my trap."

"Which was a pretty good one," Yuugi said. "I am curious about the way you fought Nokat, though. That actually was a serious battle; the greater demons have in fact been killing people. I didn't see the whole fight, but I saw enough to know that you stuck with your weapon until it used power against you."

"Appropriate response," I said. "Nokat came in with an unknown objective. Caution was appropriate, so I used my abilities only such to allow me to match him. In contrast, Hong and Sakuya had clearly identifiable objectives. Hong was simply trying to keep us out, whereas Sakuya was attempting to repel an intruder. Hong was best dealt with by simply preventing her from barring entry, and Sakuya I incapacitated."

"Yeah, I guess the pit move doesn't work indoors, huh?"

"Correct, but even if I could have done it, it's unlikely that I would have been able to contain her. She performed instantaneous relocation; trapping somebody who can do that carries obvious difficulties."

"Ah. I guess you don't know what her power is, huh? She wasn't teleporting or anything like that; she was stopping time."

"Oh."

"Yeah," Yuugi said, "she can do that. It's got limits, of course; in particular, she's severely limited in her ability to interact with anything caught in the time stop. She can pull people and objects alongside herself outside of the stop, but then they're not stopped. She can't hurt you in any way while you're stopped, although she can, say, set up a barrage of knives to fly simultaneously when time resumes-that's what she did against you."

"I would still call her a dangerous opponent."

"And I'd agree. Stopping time certainly makes it easier for her to dodge, for one thing, although you figured out how to compensate for that pretty quickly. And that's something to make sure you have down. There are quite a few people with powers that can make them seem impossible to defeat, but there's always a way. Make sure you remember that."
 
 

 
"I'm sorry to ask this of you," Eirin said, "but it really is important.

"Whatever," Cirno replied. "Let's just get it over with."

Eirin had Cirno and Rumia in one of the examination rooms in Eientei's medical wing. She had some kind of? something active, something that made Cirno feel weird, like she had when Eirin'd done her sensing thing last time. Eirin had done whatever it was to
Rumia, too.

"Okay," Eirin said, "you may begin."

"Go ahead, Cirno," Rumia said. "It's okay."

"No, it's not," Cirno said. "It'll hurt you, too."

"I need you to do it," Eirin said. "If you want me to help you with whatever is happening, I need to observe it occurring."

"Yeah, whatever. You already told me that. Just don't expect me to keep it up long, so whatever you're looking for, you'd better find it fast."

"That won't be a problem," Eirin said. "The effect I set up on you two is? recording, I suppose, any and all magical activity within you. I can find what I'm looking for by going through that recording. Give me maybe half a second's worth."

"Okay, fine. Rumia?"

"I'm ready."

"Okay," Cirno said. "Three? two? one... now!"

The pain hit Cirno almost immediately, and quickly overcame her ability to concentrate. "Gah! Owowowow!"

Rumia, of course, was also feeling it. "Uuuuuuggggggaaaahhhhhoooow."

"I'm sorry to make you do that," Eirin said, "but I had to. I should have what I need. You can go now; I'll send for you when I have something. Tewi said to find her and Daiyousei in the same room you were in yesterday."

"Right," Cirno said. "Ow. Still hurts. Um, Mystia?"

"She should be out shortly," Eirin said. "I'll send her there once Rin's done with her."

"Okay. Thanks."

 

 
As we reached the village, Yuugi and I were approached by two men. "Stop right there!" one of them said. "What do you want?"

Immediately hostile. But why? "We have business within the village."

The other man was staring Yuugi in the face. "Yeah? Well, too bad. We ain't lettin' no oni in."

Yuugi sighed. "You know you can't stop me."

"Ooh, tough talk. What'd'you want here, anyways?"

"I'm taking my companion here to see Heida no Akyu," Yuugi said. "We have need of her records."

"Tell me what you need to see," the first man said. "I'll go get it."

I decided to cut straight to the heart of the matter. "You don't want us in the village. Why?"

"Beca-wait, 'why'? You actually need to ask that?"

"They're fearful of youkai attacks," Yuugi explained.

"I see." I faced the man. "We are not here to cause harm. In fact, I may not even be a youkai. I have no memory, and am here in hope that Akyu's records contain information that might tell me something about myself. Yuugi's just taking me to see her."

"Don't care," the man said. "We're not letting-"

"Hey, what the hell are you two doing?"

As they turned to face the newcomer, the two men had looks on their faces that I can best describe as conveying the message, 'oh, shit'. "Good timing, Keine," Yuugi said. "These two were trying to keep us out."

"Yuugi's safe," Keine told the two men. "She may enter."

"But-but-but-"

"Actually," Yuugi said, "I don't really need to enter. I'm just taking Orphan here to see Akyu."

"I see," Keine said. "You're right, then. You don't need to enter. I'll take her to Akyu. And you two," she glared at the two men, "I'll deal with later."

Keined turned back to me as the men left. "Sorry about that. Tension's been running high lately, what with all the demon attacks. A lot of people are a bit high-strung."

"Understandable," I said.

"Glad to hear it. Now, allow me to introduce myself. Keine Kamishirasawa."

"I am Orphan. It's nice to meet you."

"So you've got her taken care of," Yuugi said. "Thanks. Well, Orphan, I'm out of here. You still thinking about trying Eientei if Akyu doesn't work?"

I nodded. "There or the Underground, I think. Although perhaps not the latter, given that you obviously don't recognize me."
"Yeah, you're probably right. Most of us down there don't look completely human, anyways. Might still be worth a try, though. It's a big place, and I hardly know everyone. There's also the Palace of the Earth Spirits. Almost nobody ever goes in there, so there's no telling what might be in that place."

"I see."

"Just one thing," Yuugi said. "If you do decide to head underground, be careful. The path down is guarded by a youkai by the name of Parsee. I'll tell her you might be coming down, but she'll probably attack you anyways."

"Is she dangerous?"

Yuugi hesitated. "Um, yes. For a long time, I'd have said no, but?"

Clearly there was something going on between Yuugi and Parsee. I didn't rush Yuugi, instead simply waiting until she continued. "Well, she's a youkai of jealousy. That's why she'll attack; she'll find things about you to be jealous of and attack out of her jealousy. It used to be that she wasn't a threat, but? well, her jealousy has grown greatly over the past year, and her power with it. And? well, she may decide to forget about danmaku, so be ready for a truly dangerous fight."

"Understood. Thanks for the warning."

Yuugi went back to her usual demeanor. "Hey, no problem. If you do come down, I'll see you then." And with that, she turned and walked off, presumably getting some distance from the village before taking to the air.

"Sorry again about the reception," Keine said. "Akyu's place is this way. Follow me."
 

 
I hate it when I hear people say that their life is terrible. I hate it because they are wrong. My name is Keine Kamishirasawa, and I know they are wrong because there was a time that my life truly was terrible.
 
I still don't know what I changed that first time. I was only nine years old when it happened, and until that day, I'd had no idea that I had any power. I was being attacked by the class bully at school during lunch; I stopped to use the bathroom on the way to the lunchroom, and he was waiting in the empty hallway when I emerged. I was certain that he was going to hurt me, and I was scared. That's when it happened. I felt it happen, and although I didn't know what it was, I knew that, somehow, I had done it. And then the bully ran into the bathroom in tears. At first, all I knew is that I'd done something to make him run off. The fact that he was a mess from that day forward I didn't think was related; how could I have caused a complete breakdown just by driving him off? And I didn't notice that everyone else thought he'd always been like that. I thought that I had probably attacked him with some kind of power, so I tried to reproduce it, but I failed. I failed because I was wrong about what I had done. 

It was two weeks later that my power showed itself again. My teacher, Mrs. Kagama, was talking about the founder of the Human Village. She told us that the man, Holso Kayase, had died of illness at the age of 64. He'd been bedridden for about a year before then, and I remember thinking that since the guy didn't do much in his last year of life, then why did we have to hear about it? I wondered if there would have even been any change if he'd died that one year earlier, wondered if anything in the present would even be different at all. And then I felt the same thing I had before, and then? and then, Mrs. Kagama was talking about how Holso'd died at the age of 63. Then I began thinking that no, she'd just said Holso died a year after that, and then she was back to talking about a Holso who'd lived to 64. I dismissed it as me hearing things. I then wondered about if he had survived another year, and then Mrs. Kagama started saying that he'd died at 65. Then it was back to 64 as my mind insisted that that's what she'd said.
That afternoon, I did some experiments. I thought of past events and imagined them having happened differently. And when I did, there would be a change, and then the world would change to match the event having happened differently. Then I'd change it back. I kept it to minor things, and also to changes I could easily reverse, but it was enough to confirm what was happening. I was changing what had happened. I was altering history simply by thinking about it.

The next two years were the worst of my life. I kept myself apart, isolated, alone. I had to. If I knew them, I might imagine something about them happening differently, and then? I didn't know what I'd done to that bully, but it had to've been bad, because from then on, he was a wreck. I'd clearly introduced something into his past, something that made him into a mess. What if I did that to someone else? What if I destroyed someone's life just because of a thought?

You can't imagine what it was like. To be afraid to see, to hear, to speak, to even think, because one wrong thought might destroy everything you know. Whatever you think it was like, I guarantee that you aren't even close.

I came within an inch of killing myself more times than I could count. I knew I was too dangerous to be allowed to survive, but I couldn't bring myself to take the final step. Some part of me still wanted to live. And two years after that first discovery of my power, I found a way.

The ritual could only be performed on the night of a full moon, so I waited, using the time to make sure I had everything right. When the night came, I snuck out of the house and out of the village, going a short way into the forest, and set everything up, placing the book I'd brought with me to the side, out of the way-it was meant for later. I knew the magic runes by heart, and quickly drew them. I affixed the ribbon that was to be the focal point to my hair. I recited the incantation. And then I was attacked. A beast had found me. It attacked me as the seal was forming, coming into contact just as the formation finished.

It was still dark when I regained consciousness. I had no idea how long I'd been out for. I was surprised to even be alive, and looked around for the beast that had attacked me. Which is when I noticed that my head felt? odd. I felt along it and gasped as I found the reason. I ran over to a nearby stream and looked at my reflection in the water, which confirmed it. I had changed. The reason my head felt odd was because of the horns, one of which the ribbon was wrapped around. Aside from those, my form was still basically human, but not in a way that truly looked human. Even my clothing had somehow been changed. There was no escaping it; I had been changed into something else. And then I remembered the beast. That had to be what happened. The beast got absorbed into the ritual and became part of me. But did the ritual succeed?

I made my way back to the site of the ritual and retrieved the book. It was my history text, and I had brought it to test the results. I opened it to a random page, found an insignificant fact-a name-and imagined a change. And to my horror, it did change. That was the purpose of the history text; it described history, so if I changed something, the text changed to match having been written about the new history-which, thanks to the change, it had been. And the name I'd chosen did change, a change I immediately reversed. Then I collapsed to the ground, crying.

I've already explained that you cannot imagine what those two years were like. And that moment? That moment where I saw that not only had the ritual made me into a monster, but had also failed to seal my power? That was worse. It was, at the risk of sounding overly dramatic, a level of despair that even I had not thought possible. I had failed to seal my power, and I had become a monster. If I tried to return home, I'd be killed as a monster. Nobody would believe that it was me-and might still kill me even if they did. And even if they didn't kill me, I would never be allowed to remain in the village. I'd be exiled, probably immediately. I couldn't return to my home, to my family, to my life. I had lost everything.

I don't know how long it was that I laid there. I didn't move, didn't think, didn't do anything but despair. And then the sun began to rise.

As the sun rose, I felt my body change. It was a? disturbing sensation, in part because although it didn't hurt, it felt like it should have. But it was over quickly, and when it was, I saw that the new outfit had changed back to what I'd been wearing before. Then I saw that my skin was human-looking again. I ran as fast as I could to the stream and looked at my reflection. It was all gone. All the changes to my body were gone. I was human again.

A thought hit me, and I rushed back to the ritual site. I flipped open the history text again, found a fact, and tried to change it. And failed. I couldn't do it, couldn't change it. I tried again. I tried to change other things. And I failed again and again. I couldn't do it. I couldn't change history.

Those two years were the worst of my life, but the month that followed was easily the best. My parents weren't even mad about my disappearance. In addition, they immediately noticed a change in my demeanor, especially when I started talking. I think I said more that morning than I had during that entire two-year period. I spoke to people. I listened. I did things again. I was a little worried that first night after the ritual, thinking I might change at night, but I did not. Nobody questioned the change in my behavior; people were just pleased that I had 'come out of my shell'. Life went on as it had before.

I did notice that although I could no longer change history, I still had power. This wasn't unusual, of course, but mine was at a much higher level than most. But that wasn't a problem; power levels varied between individuals, and there was nothing truly remarkable about mine. It was helpful, actually, as people attributed my behavior over the last two years to it-which was true, although not in the sense they thought.

I think I sort of expected what happened on the night of the next full moon. What happened, of course, is that I changed. I took on the beast form again. Nobody saw me in that form, though. And that, I knew, was important. Even if it was only during the full moon, I would be cast out if people knew about it. And there was something else, too. I remembered how I had been able to change history in my beast form before, so I made another attempt. And it worked. I did, of course, immediately reverse the change.

I attempted to change what had occurred during the ritual, change it so that I was not interrupted, but it didn't work. I still don't know why, but I cannot stop the beast from being taken into me. I can change things about it-the precise timing, for example-but I cannot do anything that would prevent it from happening. I think it has something to do with my power being tied to my beast form, but I'm not sure.

I wasn't too upset to find that the beast emerged on the night of a full moon, or even that when it did, I could again change history-and I also noted that my general level of power rose substantially when the beast came to the surface. I had gone from being a danger constantly to being a danger approximately once a month, and I considered the beast side a small price to pay for that. Still, there was danger, so I began working on ways to negate said danger.

I became a dedicated student of history. The reason, of course, was so that if I did end up changing something, I would know how it had originally happened and know what to change it back to. And on nights of the full moon, when I changed, I trained my power, learned to control it so that I would not change anything by accident.

There isn't much practical application for a knowledge of history, so as an adult, I ended up as a teacher at the school. I didn't mind this, though; in fact, I quite enjoyed it. It was, I knew, the right place for me, and I've held that position ever since.

As I grew older, I realized that I had a problem. The beast having been absorbed into me had more effects than those shown on nights of a full moon. Even at other times, I was no longer truly human, although this showed only at night when the moon was full. Except that since I was now half-beast, I would live longer.

My physical maturation wasn't extended any-for some reason, the slowing of physical aging in those with longer lives often doesn't take effect until the body is mature, although there are exceptions (and that's not counting fairies, who are almost universally childish in body and mind)-but now that I was a physically mature adult, my body was aging much more slowly. For the time being, nobody would know, but eventually, it would become clear that I wasn't growing old as I should be, and then my secret would be out. So I did something I hadn't done in a long time. I changed history.

I am thirty-one years old, and I have been thirty-one years old for over a century. Every year, I change my date of birth, moving it forward a year. This, of course, has the side-effect of preventing me from aging at all, so I could potentially live forever, but I do it only to hide the fact that I am a half-beast. Now, yes, there should be problems with doing that-for one, what about when I changed my date of birth to after my parents could bear children?-but in Gensokyo, you learn not to worry about things like that. There's a lot here that doesn't make sense.

I've accepted the fact that I'm no longer truly human. I'm okay with it, I think, as long as nobody in the village finds out. Only two people know about my beast side and my power: the immortal Fujiwara no Mokou, and the Child of Miare. Mokou is an outcast herself, driven away because of her immortality. And the Child of Miare has promised not to disclose my secret. I told Mokou because I knew she could understand how it felt, and I told the Child to explain why I wanted access to her records-there is no record of history more complete than hers.

I've lived this way for a long time now, and even now, nobody knows. And aside from altering my date of birth, I do not change history. Even knowing how to control the power, I am still afraid of it. The insignificant details I chose for my experiments were one thing, but more noticeable changes could have all kinds of effects, effects even I cannot predict. So I do not do so. Aside from my year of birth, I make no changes. It's the only way to be sure.

I find myself in the role of a protector for the village, thanks to my high level of power. It's fortunate that the demons that have been attacking people recently have tended to stay away from the village, instead going for isolated targets. They especially like small groups, killing most while letting some escape to tell what happened. I don't know what they're up to, but I do know this: any demon who wants to hit the village will have to go through me first.

 
 

 
 "?so she brought me here," I finished.

"I see," Keine said, the two of us talking as Keine took me to my destination. "Memory loss, hmm?"

"Yes. I'm hoping that Akyu will know who I am, but if she does not, I'll just move on to the next location, probably Eientei."

"I see. Well, be careful if you do. You may run into a fight."

"A fight?"

"Yes. There's an ongoing feud between the lady of the mansion and a friend of mine."

"What kind of feud?"

Keine paused, presumably considering whether or not to tell me. "Well, the lady of the mansion, the moon princess Kaguya, is immortal-and yes, 'moon princess' means she's a Lunarian princess, a princess from the moon. When she first came to Earth, her beauty attracted men from all over the world, interested suitors. A lot of them. So she issued a challenge. She named five items of legend: the Dragon's Necklace, the Buddha's Stone Bowl, the Fire Rat's Robe, the Swallow's Cowrie Shell, and the Jeweled Branch of Hourai. Anyone who wanted her hand had to bring her one of these five items. Many people doubted that the items even existed, while others said that even if they did, obtaining any of them was impossible. Kaguya herself even acknowledged this belief, as she called obtaining the items the 'Five Impossible Requests'.

"Many men took her challenge. Most of them died. None of them succeeded. Among those who died was the head of the noble household of Fujiwara. Mokou is his daughter."

"So Mokou blames Kaguya for her father's death, then."

"Not quite," Keine said. "At first, she didn't blame Kaguya. She blamed her father for being reckless enough to attempt a challenge that even the issuer called impossible. But then she? discovered something. Specifically, she discovered that the five items Kaguya had named had already been in the lunar princess's possession when she issued the challenge-either she'd already had somebody get them or she'd obtained them herself. Which, since she doesn't have to worry about dying, wouldn't have really been all that much of a risk."

"I see," I said. "So Mokou came to blame Kaguya for tricking her father into his death, is that correct?"

Keine nodded. "She wasn't exactly pleased when he died, but she accepted it as the result of his failure, and she blamed not Kaguya for issuing the challenge but him for being stupid enough to attempt it. But that changed when she learned that Kaguya'd had the five items all along. Her father failing a challenge she was okay with; the challenge itself being a trick she was not."

"How long ago did this happen?" I asked.

"About 1,300 years. Mokou's immortal, too; in fact, stealing and consuming the elixir of immortality was her first act in her feud with Kaguya. Since then, she and Kaguya have been killing each other constantly."

I knew I was getting used to Gensokyo, because when I heard that Kaguya and Mokou were immortal, I immediately accepted it. But there was something about Keine's statement that took me by surprise. "Mokou's been attacking Kaguya for 1,300 years? She still does that even after so long? I would have thought that if nothing else, her hatred would have long since burned itself out."

"Me, too," Keine said. "And? well, I think that maybe it has. Mokou can't bring herself to forgive Kaguya, but her feelings for the princess have? changed. And I believe that Kaguya's feelings for Mokou have changed, as well. Mokou hasn't forgiven Kaguya, but? she has come to love her. And I think that Kaguya's the same. But Mokou can't bring herself to forgive Kaguya, so their fight continues. It? it's tearing Mokou apart. She can't stop killing the woman she's come to love, and it's killing her. I'm worried she's on the way to losing her mind entirely, but there doesn't seem to be anything I can do, and why am I telling you this, anyways?"

"Most likely because I'm willing to listen," I said. "I think that sometimes people just need someone who will listen. I think-" I came to a stop.

Keine turned back towards me. "Orphan?"

"Familiarity," I said.

"What?"

"Familiarity. Ever since I came to Gensokyo, I've had a sense of familiarity. I'm certain that I'm from here. But that's not all. There's? well, I feel like I can feel myself. My forgotten self. The familiarity of Gensokyo seems to be doing? something. My forgotten self is here, I can feel it. I just can't reach it. But?"

"Please, continue," Keine said after a pause.

"Certain things here have also felt familiar to me," I said. "Some of it is things I'd never seen before-danmaku, for instance-while some is related to thinks I have seen before-I think the familiarity of Gensokyo may have something to do with that. And right now, being the person who is willing to listen to you, I got that sense of familiarity."

"So you think you already knew about Mokou and Kaguya?"

"No," I said, "that's not it. It's not the story that feels familiar, it's listening to you tell it. I don't know what it is. I? I did things like that, maybe. Or? but no, there's more. Something? there's some? reason, maybe? A reason I did things like that? There's supposed to be? something."

"Um. Well, I don't really think I can help you out there."

"I know," I said. "I know. I'm just? I don't know."

"Hmm? well, maybe Akyu can help you find some answers. We're almost there; let's continue, shall we?"

 
 

 
Daiyousei looked up as Cirno and Rumia entered the room. "Hey. How'd it go?"

"She had Cirno trigger it," Rumia said, "and somehow recorded what happened. She's examining that record, and will let us know as soon as she finds anything. How are things going for you two?"

That was Tewi's cue to get up from her seat. "Pretty good," she said. "Here, come take a look."

Cirno moved over next to Daiyousei but did not examine the book Tewi had open. Rumia, the only one present aside from Tewi who could actually read, sat down next to the rabbit and examined the open page. "This is about demons."

"Yep," Tewi said. "I'm pretty sure that's what we're dealing with."

'We', huh? Cirno thought. Guess she already considers herself part of the group. "Okay, so how do we beat it?"

"Fire worked on both of the ones you've fought, right? I think I've figured out why. With the first one, the one you couldn't seem to hurt, well, it doesn't feel pain on its protective hide or whatever, but the hide does take damage. I'm thinking that the fire simply burned it deeply, beyond the hide."

"Makes sense," Rumia said. "What about the other one?"

Tewi flipped to another page. "Here, look at this. It's talking about regeneration abilities. Regeneration isn't like immortality; there are limits, and a regenerator can still die. I'd say that with the one you fought, the fire was damaging it faster than it could regenerate. Either that, or the pain simply overwhelmed it."

"That's important," Cirno said. "That's the one we're after. So, what, we just have to keep hitting it?"

"It doesn't look like it's that simple," Rumia said. "We'd need to damage it faster than it can regenerate, and I don't know that we can do that. There's another way, though."

"Yeah? Well, what is it?"

"Doing something that kills it outright. Basically, destroying the brain. Simply removing the head probably works, too; it looks like that's one of those limits Tewi mentioned."

"Great," Cirno said. "We know how to beat it. Now we just need a plan to do it."

"Let's check the other books, Rumia," Tewi said. "There may be something useful in one of them."

"You do that," Cirno said. "Just try to make it quick. I want to be ready to go once Mystia's out and Wriggle's back."

"Got it."

 

 
"Akyu, it's me," Keine said, knocking on the door. "Can I come in?"

"Yes," was the reply. Keine opened the door and entered, with me right behind her.

The person sitting at the table was writing, and didn't even look up as we entered. I'd seen enough different hair colors already that seeing someone with purple hair wasn't a surprise. What was a surprise was how young the girl looked. She didn't look more than fifteen-and she was human, so she really was still a kid. Physically, at least, I thought, reminding myself that she remembered all of her past lives. "Hello," I said. "Are you Heida no Akyu?"

The girl looked up. "Keine not alone. Unusual. Never seen you before. Yes, I am Akyu. Who are you?"

Damn. "I am Orphan."

Akyu spoke quickly and in clipped tones. "Orphan. Odd name. Not given name, surely. Chosen. Has meaning. What meaning?"

"I lost my memory five years ago," I explained. "I know nothing about myself before then."

"Memory loss. Complete?"

I nodded. "I get feelings of familiarity, but aside from that, yes, it seems complete."

"Five years ago. Entire life. Likely not natural. Magic involved. Any clues?"

"When I awoke without my memory, it was in the outside world, but I believe I am from Gensokyo."

"You think same event caused relocation and memory loss?"

"Yes, and I also think it changed my power."

"Not heard anything like it," Akyu said. "So. Searching for identity. Coming here understandable. Hoped I would recognize you, may also find information in records."

"Yes, that's-"

"Shut up. No response desired. Still talking. Now, records not needed. Wrote them. Know everything in them. Can provide any needed information. Any other clues?"

"Just the hat," I said. "I think it was a gift from someone."

"Hat. Never seen it before. Never seen you before. Unless? you were in outside world five years. Did your body age?"

"Yes."

"Then failure of recognition may mean little."

"Do I look similar to anyone you remember?"

"Many people. Appearance generally unremarkable. Plus, you came from outside. Similarities to known appearances may mean little. Appearance often changes during crossing. Hair, eye color most common changes. Any change?"

"No," I said.

"May mean little. No change crossing from outside to here, but do not remember self before crossing from here to outside. Change could have happened then. Current appearance unremarkable, with possible exception of hat. Have never seen hat before. Clue. Means I have not seen you while wearing it. Would not be in public with bare head. Therefore, likely have not seen you. Narrows possibilities."

"So you're saying-"

Akyu cut me off again. "Silence. Still talking. Now, narrowed possibilities. Have not been to Sanzu this life-must leave for last. Cannot return except for reincarnation. Finish recording of Sanzu, kill self, resume task nest life."

I was shocked to hear Akyu speak so casually about committing suicide, but I did not say anything, and she just kept on. "Could be from there, but no shinigami or yama reported missing in last five years. Rules out Sanzu. Underground a possibility. Access sealed for centuries. Only reopened recently. Much catching up to do. Far behind. Most down there have clearly non-human features. Some look human, though. Youkai Mountain another possibility; have not been there this life. Have only very general information recorded at moment. Will commence true recording once finished with Underground. Heaven same way. Those three most likely locations."

The Underground, the Youkai Mountain, and Heaven. "What about Eientei?" I asked.

"Unlikely. Almost all rabbits. Non-rabbits very noticeable. Would be known if one vanished. May still be worth trip, though. Eirin genius of medicine. May have something to aid recollection."

"I see. Well, thank you for the information."

"Welcome. Other business?"

"No," Keine said, "that's all. See you."

"Same."

"Again, thank you," I said, following Keine out of the house.

"Well," Keine said as the door closed behind us, "sounds like you got some useful information."

I nodded. "Yes. Um?"

Keine chuckled. "Speechless, huh? Yeah, Akyu can do that."

"Is it normal for her to speak so casually of suicide?"

"Yeah. She kills herself once she's finished updating her records. It doesn't mean anything special to her, given that she's born again every hundred years. The Yama would probably allow her to cross back over-she supports the Child of Miare's task, and it is her shinigami who brings the records of Sanzu's history back to Gensokyo. The thing is, Akyu doesn't want to live out her natural lifespan. Once she's done for one life, she wants to move to the next immediately."

I wasn't really sure what to think about that. "Um?"

"It's best not to worry about it, so let's change the subject. Where are you going next?"

"Eientei sounds like a good choice," I said.

"I see. Well, I'll walk you out of the village. Come on."

"You know," I said as I followed Keine, "I'm wondering something about this Mokou-Kaguya thing."

"Oh? You know, you don't need to worry about it. It's not your problem."

I wasn't so sure about that; if I was potentially heading into a fight between those two, then it was very much my problem. But there was more than that. "I know, but? well, remember what I said earlier about something feeling familiar when I gave you someone to talk to about Mokou? I'm wondering if perhaps I did indeed do that sort of thing before, and if so, then why. Because it's not solely out of kindness, I can tell that much. I'm supposed to get something out of it. I just don't know what."

"Sounds kind of like a job," Keine said. "Do the work, get paid."

"I don't know about that. What if I listen to people's problems in order to lull them into a false sense of security to make it easier to catch and eat them? Assuming youkai actually eat people like they do in outside-world legends, of course."

"They do, although these days it's extremely uncommon. But, well, um, yes, if you are in fact a youkai, then what you say is certainly possible. I'm? not really sure that's the best possibility to use as a working assumption, though."

"Not to worry," I said. "I mentioned it simply to point out that it's possible my intentions were malicious. I might also have been trying to rob or trick them. Or, as you suggested, doing it in return for something."

"Maybe Reimu should do that more often," Keine remarked with a chuckle. "Might get her more donations."

"I don't think that money is the only thing one might get from such actions," I said. "There are other things one might desire in return."

"Oh, certainly. Material gifts are not the only possibility. There are also immaterial possibilities. Trust. Gratitude. Recognition. For leaders, loyalty and devotion. For gods, faith. Are you hoping that taking such an action in regards to me and Mokou will help you recall something?"

"It's worth attempting."

"Well, all right, then. What exactly is it that you're wondering about?"

"Kaguya's motive," I said. "Why does Mokou think she issued her 'Impossible Requests'?"

"So she wouldn't have to deal with all the potential suitors," Keine said. "I'm not so sure about that, though. Sending people to their deaths just so you don't have to turn them down doesn't really seem all that reasonable a thing to do."

"I agree. I'm wondering if perhaps the key to her reasoning is the fact that she already had the items. What if, instead of just being a means for her to reject potential suitors, the challenge truly was meant to find a suitable on, and the real test was to see through the deception?"

"Yeah, I've thought of that. So has Mokou, although she finds that just as bad. I do, too, realy, which is why I again think there's something else to it."

"It may," I said, "be easier for me to see things from an outsider's perspective-my only memories before coming here are of the outside world, so even if I'm from here, I am still, in a way, an outsider. Maybe that helps me to see things from an outsider's perspective, but have you perhaps thought that Kaguya didn't intend for people to get themselves killed?"

"Of course she didn't want that. There's no way she actually wanted people to die, despite some of the things Mokou's said."

"That's not quite what I meant. Obviously she didn't intend for people to die, but what if she never even intended for them to attempt the challenge in the first place?"

"She had to've known people would try. People are like that."

"Humans are like that. But she is not human, correct? She is a 'lunarian', as you called them. So I ask you: is it possible that lunarians are not like that?"

Keine came to a stop. "Why didn't I ever think of that?" she wondered aloud. "I really should have thought of that. Mokou I can see failing to think of it-hatred can do things like that-but I should have thought of it."

"Sometimes it takes a fresh viewpoint to see the obvious answer."

"Heh, sounds like something Mokou would say. Actually, I think that is something Mokou says. Right, then. I'll have to bring that up with her. Thank you."

"You're welcome." I paused. "No clues, though. Nothing new feeling familiar. Damn."

"One can only hope you'll have better luck at Eientei," Keine said. "And on that note, let's stop standing around here. I'll take you out of the village, and then Eientei's close. It won't take you long to get there."

"It's getting late, though," I noted. "Shouldn't I wait until tomorrow?"

"Eientei's always open," Keine said, "and is in fact more active at night. So you're actually looking at the best time to go there."

"I see. Well, in that case, lead on."

 

 
London and Holland reached their destination first, and immediately noticed that something was up. "Damn," Holland said, "what the hell is all this?"

London walked up to one, examining it closely. "Propaganda posters. War propaganda." [Mother? It looks like there's a war going on. Pro-war propaganda is all over the place.]

[Wait, what?] Alice replied. [A war? With who?]

[I don't know. The ones I'm looking at are just generic 'join the fight'-type things.]

Holland was looking over other posters. "Um, London? I think I found something important."

London went over and looked at the indicated poster. And immediately jerked back in surprise. [Um, mother?]

[Yes? What is it?]

[A wanted poster,] London sent. [Dead or alive. An enormous reward, too. They want this person bad.]

[Who is it?]

[Mother,] Holland sent, [it's you.]

 

 
Yeah, I had fun writing Akyu.

Anyways, you may have noticed, but I find some of the character backstories more interesting than others, and Keine's is my favorite so far. It kind of went on longer than I intended, but you know what? I like it. And on the topic of the backstories, if you have any characters you'd like to see backstories of, please tell me. I won't promise to actually do them all, but I'm always willing to at least listen to requests. Requests of any kind, really; I'm always open to suggestions.
 
Also, I'm dissapointed in the lack of theorizing about Orphan's identity. Don't worry; I'm not going to change it if someone guesses it or anything like that (I've had her identity planned from the beginning; how else could I be planting hints about it?). I would like to see your theories, though.

And as always, any comments are appreciated.

[Kips McKipzerson]

Well, I would assume its tenshi. I mean, she can "control" the earth, and she has a weird hat.
Also, Maybe a kaguya backstory? Mokou is overdone, but with what you are thinking about kaguya, it makes it seem like she'd have a good backstory.

[GuyYouMetOnline]

I've already got a Mokou backstory planned, so I will be doing hers. I do think a Kaguya backstory is a very real possibility.

[GuyYouMetOnline]

Chapter 7
Changes
 
 
Alice, of course, was shocked, but she didn't let this affect her actions. [I'm wanted?] she said. [Why?]
 
London examined the poster. [There aren't details, but it does list the charges, which are? assassination and high treason? What the-?]
 
[Treason I could at least somewhat understand, if only because I did leave my homeland, but even then, that would only be likely if they believed I was with an enemy. Unless Gensokyo is their enemy. But that combination, high treason and assassination? there's only one conclusion to reach: I was blamed for the death of someone important. Framed, I would assume. The question is whose death I was framed for.]
 
"Disgusting, isn't she?"
 
Both former dolls turned towards the demon who had walked up beside them. His appearance was mostly human (it wasn't quite as common for demons to look human than it was for other youkai, but it was still common); only his wings and fangs gave him away as a vampire. Vampires were a variety of demon and native to Makai, and Makai had no sun to restrict them to nighttime activity.
 
[Play along,] Alice sent, [and see if you can get him to name whoever I supposedly killed.]
 
[Understood,] London and Holland replied in unison. "Most certainly," Holland said. "I can't imagine why she would betray us like that."
 
"Betrayal I can understand, but what she actually did? ugh. How could anyone do something like that?"
 
"I don't know," London said. "But people do do those things. I just? well, she wasn't like that before she left, was she?"
 
"Who knows? She didn't go out in public much, after all. But? shit, no, I don't think she was like that. But then how do you explain what she did?"
 
"Brainwashing?"
 
"Shinki would've known," the man replied. "She would've known. No, Alice killed her knowingly and willingly."
 
The two former dolls hid their shock. Alice-who the pair was relaying the entire conversation to-on the other hand, didn't need to. [What the- they think I- they think she's- fuck, um, get more information. It shouldn't be possible for anyone to kill her. How did I supposedly do it?]
 
"I'm more concerned about how she did it," Holland said. "That's the more practical concern, at least. It needs to be absolutely certain that it won't work again."
 
"Of course they know how she did it. She just used her mother's trust to get close, then killed her and fled before anyone knew what had happened."
 
"But how was she actually killed? That's what I wonder. That's not supposed to have been possible."
 
"Yeah," the vampire said, "nobody in Makai could harm her. Except for the one who shared her blood."
 
[Not correct,] Alice sent. [Don't say this, but that's wrong. I couldn't have done it, either. Someone's using that as a believable lie, and only I or my mother herself-or perhaps Byakuren-would know it for a lie.]
 
"I'm more interested in the why, Kas," London said, using a fake name to refer to Holland. "I don't think she would've naturally come to hate her mother so much."
 
"She may not have been brainwashed," the man said, "but somebody in Gensokyo had something to do with it, that's for sure. Too bad for them we didn't reach the conclusion they wanted."
 
That much, London decided, would be easily believable for her not to know. "First I've heard they even had a conclusion in mind."
 
"Well, we don't actually know, obviously, but it's clear enough that they wanted us to think Alice's motivations were purely personal. Too bad for them nobody bought it; everyone knows it was really an assassination. And after five years, we're finally just about ready to get moving. They're not going to like what comes next."
 
"That's for sure," Holland said.
 
"Yeah. I'm just disappointed it took so long to sort everything out. It's just fortunate that they didn't seem to have plans to attack; I guess it was about just Shinki, not Makai. Not that that's going to stop us from taking the fight to them. Speaking of which, you seemed pretty interested in that wanted poster. You're not thinking of going after her, are you?"
 
"No," London said. "Nobody who's tried has returned, right?" This she knew was true; it had been before she and her sisters were alive, but demons had targeted Alice on several occasions. None of them had survived. "We're not dumb enough to go after her ourselves."
 
"That's good," the man said. "If you want to fight, go find a recruiting station; they're still accepting people. In fact, I was sent out here to get people to do just that, since there's no recruiting station in a town this size."
 
"We've been thinking about that, actually," Holland said. "We might just do it."
 
"Good to hear. Nearest one's in Jakin."
 
"Got it." Holland said. [That explains his interest, then.]
 
[A recruiter,] Alice replied. [That town's not large enough to have any sort of actual facility, so they sent a recruiter to find interested people and direct them to a place where there is one.]
 
[It would seem,] London sent, [that the situation is much different than expected. So now what?]
   ******** 
[Change of plans,] Alice sent. [London, Holland, you two proceed as originally planned. Hourai, Copenhagen, do not split up upon arrival in Tsesek. Remain together. Tsesek's large enough that there's surely a full recruiting station there; find it. Get as much information on this war as you can. Moscow, your task just got even more important. Whatever happened to my mother, the people behind it are likely to be in the castle, and others involved are likely to be among their guests. I need names, reasons for visiting, as much as you can possibly get.]
 
Alice turned to Shanghai. "Shanghai, you'll be going in sooner than planned. I'll get your backup finished; you just make sure you're ready to go. As soon as we have a target, I'm sending you in. And be careful; your job just got a lot more dangerous."
 
"Don't worry, Mother," Shanghai said. "I know."
 
"Good," Alice said. She turned to a waiting London-series doll. "London Delta, instruction: go to the Temple of Myouren, find Byakuren Hijiri, inform her that I need to see her, and bring her here. Confirm."
 
"Locate Hijiri at Temple of Myouren and bring her here," the doll said. "Confirmed."
 
"Good. Excecute."
 
As the doll left, Alice entered her workshop and got to work finishing Shanghai's backup doll. She was working on automatic; her thoughts were elsewhere, and for once, they didn't have anything to do with guilt over putting her children in danger.
   
   
Usage of her new power, Wriggle had found, came quite naturally. It did take a little getting used to, but she didn't actually have to learn how to use it, or learn its limits. It didn't feel like she had obtained power from another source; it felt like the power was hers.
 
Wriggle wasn't expecting the creature outside to want a danmaku battle, but she's done some danmaku work anyways, most notably upgrading her spellcard patterns, as there was no telling when she might need them. It wouldn't be now, though; this would not be a danmaku battle, and like most, she didn't have much use for non-danmaku spellcards. Even if she needed to produce non-danmaku versions of those patterns, spellcards wouldn't be necessary. Danmaku actually took more effort and focus to fire than regular blasts; the same patterns could produced as non-danmaku much more easily. Patterns were less important in non-danmaku combat, anyways; another property of danmaku was that of being naturally slower-moving; making danmaku go at a certain speed was harder than making non-danmaku blasts go at that speed. Danmaku combat was slower, more careful, and more elegant than normal combat, and winning took different tactics.
 
Wriggle had spent time preparing, but now she was ready. She approached the hidden entrance to the chamber, which opened without her needing to command it to. Her command of insects no longer required conscious effort; simply wanting them to take an action was enough.
 
The sun was setting as Wriggle emerged from the cave. The beast she'd known was there rose from her seated position. "There you are," she-her form revealing her gender-said. "I have to say, you have a very well-hidden spot in there. I knew it was there, and I still couldn't find even a slight trace of it. Too bad I knew you'd have to leave eventually."
 
Before, Wriggle would have been terrified, but now, she was not afraid. She was confident; for the first time, she knew she would emerge victorious. There was no doubt, no uncertainty. It wasn't the kind of confidence that begat carelessness, however; she knew that her opponent was perfectly capable of killing her. But she also knew that if she remained careful, she would win.
 
Wriggle took a look at herself through the eyes of nearby insects. Her self-examination earlier had been accurate, except that the power had left a physical mark, just not one she could see with her own eyes, for it was her eyes that had changed. Previously blue, her eyes were now bright green in color.
 
The creature was still speaking. "I'm surprised you had an outfit like that in there, though. Clothes I can understand, but keeping a dress like that in your little hidey-hole seems odd, if you ask me."
 
Let's have some fun with this, Wriggle thought. "What do you want with me?" Her voice had not changed, but there was now a sort of? booming effect when she spoke. An echoey sort of sound. It wasn't a change in her voice; she was actually causing it deliberately by passing her words through surrounding insects.
 
"I saw you kill Nios," the creature said. "I'm not about to let that go unanswered."
 
"What makes you think you can kill me when Nios could not?"
 
The beast laughed. "I told you I saw you kill Nios. I didn't know how you did it, so I exercised caution. He clearly had you, then he died. I had to find out what you'd done. Although it really only took some thinking about. You simply got lucky. You see, we of Makai are immune to your poisons. But there are no absolutes. You just happened to hit him with a combination that he just happened to be susceptible to. It was nothing more than an unreasonable amount of luck, and not something you'll be able to repeat. And I think you know it was only luck that let you win."
 
Makai, Wriggle thought. So these things are demons?
 
The demon continued "Once I determined that you couldn't repeat that victory against me, I followed you. I waited when you entered that mansion. You probably should've stayed there, you know; even I couldn't have broken through their defenses. But you left, and without your friend. I guess you wanted to use your own hidey-hole. And it's a good one; I never found the tiniest sign of it, and I knew it had to be there. But I knew you'd emerge eventually. And now you have. Which means it's time for me to kill you."
 
It was Wriggle's turn to laugh. "You have no idea what it is you face."
 
"Oh? I'd say I have a very good idea. You're a weak little bug who got lucky once."
 
"Perhaps I was, but no more."
 
"So, what, you found power in there or something? Do you think I'm an idiot?"
 
"You cannot comprehend what I have become." Damn, this is fun.
 
"Oh, whatever," the demon said. "Let's just get on with this. Time for you to die."
 
Another laugh. "A mere demon is nothing compared to me! It's time for you to witness the power you face!"
 
The demon fired a basic energy blast. Wriggle leapt over it into the air. Balls of energy formed all around her. This was an attack pattern she'd used before, but now, the balls of energy were larger, and there were many, many more of them. Hundreds, maybe even thousands, surrounding her in layered spheres. "Try this!" she cried out. "Bug Storm!"
 
The balls of energy shot forward quickly, aimed in a spread to prevent the demon from simply moving out of the way. She took hits, and a lot of them, but even the powered-up version's hits were still weak individually, and the demon wasn't really harmed. "Nice try. Now it's my-"
 
"Swarm!"
 
Multiple points of light appeared all around the demon. A small laser shot forward from each one, pelting the demon. Again, the shots were individually weak and actual damage was minor, but the lasers were fast and surrounded the demon, and the vast majority of them hit.
 
The demon didn't speak this time, instead retaliating immediately. Wriggle dropped under the energy wave to the ground. The demon, anticipating the move, fired and connected with an energy beam, sending Wriggle backwards into the ground.
 
Wriggle used a blast of energy to launch herself into the air, pelting the demon with minor projectiles as she closed in. The demon countered with her own blasts, but Wriggle's storm of shots was a distraction, and she evaded the demon's poorly-aimed shots without difficulty.
 
"And here I thought that hit would do more," the demon said. "Maybe you're a little tougher than I thought. Don't seem able to hit worth shit, though. Face it, bug, your shots are too weak. I don't care how many of them you send at me, you'll need something stronger."
 
"Very well." Wriggle formed more spheres of energy around her. They were far fewer in number this time around, but also far larger. "Bug Storm!" The demon dodged most of them this time, but the few that did hit had a far greater effect.
 
Wriggle fired a storm of blasts as she charged the demon. As she drew closer, a weapon formed in her hand, an ornate-looking spear. Wielding the weapon, Her weapon, felt natural to Wriggle. It's my weapon now.
 
The demon blasted at Wriggle, but Wriggle countered with a blast of her own. She swung around and came in from the side, thrusting her spear into the demon's arm. As the demon cried out in pain, it took hold of Wriggle with its other hand and threw her hard. And it was strong; Wriggle went flying for a good ways, eventually hitting the ground and skidding to a stop.
 
The damage was far less than it would have been previously; Wriggle's durability had been greatly enhanced by her new power, as had her physical strength. She couldn't just shrug off a hit that strong, but is wasn't the hugely damaging blow it would have been.
 
Wriggle leapt into the air again. Several points of energy formed in layered rings around her. Streams formed, connecting the points into a web of green energy with Wriggle at the center. "This is the fate of those who dare to defy me!" Energy shot forth from the outer ring, enclosing the demon. "You will know despair! Fury of the Hive!"
 
The points of energy in the inner ring began emitting lasers, and sprays of shots came from those in the outer ring. And from her own position, Wriggle fired a large beam down the center of the enclosed area.
 
The demon was focused on the lasers and smaller shots, and was unable to react quite fast enough when the beam came. She almost got out of the way, but not quite. It wasn't a direct hit, but the beam was a very powerful blast. The demon stumbled backwards, then leapt through the enclosing energy wall. That hurt, too, but it was preferable to being inside.
 
Wriggle ceased the attack and allowed the energy web to dissipate. Her spear appeared in her hand, and she threw it with extreme force. The demon, however, managed to grab it right before it hit her. "Nice try, but you'll have to do better-"
 
The spear shot forward out of the demon's hand, piercing it through the chest. "This weapon is mine." Wriggle said as she landed in front of the demon. "It heeds my command even when I do not have hold of it."
 
The spear withdrew from the demon, who fell to her knees, and returned to Wriggle. The supernatural weapon was completely unblemished; even the demon's blood slid right off without leaving any sign it was there in the first place. It would never be damaged or destroyed, and was capable of far more than any 'ordinary' weapon.
 
Wriggle took hold of the spear. "You understand now how foolish you were to face me, but it is too late." She took a few steps back, channeling energy into the spear. "You have dared to defy me, and now you will pay the price! Stinger!" She threw the spear. The charged energy propelled it forward and boosted its force, and the spear flew into and straight through the demon's head.
   
   
Once we were outside the village, Keine turned to me. "Okay, if you just keep going that way," she pointed, "you should reach Eientei. Be careful, though; that forest isn't called the 'Bamboo Forest of the Lost' for nothing. Do you have some way to keep track of your direction?"
 
"I am attuned to nature," I said. "I cannot get lost among it."
 
"I see. Well, in that case, you should be fine. And if you run into Mokou, tell her I said 'hi'. Unless she's fighting Kaguya, in which case just stay away."
 
"Understood," I said. "Thank you." I took to the air, and headed for the forest.
   
   
The spear withdrew from the demon's skull. Wriggle took hold of it, keeping it pointed at the demon until the demon was completely motionless, without even so much as a single reflexive twitch. She was about to stand down, but thought better of it and speared the demon through the chest, through its heart. Only then did she release the weapon, which seemed to vanish. It would come to Wriggle instantly upon her desiring it to.
 
Wriggle looked over the body again. Okay, I think I'm pretty certain it's dead. She relaxed a bit. Demons, huh? I guess we know what these things are, then. Right, I should get back. She looked around. Okay, so from here, Eientei would be-
 
Wriggle's thoughts were interrupted by a... mental image? That's? wait, that's a path from here to Eientei! Wait, no, it's? no, it is a path, but it's not one image. It's a series of images. It's- And then she had it. The images were simply her seeing through the eyes of insects. As soon as she'd thought about how to get to Eientei, she'd seen a route there through the eyes of insects along it. So I can think about how to get somewhere and I'll see a route? She tried it with a couple other locations, and found that the same thing did indeed happen. And there are insects pretty much everywhere. Guess I don't have to worry about getting lost now. Not exactly something I anticipated, but hey, I'll take it. It's kind of cool, really.
 
Wriggle focused again on Eientei, and once again saw a route to it, which she immediately took off along.
   
   
"Okay," Eirin said as Cirno and Rumia took chairs in front of her desk, "I've made a little progress. Not much, though, and I doubt I'll be able to find out much more. This effect is extremely advanced, far beyond anything I could do. I was, however, able to observe what happened when you used your power, Cirno.
 
"Cirno, the effect within you two is connected directly to your power. I'll skip the detailed explanation of just how that works, as you wouldn't understand it. You just need to know the practical side.
 
"The effect within you two is connected to your power, Cirno. A sufficiently strong use of your power stimulates the effect. Normally, this would mean nothing and have no noticeable effect, but now the effect within you is damaged, and what it could endure easily while whole it no longer can. When you use your power to a strong enough extent, this now further damages the effect."
 
"Okay," Rumia said, "so basically, Cirno using her power damages this effect more. Any idea what the thing actually does?"
 
"I've made minor progress in that area," Eirin said. "As I said before, I think I've reached the limit of what I can determine, and I doubt I'll be able to pinpoint precisely what the effect is doing, but? well, I think it's a coil."
 
Cirno and Rumia responded simultaneously. "A what?"
 
"Think of it as a lock," Eirin explained. "A coil enchantment is one that seals something away-I don't know where the name originated. What's sealed can be any number of things. Physical objects can be sealed, of course, although generally not living ones. Mental aspects can be sealed with a coil, too; you know, like memories, feelings, personality traits, etc. It's even possible to place a coil on certain aspects of one's physical appearance, or on physical or magical strength, although that kind of coil is even more difficult to place than most, and they're already among the most difficult enchantments to place; magic-sealing coils in particular are almost impossible to place, and usually end up draining everything the caster has even if it succeeds. And mind-affecting could aren't much easier. There's no way to know just what the coil was placed around; it could be almost anything. I met a man once who had placed a coil around a stain on his shirt-long story."
 
"So something about me has a coil around it, then," Rumia said, "and you can't tell what. Question: what happens if the coil is damaged enough to stop working?"
 
"If a coil breaks or is otherwise removed, whatever it was placed around becomes unsealed. If the coil was placed around some attribute of yours, Rumia, then the coil breaking would restore that attribute."
 
"That's what I thought you'd say."
 
Cirno was amazed. "Wait, you actually understand all this?"
 
"No, but I understand enough. Eirin, you're about to say that we have the option of destroying the coil, aren't you?"
 
Eirin nodded. "I am. Cirno, if you use your power enough, the coil will break, and whatever it seals will be restored."
 
"Here's the thing, Cirno," Rumia added. "I don't have any memory of anything ever being sealed."
 
"I don't think it's just a memory coil," Eirin said, "but memories could be included in what it seals."
 
"So yeah, I have no idea what this 'coil' is keeping from me. But we can assume there's a reason it was sealed. It could be a good reason, a bad reason, a neutral reason, anything, but there was certainly a reason. So yeah, it could be that breaking the coil is a good idea, but it could also be that whatever's sealed should stay that way."
 
"Smart girl," Eirin remarked. "Yes, that is the situation. Which means you two have a choice to make."
 
"Do we?" Cirno said. "I don't get a lot of this, but didn't you say this 'coil' is breaking? Can we even stop that?"
 
"You're right; stopping it at this point is unlikely. The damage shouldn't worsen on its own, but you'd need to avoid using your power, as well as anything else that might stimulate the coil-the attack that first damaged it, for example."
 
"What, and never use my power again?"
 
"At this point," Eirin said, "I wouldn't be surprised if this coil included a self-repairing effect. Such a thing is supposed to be impossible, but I would've thought something of this level was impossible. I haven't seen any sign of such a thing, though, which makes it even more unlikely."
 
"Which means you really told us nothing," Rumia remarked. "Okay, so can it be repaired?"
 
"Repair of such effects is possible, but this particular coil is so far beyond my level that I wouldn't even know where to start. It's also quite possible that the damage has progressed beyond a point at which repair is possible. And I think we can rule out replacing it; I don't know of anyone who could even come close to this level. You'd have to find whoever placed the coil in the first place."
 
"So we can pretty much rule out repair," Rumia said.
 
"Then I was right," Cirno said. "It's going to break."
 
"Most likely," Eirin said. "If you'd rather leave it up, your only real chance would be to find whoever placed it, but with essentially nothing to go on, success is extremely unlikely. Either that, or hold off on using your power and hope that the coil is in fact self-repairing, which I would say is even less likely, or just don't use your power period."
 
"You use way too many words," Cirno remarked. "All you've told us is that it's going to break at some point. There, I did it in one sentence. Anything else we need to know?"
 
"There's just one more thing," Eirin said. "If you do decide to deliberately break the coil, it is important that the two of you be together, and just as important that the two of you be alone. Be by yourselves, just the two of you. There's no telling what might happen, so it's safer if it's just the two of you."
 
"Got it," Rumia said. "Come on, Cirno, let's get back to Dai and Tewi. Um, Eirin, is Mystia out yet?"
 
"Not quite," Eirin said. "Rin's not quite ready to release her yet, but it shouldn't be too long from now. I'll send her up to you when she's out."
 
"Thanks. Come on, Cirno, let's go." Rumia led Cirno out of the office.
 
There was a lot Eirin hadn't told them. She didn't want to tell them anything more, because doing so might make them less willing to break the coil. At this point, the coil's eventual breaking was almost certainly inevitable, and it would be best if this were to happen under controlled circumstances. There was a chance of there not being any harm that could come to anyone else, but there was also a chance that things would turn quite dangerous for anyone nearby. Eirin didn't know what would happen when a coil like this one broke; this was the only one like it there'd ever been, and a coil of its type was thought to be impossible. Which only serves to bring home the level of this 'Nolana' of Mokou's. There was no way to know just how things would turn out. I've done what I can. I suppose all I can do now is hope it all works out.
   
   
I moved through the forest on foot; it was thick enough to make flying through it difficult. As I had told Keine, getting lost wasn't a concern. I was also unconcerned about any possible dangers of traveling through the forest after dark; Keine had told me about what I could expect to find, and there was nothing that would be too much trouble for someone of my level of power. I didn't run into anything, though; the ever-present fairies were all I had to deal with until I came across her.
 
The most notable features of this woman were her extremely long hair and what appeared to be charms of some sort on her clothing and in her hair. Even just that was enough for me to identify her; Keine had given me a brief description of Mokou, and this was clearly her.
 
Mokou was sitting on a rock in a small clearing. She looked up as I approached. "Huh. Haven't seen you before. Nice hat."
 
"I am Orphan," I said. "Would I be correct in assuming that you are Fujiwara no Mokou?"
 
Mokou got to her feet. "Yeah. So? 'Orphan', huh? Odd name."
 
"I chose it. I have lost my memory, and do not know who I am. I was in the outside world, but I believe I am originally from Gensokyo, so I came here in search of my identity."
 
"Ah. Well, I don't recognize you. What're you doing in here, anyways?"
 
"I spoke to Heida no Akyu," I explained. "She didn't recognize me, but she was able to identify a few places I might likely be from. I'm headed for Eientei right now, which wasn't one of them, but she thought it might be worth a visit anyways. I understand there's someone there by the name of 'Eirin' who is somewhat of a medical genius. Akyu thought she might have something that could aid recollection."
 
"I see. Well, I've never heard of something like that, but if anyone has such a thing, it'd be Eirin. It's easy to get lost in here, though. I'll take you to Eientei."
 
I didn't need her assistance, as getting lost was not a concern for me, but? I remembered the feeling of familiarity from talking about Mokou with Keine. I may figure something out if I take this further. Get some additional clue of some kind. It's worth trying. "Well, I think I'd be all right on my own, but if you're willing, then perhaps I'll take you up on that."
 
"In that case, follow me."
   
  I am Fujiwara no Mokou.
 
[/i]It's been a long time since anyone besides myself used the old custom of surname followed by given name. The current style of given name followed by surname is much preferred. I don't really have a preference myself; I use the old style for myself for a different, personal reason. My heritage is important to me. Not in a current way, though. It's strictly in the past, but I don't want to forget it, so I use the old style as a reminder. I don't tell other people to use it for me, though; as I said, it's strictly personal.
 
I am immortal. I was born over 1,300 years ago. I was just a regular human then; I didn't even have anything more than a faint trace of power, just enough to allow flight and danmaku. My father had a greater level of power, although not a truly noteworthy level. There was nothing special about my family in terms of levels of power; they varied in our family just as they do for most.
 
My mother died of an illness when I was young. My father was not one of those men who resolves never to remarry; the reason he didn't was that he couldn't find another woman he wanted to marry. Not until her.
 
The woman's name was Kaguya Houraisan. She was a princess from the moon, and my father was not alone in desiring her hand in marriage. She had devised a trial for these men. She named five legendary items and said that in order to marry her, a man would have to bring her one of them. These items had never been seen, and many thought they didn't even exist. And even among those who did, finding even one of them was said to be impossible. Thus, obtaining these items came to be known as the 'Five Impossible Requests'. And the name proved to be apt; of the hundreds of men who attempted to obtain one of these items, few survived and none were successful.
 
Eventually, my father decided to go after one of the items, the Jeweled Branch of Hourai. This was perhaps the most straightforward of the items to obtain, but still extremely dangerous. It was said that one had simply to ascend to the top of Mt. Hourai in order to find it. The problem was that Mt. Hourai was extremely dangerous. For one, it bore an unusually strong concentration of magical energy, and as a result many powerful youkai made their homes on the mountain. Conditions on the mountain, especially as one got higher, were absolutely brutal. There were no paths or trails up, and flying up was not an option; as a result of the magical energy, the upper reaches of the mountain were surrounded by constant windstorms of an intensity that made flight impossible. One could fly up to the point the storms started, of course, and I would assume that those who challenged the mountain did just that, avoiding the youkai farther down. But that left the truly dangerous part. And, of course, there's no food and water at that point, so one is limited to what one brought along. And there might be even more dangers; nobody knows what lies near the top, as nobody has gotten that far and returned to tell about it.
 
I thought my father was an idiot for attempting to scale the mountain. He'd always had a reckless streak, but something like that was at an entirely new level. I wasn't surprised that he died. In fact, the only surprise was the fact that his body was actually found; he had apparently fallen to his death, and his body ended up low enough that someone found it and carried it out.
 
At that point, I did not blame Kaguya for my father's death; sure, she had issued the challenge, but it was not her fault that people were dumb enough to attempt it. The way I saw it, it wasn't her who got my father and the other men killed; they got themselves killed. Still, though, I was curious as to what would drive Kaguya to issue a challenge that she had to know would claim many lives. Rumors claimed that Kaguya was immortal, and I thought that perhaps that had something to do with it. So I began looking into it.
 
I got myself hired as a servant at Kaguya's mansion-this was before she relocated to the rabbit-run Eientei. I doubted they'd connect me to my father-they probably never even knew his name-but I gave them a fake name anyways. It was a fine position; Kaguya treated her staff kindly. I did not mind serving her at all, and would have kept my position without complaint. But then I made a certain discovery.
 
I call it a discovery, but all I did was happen to catch the right bit of gossip. Someone mentioned it offhand within earshot of me. Apparently, it wasn't a huge secret among the mansion's staff, although they didn't talk about it very much, and never to anyone outside the mansion. What I 'discovered' was that Kaguya's Impossible Requests were not made honestly; the five items had been in her possession the entire time.
 
I hadn't blamed her for my father's death until then. I had considered it to be entirely his fault for being stupid enough to attempt Kaguya's challenge. But that was when I thought the challenge had been issued honestly. When I knew the truth, that changed. I realized that she'd never intended for the men to succeed, that she had known their efforts would end in failure. She had knowingly sent them to their deaths, and done so for nothing. She had done so just to get rid of them.
 
That was when I swore revenge.
 
I didn't let anyone know of the change in my attitude; I still had something to do within the mansion. Outside it was just rumors, but within the mansion, everyone knew that Kaguya truly was immortal, and that she had become immortal by consuming the Hourai Elixir, an act which resulted in her being exiled from the moon. But she'd taken the elixir with her. She didn't need it, but there had been some left, and she'd wanted to take it with her, so she had.
 
I kept up the act of a faithful servant, and I eventually discovered where the elixir was kept. Kaguya had it cleverly hidden away in her personal chambers. As soon as I had a chance, I took it and consumed it, then put the container back.
 
I had no more need to remain in Kaguya's service, but I was going to make use of it before leaving. She didn't suspect me at all, which made it easy. Before she could react, I took a decorative sword off the wall and stabbed her through the heart, killing her. As she returned to life, I told her who I really was. Then I got the hell out of there.
 
I almost made it away clean, but one of the other servants realized that even though I was a familiar, trusted face, the fact that I was running like that implied that I was running from something. So he stopped me at the main entrance and tried to get me to explain. He didn't hold me up for long, but it was long enough for Kaguya to catch up. And she is very powerful.
 
That was my first death.
 
Kaguya didn't realize what I'd done until I got back to my feet. "Sorry, bitch," I said, "but killing me won't accomplish anything. You should know how that works. And now that I took your special little medicine, I don't think I have any reason to stick around. We'll be seeing each other again, though. You can be sure of that." Then I ran out the door and flew away.
 
I attempted to kill Kaguya as often as I could, but her power gave her a major advantage. I had to attack covertly, or else she would easily kill me. I learned the art of physical combat, but that didn't help much against someone of Kaguya's power. I needed power of my own. And eventually, I found a way to get it.
 
There was a legendary immortal bird of fire called the Phoenix. The legends held that if you could survive its possession, you would gain its power and its immortality. But nobody who tried could even come close to surviving the process. But unlike them, I was already immortal.
 
I located the Phoenix's lair and made my way to the great bird. And when I found it, the creature spoke. I'm still not sure how it did so. "Another human," it said. "Have you, too, come to throw your life away?"
 
"I am here for power," I said.
 
"And you are desperate enough that you will die for it? Because if you desire my power, only death will result."
 
"Try me."
 
"Overconfidence. Common. If only your confidence was not misplaced. I have lived for countless ages; the only way I can die is to pass my spirit on to someone else. There is nobody who can accept my spirit. If there were, my life could finally end. But all those who try to take my spirit are overwhelmed by it and die."
 
"Not me. If you truly want to end your life, then this is your chance to do it."
 
"Very well, then. If you are so willing to give me your life, then I shall take it!"
 
The Phoenix was right; I died. When I resurrected, it was just staring off into the distance. "What's the matter?" I said. "Lose your nerve?"
 
That surprised the creature. "What? How are you alive? You died just as everyone else died."
 
"I have not come here seeking immortality. I already have that. I have come for power."
 
"You are one who cannot die?" The Phoenix actually laughed. "Excellent! Very well, then. You will have the power you seek."
 
I don't know how many times the process killed me. I just know that it killed me a lot, and that in between deaths, there was nothing but pain. And then it was over. As I got to my feet, I saw the lifeless body of the Phoenix on the ground before me. The creature was dead. And I could feel the power its death had given me. The process had worked.
 
When Gensokyo was separated from the outside world, we were, of course, within it. Eirin had recently joined her in exile; it seemed that her exile had been ended, but she chose not to return. In gensokyo, she took up residence in the mansion of Eientei. Before doing so, however, she publicly withdrew her challenge, saying that since she had managed to obtain the items herself, it was over-failing to mention, of course, that she'd had them all along. She now keeps them with her at all times; they are tied to her magically and float along with her.
 
Kaguya is my enemy. She will always be my enemy. It can't be any other way. We have killed each other countless times over the centuries. Something new seems to be happening now, but that changes nothing. She is the one I kill. She will always be the one I kill. It has to be that way. It can't be any other way. It can't.
 
It can't.
   
   
"Your offer was unexpected," I remarked as I followed Mokou through the forest. "Leading people to the home of one's enemy isn't something you usually see."
 
"Enemy," Mokou said. "You know."
 
"Yes. Keine told me about it."
 
"Well, whatever. It's not like it's a big secret or anything. Anyways, my fight is with Kaguya and only Kaguya. I have no quarrel with anyone else at Eientei. I actually take people there frequently; the place has the best hospital in Gensokyo."
 
"I see."
 
"I don't go after Kaguya when I'm bringing someone else there. Although if I happen to run into her after dropping the person off, it's fair game as far as I'm concerned."
 
"Keine tells me the two of you have been killing each other for over 1,300 years."
 
"Did she tell you why?"
 
"She did," I said. "You feel as though Kaguya tricked men, including your father, into getting themselves killed."
 
"'Think'? There's no doubt about it. She told people to get things for her, but oh, wait, finding them isn't just extremely dangerous, it's also impossible, because she already has them! 'Test to earn the right of marriage' my ass. She just didn't want to deal with them, so she sends them off to die for nothing!"
 
"And what if the true test was figuring out that she already had the items in question?"
 
"Doesn't matter. She still got them killed for nothing."
 
"This," I said, "is where an outsider's perspective comes in handy. I may originally be from Gensokyo, but I do not remember that part of my life, so effectively, I am an outsider at the moment. I think that makes it easier for me to see things from a different perspective."
 
"Yeah? Like what?"
 
"Like the fact that Kaguya was also an outsider when she issued that challenge."
 
"So?"
 
"She grew up in a completely different culture," I said. "I don't know anything about moon-person-"
 
"Lunarian."
 
"Right. I don't know anything about Lunarian culture or behavior or anything like that, but it seems odd to me that anyone would issue a challenge that they knew would get almost everyone who attempted it killed, even if the real point was to figure out that Kaguya already had the items in question."
 
"Of course it's 'odd'," Mokou replied. "Most people aren't twisted enough to do something like that."
 
"How do Lunarians react when presented with a task they are told is impossible?"
 
Mokou stopped and faced me. "Huh?"
 
"In humans, there is a tendency among many to attempt that which is impossible. This is the kind of person that attempted Kaguya's challenge. What if she didn't expect that? What if she didn't expect people to attempt her challenge?"
 
"Of course she knew people would attempt it! Humans are like that. Are you trying to say she knew nothing about humans?"
 
"How much do you know about Lunarians?" I asked. "You've only met one."
 
"Two. And one lunar rabbit."
 
"Whatever. How much do you know about Lunarians in general?"
 
She paused in thought. "Not much."
 
"Could you tell me how one from their culture would be likely to react in a given situation? A different culture would have different standards, different customs, different expectations. Do you know them?"
 
"Not at all."
 
"As is to be expected," I said. "They are, after all, on the moon."
 
"Yeah."
 
"And they probably know just as little about the people here."
 
"Yeah, proba-wait, you're trying to say that Kaguya actually didn't know anything about humans."
 
"You don't know anything about her people. Why would you think she was any more informed about yours?"
 
"You actually think she issued her challenge without thinking that people would attempt it?"
 
"I'm sure she expected a few to attempt it," I said. "Regardless of Lunarian culture, people are people. There will always be variation. I'm sure there are Lunarians who would attempt such a challenge, but I think that such behavior is much less common among Lunarians than it is among humans."
 
"So, what? You're saying I should just walk up to Kaguya and say 'hey, I realize you didn't mean it, we're good'? Because that's not going to happen."
 
"Even if, deep inside, you want it to?"
 
"Excuse me?"
 
"Keine told me," I said. "She told me a lot more than she originally intended to, I think because she needed to get it out and I was willing to listen. Surely you know that your feelings towards Kaguya are not what they used to be. So you should ask yourself something: if you had a chance to end the conflict, would you take it?"
 
"She tricked my father into getting himself killed. She insulted my family's honor. She is my enemy. She will always be my enemy. It has to be that way."
 
Sounds like you're trying to convince yourself more than you are me. "And if there was a way to change that?"
 
"I can't forgive her. I can't. I can't."
 
"Then don't."
 
That took her by surprise. "Wait, what? Weren't you just telling me to forgive her?"
 
"No. I was asking if you would take an opportunity to end the conflict were one to present itself."
 
"It can't end. Neither of us can die."
 
"Is that truly the only way for this to end?" I asked. "Or is there perhaps another way? One that could not only end the conflict but put you closer to something you truly want?"
 
"What are you getting at?"
 
"Keine told me about your feelings for Kaguya. Your father died attempting to meet Kaguya's challenge. But what if his daughter were to succeed where he failed? Would that not restore your family's honor?"
 
Mokou just stood there, silent. "Well," I said, "I'll leave you alone to think about that. I can get to Eientei on my own. Farewell."
   
   
Alice looked up from her work as Shanghai approached. "You don't need to feel that way, Mother."
 
Alice knew there was no point in denying having such feelings. "Don't I? You know what that vampire said. Whatever happened happened five years ago. Do you understand that? It's been five years, and I didn't have any idea that anything had happened!"
 
"She can't be dead," Shanghai said. "You know that."
 
"Which may even make it worse! If she's dead, I can't do anything about that, but if something else happened to her?. They did something, you can be sure of that. They couldn't make people think she was dead if she was there to prove them wrong. If she's not dead, then they did something else to her. I don't know how they took her out of the picture, how it was possible for them to do anything to her, but they managed it somehow. There's no telling what kind of situation she's in, and I haven't done anything to help her! It's been five years, and I didn't even know! What does that say about me?"
 
Moscow cut in. [Okay, a visitor is leaving. That self-important, egocentric one. You know, the one whose name I missed? I'll see if I can get it this time; it may be used on his way out.]
 
"It's not your fault, Mother," Shanghai said. "As odd as it feels to be saying this, the ones responsible are the ones responsible."
 
[Got it!] Moscow sent. [A goodbye by name.]
 
[What's the name?] Alice asked.
 
[Nelek. Aaaaaand there he goes.]
 
[Not a name I recognize. Still none I know. Okay, so that's three names: Amenos, Iekke, and now Nelek.]
 
[And maybe a fourth. Someone new's approaching, and fast. Looks like quite the entourage, too, and an even more extravagant setup than Nelek's.]
 
"It's not my fault that something happened," Alice said. "It's my fault that I haven't done anything about it. It's my fault that I didn't even know."
 
"Mother?"
 
"Shanghai," Alice said, "I do in part blame myself for this, and I'm going to feel bad about it for a long time. But don't think that means I don't know where the true responsibility for this lies. We are going to find the people who did this, and when we do, I'm going to make them pay."
 
"We," Shanghai said. "We're going to make them pay."
 
"I will not ask you to fight for me," Alice said.
 
"Then don't. We're going to do it anyways."
 
[Okay,] Moscow said, [they're at the gate.]
 
"It seems we have other things to worry about at the moment," Alice said. [Give me a? 'play-by-play', I believe Sanae's expression is. Whatever that originally meant.]
 
[They're in carriages and that sort of thing. Enchanted to float, but I don't think they can get very high. Not the sort of thing you usually see outside of cargo transport. Not really any faster than regular flight.]
 
[It's a status symbol,] Alice explained. [Regular flight is rather unimpressive compared to traveling in a fancy carriage. That's presumably why Nelek did it, too.]
 
[Right, although his wasn't nearly this impressive. Okay, servants are taking positions. I think the main attraction's getting out? yep. Female. Succubus, it looks like. Oh, man, I think the gate guards just about shat themselves. They were not expecting this. We've got a big player here, that's for sure, and they weren't expecting this visit.]
 
[Get as close as you can. I want as much of their conversation as I can get.]
   ********   Moscow carefully moved in closer, being sure to remain unseen, and observed, relaying everything she saw and heard to Alice.
 
The succubus approached the gate, smiling as the guards prostrated themselves before her. "Lady Netese," one said as they returned to their feet. "We were not expecting a visit from one such as yourself."
 
"Something came up," the succubus, Netese, replied. "I must speak with Lord Tokekei."
 
"The Lord is engaged in? private activities. He left instructions not to be disturbed."
 
"My authority is greater than his. Tell him that I will be waiting in the audience chamber."
 
[So she has more authority than Tokekei,] Alice sent. [Sounds like Tokekei's not the one in charge after all. The question is in what manner Netese is ruling. Is this a private arrangement, meant to divert attention to a decoy? Or does Netese simply choose not to reside at Pandemonium?]
 
"I will have the message sent at once," the guard said. "Is there a reason we can give Lord Tokekei for this?"
 
"There is," Netese said. "Tell him that our 'missing person' has returned."
   
   
I continued towards Eientei by myself.
 
Perhaps Mokou's relationship with Kaguya was none of my business, but I couldn't help but remember that feeling of familiarity. I had hoped that continuing on and taking the discussion to Mokou herself would trigger something more, but it did not.
 
It was frustrating, feeling as though I did such things while having no idea of it beyond that. Perhaps resolving the issue would help, but at this point, I was doubtful. In addition, it was at this point really up to Mokou what happened next; I had done what I could. So I simply continued on, making my way through the forest to Eientei.
   
   
Mokou was lost in thought.
 
That Orphan girl was right about her and Kaguya. She knew that. She'd felt that way for many years. At first, she'd refused to admit it even to herself, but Keine had seen it. And Keine had basically pulled it out and beaten her over the head with it until she couldn't ignore it. But things just weren't that simple.
 
Kaguya was guilty. There was no doubt about that. The bitch had killed countless men, Mokou's father included. She'd tricked them into dying, and for nothing. She'd sent them to their deaths for nothing at all. A real test was one thing, but what she had done was unforgivable.
 
Keine had seen it, seen the way the situation was tearing Mokou apart. She'd tried to do something about it, but Mokou could not forgive Kaguya. Even when Keine had begun voicing the theory that the true intent of the challenge was to identify the trick behind it, that hadn't changed. Kaguya had still knowingly sent them to die for nothing, and Mokou couldn't forgive that. Even after she'd been forced to admit to herself that she had come to love Kaguya, she couldn't forgive her. Not for that. But now?
 
What if Orphan was right about Kaguya's expectations? What if Kaguya truly hadn't expected so many people to attempt the challenge and get themselves killed? What if the whole thing was no more than a cultural misunderstanding?
 
In the end, it changed nothing. Or would have changed nothing, if not for the last thing Orphan had said. Sure, Mokou still couldn't forgive Kaguya, but what if she didn't need to? What if there was a different way to move past this? Orphan was right about that, too; there was such a way to end this. But was that something she could do?
 
She thought about it, and decided that yes, she could. Maybe that would not have been true even an hour ago, but with Orphan's theory about the cultural misunderstanding in mind, it was different. Except? there was still genuine hatred for Kaguya, for what Kaguya'd done. Was that something she could just get rid of?
 
After more thought, she made a decision. You've been saying you want this to end for a while now, Kaguya. So how about we do just that?
 
One last fight. The anger, the hatred, still existed within her. She would bring it to the front, allow that emotion to take over. And then she would find Kaguya, and fight her as she had never done before. And then?
 
And then, she would end the conflict once and for all.
   
   
Yeah, I may have had a bit too much fun with Wriggle's scene.
 
Anyways, I do remember saying that updates may be less frequent. It took a couple chapters for that to happen, but now it has. I'll update as often as I can, but I don't know how often that will be.
 
And any comments, of course, are appreciated.

[GuyYouMetOnline]

Chapter 8
Endless
 

Flying through the Bamboo Forest of the Lost was tricky at first, but one could get used to it quickly, and it was fairly simple once one was used to it. Wriggle, who lived in the forest, had no difficulty with it at all. She didn't have to think about it any more than she did flying anywhere else, so she was free to focus on other things.
 
Wriggle had continued getting used to her new power during her flight back to Eientei. In particular, she'd been practicing her new ability to touch the minds of other insects, her ability to see through their eyes. Having multiple views simultaneously, seeing through her own eyes and the eyes of insects at the same time, could be very disorienting. But Wriggle realized how useful it could be, so she was doing it constantly, getting herself used to it, able to function while doing so without any disorientation. And she was getting used to it quickly. She didn't have it down well enough to use in battle quite yet, but she could handle almost anything else without difficulty, and battle use was close.
 
Wriggle withdrew from the insects as she landed at Eientei's front gate. "Hello, again."
 
One of the guards stepped forward, carefully examining Wriggle. "Hmm? yeah, you are her, aren't you? Wriggle, right?" Wriggle nodded. "Well, I have to say, that's a pretty nice dress. You didn't strike me as the type to have something like that."
 
"It belonged to my ancestor."
 
"I see. Not sure why you're wearing it now, though. But whatever. Head on in. Tewi told me to tell you that everyone's in the same room as last time."
 
"Thank you." Wriggle passed through the gate. The door guards stepped aside, allowing Wriggle in.
 

 


Rumia and Tewi were each occupied with a book, but Cirno and Daiyousei looked up as Wriggle entered. "Wriggle!" Cirno said. "What the hell were you thinking, going off on-whoa, where'd you get the dress?"
 
That was enough to get Rumia's attention. "Hold on, Wriggle's in a dress?" She looked over at Wriggle. "Woah. Um, where'd you get a dress like that?"
 
"And is it just me," Daiyousei added, "or did your eyes change color?"
 
"I'll explain later," Wriggle said. "Where's Mystia?"
 
"Not here yet," Cirno said.
 
"She drew Rin as her nurse," Tewi said without looking up from her book. "She's ready for release, but Rin's, well, a bit on the overly cautious side, and is likely trying to keep her for a little longer."
 
"I see. Right, then. I'm going to go get her. Meet me in the front hall."
 
Tewi did set the book down this time. "Actually, you might want to stay here. I can make arrangements. Between the five of you, you've been attacked three times now. You probably shouldn't be on your own."
 
"Four times," Wriggle said. "I fought and defeated one of them on my way back here."
 
"Wait," Cirno said, "you beat one? How?"
 
"I'll explain after I get Mystia. But we don't need to worry about them any longer." Wriggle turned to Tewi. "Thanks for the offer, but it won't be necessary. I can keep us safe. I would appreciate some blank spellcards, though. And like I said, I'll explain once I get Mystia."
 
"I think she finally realized it," Tewi remarked as Wriggle left the room.
 
Cirno was confused. "Huh?"
 
"You haven't noticed? We're looking at love, here."
 
"Wait," Daiyousei said, "what? You think Wriggle's in love with Mystia?"
 
"It's not hard to see. And fortunately, Mystia feels the same way about Wriggle-although I don't think Mystia's realized it yet. But I've known her for a while-she makes special deliveries here frequently-and yeah, it's pretty easy to see if you know what to look for. Anyways, let's go wait for her in the front hall like she said."
 
"Are you sure Rin will release Mystia?" Daiyousei asked.
 
"I'm the one in charge of this place, remember? I'll have someone go tell her that I said to release Mystia. She won't like it, but she knows the rules. She'll do as she's told. Now come on."
 
 
 
 
As I continued through the forest, I heard singing. And music, probably from a music card. It wasn't a song I was familiar with.
 
'Can you see eternity?
Can there be anything that cannot ever fade?
I embrace eternity
I will always remain for I live eternally'
 
A different voice sang the next part.
 
'Who can face eternity?
Is eternity something one can understand?
Can she fight eternally?
Will it last forever or will it end?'
 
The first person sang again.
 
'Who can face eternity?
Is eternity something one can understand?
Will we fight eternally?
Will it last forever or will it finally end?'
 
'In the face of eternity
Even I know not what I see
Being eternal is something no one else can understand
If I had the other like me
Standing before eternity
She and I eternally never standing alone again'
 
Another switch.
 
'In the face of eternity
Even she knows not what she sees
Being eternal is something no one else can understand
If she had the one who's as she
They'd stand together eternally'
 
They began alternating lines, starting with the second person.
 
'Stand forever
Must I always stand alone?
Face forever
This is something only she and I can ever know
For forever
Will we always stand opposed?
Eternally
Alone?'
 
They switched.
 
'Stand forever
Will she always stand alone?
Face forever
Apart from the only other who understands?
For forever
Will they always stand opposed?
Eternally
Alone?'
 
The two of them sang in unison, the second using second- or third-person wherever the first used the first-person.
 
Will we ever no longer stand apart?
Stand together with each other forever?
Can we ever no longer stand apart?
The only two who truly know forever?
 
'Stand forever
Must I always stand alone?
Face forever
This is something only she and I can understand
For forever
Will we always stand opposed?
Eternally
Alone?'
 
The song ended as I came into view of the pair. They were both beautiful women, but one of them was far beyond the other. That one also looked somewhat odd in a way, and I was pretty sure as to why. The song had made it fairly obvious that one of these two women was the immortal lunar princess Kaguya Houraisan. And when I noticed the five items floating around her, I knew that that one was indeed her.
 
The other woman stepped towards me as I approached. "Greetings," I said.
 
"Ah, hello, there," the woman remarked. "I don't believe we've met."
 
"Unfortunate. I was hoping you would know who I am, because I do not."
 
She paused in thought. "You don't know who you are? Memory loss, then? Hmm? what's the earliest thing you remember clearly? And just how fragmentary is your memory before that?"
 
Kaguya stepped forward, laughing. "Maybe we should introduce ourselves before you start examining her." She turned to me. "My apologies. She can be? enthusiastic."
 
"Sorry," the woman said. "I am Eirin Yagokoro, and this is Her L-"
 
Kaguya cut her off. "How many times do I have to tell you not to use that title? It is no longer mine." She faced me again. "I am Kaguya Houraisan."
 
Hmm? I guess she perhaps no longer thinks of herself as royalty. Perhaps, then, she would rather I not treat her as such. "You may call me Orphan. I do not know my original name, so I chose for myself that one."
 
"I see," Eirin said. "Okay, so how long ago was your memory loss? And how complete?"
 
"Don't interrogate the woman, Eirin."
 
"Actually," I said, "that's the real reason I'm here. I spoke with Heida no Akyu. She didn't recognize me, either, but she was able to name a few places for me to check. Eientei was not one of them, but she thought it was possible that you'd have something to help me remember."
 
"I might," Eirin said. "There are ways to aid recollection, yes, but I've never tried anything on amnesia before. My treatment is meant to help recall things that are already present; it won't work if you simply don't have the memories. That's why the completeness of memory loss is important. If something's still there, we may have a chance, but if not, then I doubt there's anything that can be done."
 
"It's fairly complete. I get vague feelings of familiarity, but that's it. Well, that and the fact that danmaku comes fairly naturally to me."
 
'Hmm? well, not as good as it could be, but that implies that there's still something there, so yes, I might be able to help. Is there anything else you think might be relevant?"
 
"There are two important points," I said. "First, I-"
 
Kaguya cut me off. "She's coming."
 
It took me a second to figure out who Kaguya was talking about, but Eirin got it instantly. "Now? She could just be heading in this direction; are you sure she knows you're out here?"
 
"She's coming for me, and something's wrong. Her aura is ablaze. I shouldn't be able to sense her yet, but she wants me to know she's coming."
 
Eirin took my hand and pulled me away from Kaguya. "You might want to stay back. I don't know if you're aware of the conflict, but there's about to be a fight."
 
"Keine told me," I said. "I actually spoke to Mokou earlier, as well. In fact, I was hoping I might have given her a few things to think about, but if she's attacking, then I obviously had less of an impact than I'd hoped."
 
"Keine and I have been trying to get through to her for a long time," Eirin said. "It's not surprising you couldn't. And brace yourself; here she comes."
 
 
I am Kaguya Houraisan, eldest child of the royal family and former heir to the lunar throne.

Lunarians do not die of age like many other youkai, or like humans, but we can still die. All of us, with one exception, can die of any other cause. That exception is me.
 
The forbidden research was performed by my friend and loyal servant, Eirin. Her brilliance is unmatched, and she was able to succeed where countless others had failed. I don't think anyone will ever know just how many made the attempt; the research is forbidden, and thus always carried out with the utmost secrecy. But Eirin succeeded, and presented the Hourai Elixir to me.
Eventually, of course, it was discovered that I had become immortal. As punishment, I was stripped of my right to the throne and exiled. Eirin, despite having made the elixir, had not consumed it herself, and thus was given lesser charges. She was merely imprisoned for a time. That and the fact that although she was allowed to resume research upon her release, she was subject to additional regulations and supervision.
 
I did not hide the fact that I am a Lunarian princess, and I did not hide the fact that I was exiled, although I did not tell people the reason for my exile. And it's not like I was sent away with nothing; I had lost my right to the throne, but I was still a member of the royal family, and I had a good deal of fortune to my name. The mansion I had built was no castle, but it was still a fitting home.
 
I had done some traveling while deciding where I wanted to live, and as the mansion was being built, I did more. Specifically, I had heard tales of legendary items said to be impossible to obtain, and I wanted them. I was not the first to pursue these items; many had done so before me, few had survived, and none had succeeded. But I had something of an advantage, and I am not referring to my high level of power. Survival is not a worry when you cannot die.
 
I sought out and obtained five different items: the Jeweled Branch of Hourai, the Swallow's Cowrie Shell, the Dragon's Necklace, the Buddah's Stone Bowl, and the Fire Rat's Robe. The latter two were the trickiest. The first three were just a matter of making it through journeys that would most likely be impossible for one who was not immortal, but the Buddah's Stone Bowl and the Fire Rat's Robe were more difficult to track down. In the end, though, it was not locating them-which wasn't too hard- that was the real task; actually getting them was every bit as dangerous as it was for the other three. But again, being immortal gave me a certain advantage, and I was able to obtain them.
 
I didn't publicize the fact that I had obtained these items. I had wanted them for myself; recognition for obtaining them didn't concern me, and in fact might have been a problem, as people would doubtless want to get one or more of them from me, something I did not want to deal with. Although I still found myself having to deal with plenty of people.
 
It began not long after the mansion was completed and I moved in. I had already secured a core staff, and finding additional servants was not difficult, especially as word of their treatment got around; I knew the importance of treating one's servants well. As long as they remained loyal, they had my support whenever necessary, and I ensured that they and their families were provided for. The servants' quarters were quite nice, and their needs were provided for. A few of them, primarily among those with families, elected to live elsewhere, and as long as they showed up when told to and performed their duties, I had no objections.
 
I was aware of my beauty; I didn't brag about it, but there is no point in denying an obvious truth. So I was not surprised when I began drawing the interest of human men. Adding to that attraction was the fact that I am a Lunarian, as well as the fact that I am a princess.
 
As I said, I was not surprised that I was drawing the interest of human men, but I did not appreciate differences between their kind and mine. For one, our numbers are much smaller than theirs. So I was not expecting the sheer number of men I ended up attracting. But regardless of numbers, I knew how to handle the situation. It is tradition among the Lunarian royal family that each daughter of the family will issue a challenge, and that only one who completes it may proceed.
 
What the challenge is differs between each one of us. They are generally designed so that the one who completes it has some quality that the woman desires. If she desires a strong man, for example, she will make it a physical challenge. If she wants a powerful man, she will make it a magical challenge. If she wants a clever man, she will make it a battle of wits.
 
The challenge I issued was, I freely admit, deceptive. I named five items of legend and said that the challenge was to bring me one of them. The deception was that the items in question were the five I had already obtained. Obtaining these items was said to be impossible-I'd heard that myself many times during my search for them-so I called it the 'Five Impossible Requests'. The name meant more to me, of course, since I knew that I already possessed them. The real challenge, of course, was that of figuring out the deception and realizing that I had them.
 
Nobody completed the challenge. I was not approached by anyone who had figured the deception out. Most of the people who approached me had fake versions of the items that they attempted to pass off as genuine. What I did not know at the time was how many people were genuinely attempting the challenge. How many people were dying. I was made aware of the number of deaths fairly forcibly. The woman who made me aware had joined the ranks of my servants under the name 'Nala', and for a time, she'd seemed just as loyal as the rest. But that didn't last. My servants knew the truth behind the challenge, of course, so Nala learning this was inevitable, but she had given me no reason to suspect her. In fact, I think she may well have intended to be a genuine servant until she learned the truth behind the challenge.
 
Nala didn't let any hint of her feelings towards me show until she made her move. She caught me by surprise and killed me. I resurrected, or course, but although now I'm up and ready to go as soon as I resurrect, it took thousands of deaths before I could make the recovery that quickly. It initially took a while for me to recover, and when Nala killed me, she made her declaration before I had recovered.
 
"My name is Fujiwara no Mokou," she said. "Your challenge has resulted in the deaths of hundreds of men, my father among them. But I did not blame you; they were the ones dumb enough to attempt it. But now I know better. If you truly wanted men to obtain the items, that would be one thing, but you lied. You already have them. So your 'challenge' was a farce. A fake. You sent hundreds of men, including my father, to their deaths for nothing! I hope you enjoyed your peaceful life, Kaguya; it'll make taking it from you that much sweeter. You will see me again, Kaguya."
 
She ran, and I pursued as soon as I had recovered. She almost made it out, but I caught up to her and killed her. And then I discovered what she had done, because she resurrected. I simply stood there as she recovered. "Sorry, bitch," she said, "but killing me won't accomplish anything. You should know how that works. And now that I took your special little medicine, I don't think I have any reason to stick around. We'll be seeing each other again, though. You can be sure of that." Then she fled.
 
I began paying more attention to the response to my challenge, and I saw that Mokou was right; men were getting themselves killed. I had expected a few deaths, as there were always fools, but why were so many throwing their lives away attempting a task that even I said was impossible? Surely such foolishness couldn't be that common among humans.
 
I decided to put an end to the foolish waste of lives. I announced that I had myself obtained the five items, and showed them as proof. I said that since I had them, the challenge was over-although I did not, of course, mention the fact that I'd had them all along. This put an end to the deaths. I also confirmed the rumors of my immortality in order to explain how I had been able to obtain them when nobody else could. And that put an end to that, with the exception of Mokou's continued attacks.
 
Over a hundred years later, I was visited by a party from the moon, a party including none other than Eirin. They told me that my crime had been forgiven and that I was to return to the moon. But I had come to like Earth, and when given the choice, I found that I did not want to leave. They told me that they had been ordered to return me to the moon and that I did not have a choice. But I still refused, and was ready to fight them off if necessary. And it was, but it was Eirin who struck the first blow, turing against the party and fighting them off alongside me. She told me that she desired to resume her position as my servant, and I, of course, welcomed her.
 
We knew that others would come to attempt returning me to the moon, and we didn't want to have to keep fighting them off. So we fled instead. We took little with us, mainly personal items of mine, and left, just the two of us. We didn't know where we should go, so we just moved around for a while. And then we learned of the plan to separate the region of Gensokyo into a separate world of magic. So we went to Gensokyo.
 
Being in a separate world solved the problem of avoiding parties from the moon, but Eirin and I still needed a residence. We considered reclaiming a fortune for myself through the sale of various items of mine, lunar treasures that were sure to fetch a high price. I didn't want to do it, though, and it turned out that I did not have to, as we found a mansion within the Bamboo Forest of the Lost. The rabbits there, led by one named Tewi, agreed to allow us use of the mansion, which was called Eientei. The rabbits, under Tewi's instruction and including Tewi herself, took the positions of the mansion's staff and worked as my servants.
 
I was not surprised when Mokou first showed up at Eientei; she had been following myself and Eirin throughout our flight. So that part of my life, at least, remained completely unchanged. The funny thing, of course, is that it's the one thing about my life that has never changed, and yet also the one thing I desperately want to change. Even-or perhaps especially-with enemies, you come to know a lot about someone over more than a thousand years, and I found that I had come to love Mokou. Sadly, she has shown no intention to end our conflict. Eirin has told me that she believes Mokou has similar feelings regarding me, and yet she still does not stop. And now, she's not just coming for another fight. Somehow I can tell that this one will be in some way different.
 
 
 

 "?going to keep me here?"
 
"Until I'm satisfied that you're well enough to release."
 
"You're the only one who doesn't already think I am!"
 
"Let her out," Wriggle said, stepping into the room.
 
Both Mystia and Rin looked up as she entered. "Whoa," Mystia said, "where'd you get the dress?"
 
"It was my ancestor's," Wriggle said.
 
"Well, why haven't you worn it-wait, did your eyes change color?"
 
"I'll explain later." Wriggle turned to Rin. "We're leaving."
 
"I haven't cleared her for release yet," Rin said.
 
"Then do so. Mystia's right; even Tewi knows she's ready to be released."
 
"I'm not satisfied that she is."
 
Wriggle took Mystia's hand as the sparrow stood. "Tough shit."
 
"I'm not-"
 
A rabbit poked her head into the room. "Rin, Tewi says to release Mystia."
 
"Oh, son of a-" Rin turned back to the pair as the rabbit left. "Fine. She's the boss. You can go, Mystia."
 
"Good," Wriggle said. "Come on, Mystia, let's get you out of here."
 
 
 
We happened to be near a small clearing, and proceeded there. Eirin and I then stood back as Kaguya awaited Mokou's arrival.
 
It wasn't long before Mokou walked into the clearing. And there was something different about her. She was carrying herself differently, and the look on her face was one of rage and hatred.
 
Mokou stared Kaguya in the eyes. "Hello, Kaguya."
 
Kaguya sighed. "Mokou. Do we really have to do this?"
 
"Oh, what's the matter, bitch? Can't handle it anymore?"
 
"I don't want to," Kaguya said. "You know that."
 
"Yeah, yeah, yeah, blah, blah, blah, shut up. If you want this to stop so badly, then come on and stop it."
 
"By attacking you? That won't end anything."
 
"Or will it?" Mokou laughed. "Look at you. Too pathetic to give me a real fight. Or are you just too much of a coward?"
 
"I just want this to end."
 
"Then end it," Mokou said. "One last fight. If you're so desperate to end this, then let me see it!"
 
"And if I-"
 
Mokou charged, striking Kaguya through the heart with a spear of flame. Kaguya fell to the ground, but she was as good as new in just a few moments. "Damn it, Mokou, why do we have to do this?"
 
"You know why." Mokou threw a punch. Kaguya ducked to the side, but Mokou anticipated the move and caught her with a kick to the chest. She moved in and snapped Kaguya's neck.
 
Kaguya got to her feet after regenerating. "What the hell is with you tonight?"
 
"Oh, what's the matter? Can't even do this one last-"
 
A blast from Kaguya sent Mokou flying into the bamboo. "Ow," Mokou said as she got to her feel. "I guess you have some fight in you after all."
 
Mokou charged Kaguya, attacking with blasts of flame, and Kaguya countered with her own blasts. Mokou charged straight through the colliding blasts and slammed into Kaguya at full speed. She shoved Kaguya down, dragging her across the ground and leaving a trail of blood and guts.
 
I looked away. "Are they always this brutal?" I asked Eirin.
 
Eirin shook her head. "Mokou hasn't come at her this way in a long time. Are you sure you were trying to talk her out of fighting?"
 
"Yes. I don't know what triggered this."
 
"Well," Eirin said, "it looks like you may have gotten through to her after all, just not in the way you intended."
 
"I don't see how what I told her could have led to this."
 
"I don't know if it did. But they haven't had a fight like this for a long time. Something caused a change in Mokou's attitude. The only question is: what?"
 
 
 
 
After Wriggle and Mystia rejoined the others, the group departed Eientei, Tewi included, and was now walking through the forest.
 
"?but we couldn't find anything else," Rumia said. "I think we've gotten everything out of these books that we can."
 
"Then we need to make the disposal drop," Cirno said. "We'll just need to hope whoever does it is lucky enough to avoid being seen. That's your department, right, Tewi?"
 
"Yep," Tewi said. "I'll handle it. I can't make any promises, of course-luck's not a sure thing-but yeah, I should be able to make the drop unnoticed."
 
"Good," Cirno said. "But before you do that?" she looked at Wriggle. "Wriggle, I think you have some explaining to do."
 
"Yes," Wriggle said. "You read my note, right?"
 
Rumia nodded. "Yeah. We know that you and Mystia were attacked, and that you took her to Eientei, but where did you go after that?"
 
"A small and seemingly unremarkable cave," Wriggle said. "There's a secret to that place. It holds power, power that I went to claim. I've told you about the First, right?"
 
"Um, yeah," Cirno said. "Your ancestor, first of your line, all that."
 
"She was far more powerful than any of her descendants. My line has always been able to command insects, but Her power went far beyond that. Far beyond. I'm only now realizing the just how far beyond it went, just what kind of power she had.
 
"Anyways, the stories say that She feared that Her power would become diluted over time as it passed from one generation to the next. She didn't want that; she wanted the power to be there for her descendants if it was needed. So when she was near death, she sealed her power away. And yes, she'd had a child, but the power was still fully sealed and the child didn't have it. Don't ask me how that works."
 
"Magic's like that," Tewi remarked.
 
"Yeah. Anyways, Her power has remained sealed, accessible only by those of her line-you need the ability to command insects to get to the sealed power, and the blood of her line is required in order to break the seal.
 
"Over time, this sealed power became nothing more than a legend, but it was still there. When I was younger, I heard the stories and decided to see if I could find it. And I found it. I didn't go into the chamber, but I could feel the power."
 
"Wait," Cirno said, "why didn't you go in? If it was there, you should've taken it!"
 
"I didn't need it, and I didn't have any desire for it. Until now."
 
"Because of the demon that almost killed you," Rumia said.
 
"Yes. It was about to kill Mystia, and all I could do was run or fight and die. Only more luck than I had any right to expect saved us, something that will not repeat. So I went for Her power. I finally had need of it, had a desire for it. So I went and claimed it."
 
Mystia looked at the dress. "And, what, the new outfit just came as part of the package?"
 
"Yes," Wriggle said. "I think it was Hers. The power also caused my eyes to change color, but there doesn't seem to be any other physical mark."
 
"Huh," Cirno said. "Well, okay. What all can you do now?"
 
"I don't know my full capabilities yet, but I know some of my current abilities. For one, my command over insects no longer requires conscious action on my part; just wanting them to do something is enough. I sense them without effort now as well, and over a far, far greater range. I can touch their minds directly, too, which, among other things, allows me to see through their eyes."
 
"Handy."
 
"That it is," Wriggle agreed, "although it's a little tricky to get used to. I'm adjusting quickly, though; it's not nearly as disorienting as it was the first time I did it. I'm actually doing it right now; I've got views from all around us."
 
"So you know if something's coming," Rumia said. "See anything of note?"
 
"Nothing that involves us. It looks like Kaguya and Mokou are fighting, but that's it."
 
"Yeah, let's stay away from that," Tewi said. "I'd rather not be collateral damage."
 
"Not our fight, anyways," Cirno said. "Let those two have each other. We need to plan our next-"
 
"Looks like I spoke too soon," Wriggle said. "We've got incoming."
 
Cirno took a ready stance. "A demon?"
 
Wriggle shook her head. "No. Marisa."
 
There was a pause.
 
"Not good," Daiyousei remarked.
 
"Yeah," Rumia said, "I do not want to have a run-in with her."
 
"She's coming straight at us," Wriggle said.
 
"What makes you think she'll attack?"
 
Everyone stared at Cirno. "Okay, yeah," the ice fairy admitted, "that was a stupid question. Crap. Um, um, um-"
 
"Tewi," Wriggle said, "this is an ideal time to make the disposal drop, since she's obviously not at home right now. Everyone else, just stay back. I'll handle Marisa."
 
"Wait," Mystia said, "what? You'll- you don't intend to fight her, do you?" Wriggle nodded. "Are you crazy? She'll blast the crap out of you!"
 
"Not this time."
 
"Whoa, whoa, whoa! You actually think you can beat her?"
 
Wriggle fired a blast of lasers and balls off in a random direction; the blast was nothing special for her now, but it was far more than she could've done before. "I'm far more powerful now. Don't forget about that. I can take her."
 
"Are you sure?" Rumia asked.
 
"I'm sure.
 
"Then do it," Cirno said. "Pay her back for all of us."
 
"And be careful."
 
Wriggle put a hand on Mystia's shoulder. "Don't worry. I'll be fine. And Marisa won't know what hit her."
 
 
 
 
I looked away frequently; the battle was brutal and bloody. "I just don't get it," I said to Eirin. "I really thought I gave her something to think about.
 
Mokou piledrove Kaguya into the ground, crushing the Lunarian's skull. But instead of waiting for Kaguya to resurrect as she'd been doing, Mokou knelt down beside Kaguya's body briefly before stepping back.
 
"What was that about?" Eirin wondered.
 
Kaguya got to her feet, and as she did, I notice something. I checked again, and yet again to be sure. Where's the-of course. "Eirin," I said as the battle resumed, "take a look at Kaguya."
 
"Um?"
 
"It may be hard to see while they're moving, but it's there. Or, rather, it's not there."
 
"What's not- wait, where's the shell?"
 
"Mokou has it."
 
"Orphan," Eirin said, "do you know something?"
 
I nodded. "I think you were right, Eirin; it was what I said that prompted this."
 
"Explain."
 
"I don't think Mokou ever considered the possibility that Kaguya had no idea so many people would attempt her challenge; as an outsider myself, it is perhaps easier for me to see other things from the outsider's perspective."
 
"Well, you're right. Kaguya had no idea. Lunarians would not have responded in that manner."
 
"I told Mokou that such a thing was likely, and she said that she still couldn't forgive Kaguya. So I told that she didn't need to. Think about it; what other way might there be to end their conflict?"
 
"If there was another way," Eirin said, "one of us would've thought of it by now."
 
"Apparently not. Think, Eirin. Why did the conflict between Mokou and Kaguya being in the first place?"
 
"Mokou discovered the truth behind Kaguya's challenge and blamed Kaguya for the death of her father."
 
"And he died because??"
 
"Because he attempted to obtain one of the items. The branch, I believe. But he fa- wait, yes, he failed. That's what you're saying, isn't it? That the conflict can be ended if Mokou succeeds where her father failed."
 
"Correct. I didn't know how she would go about doing so, but it would seem she decided to do it through battle. She truly does intend for this to be the last fight, something I'm sure Kaguya will welcome; that song made her view of the situation quite clear."
 
"But then why is she being this brutal?"
 
"I think she's attempting to purge any lingering hatred she still feels towards Kaguya. She's letting it all out in one last-" A stray shot from Kaguya hit me in the chest. "Ow."
 
"Are you all right?"
 
"Yeah. It was just one shot."
 
"Good. Anyways, that's what's going on here?"
 
"I think so," I said as Kaguya went down again. Mokou took another of the items-the necklace.
 
"Well," Eirin said, "I hope you're right."
 
 
 
Nol was awakened by a crash. He got out of bed and made his way to the main room. "Dammit, Suika, stay out of the-gah!" He found himself temporarily blinded by a bright flash. "What the-" He fumbled around on a shelf until he found a switch. He flipped it, and magic-powered lights lit up the room, allowing him to see the intruder, whose identity was not, after the flash, a surprise. "Aya, what the hell are you doing here?"
 
"Investigating," the tengu replied. "Reimu's been gone for a while now, hasn't she? Where do you think she is?"
 
"I have no idea," he said, turning to glare at Aya. "Now get the hell out."
 
"Hmm?" Aya whipped out a pad and pen and started jotting down notes. "Shrine maiden nowhere to be found, assistant envious, assistant's attitude hostile."
 
Nol sighed. "Reimu left a couple days ago to take another look into? whatever's going on. I haven't seen or heard from her since."
 
"Convenient explanation. There've been deaths; Reimu's would not look suspicious. Averts suspicions."
 
"I didn't do anything," Nol said. "Suika can verify."
 
"Oni as accomplice."
 
I guess Reimu was right; I'll have to divert her attention. "Oh, come on, Aya. Orphan's far more likely to be involved than either of us."
 
"Orphan? Who's Orphan?"
 
Got you. "A young woman who showed up here two days ago-maybe three by now. You really need to start working at more reasonable hours."
 
"The quest for the truth never sleeps!" Aya declared proudly.
 
"Whatever," Nol said. "Anyways, she came to Gensokyo from the outside world, where she'd been living. She told me that five years ago, she woke up with no memory. She made her way to Gensokyo in search of her identity; she believes herself to be from here. Hey, hold on. You're all over the place, right? Do you know of any disappearances that happened around five years ago?"
 
"The only one I know of is-" Aya cut herself off. "Oh, shit, is it-?"
 
"You do know about one?"
 
Aya was excited. "If it's her, then I-wait." She fumbled around in her bag, eventually removing a picture and handing it to Nol. "Here, Nol. This is a picture of the person I'm thinking of. Is this your 'Orphan'?"
 
Nol examined the photo. "Actually, I think so. She's five years older now, of course, but yes, this may very well be her. What do you know?"
 
"She vanished unexpectedly five years ago. It was kept as quiet as possible. Nobody outside her land even knows anything happened to her, and people within her land just think she was killed somehow. Only my relentless pursuit of the truth let me discover that she actually vanished."
 
"I see."
 
Aya couldn't contain her excitement. "This is big. This is huge. This is-where is she? Where did she go?"
 
"She went to visit various places and see if anyone recognized her. I'll tell you where she went first, but I'd like something in return."
 
"That's extortion!"
 
"I don't want money or anything like that. I want information. Nobody's willing to tell me what the hell's going on; even Reimu didn't tell me what problem she's trying to solve."
 
"Oh. Well, that's easy." Aya reached into her bag again, pulling out a copy of her paper and handing it to Nol. "This is an issue from last week. It's got a big cover story about the demon activity. Now where'd she go?"
 
"She went to the Scarlet Devil Mansion first, but keep in mind that I don't know if she's still there, and I don't know where she would've gone next."
 
"Good enough," Aya said. She ran out of the shrine and took to the air. "Thanks!" she called out as she flew away.
Right, Nol thought. That actually went fairly well. Now let's see just what's going on here.
 
 

Mokou wiped her intestines off of herself. 'Okay, I'll admit it: that was a good one."
 
"Enough of this," Kaguya said. "Why are we still doing this?"
 
"Aw, don't back off now. Or is the little bitch done already?"
 
"I don't want to do this, Mokou."
 
Kaguya got a facefull of fire in response "Too bad."
 
"How long do these battles usually go for?" I asked Eirin.
 
"Not this long," Eirin said. "This is definitely more than just another one of their fights; you're right about that much. But how long it'll go for is anyone's guess."
 
"Not necessarily. Mokou isn't taking one of the items every time she kills Kaguya. I would assume she intends to end the fight upon taking the last one."
 
"So we can use that to get a general idea."
 
I nodded. "And Mokou just took the robe. Only the branch and the bowl are left."
 
"She'll probably leave the branch for last. That's the one her father went after; she'll probably want to end on that one."
 
I looked away again as Mokou literally ripped out Kaguya's heart. "Ugh."
 
"Yeah," Eirin said. "This is a nasty one."
 
"But you can stand seeing it."
 
"I've been a doctor for over a thousand years. Queasiness is something I overcame a long time ago." And then she promptly looked away. "Although that doesn't mean I want to watch someone literally being fed her own innards."
 
When the sounds of battle paused, the two of us looked back to see Kaguya vomit all over herself. "Oh, now that's just gross," Mokou said. "Come on, Kaguya, don't you have any standards?"
 
Kaguya responded by blowing Mokou's head off. "Just shut up."
 
As soon as Mokou's head was back, she stood up. "Well, then. Looks like you've still got some fight left. Good, because I'm not done yet."
 
 

Alice was pleased by how quickly London Delta returned with Byakuren. "Hello, Byakuren," she said, holding the door open. "Please, come in."
 
Byakuren looked around as she entered. "Hmm? many dolls, but I don't think these are alive. Where are the ones you brought to life?"
 
"Guadalupe and Moscow are in my workshop," Alice said. "You can meet them in a bit, if you'd like. London, Holland, Copenhagen, Hourai, and Moscow have been in Makai for much of the day. And Shanghai entered Makai about five minutes ago-as soon as I finished her backup, since Moscow found a target for her."
 
"Backup?"
 
"I've set it up so that everything my children experience is recorded in dolls of their respective models. If something happens to one of them, I can bring the backup to life. This way, they will survive even if they are killed."
 
"I see," Byakuren said. "But you have a reason for calling me here at this hour, correct?"
 
"'This hour'? You're a youkai, Byakuren; you don't need all that much sleep."
 
"I used to be human, you know. Just like you."
 
"True, although how the daughter of Shinki could be a human even I have no clue about."
 
Byakuren chuckled. "A good point, I suppose. And you're right that I'm not human now. I suppose I'm just used to dealing with them; we get more human traffic than youkai traffic, I think primarily due to our temple's proximity to the Human Village. But again, we are getting distracted."
 
"Yes," Alice said. "Well, you probably have at least some idea as to what this is about."
 
"I would expect so. Would it be correct to assume that you have news of what's happening in Makai?"
 
"It would," Alice said, "and the situation's not good. It looks like Makai's just about ready to attack Gensokyo. As in a war."
 
Silence.
 
"Hold on," Byakuren said. "A war? With Gensokyo? Are you sure?"
 
"My children tell me it's pretty obvious."
 
"Okay," Byakuren said, "let's assume that's the case. Why would Shinki do such a thing?"
 
"She? they think? they? and?"
 
Byakuren waited for Alice to compose herself. "I'll just say it," Alice said. "They say that Shinki's dead. And that I killed her."
 
Byakuren was silent. And then the second part sunk in. "W-w-w-w-what? She- they- you- what- um, okay, um?"
 
"That was basically my reaction," Alice remarked. "Apparently, the general public believes that it was a conspiracy by Gensokyo big-shots to get rid of her. They've been told that I was able to do it because I shared her blood."
 
"But? that's wrong, isn't it? You couldn't have-"
 
"You're correct, but who else would know that?"
 
"I? that's not good," Byakuren said. "How could she have been killed?"
 
"I don't know," Alice said. "It shouldn't be possible, but doing anything to her shouldn't have been possible, and clearly someone did something to her. And I don't know how. But I believe I've identified someone who does. Moscow's trailing her at the moment, and Shanghai's heading to rendezvous with Moscow. I didn't want to just send a message, and I had work to do, but I thought you'd want to know."
 
"You were correct," Byakuren said. "Thank you for telling me, and if there's anything I can do to help, just let me know."
"Actually," Alice said, "I think there is something you can do."
 
 
 
Uh-oh, looks like Aya's getting involved. And Byakuren. And Wriggle's in for a fight. And other stuff. So yeah. Also, in case you didn't notice, I've started to include music links. Expect future updates to include more (I'd have put one for the battle scene, but I didn't have a track that I felt fit the battle). These won't be present in the fanfiction.net version, since they don't like it when people include links, so consider this an MotK-exclusive feature.

Anyways, please give me some comments here, people!

[GuyYouMetOnline]

Chapter 9
Choices
 
 
"Okay," Eirin said as Mokou tore Kaguya's arm off, "I'm about ready to intervene."
 
"Not yet," I said. "Let the battle continue. Mokou just took the fourth item; we'll intervene once she takes the branch."
 
"Isn't that supposed to be when the fight ends anyways?"
 
"That's what I think Mokou intends, but-" I looked away as Mokou tore Kaguya's chest open, "-Kaguya doesn't know that. She probably won't realize that Mokou's done with the fight."
 
Eirin thought for a moment. "Good point. I just hope it doesn't take too much longer."
 
 

 
Wriggle rose into the air to face Marisa as the witch approached. "Whoa," Marisa said. "That you, Wriggle?"
 
"More or less," Wriggle said. She knew exactly what had thrown Marisa off; her appearance was different now, different even from what the demon had seen. The change had occurred during the trip back to Eientei. Wriggle's dress had changed color from white to black, and her eyes from green to red. This was what Cirno and the others had seen, and it was what Marisa was seeing now. Wriggle didn't know the reason for the additional change, but her guess was that it had happened as the power had fully joined to her, truly becoming hers. This, then, was its real mark, and the black dress what the First had truly worn.
 
"'More or less'? What's that supposed to mean, ze?"
 
"Exactly what it sound like. There have been changes, but I am still me."
 
"Changes, huh? Well, whatever. Where's Reimu?"
 
"I have not seen her," Wriggle said.
 
"Yeah, you're lying, ain'tcha? Reimu's gone, you're all weird and look different, I'm not buying it."
 
"I think we both know that you don't particularly care whether I'm telling the truth or not," Wriggle said. "I know how you operate. As soon as you saw me, there was no avoiding a fight. It wouldn't matter what I said. You see someone, you attack them. That's how you work. So quit pretending like what I have to say makes any difference."
 
Marisa laughed. "Man, you've got some guts now! I like that, ze! Well, if you want a fight so bad, then-"
 
Wriggle cut her off. "I do not. You're the one who wants a fight."
 
"Okay, you're trying to confuse me, aren't you? Or something. But too bad, 'cause I know just how to deal with misdirection."
 
"Let me guess: blow people up."
 
"Exactly, ze! Glad you understand!"
 
"I understand perfectly," Wriggle said, repeating what she'd done when facing the demon, passing her voice through surrounding insects to give it a booming and echoing effect. "You are the one who is in over your head. You have no idea what you're up against."
 
"Oh, really? Well, if you're so tough, then prove it, ze!"
 
Wriggle took hold of a card. As the one being challenged, convention held that she had first right to use a music card. And she'd changed more than just her spellcards. In addition to upgrading her old ones, she'd made some new ones with the blank cards she'd asked Tewi to get. She'd also remixed her theme of choice, and she activated that card now. "Very well. Just know that your downfall tonight is of your own choosing."
 
"Geez, whatever."
 
"You would do well to have care, Kirisame. You have no idea what it is you face."
 
Marisa laughed. "And just what the hell is that supposed to mean, anyways?"
 
"I told you that I have changed. You cannot possibly comprehend what I have become, and in facing me, you have sealed your fate. So let us begin. Bug Sign: Bug Storm!"
 
Wriggle formed medium-sized shots around herself, firing them outwards in streams as they formed. At a certain distance, each shot split into multiple smaller shots. The density of incoming fire was a surprise to Marisa, but the witch was still able to slip through unhit, and she returned fire with a spread of star-shaped shots.
 
As she canceled her spellcard, Wriggle formed several 'nodes', which could be moved independently from herself and used to fire danmaku. She sent them at Marisa in a spread pattern. The nodes left mid-sized bullets in their paths that soon spread out. As with the spellcard, it was a pattern Marisa had seen before, just a lot more dense and harder to navigate through. But she still managed to do it, although she did only barely avoid colliding with a node at one point.
 
"Pretty good," Marisa said, "but not good enough. Love Sign: Non-Directional Laser!" She fired larger star-shaped shots in two sets of five rotating streams, one set rotating clockwise and the other clockwise. She also had two sets of lasers rotating in the same manner. Only one set of lasers fired at a time, but they switched at regular intervals. And in addition, Marisa fired off a few smaller star shots targeted at Wriggle's position.
 
Wriggle maneuvered carefully through the streams, staying away from the lasers, and declared a spellcard of her own. "Bug Sign: Swarm!" Hundreds of small points of light appeared all around. An instant after each one appeared, a thin laser fired from it at Marisa's position. The lasers only remained briefly, but new points of light were appearing constantly, and the barrage didn't let up.
In the end, it came down to surprise. Not only was Swarm a completely new spellcard, it was a much more difficult one than anything Marisa had seen from Wriggle-or almost anyone else, for that matter. It sounded simple, but it was a lot harder than one might think. In addition, the frequency and density of the lasers were high. Marisa did her best, but she was hit before Wriggle was. Multiple times; the lasers didn't stop coming just because one had hit her, and the strike provided a momentary distraction that allowed her to get hit by many more or them. It 'broke' her spellcard, as well, ending that pattern. And although a card could be reused, it needed some time to recharge-'recompose', as it was usually called. This didn't take too long, but it did effectively limit a card to one use per battle, so Wriggle didn't have to worry about that one again. But that still left Marisa with plenty of options.
 
Marisa managed to break away from the lasers and simply dodged until the card 'timed out' and ended. "Damn," Marisa said, "that was pretty good. Now try this! Magic Space: Asteroid Belt!" Five nodes appeared around her, rotating clockwise and firing fairly sparse sprays of stars behind them. Marisa herself began firing off a large number of rotating streams of larger stars, creating a very dense field. And the shots from the nodes only made things trickier.
 
Wriggle returned fire with some basic danmaku of her own, repeating her earlier node pattern, but her focus was on dodging. It was very difficult to keep track of the small stars among the larger ones, though, and she took hits. They were minor hits, though, and Wriggle ignored them as she focused on dodging the larger and more dangerous shots.
 
As the spellcard ended, Marisa spun several nodes around herself that let out sprays of stars. "I know you are capable of more," Wriggle said. "You fail to appreciate my power, and this shall be your doom. Queen's Spear: Stinger!" What formed in Wriggle's hand wasn't the exact spear that she'd wielded against the demon, but a danmaku version of it. Wriggle threw the spear, and it sailed towards Marisa at high speed, leaving in its wake dense twin streams of shots that began expanding outward. Marisa dodged the spear, but it swung around and came at her again from a different angle. "Wah!"
 
As the spear made more passes, avoiding it became more and more difficult; as the bullets it was leaving grew in number, movement became more and more restricted. Before long, Marisa fell into the trap of focusing too much on the field of shots, forgetting about the spear until it was too late. The spear came in from the left, impacting Marisa and knocking the witch to the side, sending her through a number of the bullets.
 
"Okay," Marisa said, "fine. If that's the way you want it, then playtime's over. Magic Cross: Grand Cross!" She began firing bullets in six-shot groups, while at the same time spraying fireballs everywhere. Then she added rotating beams, and then large orbs that spun around her. The orbs had the effect of blocking the beams, but Wriggle soon found that trying to take advantage of this wasn't the smartest of ideas. Attempting to stay in the 'safe zone' while avoiding all the other shots served as a distraction and got Wriggle a fireball to the face. She then didn't react quickly enough as the orb moved away, and took a direct hit from one of the beams.
 
Wriggle made a quick recovery and swung above Marisa, waiting for a straight shot that wouldn't cross paths with any beams or orbs, and when she saw her chance, she took it. "Kamikaze: Wriggle Kick!" She shot towards Marisa at high speed, feet-first, a barrier of green energy protecting her from any minor shots she collided with-although it wouldn't have protected her from the beams or orbs, which is why she'd needed a path free of both.
 
Marisa didn't have enough time to react. She took a direct hit, breaking her spellcard and sending her flying. Wriggle's card, on the other hand, wasn't the same variety. 'Instant-use' cards, as they were called, weren't shot patterns. They were individual attacks, such as the kick or Marisa's well-known Master Spark. Shot patterns were not a part of them. In addition, instant-use cards were 'depleted' less per use than regular spellcards, and thus could usually be used multiple times before being completely drained and needing to recompose. The number of uses, of course, varied by card; Master Spark was noteworthy there because it was one of the very, very few instant-use spellcards that did need to recompose after every use.
 
Wriggle didn't let up, immediately declaring another card. "Hive Sign: Fury of the Hive!" Marisa, not knowing what to expect, didn't move away in time, and found herself enclosed by the energy wall. The bullets and lasers came fast and dense, but Marisa managed to avoid every single one. Until the beam came. That caught her off-guard and scored a direct hit, knocking her out through the wall.
 
Marisa righted herself as Wriggle canceled the card. "Nice one," she said, breathing heavily. "I guess you're tougher than I thought after all. Magic Bullet: Test Slave!" Marisa threw out a large orb, which remained connected to her by a beam. The orb sprayed shots as Marisa swung it around, attempting to hit Wriggle with it. Dodging it wasn't too hard, or wouldn't have been if it wasn't spraying shots. And then there was the fact that Wriggle couldn't pass between the orb and Marisa, thanks to the beam.
 
Wriggle dodged another swing by dropping into an open area under it, but it soon became clear that Marisa has expected this, as she cancelled the card directly into another. "Love Sign: Master Spark!" It was a direct hit, and Wriggle was slammed into the ground by the blast. "You fell for it!" Marisa called out as the Spark ended.
 
Wriggle got to her feet and rose into the air again. "You had enough yet?" Marisa asked.
 
Wriggle knew she was far from unharmed, but she knew she could keep going-although she wasn't completely certain how much longer she could go for, as she hadn't tested her limits yet-and from the looks of things, Marisa was almost spent. "You cannot hope to win, Kirisame," Wriggle said. "Despair, for your doom is nigh! Insect Queen's Wrath!"
 
Nodes formed around the combatants and sent out streams of energy, forming a large sphere around the two. Each node remained connected to Wriggle by a beam, and the nodes began moving rapidly upon the surface of the sphere, spraying shots inward as they did. Wriggle began densely spraying shots herself, and she also threw out more nodes. These nodes sprayed lasers as they moved, rebounding away at an angle whenever they hit each other or the wall of the sphere.
 
Marisa had a very difficult time keeping up with the chaotic storm of danmaku, but she managed. Until Wriggle begin firing a large beam, that is. Marisa did manage to dodge it, but Wriggle simply swept it along after her, requiring her to keep moving quickly, which, of course, made avoiding everything else a lot more difficult. Before long, Marisa flew straight into one of the beams connecting the sphere's nodes to Wriggle, which knocked her off balance long enough for Wriggle to catch her with the large beam, sending her flying out through the sphere and into the ground.
 
Wriggle ended the spellcard and dropped to the ground in front of Marisa, who was struggling to stand. "You failed to heed my warning," she said. "This is the result. You understand now that you cannot hope to best me."
 
Marisa was completely worn out-danmaku combat was by nature more tiring than regular combat. This was another factor by which it reduced actual damage and injury, as danmaku battles were generally shorter. "You're… not Wriggle," Marisa managed to get out. "Who… are… you?"
 
"You're wrong. I am Wriggle. I have merely claimed that which is mine by right of birth."
 
"What the… hell… are you… talking about?"
 
"Exactly what I said."
 
"Fine, I'll be… more specific: if you're… really… Wriggle… how do you… suddenly have… that much power?"
 
"I told you; I have claimed that which is mine by right of birth."
 
"Oh, fine, whatever." Marisa managed to seat herself properly on her broom. "Be that way. Just don't… cause any trouble." And with that, she left.
 
 

 
"Woah," Tewi said as the group saw Marisa go down, "she actually did it."
 
"Yeah!" Mystia called out. "Way to go, Wriggle!"
 
"Pretty good," Daiyousei said.
 
"Yeah, Marisa's had that coming for a long time."
 
Cirno and Rumia stood back a ways; Rumia had pulled Cirno aside while the others were watching the battle. "Nice," she said.
 
"You've got that right," Cirno said. "And Marisa had it coming."
 
"That she did. Anyways, getting back on topic, I think we should do it. The coil's going to break eventually, and I'd prefer if this happened under controlled circumstances. And… well, I want to get this over with."
 
"But- but- but- but- but-"
 
"Please, Cirno."
 
"I don't want to hurt you, Rumia."
 
"It'll hurt even if you don't do anything. It hurts when the coil's damage worsens. It'll hurt if you break it, and it'll hurt if we wait and let it break. All you'll be doing is letting me choose when it happens."
 
"But then what happens to you?"
 
"I don't know," Rumia said, "but we're going to find out eventually, and like I said, I'd rather just get it over with."
 
"But-"
 
"I'll be okay, Cirno."
 
"No you won't! You'll be hurt. You'll-"
 
"It hurts even now."
 
"Huh?"
 
"The pain's not major," Rumia said, "but it's there, and I'd imagine it'll only get worse. Sure, it'll hurt when you break the coil, but then it'll be gone."
 
"I… well, um… well, I, uh… well, all right."
 
"Thank you." Sorry, Cirno. Once this is done, I'll apologize.
 
 

 
Mokou literally lost her head. "Plus one for Kaguya," Eirin said.
 
Um, is she… "Are you keeping score?"
 
"Decapitation tally. Mokou's decapitated Kaguya 3,231 times, and counting this one, Kaguya's decapitated Mokou 3,309 times."
 
"Um. You're tallying their decapitations."
 
"Yes," Eirin said.
 
"And this doesn't seem at all strange to you?"
 
"Not anymore."
 
Right. This has been happening for over a thousand years. I guess she just became desensitized to it after a while.
 
Apparently, resurrection took longer after losing a head, but eventually, Mokou was back on her feet, and she wasted no time. She charged in almost immediately, slamming Kaguya to the ground. Then she blew Kaguya's head off.
 
"Plus one for Mokou," Eirin remarked. I, however, was focusing on Mokou's actions.
 
"That's five," I said. "Mokou has the branch. Let's get in there."
 
Mokou backed away from Kaguya and waited for the Lunarian to resurrect. As Kaguya got to her feet, Eirin and I moved between her and Mokou.
 
"Get out of the way," Kaguya said. Neither of us moved. "I said, 'get out of the way'!" We still didn't move. "That's an order, Eirin!"
 
"Go," I whispered to Eirin. "You don't have to disobey her. I can handle this."
 
"You, too, Orphan," Kaguya said as Eirin moved aside.
 
"If you insist on continuing this battle," I said, "then I will stand aside, but first, take note of yourself."
 
"Excuse me?"
 
"Examine yourself," I said. "I think you'll find something noteworthy."
 
"What the hell are you talking about?"
 
"I do believe you're missing something."
 
"Fine, if it'll get you out of my way." Kaguya started looking over herself. "Yeah, I don't see any-wait, where are the treasures?"
 
I backed away as Mokou approached, carrying the five items. Kaguya tensed up as Mokou drew close, but nobody attacked. Mokou set the items down in front of Kaguya one at a time. "The Fire Rat's Robe. The Buddha's Stone Bowl. The Dragon's Necklace. The Swallow's Cowry Shell. The Jeweled Branch of Hourai." Mokou stepped back. "I believe that's all five of the items you named."
Kaguya quite clearly had no idea what was going on. 'Huh?"
 
"Think about it, Kaguya," I said. "What was the reason for your conflict?"
 
"Mokou blames me for her father's death."
 
"And he died because…"
 
"Because he attempted to find the Jeweled Branch of Hourai."
 
"And what was he doing in a more general sense?"
 
"Um… trying to secure a wife?"
 
"Not quite that general."
 
"Okay. Um… oh! He was trying to complete my challenge."
 
I nodded. "Exactly."
 
I waited, but Kaguya didn't seem to make the connection. Eventually, Mokou stepped up to her again. "Oh, come on. Isn't it obvious? What did I just do?"
 
"You fought me."
 
"Jeez, Kaguya, this isn't that hard. Yes, we fought, but during the battle, what happened?"
 
"Um…"
 
Mokou gave an exasperated sigh. "I took the five items, Kaguya."
 
There was another pause, but then it suddenly hit Kaguya. "Oh. Wait, what? Are you saying-"
 
"That I just completed your challenge? Yes, I am."
 
"Wha- but- I- you- uh-"
 
Mokou indicated me. "Orphan there told me something. She said that maybe you didn't expect so many people to attempt the challenge, that Lunarians would have responded differently. Is that true?"
 
"I… um, yes," Kaguya said. "I didn't even think about it until you killed me that first time. After that, I looked into it, and I saw that you were right. That's why I withdrew the challenge." Her tone was hopeful. "Are you saying-"
 
"That I forgive you? No. I still can't do that, but Orphan said something else, too. She said that I didn't have to forgive you, that I could end the conflict instead. She's the one who suggested that I complete the challenge."
 
"I was not, however, expecting a fight like that," I said. "An ordinary battle between you two-so that Mokou could take the items-would have been one thing, but I was not expecting such a drawn-out, brutal, bloody battle. I think I know why you did it, though, Mokou. You were attempting to purge your lingering hatred towards her, weren't you?"
 
"That is indeed what I was doing." She turned back to Kaguya. "And I have to say, you did put up a pretty good fight."
 
Kaguya's relief was plain to see. "I like to think so. Eirin, who won?"
 
"Huh?"
 
"Mokou has decapitated Kaguya 3,232 times," Eirin said. "Kaguya has decapitated Mokou 3,310 times. Kaguya wins."
 
"Okay," Mokou said, "hold on. You were having Eirin keep a decapitation count?"
 
"Yes."
 
There was a pause, followed by laughter. "I think that's the best thing I've heard all week."
 
I turned to Eirin. "I think we should give these two some time alone."
 
"Yeah," Eirin said, smiling. "I just hope this sticks."
 
 

My name is Eirin Yagokoro.
 
They called me the 'Brain of the Moon'. I did not dispute this title; after all, there is no doubt as to my level of genius. I realize how that statement may sound, but there is no boasting involved. My genius is well-established, and I do not believe that false modesty is appropriate. If it's not true, that's one thing, but I truly am at that level, and I'm not going to pretend otherwise.
 
My field is medicine. I have been a doctor for over thirteen hundred years. I have been developing new treatments throught that entire time period; many of my procedures have become standard practice among Lunarians, as their effectiveness is unrivaled. I am the one who cured the 'Great Lunar Plague', and I have cured countless other diseases. I have even stopped death.
 
Research on immortality was strictly forbidden, so I had to conduct that work in secret. I was hardly the first to attempt the development of an elixir of immortality, and given the secrecy required, I suppose it's possible that someone before be managed to succeed. However, I doubt it, because when my elixir was first used, it was not long before people realized what had happened.
 
I have always been close the Princess Kaguya. We've been close friends all our lives, and eventually, she had employed me directly as head of her medical staff. She was the only person who knew of my secret work, and she is the one who consumed the Hourai Elixir. I myself did not. I wanted to succeed in developing immortality; I had no interest is claiming it for myself.
 
When Kaguya's immortality was discovered, she was stripped of her right to the throne and exiled to Earth. I, however, was merely imprisoned; apparently, making someone immortal is a much lesser crime than becomming immortal. I was imprisoned for some time, but compared to Kaguya, my sentence was light. I was even allowed to resume my work upon my release, although I was required to submit to additional monitoring.
 
As it turned out, Kaguya's crime was eventually forgiven; her mother had always claimed that not wanting to die is natural, and I suppose she was finally able to convince the right people of this. The problem was that Kaguya had come to prefer life on Earth.
I was selected as part of the party that went to retrieve Kaguya, presumably in hopes that our friendship would aid me in convincing her to return. I, however, would never go against the Princess' wishes, especially not after she was exiled while I, the one who made the elixir and thus the one far more deserving of punishment, got off much lighter. So instead of bringing her back, I aided her in driving off the rest of the part and resumed my position as her servant.
 
Not wanting additional battles against fellow Lunarians, Kaguya and I went into hiding. Eventually, we learned of a plan to preserve magic by seperating the land of Gensokyo from the rest of the world. Knowing that this would remove our need to hide, Kaguya and I became residents of this new land. Eventually, we located the rabbits' mansion, Eientei, and Kaguya was allowed to reside there as its master.
 
Gensokyo may currently be facing a crisis. The demons that are attacking may be part of an invasion plan. Kaguya believes so, at least, and has been attempting to unite Gensokyo under her to meet this threat. Unfortunately, others have had the same idea, and in addition, the response from Gensokyo's people has been... less than encouraging. Still, I can't help but feel optimistic. A seemingly-endless conflict has just ended, and this is enough to make anyone feel hopeful.
 
 

 
"That was great, Wriggle!" Cirno said as Wriggle rejoined the group. "That was awesome!"
 
"Indeed," Tewi said. "It's nice to see Marisa on the receiving end of a beating for once. That was impressive, Wriggle."
 
"Yeah," Daiyousei said, "but what was with all that stuff you were saying?"
 
"Just me having some fun," Wriggle replied.
 
"And how did you do that with your voice?" Mystia asked.
 
"I sent my words through nearby insects. I've found that I like the effect."
 
"That was crazy, though," Rumia said. "I mean, that was Marisa. I don't think she's lost to anyone but Reimu, and you just took her down hard."
 
"Well, it wasn't easy, but yes, She was much more powerful than any of her descendants, and I'm only now realizing just how powerful She was."
 
"Yeah," Cirno said. "I mean, damn."
 
"Glad you were impressed," Wriggle said. "Now, I do believe we were heading back to Mystia's place?"
 
"Cirno and I would like to detour to the lake and pick up a few things," Rumia said.
 
"Oh, come on, Rumia," Cirno said. "They're our friends. Tell them the truth."
 
"All right," Rumia said. "I'll tell you what I understood. Basically, Eirin found that the pain when the demon attacked Cirno was because some kind of magic called a 'coil' has been placed on me. Apparently, part of it's also on Cirno, and Eirin said that part's maintaining the coil. The demon's attack somehow damaged this effect, and now the coil's condition is deteriorating. Apparently, this deterioration is stimulated whenever…"
 
 

 
It had taken a little while, but Copenhagen and Hourai had found the Tsesek recruiting office. The man sitting at the desk looked up as they entered. "Huh. You two looking to sign up?"
 
"We've been considering it," Hourai said.
 
"Hmm…" He looked them over. "Well, what could we expect from you in combat? Magic of some kind, I would assume."
 
"From me," Hourai said. "Kia here is more of a physical fighter."
 
The man stood up and walked over to Copenhagen. "Well, you don't look like much. You sayin' you're one of those 'tougher that you look' types?" Copenhagen nodded. "Hah! Yeah, I've heard that before. And you know how many of them actually lived up to it? Not many. So, yeah, you'll have to prove yourself."
 
"Okay."
 
Copenhagen threw a punch, but the man, anticipating the move, caught it in his hands. "Yeah, 'cause nobody's made that move be-"
 
Copenhagen continued the punch, slamming the man's hands into his face. "I expected that."
 
The man shook his head. "Huh. Nice move. Not really a sufficient demonstration, but it proves you're not worthless. We've got a test course set up; you simply need to complete it. We'll need to test you, too, of course," he said, turning to Hourai. "You'll be accepted upon passing the test."
 
"Don't get ahead of yourself," Hourai said. "We haven't made a decision yet. We need a little more information first."
 
"Oh?"
 
"Yeah," Copenhagen said. "Let's be honest here; we all know you're mainly after numbers. Yeah, anyone you accept has to be able to fight to at least some extent, but you're accepting anyone you can."
 
"Um…"
 
"It's fairly obvious, you know. It's the obvious approach. Gensokyo's residents are, on average, a bit above us in power. What we have is a lot more people. So it's obvious you're going for a horde approach. The question, of course, is how many you intend to sacrifice. Because, well, we'll fight, but we don't want to be sent out to die."
 
"I see. Well, that's understandable. 'Course, they don't tell me too much. Although it doesn't sound like we'll be taking a very complex approach. We're not expecting coordinated resistance; that's the whole point of the advance attackers."
 
"And you're not worried that they may unite in preparation for an attack?" Hourai asked.
 
The man laughed. "At the moment, it would seem that at least three different groups are attempting to do just that. This brings them into conflict with each other. They won't be getting any 'unifying' done."
 
"I'd say just do nothing," Copenhagen said. "Don't give them any clue that we're coming."
 
"Um, you do realize that they've inevitably got someone, probably multiple someones, keeping tabs on Makai, right? We've been able to conceal most of the buildup as being nothing out of the ordinary, but now that we're just about ready to move, it's pretty obvious what we're up to. If we let that bitch Yukari do it her way, Gensokyo might actually manage to unite against us. So we panicked others into action, and now they're too occupied with each other to get anything done against us."
 
"That's about what I figured," Hourai said. "I'm afraid Kia doesn't have a good mind for strategy and tactics. She greatly favors the direct approach."
 
"There's something to be said for that. And the attack itself will be very direct. We aren't expecting too much opposition. Some of the groups, especially the mountain and Eientei, may be able to mount some decent resistance on their own, but they'll be fighting separately. Of course, even if we do face a unified Gensokyo, we're ready for that. The bosses believe in preparing for the worst. We'll have enough people to completely overwhelm them no matter how unified they are. I'd expect that the attack will go in waves, in case they have any nasty surprises planned, but, well, even if you end up in the middle of a trap, I wouldn't worry; the waves are a precaution, and I'd think each one would be large enough to handle any such problems."
 
"I see," Hourai said. "Well, I suppose that's not too bad. I don't think we're ready to decide right now, though. Thank you for the information, and if we decide to join, then we'll see you again."
 
 

 
"Hold on," Alice said to Byakuren. "I need to speak with Copenhagen and Hourai."
 
"You have a means by which to do so, then?"
 
Alice nodded. "The magical connection I needed to bring them to life allows us to communicate mentally."
 
"I see."
"They've actually been relaying everything they've heard to me. I've been able to handle conversing with you while listening to them, but 'speaking' with them, as it were, at the same time as I'm conversing with you would be a bit much, I think. I should be able to listen to you without difficulty, but saying two different things at the same time is a different matter."
 
"Understandable," Byakuren said. "Converse with them, then. I can wait."
 
"Thank you," Alice said. [Okay, you two, back to the original plan, except I want you two to stick together. The gossip there may be different than what London and Holland picked up, especially since Tsesek doesn't just have a recruiting facility. Neos is close enough that I'm sure there are rumors flying around that you wouldn't here in a smaller town.]
 
[We know the plan, Mother,] Hourai sent. [We spotted a busy-looking tavern while looking for the recruitment center, too, remember? We're on our way there right now. In the meantime, I assume you have some thoughts on what the recruitment officer said.]
 
[Nothing was too surprising, although I didn't expect him to know or volunteer so freely that information about the advance force, even if it was limited to confirming my suspicions. I suppose it's a sign of how close they are to ready; they don't feel a need to keep that classified any more.]
 
[People've probably known about the advance force for a while, though, right?] Copenhagen out in. [I doubt its purpose was any major secret.]
 
[There would certainly have been rumors,] Alice agreed, [but I wouldn't have expected people like that recruitment officer to confirm them so freely, or even to have been told they're true at all. As I said, it's probably a sign of how soon they'll be attacking. Secrecy simply isn't a worry for them now. They think it's too late for anything to change, and I'm afraid they're right.]
 
[But isn't that why we're taking action?]
 
[Yes, and I intend to continue as planned, as least for now. But given the situation regarding myself and my mother, actually stopping this is probably beyond my capability at this point in time, although I may at least be able to divert the war away from Gensokyo. But for that, I'll first have to deal with Netese, or whoever's really in charge. Which means that for now, we proceed as planned. Moscow, status update.]
 
[She's definitely headed for Kases,] Moscow replied. [There's no question there anymore. I don't know if it's her current destination or just a point along the way, but at this point, there's no doubt that she's going there.]
 
[Shanghai?]
 
[Still on my way, Mother. I should catch up to Moscow within the hour.]
 
[Remember to-]
 
[Hold back from Moscow's position, I know. She's the one who's made for stealth; they'll see me more easily. I know the plan, Mother.]
 
[Just be careful, Shanghai.]
 
[I will.]
 
[Good.] "Done," Alice said. "Sorry about that."
 
"It's not a problem," Byakuren said. "I want to get to the bottom of this as much as you do."
 
"I know," Alice said. "Thank you. Now, as I was saying, Moscow followed this 'Netese' when she left Pandemonium, and is still doing so. Shanghai is heading out to rendezvous with Moscow and…"
 
 

 
"Well," Eirin said as she led me towards Eientei, "I suppose we might as well get started with some basic questions."
 
"Let me guess," I said, "you're going to ask me what power I have."
 
"I take it you've been asked that before, then."
 
I nodded. "It's the first thing everyone thinks of to ask. And I suppose it makes sense that they would. The thing is that I believe that the power I have now and the power I had before my memory loss are different."
 
"You're certain of this?"
 
"As certain as I can be. Using my power gives me a sense of wrongness, a sense that it's different."
 
"I see. Hmm… well, what is your current power?"
 
"My power is that of nature, of the land and the sea."
 
"Land and sea," Eirin said. "Not sky?"
 
"Um, no. Is that important?"
 
"It could be. If your power is indeed power over the forces of nature, then it is incomplete if it applies only to land and sea. This brings to mind two possibilities regarding the change in your power."
 
"Please explain."
 
"Certainly," Eirin said. "You see, a complete change from one power to another is likely impossible-although I suppose it wouldn't be the only impossible thing I've seen today. Anyways, I think the fact that you have power over land and sea but not sky is a significant clue, and it brings to mind two possibilities.
 
"The first possibility is that originally, you did indeed have the complete set of land, sea, and sky, and that the change is a loss of the sky portion of your power. I don't know what could have caused such a loss, but I suppose the natural assumption is that it's somehow related to your memory loss."
 
"I would think it probably is related," I said. "What is the other possibility?"
 
"You have power over land and sea," Eirin said. "The second possibility is that your original power was limited to one of those two, and that the change is the addition of the other. And without your memory, you would have had to learn both from scratch, so there would have been no clue there as to which is which."
 
"Both give me the same feeling."
 
"If so, that makes the second possibility less likely."
 
"Are there any other possibilities?" I asked.
 
"Yes," Eirin said. "As I said before, a complete change is supposed to be impossible, but I've already seen something today that's supposed to be impossible, so it probably should not be ruled out. There's also the possibility that you originally had highly varied abilities, and that your current abilities are simply all you've retained after whatever it is that happened to you-which the losing-sky-powers possibility would fall under. Aside from that, it could also have been a copy, a drain, or an exchange."
 
"And those are?"
 
"A copy is just what it sounds like," Eirin said. "That would mean your powers became a copy of someone else's. An exchange is similarly obvious; you and someone else would have switched powers. A drain would be you, well, taking the power of someone else such that you have it and they no longer do. I would consider that the least likely possibility, though. Out of all the possibilities, I think the copy is the most likely, with the exchange being in second place. Incidentally, none of these are things that anyone knows how to do deliberately. It's not even known what actually causes them, and all are extremely rare-I've only seen three cases of power change in over a thousand years, yourself not included."
 
"I see."
 
"Now, if you copied someone else's powers, it's likely that your original powers still remain within you somewhere. Two of those previous cases were copies-the third being an exchange-and in both cases, the affected's original powers remained within them. The copied powers merely took dominance. It is possible to regain one's original powers, but doing so comes at the cost of the copied powers. One's original power can remain more easily than a copied power can, and if the original power becomes dominant again, the copied power fades away.
 
"If, on the other hand, what happened is an exchange, then you would not have your original powers; the one you exchanged with would. However, although it is not known how to induce an exchange, there is a proven method for undoing one, a method I developed myself for use on the exchange case I had. It's much easier than causing an exchange, as undoing one involves just taking powers that don't belong and helping them return to where they do belong."
 
"So the process is reversible."
 
"Yes," Eirin said. "For the other possibilities I mentioned, I am not sure, but I know for a fact that those most likely two are reversible. If it's one of the other possibilities, then I am afraid that your case is within the unknown."
 
 

 
"Are you sure this is a good idea?" Daiyousei asked.
 
"That's exactly the eighth time you've asked that," Mystia remarked. "And yes, I've been counting."
 
"It's their choice," Wriggle said. "I will not interfere."
 
The three of them and Tewi landed in front of Mystia's house, and Mystia led them inside. "I just don't like it," Dai said. "There's no telling what'll happen when they break this 'coil' thing. What if Rumia dies?"
 
"She won't," Mystia said. "Think about it, Dai. The coil is a seal, right? Whatever it was placed around is something she used to have. So, yeah, getting it back won't kill her. I'm more worried that it might do something else to her, but remember what Rumia said about Eirin? Eirin seemed to think that breaking it's the best idea, right? And she knows what she's doing."
 
"And the part about them being alone? Obviously Eirin thinks something will happen."
 
"And she also thinks that the two of them will be fine."
 
"I gave them some luck, too," Tewi said. "Don't worry so much."
 
"But what if it releases some monster or something? Shouldn't you be there, Wriggle?"
 
"They said they wanted to be by themselves," Wriggle said. "It's their decision to make. I'm keeping eyes on them, though, don't worry."
 
"Keeping- oh yeah, the seeing-through-insects thing."
 
"I'll know if something happens," Wriggle assured her. "I'll know."
 
"I still don't like it," Dai said. She moved into the next room.
 
Tewi turned to Mystia and Wriggle. "So what do think? Six more times? Five? Four? Because she's not going to stop asking until they actually break the thing, you know that, right?"
 
There was a pause. "She already left, didn't she?" Mystia said.
 
"Didn't even stop," Wriggle said. "Entered the room and went straight for the window."
 
"Wait," Tewi said, "she's gone? And you expected her to leave? And you didn't stop her?"
 
"She's lying unconscious a few meters away," Wriggle said. "I had appropriate insects waiting. Their poisons knocked her out. It's a short-lasting effect, though. She'll be awake again in a few minutes; let's go bring her back inside."
 
"You do that," Tewi said. "I'm going to go make the disposal drop."

"I still think you should've done that during the battle."

"Like I was going to miss that fight. Don't worry," Tewi said as she left, "this won't be a problem."
 

 
Aya landed in front of the sleeping Meiling. "China!" Nothing. "Hey, China!" Still no response. "Right, then," Aya muttered. "Time for step 2." Then she applied danmaku to Meiling's face.
 
Meiling was knocked backwards into the wall. "Waugh!"
 
"Wake up, China!"
 
Meiling took a moment to compose herself. "Okay, what the hell was-Aya?"
 
"Hi. I have a few-"
 
"You're not welcome here. You know that."
 
"I just have a few questions, then I'll be on my-"
 
Meiling assumed a ready stance. "You'll be on your way right now. You have no business here."
 
"Probably not. She's probably left by now."
 
"Hold on, left?"
 
"Yes," Aya said. "I'm looking for a woman who goes by 'Orphan'. I heard from Nol at the shrine that she was headed here."
 
Meiling thought for a moment. "Hmm… actually, there was someone, although I never got her name. I was ready to fight her off, but then she pulled a dirty trick on me and got past."
 
Aya took out the photo she'd showed Nol. "This look like her?"
 
"I didn't pay much attention to what she looked like," Meiling said, but she took a look at the photo anyways. "Actually, that may just be her. She had the same hat, at least."
 
"Then it's her," Aya said. "Where is she now?"
 
"The Human Village. I heard her and Yuugi talking about it as they left."
 
"Yuugi? Shit! The oni have her? She's been captured? Oh shit, oh shit, oh shit, oh shit, on shit."
 
"Actually," Meiling said, "I think Yuugi was just-" But Aya was already gone. "Figures. That woman's a menace. Well, at least she's got her sights on someone else."
 
 

 
It was about an hour until sunrise by the time Cirno and Rumia arrived at Misty Lake. The pair found a nice empty spot along the shore of the lake and landed.
 
"Rumia," Cirno said, "are you sure about this?"
 
"We need to do it," Rumia replied. "We've been over this, Cirno."
 
"I know, but I still don't want to do it."
 
"Please, Cirno."
 
"Hey, I already said I would. I just don't want to."
 
"I know," Rumia said. The pair stood silently for a moment.
 
"Rumia," Cirno said.
 
"Yeah?"
 
"Promise you won't leave me. Promise me that whatever happens, you'll still be here."
 
"I promise, Cirno," Rumia said. "As long as I'm alive, I won't leave you. And, Cirno?"
 
"Yeah?"
 
"If… if something happens… if I go crazy or something… I want you to be there for me."
 
"You won't go crazy," Cirno said. "I won't let you. No matter what happens, you'll get through this, because if anything does happen to you, I'll be there to get you back. I promise."
 
"Thank you, Cirno," Rumia said, and the pair embraced.
 
The two of them separated after a few seconds. "Right," Rumia said, "let's get this over with. Ready?"
 
"No," Cirno said, "but I'm as close as I'm going to be."
 
"Then let's do it."
 
 
 
Yeah, I'm clearly having far more fun with Wriggle than is legal. And yes, I did just retcon her new appearance to match the image in the linked bgm video.

You know, I'd really like to make a Danmakufu boss script of that Wriggle, but unfortunately, I suck at Danmakufu scripting, so I'd need someone to do it for me. Any volunteers?

And please give me some comments, people. Anything you have to say is welcome and appreciated.

[Kips McKipzerson]

What I love about these chapters are how long they are. And the fact that you can juggle three different... "acts", so to speak, and do it perfectly.
Keep it up bro.

[GuyYouMetOnline]

We inturrupt this not-so-regularly-scheduled story to bring you this special oneshot prequel, entitled 'The Source of Overconfidence.' but first, a note: About a month ago, I came across a fic entitled 'The Gold, Blue, and Red-White'. Upon reading it, I noticed some... startling similarities between that story and this one. I will elaborate on these similarities after the story, in the interest of avoiding spoilers. For now, just know that these similarities were not intended.
 
Also, anyone who spots the shout-out gets a cookie.
 
Now, let's begin!
 

 
[/b]
 
So I can indeed die. Can be killed. But? if I die, what happens to it? To her?
 
I feel myself? coming apart. I struggle to stop it, to keep myself whole, but I fail. And as I separate, I feel my awareness fade.
 
So this is it, then? This is what it is?
 
This is death?
 
 

 
She fought her anger as she flew through the forest, fought her desire to burn the entire forest down in frustration and rage. Damn that bitch! Go to hell, Kaguya! And you will. I promise you that. Someday, I will send you to Hell.
 
Kaguya had been her enemy for over a thousand years-one thousand, one hundred and eighty-four, to be exact. Ever since that bitch had killed her father. She'd killed Kaguya countless times, but like her, the bitch was immortal. But she wouldn't let that stop her. She'd kill the bitch over and over and over. But the bitch was treacherous. The bitch had had that flunky of hers, Tewi, set a trap for her. And she'd walked right into it. The bitch had killed her before, but to trick her like that-! You never change, do you, bitch? Even after a thousand years, you're still tricking people into death. You'll pay for this one, bitch. You'll-
 
Her thoughts cut off as someone literally collided with her. Good, the thought pushing herself away from the other woman. I could really go for beating the shit out of someone. Looks like this is your unlucky night.
 
"Who are you?" the woman asked her. "Did she send you?"
 
'She'? Oh, who gives a shit? "What's it to you?"
 
"Hostility. Unadvisable."
 
"Tough talk. I know what's up my ass, but what's up yours?"
 
"Hmm? you're not acting like anyone under her would. It would seem that speaking with you is quite likely a waste of time. Farewe-"
 
She attacked, engulfing the woman in flames. Then she threw countless fireballs into the inferno. Then she collected flame energy into a beam and fired. But when the flames cleared, the woman was completely unharmed. Not ever her clothing was so much as singed.
 
She launched a massive fireball at the woman, only to find herself staring in shock as the fireball simply? came apart. And then something ripped through her body too quickly for her to see. And again. And again, and again, and again and again and until she fell to the ground, dead.
 
At first, it had taken her some time to recover after a resurrection, but after the deaths of over a thousand years of battle with Kaguya, she was up and ready almost instantly after her return to life. And as soon as she was, she saw the woman standing in front of her.
 
"An immortal," the woman said. "Interesting. Although I suppose it does fit with the fact that you tried to kill me without provocation. Killing, I suppose, would mean little to one who cannot die."
 
"Not kill you. Injure you, yes, but only humans or lesser youkai would have died-although above them, someone fairly weak would've been out of action for a while even with youkai healing speed. But I could tell as soon as I saw you that you are neither. So you know very well that you wouldn't have died. Besides, you actually did kill me."
 
"True," the woman said. "I thought you might be a true enemy, but even so, I suppose I reacted? overly harshly. It is fortunate that you are immortal; no life was lost from my error. I do, however, apologize for it."
 
She did not think lightly of killing those who could truly die, but being immortal had given her a somewhat different outlook on death; it was simply not in the way this woman thought it was. Most people would've found it very difficult at the least to forgive someone who'd tried to kill them, but she was different. She'd died hundreds of times, if not thousands. Death was meaningless to her, so she held no grudge against the woman who had killed her. She simply didn't care. "That's fine. And I suppose I should apologize for attacking you."
 
"Accepted," the woman said. "Hmm? you seem less? frightened of my power than others."
 
"I'm immortal."
 
"Yes, I suppose that would explain it. Hmm? this might provide an opportunity for me. Well, if you're actually willing to speak with me instead of running away in fright, then allow me to introduce myself. I am Nolana Lecir. May I have your name?"
 
"I am Fujiwara no Mokou."
 
"Interesting," Nolana said, mostly to herself. "One who still uses the old customs, and of nobility at that."
 
Mokou did indeed use the old customs, at least with herself. Gensokyo had adopted the custom of given name followed by surname even before its separation from the outside world; Mokou was, as far as she knew, the only one who still used the old custom of surname followed by given name, as well as the indicator, 'no', of nobility. She did so as a reminder of her heritage, her lineage, and also her nobility, even though it had been some time since her nobility had been relevant in her daily life. "You do not need to treat me as noble," she said. "It is important to me, but it is also in the past. Treat me as you would any other."
 
"To be honest," Nolana said, "I don't really what that will be. I have spent my life in solitude, although not entirely out of choice. People fear my power and distance themselves from me, and fear feeds hatred. Eventually, I simply left others and lived alone; it was easier that way. But you do not fear me, do not fear my power."
 
"I know what it's like to be feared," Mokou said. "I have been feared, too." She formed a ball of flame, making light in the darkness of night, and gave the strange woman a closer look. Nolana was a tall woman, with long, blue hair and eyes of the same shade. She wore an elegant white dress, but no hairpiece, something almost never seen in Gensokyo. And she had wings, too, intricately patterned wings of translucent crystal. She has the air of nobility about her, too.
 
"Tell me about your power," Mokou said, allowing the flame to vanish. "Even the most powerful of youkai should have shown at least some damage from my attack. How is it that you did not?"
 
"I can try to explain, but? well, it's hard to describe in a manner that you'd be able to understand. The explanation I can give you won't be entirely correct, but it should be more than close enough to give you the right idea, at least."
 
"That's fine."
 
"Then I shall begin. Would I be correct in assuming that you have power over fire?"
 
"That is correct."
 
"And there are those with power over water, or ice, or the wind, or the earth, or many other things both inside and outside that which some call 'elemental'. And then there are the ones who use magic, channeling the energies of such forces through their spells."
 
"They don't control the energies," Mokou said, "only derive their spells from them. They are perhaps more versatile, but they do not control the forces. A magician may use spells of fire, but they do not control fire. I do."
 
"My point is that they do make use of such energies. Magicians draw on multiple such types of energies. People like yourself have much more complete control over one type."
 
"I'd ask which one you are," Mokou said, "but it's pretty obvious that you're neither."
 
"I suppose it depends on how you look at it. One could argue it either way, really."
 
"Explain, please."
 
"Certainly," Nolana said. "I have been saying that these things are different types of energy, but that is not really correct. They are, rather, different manifestations of energy, although in many ways also still energies. Energy becomes the manifestation energy of, say, fire, and it is that which is behind the actual flame. Yes, the energies that manifest, say, water and fire are indeed not identical, but they are still the same energy."
 
"I'm assuming this is the part where your explanation isn't completely accurate."
 
"Indeed. But do you at least get the general idea?"
 
Mokou nodded. "One energy that turns into others. I assume I don't need to know what causes it to manifest one way versus another."
 
"You assume correctly. In fact, you now know all you need to in order to know what my power is. Almost every kind of power there is involves these manifested energies-which are usually just called 'energies' either for simplicity's sake or because most don't know what truly lies beneath them. But my power is different. I have power over the original, primal energy. You control the energy of fire; I control the energy of that energy."
 
"I see. So you rendered my fire harmless through control of the primal energy behind it."
 
"Essentially."
 
"Clearly, then, you can do the same with anything that comes from that energy."
 
Nolana nodded. "To others, it can look as though I have absolute command of all the forces of the world, but I do not. I have command only of one thing, the primal energy that such forces draw upon."
 
"Well, I can understand why people would be afraid."
 
"Yes, sadly. What of yourself? Why is it that people fear you?"
 
Mokou hadn't expected that question. "Is it not obvious? I am a human who became immortal. Others can die, but I cannot. This is what scares them. I cannot live among them, so I live alone."
 
"Your immortality? But what of the fairies? They are immortal, yet they are not feared."
 
"All fairies are that way," Mokou said. "Fairies are born of nature, and are all immortal. But that's normal for them. It is not normal for humans. They can accept that something different from them has such differences, but then they see me, one who is human. They cannot accept a human who is immortal, so they have nothing for me but hatred and fear."
 
"Shallow of them. It means nothing about you as a person."
 
"I'm used to it. That is not to say that it does not bother me. It does, very much so. But I am used to it. When you live with something for over a thousand years, you can't help but get used to it."
 
"I suppose that's true."
 
 

 
Mokou and I quickly became friends. I suppose it may seem odd that one who I killed then became my friend, but being killed meant little to Mokou. And she was, I think, just as lonely as I. Like me, the hatred and fear others had for her drove her away from others, drove her to a life of solitude. When she and I met, I think, both of us saw in the other a possible friend, something that we both wanted.[/i]
 
Mokou and I spent a good deal of time together. I came to anticipate fondly our meetings, and I believe she was the same way. It was? enjoyable, I suppose. Certainly unfamiliar, but it was an unfamiliarity I came to welcome.
 
 

 
"?into Eirin's medicine jars. Sure, removing them doesn't mean anything since she's immortal and will simply regenerate them, but still, I imagine she had some explaining to do for that one. And I'd bet they both had great looks on their faces when they made the discovery."
 
"That is somewhat disgusting," Nolana remarked. She and Mokou were sitting near the shore of Misty Lake. The two had been meeting frequently, and this was one such instance.
 
Mokou chuckled. "Yeah, but so what? It was fun."
 
"You have a strange idea of 'fun'."
 
"Well, how about the time I literally fed her her own ass?"
 
"You are a disturbed woman."
 
"And you are impossible to shock."
 
"I've been alive for a long, long time," Nolana said. "I think I've seen everything by now."
 
"Have you ever seen a man eat his own head?"
 
"Yes."
 
Mokou paused. "Um. Okay, you know what? I'm not sure I even want to know how that works."
 
Nolana laughed. "Oh, it's nothing special. He just had two heads."
 
"You know," Mokou said, "I've seen a lot of weird shit, but I've never seen anyone with more than one head."
 
"I've only even seen the one, myself, and that was thousands of years ago."
 
"Huh. Well, I'm sure there's something you haven't seen, and I'll find it eventually."
 
"No such thing exists."
 
"Should I take that as a challenge?" Mokou said.
 
"If you'd like."
 
"Then you're on."
 
 

 
Over time, Mokou told me of her life, and I told her of mine. She told me of her thoughts, and I told her of mine. She told me of her fight with the moon princess Kaguya. And eventually, I told her of my own fight.[/i]
 
 

 
Eventually, Mokou brought it up. "You've mentioned the name 'Rumia' many times," she said. "Who is Rumia?"
 
Mokou and Nolana were sitting at the shore of Misty Lake, one of their favorite meeting spots. The sun had set a couple hours ago, leaving the light of the moon to reflect off the surface of the lake. A few fairies could be seen flying around, but they were distant enough that Mokou and Nolana were by themselves.
 
"Rumia," Nolana said, "is a youkai. She is absence, negation, opposition. She manifests as a being of darkness, the absence and opposite of light. Her power is on my level, far above that of any other you've met. I have power over the primal energy of the world; Rumia has the opposite power."
 
"Which is?"
 
"Disruption. Elimination. She is able to interfere with the primal energy and its manifestation. Negate it. Not outright destroy it-such a thing is impossible-but she can cut off and eliminate its manifestation. She is extremely dangerous, and she and I have been opponents for a long, long time."
 
"It certainly sounds like a dangerous power," Mokou said, "but this does not make her a problem in and of itself. Has she proven herself to be problematic?"
 
"Repeatedly. Her behavior is? erratic. She is violent and destructive seemingly at random, and she's just as likely to say hello to a person as she is to kill him or her. She is erratic, unpredictable, and most likely mentally unstable. She is also intelligent and extremely powerful, and regardless of which actions she's taking at any one moment, she always has nothing for me but hostility. The only constant in her behavior is treating me as an enemy."
 
Mokou thought for a moment. "Well, you said that she's 'opposition'. Isn't her erratic behavior just the result of her acting opposite to whoever she runs into?"
 
Silence.
 
"You know," Nolana said, "Rumia and I have been enemies for as long as I can remember. So tell me something: why did that never occur to me?"
 
"Wait, you never thought of that?"
 
"No, I didn't. And now I'm wondering just how I possibly could have missed it."
 
It took a moment of thought, but then Mokou had it. "You see her as just being your opposite, don't you?"
 
"She is my- oh."
 
"You did say that she is opposition, not your opposite."
 
"But she is my opposite. That much I know for sure. I know she doesn't show power opposite to that of others."
 
"Then perhaps she only truly is your opposite, but her nature as opposition causes her to act as the opposite of whoever she encounters. That would explain her constant opposition to you, too; she's always your opposite, no matter whose opposite she's acting as."
 
"That makes sense," Nolana said. "Damn, how have I managed to miss that for so long?"
 
"Sometimes it takes someone else's perspective," Mokou said. "If you've been involved with something for long enough, you've come to see it a certain way, and that can be hard to change. Whereas someone with a fresh perspective may already see it differently. I've lived more than long enough to know that."
 
"I have, as well."
 
There was another silence. "So," Mokou said, "Rumia only acts as the opposite of others."
 
"She is a danger," Nolana said.
 
"True. Knowing the reason for her actions doesn't excuse them. Still, I'd like to hear for myself some of the things she's done, and not from you-no offense, of course. I simply want to hear it from someone who's free of any possibility of bias."
 
"That may be hard to find," Nolana said. "I wouldn't call people she's just attacked unbiased. Plus, most people to witness her destructive acts probably just classify her as being just another violent youkai. I don't know how many survivors of her attacks would actually know her name, even assuming that she introduced herself in the first place."
 
"Some," Mokou said. "There will always be some. I won't need them, though, as I know just who to ask about this."
 
"You do?"
 
Mokou nodded. "Her name's Keine. She's a human from the village, and a friend of mine-the only one I had before I met you. I've been meaning to introduce you two, actually. She's like us; she has something that would cause others to fear her. She can live among others only because she keeps it a secret. You see, she is not fully human. She is a half-beast. Only the full moon brings the beast form to the surface, so most of the time, there's nothing to differentiate her from any other human."
 
"So she can hide what she is."
 
"Yeah. I don't think I could do that. I'd take even being feared over pretending I'm something that I'm not. And Keine doesn't even fully escape the fear, because she herself is afraid."
 
"Afraid of herself?"
 
"Yes," Mokou said. "Afraid of herself, of her power."
 
"What power?"
 
"Well, let me put it this way. Keine was born 31 years ago." Mokou paused for effect. "She has been alive for 52 years."
 
Nolana had thought that she had seen and heard everything. Rendering her speechless was essentially impossible, but Mokou had just done it. All Nolana could say was, "Um."
 
Mokou laughed. "I've never seen you at a loss for words before."
 
"I see. You were trying to render me speechless."
 
"First time I've had a legitimate shot at pulling it off," Mokou said. "Anyways, let me explain. Keine was actually born 52 years ago, but she's been? changing that. Starting twenty-one years ago, she's changed her year of birth, moved it forward a year."
 
"I have never heard of anything like that. For the first time in my life, I find myself wondering how something is possible."
 
"I mentioned that Keine's a half-beast. When the beast comes to the surface during the full moon, so does her power. When this happens, she is able to alter the past. Her power is the ability to control history."
 
"She can do what?" Mokou laughed. "Yes, very amusing. Enjoy it while you can."
 
"I plan to," Mokou said. "I did say I'd find something you haven't seen, you know. Anyways, yes, she can control history. Change it. Every year, she changes the history of her own birth, moves her birth forward a year. As far as everyone else is concerned, she truly was born thirty-one years ago. The only reason I know otherwise is because she told me."
 
"So she just? changes the past however she wants?"
 
"No," Mokou said. "No, she doesn't. As I said, she's afraid of herself. Her power terrifies her, so she almost never uses it. In fact, the only reason she alters her year of birth is so that nobody can notice her aging far more slowly than any human should-as a half-beast, her lifespan, though not as long as the average youkai's, is far longer than the average human's. Of course, this has the side-effect of extending her lifespan, as it keeps her physical age at 31, but she does it only to help hide what she is."
 
"I? see. And you think she can provide you with unbiased accounts of Rumia's attacks?"
 
"She can," Mokou said. "Do you know of the Child of Miare?"
 
Nolana nodded. "Reincarnates every hundred years, has a perfect memory of everything including her past lives, records Gensokyo's history. I've met her various incarnations a few times. She is not alive right now, though."
 
"Perhaps not, but Keine has her records."
 
"And the Child is unbiased by nature, caring only for completeness and accuracy. She does not record minor happenings, though, so any of Rumia's smaller-scale incidents-attacking individuals and the like-are not likely to be mentioned. There are, however, a few that were of a somewhat larger scale, and those, I think, would be in her records."
 
"Then we'll go see Keine tomorrow," Mokou said. "She's the schoolteacher in the Human Village; we'll go after school's done for the day. Just? well, just be aware that you'll probably have a lot of people staring at you. If you don't do anything, they probably won't cause trouble, but don't expect a friendly reception."
 
"Understood."
 
 

 
I knew what to expect upon entering the Human Village; Mokou had told me of it before. So I was expecting the silent hostility with which we were treated, myself moreso than Mokou-she may have been feared for her immortality, but she was still a human. But she was right; we minded our own business, and they left us alone.[/i]
 
I have not aided Mokou any in her fight against Kaguya. I have offered my aid, but she has declined it, and understandably so; that fight was a personal matter for her. But my fight was different, as Rumia was a danger. I expected that Mokou would offer her aid, and I intended to accept it. There was, however, a problem.
 
Mokou was immortal, but that would not help her against Rumia. Rumia would defeat her as easily as I did when we first met. The two of us were far enough beyond Mokou that she would have no impact on any battle between us. She would survive, of course, but she would not have even the slightest effect on the outcome if she fought alongside me. But perhaps there were other ways for her to assist.
 
 

 
Mokou had arranged to meet Keine at her house after school let out, and she was there waiting when the two of them arrived. "Hello, Mokou," she said. "And you must be Nolana. Mokou's had a lot to say about you; I've been wanting to see you myself for a while now. It's a pleasure to meet you. Please, come in."
 
Keine led the pair inside and directed them to sit, providing a stool for Nolana-wings made 'regular' chairs impractical. She then took three different books from her bookshelf and brought them over, handing them to Nolana as she took a seat herself.
 
"Mokou told me what you're looking for," Keine said. "I tried looking myself, but I couldn't find anything definite. The name 'Rumia' doesn't come up. However, there are events that seem to match what Mokou told me. Those three volumes include most of them. I've marked the spots where those events are described. What I'm thinking, Nolana, is that since you're more familiar with what Rumia's done, you could look over these incidents and determine which ones Rumia was responsible for."
 
"I can," Nolana replied. She took one of the books and opened it. She flipped between the marked sections, eventually settling on one. "Here," she said, handing the open book to Mokou. "There are indeed incidents described in here that Rumia was responsible for. This one is quite typical of her, and I think provides a good first example."
 
Mokou took the book and read aloud. "'Incident: Destruction of Reshik Temple. Date: March 12, 943 (outside world year: 1443 a.d.).' About four hundred and fifty years ago, then. 'Description: The temple was destroyed by an unidentified youkai. Accounts of survivors vary, but comparison has provided some idea of her appearance: short blond hair, red eyes, wears a black dress, wears a red ribbon in her hair. Adult-sized, but on the small side. Wields a sword that seems to appear from nowhere. This is not the first sighting of such a figure. See: vol. 19, p. 233-239; vol. 19, p. 512-513; vol. 22, p. 65-70; vol. 26, p. 131-133.' And this is volume? 29."
 
"It's a chronicle of the entirety of Genskoyo's history," Keine said. "There are a lot of volumes. I gave Nolana 19, 29, and 31."
"I see. Nolana, was that an accurate description of Rumia?"
 
Nolana nodded. "Yes. That's her."
 
Mokou went back to the book. "'Witnesses say the unknown youkai approached on foot, with no appearance of hostile intent. In fact, she had an injured human with her who said she'd rescued her from a youkai attack. She said she'd brought the human to the temple because it was the closest place where the human could get help. One of the temple staff confirmed that they did have someone with medical knowledge, and took the human inside to find the person.' I guess she was acting opposite to the human's assailant.
 
'As she was turning to leave, the head of the temple, Yuno Reshik, emerged and greeted her. Yuno thanked her for bringing the injured woman and asked what had happened. She explained that she'd simply come across the woman while she was being attacked and drove off the assailants. Yuno thanked her for her efforts and stated that although he did his best to help people, he was only one person. He said that despite this, he would not stop, and cited the sealed magician Byakuren Hijiri as his inspiration. He began to say how pleasant it was to meet someone who seemed to share his willingness to help others, but stopped mid-sentence as she drove a sword she hadn't seemed to have before through his chest.
 
'People fled the area as she began attacking others. As far as can be determined, those were the only survivors. There were no surviving witnesses to what took place next. When someone did go back, the temple was in ruins, and there was nobody in sight.' Huh."
 
"Incidents on that scale are, fortunately, uncommon," Nolana said, "but that particular one is a perfect example of what Rumia does. She rescued a human and brought the human to aid, then massacred the staff and destroyed the temple."
 
"That could have been a ruse," Keine noted. "What if she used the human to get in and take people by surprise?"
 
"If that were an isolated example, then yes, what you say would be likely. But she is assistive as randomly as she is destructive, and seeing the one immediately follow the other is unusual. Mokou helped me realize that the reason for her erratic and unpredictable behavior is because of her opposing nature; she acts as the opposite of people she encounters. In this example, she rescued and aided the human woman acting as the opposite of her assailants. After assisting the woman, she ceased opposing said assailants, and when Yuno came out, began opposing him. And since Yuno had dedicated himself to assisting people, Rumia acted violently."
 
"Nasty," Keine said, "but I'm curious about this 'Rumia'. If she acts opposing to people she encounters, then does she have a mind of her own? Someone she is when not acting as a person's opposite?"
 
"Yes. That is her true self, but her opposing nature is still present, because she exists always as my own opposite. And that does not mean that she acts in opposition to me as she does to others. She is naturally my own opposite, simply in the nature of her existence. She acts in opposition to others, but she is my opposite. Not necessarily in behavior, but in nature. Although there are oppositions in her behavior."
 
"She knows what happens, though, right?"
 
"She does," Nolana confirmed. "She knows that simply meeting someone can cause her to become destructive. She simply doesn't care. That is not to say she enjoys it; it truly does not matter to her what actions she takes in opposition to others, only that she is able to act in opposition to others. And simply convincing her to stop is out of the question; opposing others is in her nature, and she will not stop doing it."
 
"Which is why you're attempting to kill her," Keine said.
 
"Yes. She is far too dangerous to leave alone."
 
Keine was silent. "Right," Mokou said, "well, if that's typical of Rumia, then I think you're right. Let me take a look at some of these others."
 

 
In the end, Mokou agreed with my assessment of Rumia, and as I had expected, expressed a desire to assist. She could not make a difference in battle, but when she offered her assistance, I had something she could do.[/i]
 
 

 
Mokou and Nolana were sitting on the shore of Misty Lake.
 
"I do want to help," Mokou said. "This isn't like my fight. My battle with Kaguya is personal, whereas this is not."
 
Nolana nodded. "Agreed. But I was serious when I said you couldn't contribute anything in battle against her."
 
"Then I'll do something else."
 
"Which, incidentally, is what I want from you."
 
"Oh," Mokou said, "so you have a plan?"
 
"Indeed. I am going to place a coil around her mind and power."
 
"A- okay, hold on. You can actually do that? I thought a coil like that was impossible."
 
"Impossible for most. Not for me. Others simply lack the level of power necessary."
 
"I see. But you need my help for this?"
 
"I do," Nolana said. "Well, not you specifically, but I do need someone's help."
 
"I'll be glad to do what I can."
 
"Your job will be simple. You see, the coil I intend to place is much more complex than other coils. I will have to place eight different seals upon her, then anchor them to a ninth. I can prepare them ahead of time, but I will not be able to sustain them. I will have to engage Rumia in combat, and she matches my level of power. I will have to focus everything I have on the battle. You could not come close to forming any of the seals, but you should have no problem holding them in existence. Seals disperse and fade if they remain unapplied, unless someone keeps them intact. Even for seals of the level I will form, little power is required to do this."
 
"I can do that, then," Mokou said. "So you're going to place a coil around her mind and power. That's like, what, sealing her away within herself?"
 
"Yes."
 
"And if this works, what do you plan to do with her afterwards?"
 
"Once the seal is in place, I should be able to destroy what it contains without doing any harm to that which is left outside the seal."
 
"You're not going to just kill her?"
 
"She acts only according to her nature," Nolana said. "She needs to be stopped, but I will not kill her for acting in accordance to her nature if I can do this instead. In addition, once the coil is complete, a new personality will arise to replace what has been sealed. Rumia as she is now will be sealed, but a new Rumia will remain in her place. That Rumia will be an innocent, and I will not kill her. And even if I cannot destroy the coil's contents, it will remain intact indefinitely."
 
At this point, Mokou didn't even find the supposed impossibilities in that worth mentioning. "I see. And she won't notice you putting the seals on her?"
 
"They will be dormant until the anchor is placed," Nolana said. "She will not be able to detect them. You will not have to maintain any seals placed, however; even dormant, they will not fade once applied."
 
"I see. So, then, is there anything else?"
 
"No, that should be all. Now we simply must wait for an opportunity to strike."
 
 

 
The opportunity came within a few days. Mokou and I had been remaining together so that when I next encountered Rumia, she would be certain to be there. There was no telling when I would next encounter Rumia, but I only had to wait for a few days.[/i]
 
When we found Rumia, she was attacking a small party of youkai near Misty Lake. Sadly, we could not intervene in time to prevent her from killing all of them; I needed that time to form the eight seals. The ninth, the anchor, could not be formed ahead of time; it could only be formed upon placement. Fortunately, forming it was much easier, and would only take an instant, so that wasn't likely to prove problematic. I did need something to use as the anchor, but fortunately, there was an ideal object to use for that purpose.
 
 

 
Mokou stayed back as Nolana approached Rumia. She didn't need to get involved directly; she was simply a spectator. She could maintain the seals without being too close. With her level of power, she would be able to do so pretty much as long as Nolana was in sight; maintaining unplaced seals was easy.
 
Rumia was mutilating the bodies when Nolana landed in front of her. "Hello, Rumia."
 
Rumia looked up. "Well, what do you know? Nice to see you, Nolana. It's been a while, hasn't it?"
 
"Too long. This has to stop."
 
"One cannot stop the wind from blowing; that is in its nature. One cannot stop the rain from falling; that is in its nature. People are the same way. I oppose; that is in my nature. You cannot change that."
 
"I don't have to change it if I kill you."
 
Rumia laughed. "You know you can't kill me. If you could, I'd have died long ago."
 
"The same reasoning says that you cannot kill me."
 
"Perhaps that is true. We are, after all, completely evenly matched. But you seem to be assuming I care about that. You're the one who comes after me, you know."
 
"And you know why, too."
 
"And you know that nothing you can say will change anything. So how about we get down to business?" Rumia's sword formed in her hand. "It's been a while since I've had a good fight. Let's do this."
 
 

 
The battle was as fierce as any the two of us have had. As I had told Mokou, I needed to focus everything I had on the fight, and thus could not hold the seals in existence. That was her job; mine was to get them onto Rumia and activate them.[/i]
 
 

 
Mokou kept her distance to avoid collateral damage, but she kept close enough to see what was going on.
 
Rumia had charged straight through Nolana's blasts and attacked with her sword, but Nolana had formed a sword of her own. The two of them were trading blows in a fierce battle, but there was more to it than that. They were forming and firing blasts even as they went at each other with swords, and countering the blasts of the other. Damn, Mokou thought, Nolana was right. I wouldn't last more than five seconds in the middle of that.
 
Nolana backed off and seemed to? waver, or something, like she was flickering in and out of sight. And then there were many of her. They all charged simultaneously, but Rumia ignored most of them, focusing only on one and blocking its attack. "You keep trying that illusion trick," Rumia said. "When are you going to realize it doesn't work against me?"
 
 

 
As Rumia focused on the real me, I channeled one of the seals through one of the illusions. It passed right through Rumia upon making contact, of course, but the seal did not. It became affixed to Rumia.[/i]
 
The first seal was placed.
 
 

 
Mokou felt it. The first seal had been placed, and no longer needed to be held together; it would remain indefinitely.
 
Nolana fired a blast at point-blank range. Rumia countered with her own blast, sending both of them flying backwards.
 
Nolana released several 'nodes', which fired shots while moving independently of Nolana. Other nodes did not fire, instead flying straight at Rumia. Nolana flew back, firing a large beam while the nodes attacked. Rumia, however, simply negated the energy within it, rendering it harmless.
 
 

 
I channeled another seal through the beam. Rumia negated the energy and let the now-harmless beam hit her. The seal made contact and affixed itself to Rumia.[/i]
 
The second seal was placed.
 
 

 
Another seal affixed itself, leaving seven for Mokou to maintain.
 
Rumia vanished from sight. Mostly, at least. She was negating her own visibility, which left a barely-perceptible distortion at her location. But Nolana was as familiar with this trick as Rumia was with the illusions, and she picked Rumia out without difficulty as the youkai of opposition closed in.
 
Rumia attempted a surprise strike with her sword, but Nolana anticipated the move and blocked with her own. Rumia made another attack, but rather than countering with her own sword, Nolana twisted to the side to avoid it and blasted Rumia in the chest. Rumia went flying backwards, firing her own blasts as she did.
 
More nodes flew up behind Rumia and fired, but she negated the blasts. Others flew directly at her again, but not all of them were real. She destroyed the real ones and ignored the illusions, allowing them to hit her harmlessly.
 
 

 
I channeled the third seal through one of the illusory nodes. Rumia ignored the illusory nodes, allowing them to pass through her, and the seal affixed itself.[/i]
 
The third seal was placed.
 
 

 
Rumia pointed in Mokou's direction. "It looks like we have a spectator."
 
"Leave her be," Nolana said. "She is not a part of this."
 
"Oh, so you know her? Interesting."
 
"Leave her out of this."
 
"Why wouldn't I? I'm not the one who insists on this fight. I'm not going to go for someone else to get to you. I wouldn't care if I never saw you again-well, I might miss having good fights. You always act like I'm some evil bitch. I'm no more evil than the wind or the rain."
 
"You are a danger."
 
"Danger is natural."
 
"As is the attempt to overcome it."
 
"Indeed," Rumia said. "So come, make your attempt."
 
 

 
I sent the fourth seal at Rumia as we spoke, and it affixed itself unnoticed.[/i]
 
The fourth seal was placed.
 
 

 
Mokou felt the fourth seal affix itself, and then the fifth a few minutes later.
 
Mokou had no idea how anyone could possibly keep going at that level for so long, but neither one of them showed any signs of slowing down. How long can they do this for?
 
Mokou wasn't surprised when the fairies appeared; she was actually surprised that it had taken so long for them to. Fairies generally had no sense of danger, which, given their immortality, was actually understandable. And they were almost all quite childish. That they'd be drawn towards activity such as the battle was inevitable.
 
 

 
The fairies' shots were inconsequential. Neither of us paid them any mind. Fairies tended to get involved in nearby battles, and here, they died quickly. They flew around and between us, firing, and although we didn't bother aiming at them, our exchange was intense enough that most of them caught stray shots almost immediately.[/i]
 
After another lengthy exchange of fire, we closed in for more swordfighting. She tried her invisibility trick again, and I formed my illusory copies. We saw through each other's tricks, of course, but as before, I sent a seal through one of the illusions, getting it to Rumia.
 
The sixth seal was placed.
 
 

 
The sixth seal affixed itself. Then the seventh. And then, finally, the eighth. Mokou's role was done. She didn't leave, though; she wasn't going to leave before the battle ended.
 
The fight had gone on for hours, with neither one showing any signs of tiring. Mokou had no idea how they could keep it up for so long, but she didn't expect it to last for much longer. All Nolana had to do now was form the final seal, the anchor.
 
 

 
Placing the final seal was easier said than done. Actually forming it was easy and would be almost instantaneous; the problem was that forming the seal required me to be in physical contact with the object being used as the anchor. And I couldn't use just anything for the anchor, either. I knew what I was going to use: Rumia's hair ribbon. I just had to make physical contact with it.[/i]
 
 

 
Nolana charged Rumia, entering into another swordfight. The fight was as insanely fast and intense as the others had been; Mokou had no idea how either of them could manage in something like that, but they could.
 
 

 
My focus was on finding an opportunity to touch the ribbon. I was distracted from the swordfighting by this, and as a result, Rumia was eventually able to get the upper hand, and she ran her blade straight through my chest.[/i]
 
"You're off," Rumia said, kicking me back a ways. I collided with a fairy. Then I realized that this was a good thing.
 
"You messed that one up big time," Rumia continued. "That's not like you. It's that other woman, isn't it? You were worried about her, weren't you? And that distracted you."
 
I let her keep talking. "Well, I'm not going to go kill her, but? yeah, she may be an interesting one. Perhaps I should oppose her." She kept talking, completely ignoring the fairy approaching her from above.
 
"Seriously, though, that was disappointing. I didn't think you could go down like that. You're not done, are you? Why aren't you doing anything? You haven't even pulled the sword out yet. You can't make me think that was enough to kill you. You won't die from that, not unless you let yourself. So why aren't you-"
 
The fairy placed its hand on the ribbon in Rumia's hair and spoke with my voice. "Ninth Seal!"
 
I had left the sword in me because my focus was elsewhere. I had poured my energy into the fairy, giving myself control of it. I knew Rumia wouldn't see a fairy as being worth her attention. She allowed the fairy to approach her, get close enough to touch her. And when it-I-touched the ribbon, I channeled my power into the ribbon through the fairy, forming the seal.
 
Rumia released an extremely deadly final blast as the coil's formation completed. I, still using the fairy, was unable to react in time.
 
 

 
Mokou didn't know just what had happened. Nolana had to've used that fairy to place the anchor, but how? Such thoughts were quickly pushed aside when Nolana took Rumia's final blast and both of them-three, counting the fairy-plummeted to the ground, landing in the woods near the lake. Mokou flew over to where they had fallen as quickly as she could.
 
 

 
Am I? dying? Is this what death feels like?[/i]
 
So I can indeed die. Can be killed. But? if I die, what happens to it? To her?
 
I feel myself? coming apart. I struggle to stop it, to keep myself whole, but I fail. And as I separate, I feel my awareness fade.
 
So this is it, then? This is what it is?
 
This is death?
 
 

 
Mokou came upon Rumia first. The youkai was picking herself up off the ground. "Rumia."
 
Rumia looked up at Mokou. "Huh? What's 'Rumia' mean?"
 
I guess it worked, Mokou thought. "It's your name."
 
"You know who I am?"
 
"No," Mokou said. "I'd never even seen you before today."
 
Mokou left the confused Rumia behind, searching for Nolana. And it wasn't long before she found her, or, more accurately, her body.
Mokou examined her carefully, even using the medical methods she'd gleaned from Eirin's actions. But there was nothing. Nolana was dead.
 
Most people, Mokou knew, would feel sadness at the death of a friend, but not her. Not after over 1,200 years of life. Death didn't upset her anymore, didn't sadden her anymore. Everyone she'd known before becoming immortal was dead except for Kaguya. Her family. Her friends. Even her enemies. And any new frieds she might make would eventually die, too. After a time, she had simply become numb to the sadness.
 
Mokou burned Nolana's body and let the ashes scatter in the wind. Rest in peace.
  *
*
 
It had been a year since that battle, since Nolana's death. Exactly one year. Mokou still visited the lake from time to time, and she had made sure to do so today.
 
It had never hurt, losing Nolana. Mokou'd lost far too many people over the centuries; she'd become numb to such feelings a long time ago. She did miss Nolana, though.
 
Mokou walked along the lakeshore, remembering the time the two of them had spent here. The conversations on the lakeside. The-
 
"Hey, what are you doing here? This is my land!"
 
Mokou spun to face the speaker, who it turned out was a fairy. "I like to come here. It's nobody's land."
 
"Are you saying I'm wrong?"
 
"Yeah."
 
"You obviously don't know who you're speaking to. I am-"
 
"I don't care."
 
"How dare you! I'm the strongest! Nobody speaks to me that-"
 
"Shut up before I blow your head-" Mokou suddenly found herself frozen inside a large block of ice. Huh. I guess she's tougher than your average fairy. Mokou ignited herself, burning through the ice.
 
"Hey, no fair!" the fairy said.
 
Mokou took a closer look at the fairy. She'd never seen it before, but she couldn't shake the feeling that she had. There was something familiar about it. Right, guess I'll just ask who she is. Although I'll probably have to play along with her. "I apologize for my actions. I should not have been so rude."
 
"Yeah, you better be sorry! You're not supposed to be here unless I say you can be."
 
"I was not aware that anyone had claimed this location. I have been here many times in the past."
 
"Oh, so you were coming here before I moved in. That's fine, then. You can keep coming."
 
"Thank you," Mokou said. "Might I ask of you just who you are? I've never seen you before."
 
"I'm the strongest!" the fairy declared proudly.
 
I guess that's what I get for not being specific. "And what is your name?"
 
"I'm Cirno, ice fairy of the lake!"
 
To most, that name would have meant nothing even if they'd known the person in question, but Mokou was still familiar with the old customs of address. She recognized it at once, and the familiarity suddenly made sense. Nolana Lecir; in the old style, Lecir Nolana.
 
Mokou was speechless. She thought back to the battle, to its last moments. Nolana had somehow taken control of a fairy and used it to get close enough to Rumia to place the final seal. Rumia had managed one final attack, and Nolana, distracted by controlling the fairy, had been unable to evade or resist. She had died, but?
 
"When did you come into existence?" Mokou asked. "How long have you been alive?"
 
"Huh? Um? I don't know. Why would that matter? All I care about with that is my birthday, and that's today."
 
Mokou just laughed. She couldn't help it; this was just ridiculous. Nolana's actions at the end of the fight, taking control of the fairy? well, fairies didn't die, but in a way, that one had, and it had then, presumably as a result of Nolana's power being within it, become a new one. Well, not entirely new.
 
Cirno, of course, had no idea what was going on. "Um?"
 
Mokou took a second to compose herself. "Man, the impossibilities never cease with you, do they, Nolana?" She let out a chuckle. "Crazy. Just crazy." And this 'Cirno' was clearly much stronger than most fairies; was that a result of Nolana's power, too? Although if so, there should be more than just freezing things. Unless?
 
Perhaps the fairy that Nolana had used actually had been an ice fairy, and exposure to Nolana's power had just boosted those abilities? No, that can't be it. Nolana's power didn't just pass through her, right? It was in her. In her at the time of Nolana's death, so Nolana never had a chance to withdraw it. Hell, she even looks a little like Nolana She even has Nolana's confidence, despite not having the power to back it up. The power's got to be there, just? unavailable. Sealed a- oh, shit, the seal. She channeled the seal through the fairy, and it hit the fairy, too! Or Nolana, or something. Hell, how should I know how the hell that works?
 
"Um, what are you talking about?" Cirno asked.
 
Mokou looked at the fairy. "Oh, nothing. It's just?"
 
"What?"
 
"Well? let's just say you remind me of a friend."
  * 

*
 
For 128 years after meeting Cirno, Mokou had had little to do with the fairy. Well, as far as Cirno knew, at least. Mokou'd been
keeping an eye on Rumia ever since the coil was placed, and upon meeting Cirno, she'd added the fairy to that. She hadn't actually expected anything to happen, though. But? well, something had.
 
The first demon to attack Cirno probably didn't damage the coil. It wasn't until the second demon's attack that the coild had been damaged. That was when the effects showed, at least. Rumia's pain, and also the fire. Mokou'd driven off the first demon, but the second had been Cirno. Mokou'd seen the battle, but she hadn't needed to intervene in that one. When Cirno went down the demon had been engulfed in a blast of flame. That flame had come from not Mokou, but Cirno herself. For the first time in almost 130 years, Nolana's power had shown itself. Which could only mean one thing: the coil was starting to break. Somehow, that demon had damaged it. Which meant that not only would that sealed within Cirno be released, but also that sealed within Rumia. Which was a problem. Except that the coil was placed under? extraordinary circumstances. There's no way the sealed mind and power had been correctly preserved, not when Nolana had placed it while dying. Not even she could've done that. And the mind was probably more damaged than the power, so?
 
Mokou wasn't going to kill Rumia. Nolana had said that she would not do so, and Mokou intended to respect that. Killing Rumia might have been necessary had the coil been perfectly placed, but under the current circumstances, it was likely that the old Rumia was no more. Perhaps her power, some or all of it, remained, and maybe even pieces of her mind, but the mind as a whole? That was gone. It had to be. Which meant that letting the coil break was just fine. In fact, it might even be best at this point, given that the coil was already damaged; there was no telling what might happen with a damaged coil of that level, especially one placed around a mind and power.
 
Cirno and her friends had decided to take Rumia to Eientei. Mokou was well ahead of them. She didn't know how much Eirin would be able to figure out, but she knew that not even Eirin would be able to learn the truth. So Mokou was going to tell her. Mokou's feud was with Kaguya alone; she and Eirin were on fine terms (aside from Eirin's dislike of the feud). Eirin would listen. Eirin would believe her. And Eirin would help.
 
 
 

 
 
Okay, so those of you who've read GBRW have no doubt figured out the similarities I was referring to. Specifically, Nolana bears a great deal of resemblence to the unnamed youkai in that story. I can only assume that the author of that story and I had the same core idea for such a character, and the rest came from that. I do, however, think it's important to note that GBRW is not about the fight between the nameless youkai and Ex-Rumia, but about the separation of Gensokyo from the outside world. This story, in contrast, is about the conflict between Nolana and Ex-Rumia. Our characters of Nolana and the nameless youkai may be similar, but the stories are different.
 
I actually considered changing things around when I came across GBRW to... lessen the similarities. However, I'd been building up to this in Orphan for some time, and by the time I read GBRW, there wasn't a lot I could change it to that would really work with what had already been included in Orphan, so I was kind of stuck. I'll just give GBRW some publicity and say to its author: sorry about that. I didn't intend it.
 
Right, now for the statement I always end with:
 
Comments are appreciated.

[GuyYouMetOnline]

Chapter 10
Coil
 

The sun was beginning to rise as Eirin and I reached our destination. One of the rabbit guards stepped forward as we approached Eientei's main entrance. "Lady Eirin, Tewi asked me to relay that 'Cirno's group' left a couple hours ago."

"Oh?" Eirin said. "I wasn't expecting Rin to let Mystia out quite that soon."
 
"I think Tewi pulled rank."
 
"I see. Okay, I need you to head into the forest the way I came from, and quickly. Find Kaguya and Mokou-and no, you don't have to worry about getting caught in the crossfire. Tell Mokou that Cirno and Rumia left a couple hours ago, and that I did as we discussed. She'll know what you mean. Go."
 
"Yes, ma'am!" The rabbit took off into the forest at high speed.
 
"That looks dangerous," I said, "flying through the forest that quickly."
 
"It's a lot easier than it looks," Eirin said. "Kaguya and I just happen to prefer walking through it to flying through it. Anyways, if we're going to make any progress, then I'll need to take a look at you. Come."
 
 


 
"Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!"
 
It hurt. It hurt, but Cirno had to keep going. She knew that. It was too late to change her mind now. It hurt even when she did nothing. When she used her power, the pain was extreme. She always kept going as long as she could, but the pain always overwhelmed her before long. So she would take a break, then do it again.
 
Rumia, of course, was also in pain. "Aaaaaaaaaaaooooooooowwwwwwwwwwwuuuuuuuuuuuggggggggggg." Her pain was probably worse, since she was the one the coil was placed on.
 
"Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!"
 
The pain overwhelmed Cirno, and she fell to the ground, breathing heavily. "I don't think it'll be much longer," Rumia said. "Come on, Cirno. You can do it. Just a little more, and it'll all be over."
 
 

 
Daiyousei exited the small room Wriggle was using and walked over to Mystia. "Okay, Wriggle's really starting to weird me out."
 
"What do you mean?" Mystia asked.
 
"Um? well, how about you just go see for yourself?"
 
"Okay, whatever." Mystia got up and entered the room. Then she saw Wriggle and stopped dead in her tracks. "Um?"
 
Wriggle was floating about a foot off the floor, and looked like she was in some sort of trance. She was faintly glowing, too. And then there were the insects. There were many of them all over her body, and they were all glowing brightly. Some were of the larger-than-normal variety unique to Gensokyo. Especially noticeable were the? centipedes, or millipedes, or whatever. The wormy-things.
 
Mystia just stood and stared. Before long, the glow faded, Wriggle returned to the ground and opened her eyes, and the insects crawled and flew out the window, which Mystia saw was open. "Um, Wriggle? What was that?"
 
"I have empowered them," Wriggle said. "They will serve as my attendants-and don't you dare make the pun; I made sure there were no ants for precisely that reason."
 
"Um?"
 
"What? Did it look strange, or something?"
 
"Um, yeah," Mystia said. "That, plus I've never seen you do anything like it before."
 
"That's because I haven't," Wriggle said, taking a seat. She motioned for Mystia to sit. "It's something else that's new."
 
Mystia sat next to Wriggle. Her wings didn't get in the way of sitting to nearly the same extent as Cirno's; she didn't need a stool like the ice fairy did. "You're just full of surprises, then."
 
"Hey, I'm just learning about these things, too."
 
"So how do you discover that you can do something like that?"
 
Wriggle thought for a moment. "It? well, it just happens. I'm not really sure how to describe it. Claiming Her power had far greater effects than I'd expected."
 
"What's it like, anyways?"
 
"You know," Wriggle said, "I've never liked it when people say they can't describe something, but? well, I really do have absolutely no idea how to describe it."
 
"You can describe parts of it, surely."
 
"Yeah. I guess the easiest bit to describe is simply having more power. You've improved your own abilities; you know what it feels like to expand what you can do. This is the same thing, just to a much greater extent."
 
"'Turned up to eleven', as Kaguya's fond of saying."
 
"What's that supposed to mean?"
 
"No idea."
 
"Anyways," Wriggle continued, "you should at least be able to get close to an idea of what that's like, but you'll probably still be far short of the reality. It's not just having the power. It's? well, when I faced that demon yesterday, just after claiming the power, I knew I would win. I knew that it was perfectly capable of killing me, but I knew that if I didn't get careless, I would win. The same was true against Marisa, although she wouldn't have killed me. It's the same idea, though. Before, I would've been going 'oh, shit' at the thought of fighting her, but now, when I faced her, I knew I could do it. I knew I could take her."
 
"Are you sure that's part of the power? Sounds to me like overconfidence."
 
"It's only overconfidence if it's beyond your abilities," Wriggle said. "I know my limits. I'm not completely sure what they are yet, but I know them."
 
"Um?"
 
"Yeah, that doesn't even make sense to me, but it's the best way I can think of to describe it. I'm not yet aware of everything that's now within my abilities, but I do know whether or not I am capable of doing something. When faced with an opponent, I know if I can win. And when I know that I can win, I also know just how badly I could potentially lose. It's not overconfidence, just confidence. And? well, the power doesn't actually affect who I am. It's not causing the feeling of confidence; the confidence is mine. The power lets me know what I can do. And I really don't think I'm explaining this very well."
 
"Well enough," Mystia said. "I think I've got the general idea."
 
"Then yes, it's good enough. But even that isn't the hardest thing about this to explain. That would be the? well, I'm not really sure what to call it. It's kind of an? expanded awareness, I guess."
 
"Oh, like how you said you don't have to focus to sense or command insects now?"
 
"Yeah, that's part of it, but not all of it. It's like? well, actually, I doubt there's anything else like it. It's? okay, I really don't want to do some clich?d 'it's incredible' thing, but I really can't think of anything better. There really is-" she fired a burst of danmaku through the window without even pausing, "-nothing like it."
 
A voice could be heard from outside. "Ow! What was that for?"
 
"Hi, Tewi," Wriggle said, not even turning around. "Forgot that I can see through the eyes of insects, didn't you?"
 
Tewi jumped in through the window. "Um, yeah. Anyways, disposal successful. The books are at Marisa's house now. If Patchouli looks into it that hard, she'll conclude that Marisa faked the decoy bit so she'd be ignored."
 
"Right," Wriggle said. "Let's head back out to the main room. I think Cirno and Rumia are almost done, and Dai'll want to hear what's happening."
 
 

 
"There's not much we can do to even slow it down at this point," Byakuren said. "Unless Netese is an idiot, she'll have things set up to, at the very least, slow you down enough that it won't matter."
 
"So I'd need to get to Netese."
 
"And we both know she's not dumb enough to come herself. She'll send someone she can afford to lose."
 
"But not someone from the bottom," Alice said. "Whoever she sends in her place will be someone she can trust in that role. The lower ones will make up the force this person leads, and they'll be ready for a trap. Which, of course, is where you come in."
 
"Yes. But although what we gain from that may help, it will not be enough. We have to get Gensokyo to stand united against them."
 
"Which will be a problem, given that three different parties are currently attempting to unite Gensokyo under them."
 
"We don't need a unified Gensokyo," Byakuren said. "We only need Gensokyo to stand united against a common threat. We need to speak to those three parties and get them to cooperate."
 
"Yeah, good luck with that."
 
"The only problem I foresee is Remilia; the other two will likely be more cooperative."
 
"Yeah," Alice said, "but one problem's enough. We don't have time to deal with her."
 
"I will speak to the other two first," Byakuren said. "If we go to Remilia as a group, even she will see reason."
 
"Just make sure you're back here in time," Alice said.
 
"That will not be a problem." Byakuren got to her feet. "I should get going immediately. I think I'll speak to Kaguya first, then head to the mountain from Eientei."
 
"You realize we're basically screwed no matter how well this goes, right?"
 
"I know," Byakuren said. "Even if everything goes perfectly, it'll take a miracle to pull this off."
 
 

 
Eirin had me lying on a table in one of her 'examination rooms'. She had another with her, a rabbit she called 'Udonge' but had introduced as Reisen. Eirin was now explaining just what she was going to be doing. "?but none of that will mean anything without stimulus. I can't find something that isn't there, no matter how well I look."
 
"And that's Reisen's job, I assume," I said.
 
"Correct. Udonge is able to stimulate the minds of others. She will be stimulating yours in accordance with the procedure, and I will collect and examine the results. The objective is to? well, you wouldn't understand the accurate explanation. The simplified and not-really-accurate-but-close-enough version is that the objective is to locate your lost memories. This is merely the first step, and will not actually lead to you recalling anything."
 
"How long does the entire procedure take?"
 
"It varies," Eirin said, "but the usual range is one week to a month, depending on how much has been forgotten. I will know within the day if the procedure can help you, though. I will need a few hours to go over the results of the examination, and then I will know."
 
"The exam itself will take about half an hour," Reisen added.
 
"That much I have no objection to," I said. "I'm not sure if I want to remain here long enough for the entire procedure, though."
 
"Again, there's a good chance it wouldn't work, anyways. You can make that decision if I find that it can help you."
 
"Good point," I said.
 
"You'll be conscious throughout the exam," Reisen said, "but ironically enough, you should not expect to have a clear memory of it. Your thoughts will be? unclear. Don't worry, though; there won't be any actual damage. Are you ready?"
 
"Yes."
 
"Then let's get started," Eirin said.
 
 

 
Given name: Reisen. Family name: Udongein. Profession name: Inaba.
 
I have kept my full name despite having left the moon behind. I have developed beyond it, and were I still on the moon, would likely have received a second profession name, but I am still Inaba. I may no longer be with the Lunarian military, but I am still Inaba. I am merely in someone else's service now.
 
I knew the name Eirin Yagokoro, of course; every Lunarian and lunar rabbit knows who she is. Even many of her older procedures are still in use, and many of her vaccines and cures are still famous, particularly her cure for the Plague. It's also common knowledge that long ago, she had gone into hiding on Earth alongside the missing princess, Kaguya. I never expected to go to Earth, but I did, and it happened because Earth came to us.
 
The humans called it 'Apollo', among other things. Apparently, the missions were presented to the public as exploratory in nature. But they were not. Most humans believe the moon to be lifeless, but a few knew the truth. They also knew of magic, something that has been largely absent from their world for centuries. And their Apollo missions were made with this fully in mind. Apollo was not a scientific program. It was a military program. The humans attacked us.
 
The first Apollo mission was the most successful, and my unit was one of those that were wiped out. I had some medical training, but I was not a field medic. I was expected to be on the front lines, fighting, but I was also expected to give immediate emergency treatment to the wounded when possible, and was often among those who moved the wounded back behind the front lines for the field medics. Others carried the bodies; my job was to provide immediate care to keep them alive until they got to a true field medic. I was performing that duty when the line fell.
 
The survivors-mostly field medics or those such as myself-scattered, and we were not the only ones. Some just ran, some tried to hook up with other units, whatever. I was too frightened to pay much attention to what others were doing. Until I came upon a small group with a strange device.
 
The device was an experimental teleportation unit, linked to another such unit within the city's military base. We decided to use it to escape and get to the Lunarian commanders with the news that our line had fallen. It worked for the first three, but when I passed through, the device malfunctioned, and I ended up somewhere else.
 
Lunar rabbits share a telepathic connection with each other-although I found this connection to be much more difficult than usual and require much greater conscious effort on my part-so I knew the progress of the battle on the moon. I knew that word had indeed gotten to where it needed to be, and the invaders had eventually been repulsed. With the battle won, my attention turned to myself. I was in a forest of bamboo, and I began to explore it.
 
Before long, I encountered a group of rabbits. Not lunar rabbits, of course; Earth rabbits. When I told them I was a lunar rabbit, they decided to bring me to someone. This did not surprise me. What did was hearing this person's name: Eirin. The rabbits brought me to a place they called 'Eientei', and took me to Eirin. And it was indeed Eirin Yagokoro.
 
Eirin told me about Gensokyo, where I was. I communicated information about my current location to my superiors-with great effort; the difficulty in using the telepathic connection was no doubt due to my being in Gensokyo-although I left out the fact that it was Eirin who had told me. Through a relay, the Lunarian who'd been in charge of my division authorized my departure from service on the grounds that I was unable to return.
 
I wouldn't have mentioned Eirin at all, but she came right out and told me to. She had multiple breakthroughs she wanted to communicate to the Lunarian people, and thanks to my presence, she was able to do so despite being in Gensokyo. And she has me continue to do so whenever she makes a new breakthrough.
 
I became Eirin's student in the art of medicine. I recognize that I will never be close to her level of genius, but I can learn how to do the job, and I have. I have graduated, as it were, from being her student to being her assistant.
 
We did have a scare at one point. I was informed via the telepathic connection that a party was coming to Earth to return me to the moon. I was never informed as to why, and I decided that I did not want to leave. Eirin took means to prevent the lunar party from reaching Earth, only to have it rather forcibly pointed out by various residents of Gensokyo that Gensokyo was already separate from Earth. I was rather thoroughly beaten myself, despite my best efforts, as were Eirin and Princess Kaguya. But, fortunately, there were no hard feelings.
 
As a result of that incident, Eientei's existence, previously known only by a few outside of the forest, became common knowledge. We started up a medical clinic, and have provided necessary care for many.
 
Current events are? disturbing. Kaguya believes the demon attacks are the first strike in an invasion, and I have to agree with her. Kaguya's been trying to unite Gensokyo under her to face it, but this? hasn't been going well. I can only hope that a solution presents itself in time.
 
 

 
"Look, Kaguya," Mokou said, "we've been enemies for a good 1,300 years. I don't care how I feel about you; that's not going to go away in a single night, no matter what I do."
 
"Of course not," Kaguya said. "That's why we'll still be seeing each other a lot. That 'purge' helped, I'm sure, but yes, there's a lot to work through. Even if we have resolved the key issue."
 
"I still haven't forgiven you for that," Mokou said. "Eventually, maybe, but not yet."
 
"But we've settled that issue."
 
"Yes," Mokou said. "It's like I said: I still can't forgive you, but since I have completed your challenge, it no longer needs to come between us. And? we'll work out the rest in time. After all, we do have as much time as we need."
 
"Is it going to come between us in the meantime?"
 
"I don't think so," Mokou said. "I don't think-"
 
The rabbit came into the clearing at high speed, barely avoiding colliding with Kaguya. "Oh, there you are. Mokou, Eirin says that- wait, um? you're not?"
 
"Later," Kaguya said. "Deliver your message."
 
The rabbit composed herself. "Uh, yes, ma'am!" She turned to Mokou. "Mokou, Eirin told me to deliver the message that Cirno and Rumia left a couple hours ago. She said she did as you discussed."
 
"Oh," Mokou said. "I thought she expected that to take longer. Right, well, thank you."
 
"You're welcome," the rabbit said as she took off back towards Eientei.
 
Mokou turned to Kaguya. "Okay, I know we're kind of in the middle of something here, but this is important."
 
"How so? I've heard about Cirno's bunch-I'm a fan of her friend Mystia's cooking. What are they doing that could be important?"
 
"If you want to know now, then you'll have to come with me. Odds are Cirno and Rumia are heading back to Misty Lake, and if they're reacting as expected, then I need to get there as quickly as I can."
 
 

 
"It's? barely holding together," Rumia managed to get out through the pain. "Just? a little? more."
 
"O-okay," Cirno said. "I'll? try. Three? Two? One? Zero. Aaaaaaahhhhh!" The pain intensified again as Cirno began to fire a continuous blast of ice. Rumia was right; she could feel it. The coil was about to break. Just a little more. "Just? a little? more. Just? a lit-ah!" Cirno and Rumia were blown apart as it happened.
 
The coil was broken.
 
********
 
Images.
 
Words.
 
Names.
 
?Memories?
 
Cirno tried to clear her head, but it didn't really work. She tried looking around, only to find that she couldn't see anything. Not in the way of it being pitch black, but in the way of there being nothing to see. Doesn't even feel like I'm seeing. What's going on here? Wait, and where'd the pain go? And where's- "Rumia? Rumia! Are you here? Can you hear me?"
 
There was no reply. Dammit, what the hell is this? What's going on he- wait, what's that?
 
The object hadn't been there a moment ago; Cirno was certain of that. She walked over and examined it. Wait, that's- that's Rumia's ribbon! "Rumia? Rumia! Rumia, are you-what the heck?"
 
The ribbon started to glow. What the- what's going on? Is this really supposed to be Rumia's-wait, the glow's fading. And as the glow faded, the ribbon? came apart. Then it vanished, leaving behind what looked like a small, glowing ball of light. Wait, what? What is this?
 
Cirno reached out and touched the light, and then?
 
********
 
Rumia couldn't see anything. Not because of darkness-she was familiar with that-but because there was nothing to see. Wait, what's that?
 
The object stood out by virtue of being the only thing in sight. Rumia went over to get a better look at it. Wait, that's my ribbon! Her hand went up to her head. Wait, no, the ribbon's still there. But then what's this one? She picked it up. It looks just like mine. Wait, is it? no, it's not glowing. Not all of it, at least. Is there something in here?
 
Rumia began untying the ribbon, and as she did so, the glow intensified. She untied the ribbon completely, and? What the-?
 
There was nothing within the ribbon. Nothing that was glowing. Just the glow. A glow that didn't seem to have any source.
Rumia reached out and touched the glow, and then?
 
********
 
Cirno had an image of? is that supposed to be me? No, that's definitely not me. She kinda looks like me, though. Who is she? Why does she feel so? familiar? It's not just that she looks like me. There's more here than that.
 
More images flashed through her mind, and- wait, that's Rumia! And indeed it was. She looked a bit different, but she was clearly Rumia. She was in many of the images; she and the unknown woman were fighting. And fighting a lot, it looks like.
 
Voices came.
 
'I oppose; that is in my nature.'
 
That's Rumia's voice! Cirno realized. Sounds a bit different, but that's clearly her.
 
'She is far too dangerous?'
 
A different voice. That woman, maybe?
 
There was more from that voice.
 
'Rumia is a youkai.'
 
'?extremely powerful?'
 
'?violent and destructive seemingly at random?'
 
Next was Rumia's voice again. 'You know you can't kill me.'
 
A third voice was next, one Cirno found familiar but couldn't quite place. "?that's?sealing her away within herself?'
 
The woman's voice again. 'Once the coil is complete, a new personality will arise?'
 
She placed the coil! Cirno realized.
 
Still the woman's voice. '?it will remain intact indefinitely.'
 
'That Rumia will be an innocent, and I will not kill her.'
 
More images. Another battle between the woman and Rumia, with someone else occasionally visible in the distance, watching. The woman's voice continued over the images. 'I will have to place eight different seals?anchor them to a ninth.'
 
The images continued. The battle ended with the woman getting a sword through her chest. Except that there was a fairy. A fairy that looked like- holy shit, I think that's me!
 
The woman did something to the fairy. Then the fairy did something to Rumia's ribbon. And there was the woman's voice again. 'Ninth Seal!' What was that? Cirno wondered. Did she, like, take control of the might-be-me fairy?
 
Rumia attacked the woman one more time as the fairy did that? 'ninth seal' thing. All three fell to the ground. And then?
 
More images, but different. Wait, are these? wait, they are my memories! That fairy is me! But who's the woman?
 
More images came. More words came. And then an understanding came. She died while controlling me-no, it wasn't me yet, was it? That fairy died along with the woman. And all that somehow changed her into me. And-
 
Power. A lot of power, seemingly from nowhere. This is what she had in that fairy! The power that made me, that's in me! But why didn't I feel it until break?ing the coil. Did she die while making it? She did, didn't she? That made things weird, didn't it? The power she connected to the coil went into me, but somehow got locked away in the process!
 
Cirno wasn't really sure where all of this was coming from, or even if she had truly figured things out or if the answers had come into her head like the rest, or maybe a combination of the two. But she knew, somehow, that her conclusions were correct.
 
The rush of images continued, until?
 
********
 
That's me, Rumia thought. I look different, but that's definitely me.
 
Rumia's experience was similar to Cirno's. Images flashed through her head, and she heard voices. But what she saw and heard were different.
 
'Opposite.'
 
'Negate.'
 
An image of a building, then the building in ruins. 'Creation and destruction, opposite.'
 
An image of people, followed by an image of them dead. 'Life and death, opposite.'
 
Images of someone saving people's lives, then images of? herself? killing them. 'Protector and destroyer, opposite.'
 
They kept coming. Then they changed. They weren't about opposites now. It was? My life? But that can't be me. That can't be me! I don't even remember any of this! And who's that woman? She kind of looks a little like Cirno.
 
Sealed away.
 
That thought wasn't Rumia's. She couldn't tell where the thought had come from, but it wasn't hers. Wait, is it that? crazy-me's?
 
More came, and along with it an understanding. That woman and? other-Rumia had been enemies. Other-Rumia was a youkai of opposition, and she and that woman were opposites. In response to other-Rumia's seemingly-unpredictable violence, she had fought other-Rumia many times over their long, long lives. Until one day, the woman didn't fight to kill other-Rumia. The woman instead placed seals on her, a coil. Locking other-me away. And without her, a new Rumia-me-developed. But this isn't another person. This is just? remnants of her.
 
More came. Other-Rumia had killed the woman as the coil was being completed. Something must have gone wrong and damaged other-me instead of just locking her away. This is what's left. And then there was the fairy, which looked a lot like Cirno. The woman used the fairy to complete the coil, and was still within the fairy when she died. That's why it's in Cirno! Some of the woman stayed in that fairy when she died! Killed the fairy and made a new one! But where has that part of the woman been-wait, the coil. It went screwy. The part of that woman must've gotten sealed, too!
 
The rush of images continued, until?
 
********
 
"They're both unconscious," Wriggle said, "but they're still alive."
 
"Oh, man," Daiyousei said, "are they gonna be all right?"
 
"I told you, Dai," Mystia said. "Eirin knows what she's doing. If she thinks they can break the coil and come out all right, then they can."
 
"I hope you're right."
 
"Um, guys?" Wriggle said. "Something weird just happened."
 
********
 
Cirno picked herself up off the ground and looked around. The lake. That must have all been in my head. It was real, though. I can still feel it. Okay, now where's Ru-oh, no.
 
Rumia was there, and she was also getting up. But she was different. She looked different. That's the old Rumia!
 
********
 
Rumia got to her feet and looked around. The lake. That was all in my head, then. As I thought. Still real, though.
 
Rumia spotted Cirno, who was likewise picking herself up. Except? What the- that's Cirno? She looks? different, shit. Closer to what that woman looked like. Shit, more of her mind must have survived than other-me's did. That's not Cirno anymore. But?
 
There isn't anywhere for Cirno to have gone. She must still be in there somewhere. She has to be.
 
********
 
"They're up," Wriggle said, "and they've seen each oth-shit!"
 
Rumia focused, and the sword wielded by other-Rumia formed in her hand. That's part of the power that survived. Good. Hopefully enough remains for me to take her.
 
Cirno formed a sword of ice in her hand. Okay, old-Rumia, how much power do you still have? I'll have to hope I kept more than she did.
 
********
 
"They're going to fight," Wriggle said.
 
"What? Why?"
 
"I don't know, Dai," Wriggle said. "It may have something to do with the appearance changes, but I really don't know."
 
"Well, stop it! Get some bugs in there and knock them out!"
 
"I already tried," Wriggle said. "It didn't work. I don't know what's going on, but they're going to fight, and I can't st-what the hell?"
 
"What? What?"
 
"You know I've got views from insects all over the place going right now for practice purposes. Well, Kaguya and Mokou-not fighting, by the way-just flew past one. I'm taking views from other insects in the area, and? well, they're heading for Misty Lake."
 
********
 
"Tell me something, bitch," Rumia said. "Do you really think this is a fight you can win?" Yes, have to show confidence.
 
"I'm not losing to you," Cirno replied.
 
"Funny, that. I seem to remember you losing a previous fight."
 
"You can't kill me."
 
"Or can I?" Rumia said. "Negation. I remember negation. So what if you're a fairy now? I'll just negate your resurrection." Not that I even know if I can. I'm not sure how much of that ability remains. "So bring it on."
 
********
 
"They've started," Wriggle said.
 
********
 
They'd closed to weapon range, but this wasn't just a swordfight. While their swords clashed, Cirno and Rumia used their power in the attack. Their energies swirled around them as they fought; blasts and barriers, attacks and counters.
 
********
 
"Okay," Wriggle said, "how the hell are they doing that?"
 
Daiyousei, of course, was frantic. "What? What? What is it? What's happening?"
 
"Their power seems to have increased substantially. Potentially on the same order as my own; I'll need to see more to be sure."
 
"Wait," Tewi said, "so does that mean there was power or something inside the coil?"
 
"Yes. This may explain the failure to knock them out; their new power may be somehow protecting them from my poisons."
 
"Man," Mystia said, "just what's going on here?"
 
********
 
Cirno rocketed backwards, unleashing a storm of energy at Rumia. Rumia went straight through it, forming an energy barrier in front of her to protect herself.
 
Cirno formed an illusory copy of herself. She wasn't sure how, but somehow, she knew she could to it. And indeed she could. She and the illusion split up and came at Rumia from different directions.
 
Rumia blocked herself from sight. She knew she could, somehow. She wasn't really sure how it worked, but she was doing it.
 
Cirno, as well as her illusory duplicate, came to a halt. She looked around frantically. Where'd she go? Where is she? Where-
 
Rumia revealed her location when she attacked. Not knowing which Cirno was real, she fired at both of them.
 
Cirno barely managed to dodge in time, and let loose a barrage of ice as she once again closed in. Rumia met Cirno's charge head-on, but at the last second, she dropped to the ground and slid under Cirno, firing a blast that blew the fairy into the air.
 
********
 
"Yes," Wriggle said, "I think they are about at my level. Both of them; they're evenly matched."
 
"Damn it," Daiyousei said, "what the hell is wrong with them? Why are they fighting?"
 
"Where are Kaguya and Mokou?" Tewi asked.
 
"About halfway there."
 
"And Cirno and Rumia are still going at it." Daiyousei sighed. "Damn it, how long is this going to last for?"
 
********
 
Cirno fired a blast at Rumia. Rumia formed a barrier against it, only to see it pass through both the barrier and she herself harmlessly. An illu-shit! Cirno had used the illusory blast as a distraction, forming huge numbers of ice projectiles around Rumia. Rumia extended her barrier to form a protective sphere around herself. Cirno sent the projectiles at Rumia while simultaneously firing a continuous and not at all illusory blast.
 
Rumia struggled to maintain the barrier. Damn it! Cirno, we promised we'd stay together! Come on, Cirno! You have to be in there somewhere! You have to-ugh! The barrier wavered briefly, but Rumia forced it back together. Damn, I can't hold this much longer. I? I have to? do something. I can't give up. You're in there somewhere, Cirno. I know you're in there somewhere. I?
 
I'll get you back, Cirno. I won't let her win! Rumia dropped her barrier, and at the same time, she fired an extremely strong blast into the ground behind her at an angle, propelling herself rocketing through Cirno's blast and directly into the fairy. She took hold of Cirno and piledrove the fairy into the ground.
 
********
 
"It's over," Wriggle said. "Cirno's down. Rumia won."
 
"Um, but that's the better outcome, right?" Tewi said. "Cirno's a fairy. She can't truly die."
 
Wriggle said nothing. She hadn't shared the brief pre-battle conversation with the others. They didn't know about the 'negation' ability Rumia claimed to possess. They didn't know. Only Wriggle knew, and she watched through her insects, unable to affect the events she was seeing.
 
********
 
Cirno struggled to pick herself up, but failed. I'm sorry, she thought as Rumia stood over her, holding her blade to Cirno's throat. I tried, Rumia. I was here for you. I tried to get you back, but? I'm sorry, Rumia.
 
"Sorry, bitch," Rumia said, "but you lose."
 
"Fine," Cirno said. "Just? do it, then."
 
"Oh? And why would I do that?"
 
"Huh?"
 
"Have you not realized it yet? Huh. And here I thought it would be obvious. Well, whatever. I'm not going to kill you, bitch, but I can do a lot to hurt you. And I will, unless you give her back."
 
"What?"
 
"Don't play dumb. Or maybe you don't really remember. Well, that body belongs to someone else. It belongs to my friend, and we made a promise that I intend to keep. So give her back!"
 
"Wha- tha- y- Rumia?"
 
Wait. "Is? Cirno?"
 
"Rumia?"
 
Rumia unformed her sword and fell to her knees. "Cirno, are you all right?"
 
"Is that? really? you?, Rumia?"
 
"Yes. I'm still here, Cirno."
 
"I? I thought you were? I thought the old you had?"
 
Wait, is she saying that- "Cirno, that was you the whole time?"
 
"Wait? you? are you? were? was?," Cirno managed to take a sitting position. "Rumia, was that? you? all along?"
 
"Oh, god. And I was ready to- Cirno, I- I- I- I- I- I- I-"
 
"Thought the? same thing? I did. It's? okay, Rumia. I'll? forgive you."
 
"Me, too," Rumia said, and the pair embraced.
 
********
 
"Well, then," Wriggle said. "I think those two have, um, settled their differences."
 
"Okay, hold on," Dai said. "What the heck happened, anyways?"
 
"More than could be seen or heard, I think." Wriggle said. "It looks like each of them thought the other was actually someone else, likely because of whatever all happened when they broke the coil. I'd guess something went on inside their heads, but we'll have to ask them about it."
 
"What about Kaguya?" Tewi asked.
 
"Still following Mokou, who's still heading towards the lake."
 
"I'm going," Dai said.
 
Tewi leapt to her feet. "Me, too."
 
"We'll all go," Wriggle said. She opened the door and stepped outside. Insects suddenly began landing on her, those that did not fly crawling up her legs.
 
"Okay," Mystia said, "um, Wriggle? What are you doing?"
 
"I told you," Wriggle said, "they are to serve as my attendants. They can hardly do so if they do not remain with me. Now come on, let's go."
 
 

 
Kaguya and Mokou peered out from behind the brush to see Cirno and Rumia lying on the ground next to each other. And?
 
"Um, Mokou?" Kaguya said at a whisper. "Is it my imagination, or does it look like they just? um?"
 
"It's not just you," Mokou whispered back. "I think they did. But? well, there are signs of combat here. I think they had a fight first."
 
"Well, they say the best part is making up afterwards. I'd like to see for myself, though."
 
"Yeah, not ready for that yet. Let's just worry about them right now."
 
"Fine. So what're we looking at here, anyways? Some sort of sealed-evil-in-a-can? A superpowered evil side? Was this an I-know-you're-in-there-somewhere fight?"
 
"Um, I have no idea what you just said."
 
"Oh. Yeah, of course. Um, I-"
 
"Later," Mokou said. "You stay here; I'm going to go talk to them."
 
 

 
Cirno and Rumia got to their feet as someone approached. "Who are you?" Cirno asked. Rumia, on the other hand, recognized her. "Hey, you're that lady who told me my name!"
 
"Ah," the woman said, "so you remember that. I am Fujiwara no Mokou."
 
"You're here for a reason," Rumia said. "This isn't a coincidence, is it?"
 
"That's correct. I'm here because I know what's been happening to the two of you. I was hoping to be watching when you two broke the coil, but that, unfortunately, didn't happen."
 
"Why would that be important?"
 
"Because there was a range of possible outcomes," Mokou explained. "Have you both figured out that you used to be different people?"
 
"Yeah," Cirno said. "Why, did you know us back then?"
 
"Not Rumia, no, but I was friends with her opponent, Nolana. Rumia, what memories do you have of your past?"
 
"You mean from before the coil?" Mokou nodded. "Nothing definite, but? well, it's hard to figure out specifics, but I think I was? violent. But at the same time, I think I remember instances of saving people, helping people."
 
"That's accurate. You were, to my understanding, a youkai of opposition. You acted as the opposite of whoever you happened to meet. If you met a violent person, you were peaceful. If you met a peaceful person, you were violent."
 
"Opposition? That's? kinda odd-sounding."
 
"What about me?" Cirno asked.
 
"Your situation is? different."
 
"Yeah, I already got that much. Who was that woman?"
 
"Her name was Nolana. She was Rumia's opponent. The two of them were precisely evenly matched, and any battle between them would always end in a draw. Until I became part of the equation. I couldn't help in battle-their level of power was extremely far above even mine-but I was able to do something else. Nolana had me hold together the seals she used to form the coil while she fought Rumia and placed them. But for the final one, the ninth, she had to get close enough to touch Rumia, and she could not."
 
"That's when other-me gave her a sword through the chest, isn't it?" Rumia said.
 
"Yes, although that didn't kill her. Nolana did? well, something. It looked like she took control of a fairy, but I don't know how that's possible. But she used the fairy to get close and place the last seal. Rumia took Nolana out at the last minute, just as the coil was formed."
 
"Which really messed things up," Rumia said. "Other-me's mind and power were damaged as the coil formed around them, and some of Nolana's mind and power got trapped within the fairy. Oh, and the fairy essentially died, becoming a different fairy entirely."
 
"Yeah," Cirno said. "Me."
 
"I've been keeping something of an eye on the two of you," Mokou said. "I'm the one who drove off that first demon that attacked you, Cirno. And when the second demon attacked and Rumia was suddenly in pain, I was able to figure out what was happening. I didn't know what would happen when the coil broke, but I found it most likely that the remnants of Nolana's and the old Rumia's minds were not significant enough for personality retention and thus your current selves would remain dominant. And it would seem that I was correct. As for what you'll gain from their power, well, I'm not as certain there, but my best guess is that you can expect a significant strengthening of your existing abilities. I don't think you'll get the same powers they had, even at a lower level, although you may be able to do certain specific things."
 
"Like illusions," Cirno said. "Or Rumia's disappearing trick."
 
"Ah, so you've already had that happen. Well, aside from things like that, I'd assume you're simply at a much higher level of power than you were before breaking the coil, although I'm not sure how much higher, or even if that'll be the actual effect."
 
"Um, question," Rumia said. "Why didn't you tell us any of this?"
 
"Would you have believed me? And if you had, would you have been willing to break the coil?"
 
"Um? well, certainly more reluctant."
 
"I wanted it broken as soon as possible, so that I could more easily be present when it was-in case things went differently than I expected, I wanted to be there to do everything I could to? contain the situation. So I let you go to Eirin."
 
"You didn't want us to know what it was," Rumia realized, "just that it was there. You wanted us wondering what was within the coil so that we'd have an encouragement to break it."
 
Mokou nodded. "Right. Although I wasn't able to be here when you broke the coil anyways, so, well, I guess it's just a good thing my expectations were correct-although I wasn't expecting the physical change in you, Cirno. Rumia's doesn't surprise me-she looks like she did before the coil was placed-but I wasn't expecting yours. I guess unsealing Nolana's power within you altered your appearance such that it's closer to what she looked like."
 
"Whatever," Cirno said. "Thanks for the info. Um, our friends will probably be here soon. Is there anything else you have to say?"
 
"Um... no. I'll leave, then. If you have any questions, come find me, and I'll do my best to answer them. And if you can't find me, tell Eirin you're looking for me; she'll make sure I'm told."
 
"Got it," Rumia said. "Thanks."
 
 

 
Kaguya, of course, had heard everything. "You wanted Nolana's mind to have survived, didn't you?" she asked as the two of them headed back to the forest.
 
"I? well, yes. I didn't think it would happen, but? well, Nolana was a friend, and I haven't had many of those."
"And you saw a chance that she'd survived."
 
"Yes," Mokou said. "Intellectually, I think I knew it wasn't true, but? well, I wanted to be wrong."
 
"But you weren't."
 
"I wasn't," Mokou said. "It's as I expected. Fragments of Nolana's mind remain, it seems, but she's still Cirno. I explained things to her and Rumia, but she's not my friend."
 
"She didn't seem too grateful, either."
 
"Those two just went through a lot. I'll cut them some slack."
 
"Good point." A pause. "Um, I'm heading back home. Um, what are you going to do?"
 
"Eh, might as well go with you. I need to talk to Eirin, anyways."
 
 

 
There was commotion in the village square.
 
As Keine drew closer to the square, she was able to make out the tengu 'reporter' Aya. Oh, that's just great. What's she going on about this time?
 
"What are you doing here?" Keine asked as she approached Aya.
 
"Keine! What did the oni do?"
 
"Um? excuse me?"
 
"The oni! What did they do?"
 
"Okay," Keine said, "I have no idea what you're talking about. The only oni I've seen recently is Yuugi, who was here yester-"
 
"Yuugi? She's the one who did it? Did she have her with her? Had she hurt her?"
 
"Um? what?"
 
"Did she do anything to her?"
 
"Okay," Keine said, "I think you're asking if Yuugi had someone with her, and the answer is yes."
 
"She does have Orphan! Not good!"
 
"Hold on" Keine said, "how do you know about Orphan?"
 
"Nol at the Hakurei Shrine told me. Clever job by the oni, I have to say. I don't know what's happened to Reimu, but they're using her as a distraction. They even had me tricked into thinking the Reimu thing was the real story. They underestimated me, though. They didn't think I'd figure out their trick."
 
"Right," Keine said. "And you think the oni are up to something because??"
 
"So glad you asked!" Aya reached into her bag and pulled out?
 
What the-? How did she fit a chalkboard in th- okay, dumb question in Gensokyo. There're about a million different ways that could be done. But... "Um, you keep a chalkboard in your bag?"
 
"Two," Aya said as she set the first one down and pulled out another, which she set down beside the first one.
 
"And you do this? why?"
 
"The truth must be revealed to all!"
 
Okay, that doesn't answer the question at all. Moving on. "And that truth is?"
 
"That the oni are going to attack."
 
Oooooo-kay. "And you've determined this? how?"
 
"Geez, you're gullible. You people really need to look harder, to ask more questions, to think."
 
"Yeah, there's really nobody who can, um, emulate your thought process."
 
"I'll spell it out for you, then."
 
Aya was a flurry of motion, drawing and writing things on the boards, as well placing pictures taken from her bag. When she was done, the boards were a nigh-indecipherable mess of words, drawings, and pictures. At the center of the first board was? That kind of looks like Orphan, Keine thought. "Aya, is that supposed to be Orphan?"
 
"Yes. That picture was taken the day she vanished. But where is she?"
 
"Eientei was her destination after leaving here," Keine said.
 
"A trick from the oni."
 
"Actually, Yuugi dropped Orphan off with me and left."
 
"Oh? Where'd she go?"
 
"Eientei, actually. She had a delivery to make."
 
"And you think it's just a coincidence that they went to the same place?"
 
"Um, yes."
 
"Well, you'd be wrong. If Orphan went there on her own, then she was tricked. Eientei's behind it. Think about it, Keine; what's Eientei been doing ever since people learned the place was there?"
 
"Treating the sick and injured? I really have no idea what you're getting at."
 
"Close, but you forgot a part of it."
 
"Um?"
 
"They're treating the sick and the injured for free."
 
"Right," Keine said.
 
"Well, think about it. How do they do that? They can't just be working for nothing. So where's the money coming from? Who's financing them?"
 
"Actually, I'm pretty sure they make a lot of what they need themselves."
 
"So? Maybe they don't have to buy much, but they have to pay the workers."
 
"You don't get how they run that place, do you? They don't do it like a business. The only thing they use money for is when they do need to get things from elsewhere."
 
"Wait, they don't use money? They don't pay for things like healthcare and food? It's just? provided? Damn, it's worse than I thought. They're going to turn Gensokyo socialist!"
 
"Um? what?"
 
"They're going to take over and take away choice! They'll make you get their healthcare, their food, their stuff. They'll take away the right to have spellcards. They'll-"
 
"What the hell are you going on about?"
 
Aya turned back to the chalkboards. "Look, look. See, Eientei's run by this woman, Kaguya. And what's she?" She drew an arrow from Kaguya to Eientei, and one to a drawing of the moon. "She's royalty. A princess from the moon. A princess who was exiled."
 
"She was forgiven for her crime and given a chance to return to the moon," Keine said. "She declined."
 
"A ruse, so that nobody would suspect her true purpose, suspect that she's still on their side. The entire exile is nothing but a ruse masking her true intent: the takeover of Gensokyo."
 
"What."
 
"You really think the Lunarians are satisfied with the moon? I've seen pictures." She pointed to an image of the lunar surface. "I know what that place looks like. Do you really think they'll just stay on the moon when there's a place like Gensokyo?"
 
What the hell is wrong with this woman? "Yes, Aya. Yes, I do."
 
"Because that's what they want you to think. They don't want anybody suspecting anything until they're ready to strike. Why do you think they were doing a military build-up? They just didn't think Earth would misinterpret their intent and attack. So without their built-up forces, they had to go to a back-up plan.
 
"Kaguya's original role was to provide intel on Gensokyo, but without their army, the Lunarians need her to build one up and strike from within."
 
This was making Keine's head hurt. "And this army is the oni?"
 
"Of course!" Aya drew an arrow between Kaguya and a picture of an oni. "They're stuck living in hell!" An arrow from the oni to a picture of the former hell. "They'll do anything to move back to the surface!" An arrow from the oni to a picture of the surface; specifically, the Youkai Mountain. "All Kaguya has to do is promise them a place to live up here. She probably plans to just let them go back to the mountain."
 
"And she somehow planned this with the oni while the underground was sealed."
 
"Of course not! That's why the attack hasn't happened yet! Kaguya couldn't build up the force she needs until access to the underground was reopened and the oni became available. Since then, the oni have been training an army in secret, and when they're ready, they'll attack! And now they have Orphan as a hostage!" An arrow from Kaguya to Orphan, and one from the oni to Orphan. "They can use her to force cooperation!"
 
There is so much wrong with that. "Aya, I don't think Kaguya's shown signs of plotting anything. She doesn't intend any harm."
"Yeah, well, the Nazis came into power because people thought the same thing about them."
 
"Wha-hu-what?" Keine knew about the Nazis thanks to outside-world history texts that had fallen through the border, but how did Aya- No, wait, the Moriya shrine came from the outside world just a few years ago. Either they had something about the Nazis or Aya learned it directly or indirectly from one of them. That must be it. "Um, I really don't think it's likely that Kaguya is Hitler."
 
"Of course she's not Hitler! She's just fooling people in the same way!"
 
"Right," Keine said. "You just go write your story, then. I'm going to go do something that doesn't make my head hurt."
 
 

 
Wriggle and the others landed in front of Rumia and Cirno. "There you are," Cirno said. "I thought you'd be here sooner. Or did you find a way to keep Dai from running off after us?"
 
"She tried," Wriggle said. "She didn't get very far. I kind of, well, anticipated her attempt."
 
"Right," Rumia said. "Wriggle, I assume you were watching. How much did you see? Do you have any questions?"
 
Wriggle shook her head. "No. Mokou answered all the questions I had. And I've filled the others in."
 
"Hold on," Cirno said, "you were watching? Um-"
 
"I didn't look during that part. I kept watch nearby, but I didn't look at you two until that was finished. I'm not a pervert."
 
"Hold on," Tewi said, "are you telling me they had-" She was cut-off mid-sentence as Cirno froze her, shattering the ice a couple seconds later. "Shutting up."
 
"Okay," Mystia said, "now what?"
 
"Let's head to Cirno's place," Dai said. "It's close."
 
"Well, okay," Cirno said, "but, um Wriggle?" She looked over all the insects still crawling all over Wriggle. "I don't really want so many bugs to come in."
 
"I can guarantee that they will not bother you," Wriggle said.
 
"Yeah, but, well..."
 
"Very well. I shall ensure that they remain outside."
 
"Thanks," Cirno said. "Okay, let's go."
 
 

 
"Ah, there you are," Eirin said as I entered her office. "Take a seat."
 
"I assume you have the results," I said as I sat down.
 
"That's correct. Unfortunately, I don't think there's much I can do for you. I'm certain that something of your memories remains, but the examination failed to produce any meaningful stimulus. This is not the first time I've seen that result, but it is quite unusual. I do, though, know what will likely stimulate what remains."
 
"And that is?"
 
"The same thing that's been stimulating them so far. Familiarity. The more familiar people, places, and situations you encounter, the more you will remember. I would recommend, then, that you continue searching for someone who knows who you are."
 
Disappointing, but not really unexpected. "Well, thank you for the effort."
 
"There is one more thing," Eirin said. "A clue not as to who you are, but as to what happened to you."
 
"Oh? And what would that be?"
 
"Traces," Eirin said, a hint of uncertainty in her voice. "Traces of? well, okay, what I found indicates something that shouldn't be possible-although I suppose I saw some impossibilities yesterday, too. Anyways, you are, of course, familiar with Gensokyo's barrier. I can say for certain now that whatever happened involved the barrier, and not just in the sense of you passing through it, because? well?
 
"Orphan, there are traces of the barrier within your mind."
 
 

 
Yes, I did just turn Aya into Glenn Beck. It sort of... came out that way when I was writing her scene with Keine, so I decided to take it and run with it. And I'm quite please with the result; that scene was a lot of fun. Also, if I don't see Aya start making Nazi comparisons in other stories, I will be very dissapointed.
 
As for the main focus of the chapter, the Cirno/Rumia thing, well, I always feel like my combat scenes are... bland. I put extra effort into this one, though, and I hope it came out all right.
 
And yes, Kaguya is now officially a troper.
 
And as always, any comments are appreciated.

[GuyYouMetOnline]

No comments? Really? Not on Aya's Glenn Beck scene, or the fight scene, or even on the, um, implied scene between Cirno and Rumia? Come on, people.
 
 
Chapter 11
Loyalties
 
 
"Right," I said. "Um, could you please explain what that means?"
 
"Exactly what it sounds like," Eirin said. "There are traces of the border within your mind. They're extremely minor, and doubtless are not the cause of your memory loss. That, presumably, is whatever left them there. But? I have no idea what could have done that. This isn't possible."
 
"You saw some 'impossibilities' yesterday, right?"
 
"There are two types of impossibility," Eirin said. "What I saw yesterday was impossible in the sense that nobody could do it-and it turns out that the person who did has been dead for some time. It was theoretically possible; it was simply a matter of nobody having the capability. What I saw in you I thought to be impossible in the sense that it was literally not possible, not even theoretically. But apparently it is possible. It? Orphan, it looks very much like somebody used the border to attack you."
 
"And that's possible?"
 
"No. Or, well, it's not supposed to be. Even Yukari-a youkai with control over barriers and boundaries-can't do it. And no, it's not a matter of her not having the capability. This shouldn't even be theoretically possible. But it looks like that's wrong."
 
"And you don't have any clue who could have done this?"
 
"No," Eirin said. "No, I don't."
 
 

 
Cirno and Rumia were sitting on the shore of the lake near Cirno's house-a position Cirno had vague memories of Nolana taking with Mokou.
 
"Cirno," Rumia said, "I have to tell you something."
 
"Yeah?"
 
"I lied to you earlier."
 
"You? lied? When?"
 
"When I told you that the coil hurt even when you weren't doing anything," Rumia said. "I could tell it would get that way eventually, but it hadn't yet done so."
 
"Oh. Is that all? You had me worried for a second, there."
 
"I'm sorry, Cirno," Rumia said. "I couldn't think of any other way to convince you to agree to breaking it."
 
"Eh, no biggie. Things worked out, right?"
 
"That's? a more mature perspective than I'm used to seeing from you."
 
"Is it? Huh. Maybe those pieces of Nolana rubbed off on me."
 
"Just as long as they didn't change you too much. I like you just fine the way you are."
 
 

 
There didn't seem to be anything more that Eirin could do for me, so it was time for me to depart for my next destination, the underground. As I exited the mansion, though, I saw someone land in front of it.
 
I'd seen enough unusual hair colors that I didn't think one could surprise me any longer, but this woman's did. Her hair was quite long (which seemed to be fairly common in Gensokyo), and was initially a purple color. However, the purple coloring faded to a light brown as one looked further down.
 
The woman was staring at me. Does she recognize me? I walked over to her. "Hello."
 
The woman shook her head. "Ah, sorry about that. You just? well, I can't place it, but you look familiar. You remind me of someone; I just can't place who it is."
 
Unfortunate. "Whoever it is, it's likely that I actually am her. You see, I have lost my memory."
 
"Oh?"
 
"Yes," I said. "The earliest thing I can remember is waking up in a forest five years ago. I've been trying to find out who I am ever since."
 
"Five years ago? And you haven't had any luck yet? Hmm? you're probably not from Gensokyo, then, if you haven't learned anything in five years. It's not exactly an enormous place."
 
"I only arrived here three days ago," I said. "That forest I woke up in is in the outside world."
 
"Oh."
 
"I am certain that I am, in fact, from Gensokyo. I'm going from place to place, hoping to find someone who can tell me who I am. It sounds like I came close with you, but?"
 
"I apologize."
 
"Don't worry about it," I said. "Anyways, my next destination is the underground. If I don't learn anything there, I plan to head to the Youkai Mountain, then to Heaven above it."
 
"I see. Um, I just realized that we haven't introduced ourselves. I am Byakuren."
 
"A pleasure to meet you," I said. "I do not remember my name, so I have taken the name 'Orphan'."
 
"Orphan. Good to meet you. So, no luck here, then?"
 
"I didn't think anyone here would recognize me," I said. "Akyu thought Eirin might be able to help me remember, though. Unfortunately, it seems there's nothing Eirin can do to help."
 
"I see. That's unfortunate."
 
"Agreed. What is your business here?"
 
"Complicated," Byakuren said. "I would rather not get into it, so I'll just say that I need to meet with Kaguya."
 
"You may have to wait a bit," I said. "I don't think she's back ye-" I was interrupted by Kaguya and Mokou landing nearby. "Never mind. There she is."
 
"And with Mokou, too. Did something change between them?"
 
I nodded. "I helped Mokou find a way to end the conflict."
 
"Oh? Impressive, and quite a noble act."
 
"I can't claim noble motives," I said. "I was hoping that helping her might trigger memories, but it failed. All I have is the sense that I did such things in the past."
 
"Then you may still be one to admire."
 
"Possibly," I said. "Hopefully I'll find out soon."
 
"Yes. I'm sorry I couldn't help."
 
"It's not an issue," I said. "It's been a minimum of five years since you last saw me, and in addition, I understand that appearance changes can happen upon crossing the border. And I also understand that my hat is not nearly as distinctive here as it was in the outside world."
 
Byakuren chuckled. "That's true. Compared to some of the hats I've seen, yours is positively mundane. Still, it's part of what I find familiar about you."
 
"I see. Well, if it helps, I'm pretty sure I received it as a gift. I don't know when, though; it could have been the day I lost my memory, for all I know."
 
"I see. Well, if I can recall who you remind me of, I'll try and find a way to let you know."
 
"Thank you," I said.
 
 

 
I am Byakuren Hijiri.
 
I could talk about my early life, about the time before my brother's death, but that time is his story. I was really just following him. My story doesn't begin until his death.
 
When my brother died, I was terrified. Not of having to live without him, but of my own death. Of the fact that what happened to him could happen to me at any time. So I began searching for a way to prevent my death. After all, fairies are immortal; immortality is clearly possible. The question was how to obtain it.
 
I had to look deep into forgotten arts for my solution. It turned out that I was able to find no method within Gensokyo-although recently, I found out about Eirin Yagokoro, who had created an elixir of immortality. I, however, had no such luck. Not even a god could help me. So I turned to something else.
 
I performed the ritual in secret, late at night. It was a long-forgotten ritual that held little power of its own. It was a ritual that had been considered 'dark', and any who attempted it, who even expressed the thought of attempting it, were condemned by the people. It was a calling ritual, and the one it called was Shinki, creator and ruler of the demon realm of Makai.
 
Shinki was not a god; even I don't really know what she was. But she was capable of granting me immortality. I expected some terrible price for this, but, well, Shinki came across as being a lot less 'evil' than most would probably expect. "There is a price," she told me, "but it's something inherent to what I will do. Please wait patiently; I will return shortly." Then she vanished.
 
When Shinki returned a few minutes later, she was holding a glowing black-and-purple orb. "Smash this against yourself," she said as she handed it to me. "That is the trigger."
 
"And what will it trigger?" I asked.
 
"Magics that will bind the energies within to your essence. And it is there that the price lies, for these magics were derived from the divine."
 
"The divine. Faith. So that's your price? Immortality in exchange for becoming your priestess?"
 
Shinki actually laughed. "Oh, no, not at all. I am not a god; I have no need of faith. And the magics in question are not divine; they are simply derived from the divine. Faith, belief, that is required to sustain them, but it is not linked to any individual, god or otherwise. No, what these magics require is belief in the essence of magic itself. If beings born of magic were to fade from the world, so would these magics."
 
"You're talking about youkai."
 
"Correct. That is the price; if you wish to continue living, you must ensure that youkai continue to exist. Also, it is worth mentioning that this will change you; you will yourself be youkai, not human."
 
It sounded like a believable price, but I was still suspicious. "And how does this benefit you?"
 
"Demons are youkai, too," she said. "I assume that you will remain here in Gensokyo, but demons do find themselves here sometimes. If you are protecting youkai, that covers my people as well."
 
It made sense. "Very well, then," I said. "I accept." I smashed the orb against my chest.
 
I don't know how to explain what happened next, but when it was over, I could tell that I had changed. Not in form; as Shinki had said, the energies within the orb had become bound to my essence, had become a part of me. "It is done," Shinki said. "Farewell." And then she was gone.
 
I performed some basic tests, and it seemed that I was indeed immortal. But I had to wonder what that energy could have possibly been that would allow it to make me immortal. The answer was? unpleasant.
 
As I began my return to the village, I soon came upon a fairy lying on the ground. Two things about this fairy struck me immediately. First was the basic form and color of the wings, which was different from that of Gensokyo fairies and, as I had learned during my research on Makai, identified the fairy as a Makai fairy. And second was that the fairy appeared lifeless.
I ran over to the fairy and examined it more closely. It didn't respond very much to stimulus, but there were minor responses. The fairy was still alive, just? weakened. As though the life had somehow been partially drained from it. Then it hit me.
 
The fairy was from Makai, Shinki's realm. It was weakened, as though it had lost a portion of its essence. And Shinki had presented me with energy that made me immortal by becoming part of my essence. The conclusion wasn't difficult to reach: the life had been drained from this fairy in order to be given to me.
 
The fairy hadn't been completely drained; it was still alive, and would likely recover with time. But I wondered if a portion of a fairy's essence would be enough to make me immortal. And I realized that of course it wasn't; Shinki had doubtless drained multiple fairies in this manner. And just as soon as I wondered why one of them was in Gensokyo, I realized that Shinki had put it there deliberately. She had wanted me to know where my immortality had come from.
 
You may think I hated Shinki for what she'd done, but I did not. I was? unfond of it, but, well, it was not my fault. I hadn't known what she was going to do. In addition, she used Makai fairies, her subjects; she may have even asked for volunteers-which, during my future assotiation with her, I would learn was indeed the case. And, yes, there was also the fact that she didn't drain enough to kill any of them. I did not approve of her actions, but? well, it wasn't my place to tell her what to do.
 
In order to remain alive, I needed to ensure that youkai continued to exist. Such a thing may sound like an easy task; in Gensokyo, I doubt they will ever cease to be. Humans, however, generally feared youkai, and the existence of individual youkai was frequently in danger because of this. Going by the literal meaning of Shinki's words, I wouldn't have needed to do anything, but her intent was clear: in exchange for immortality, I was to assist youkai in danger. And I did not want to break my side of the bargain. Even if she couldn't kill me-which I expect she could have, as she was the one who had fused the fairies' essence with mine; if anyone could undo it, she would be the one-she could do just about anything else, and I did not want to provoke her.
 
I became a 'youkai exterminator', one who hunts youkai that are causing problems. Or even that aren't; fear can make people see threats where there are none. It was generally assumed-although it's different now-that youkai exterminators killed youkai, but I did not. I would instead relocate them, distance them from the people who wanted them killed. I didn't come right out and say that I did this, of course, but neither did I pretend that I killed them, although people assumed that I did anyways.
 
As time went on, what I was doing ceased being simply to fulfill my end of the deal. There were some youkai that truly had earned the animosity of the humans who wanted them dead, but most were innocent, and I found that I could not simply stand by when they were in danger. I tried not to take jobs involving youkai that truly were guilty-it was generally fairly easy to tell which ones those were-focusing instead on ones that had not earned the animosity humans felt towards them.
 
Eventually, of course, I was found out. By that time, I was no longer working 'freelance'. I had taken up a position in a Buddhist temple, accompanied by a few of the youkai I'd assisted over the years-my disciples, essentially. That is where I was when the humans came for me.
 
My disciples were ready to fight-the ones that were present, at least; Shou was not present when it happened-but I instructed them to stand down and faced the humans myself. Two of them stepped forward from the group. The man was just another villager-presumably the one who'd organized this-but the other was a woman I was able to identify on sight, even though we had never before met. Her clothing made her identity obvious-this was the current maiden of the Hakurei Shrine, Mira Hakurei.
 
"I imagine you know why we're here," the man said.
 
"Do you?"
 
"Let me guess: you're looking to launch into some speech about how we're doing this for all the wrong reasons. But we're not. You have been protecting the youkai you claimed to kill."
 
"Allow me to ask you something, then," I said. "When have I ever claimed that I kill youkai?"
 
"What the hell is that supposed to mean? You're a youkai hunter; of course you kill-"
 
The man's sudden stop, of course, was because he was realizing that I never actually made that claim. "That's right," I said. "I have never once claimed to be a youkai killer." I addressed the group as a whole. "I have taken jobs from many of you. Can anyone provide one example of me saying I would kill a youkai?" I paused. "No. In fact, am I not quick to decry requests to kill? Have I not corrected every use of the word? 'I remove youkai; I do not kill them.' How many of you have heard me say that?"
"And what the hell were we supposed to think?" the man said. "You show up and act like a youkai hunter, and now you're trying to tell us you never hid your true intentions?"
 
"She never lied," Mira said. "You all simply drew your own conclusions. That's not her fault."
 
"Like hell it's not! She knew we'd assume 'remove' was a euphemism! She knew what we'd think! She's been tricking us this whole time!"
 
"And why," I asked, "would I want to do that?"
 
"To get us to trust you. We know you're one of them. We know you're a youkai."
 
I knew it was inevitable that this would be discovered one day; no doubt it was my unchanging physical condition that tipped people off. So I did not deny it. "And what, precisely, does that have to do with this? Explain your reasoning, please."
 
"Oh, shut up. You're a youkai. That's all that needs to be said. Or are you going to try and tell us that youkai aren't enemies of humans?"
 
"I'm not going to try to tell you that. I'm going to tell you that. Youkai are not the enemies of humans."
 
"Yeah, real convincing. The whole attacking-people thing kind of ruins that argument."
 
"There are humans who kill youkai," I said. "You even thought me to be one of them. But youkai do not believe that all humans want to kill them."
 
"Of course not. They know it's self-defense."
 
"Well, then, what about the humans who kill other humans? Humans are not murderers; certain individual humans are. You do not assume everyone is a murderer just because someone is, do you?"
 
"Of course not."
 
"Then why do you make that assumption of youkai?"
 
"We're not making assumptions. I, for one, have never seen a youkai unless it's attacking someone."
 
"You've seen me."
 
"You're trying a strategy. You're trying to make us feel safe around you, make us think you're on our side. But you're not fooling us any longer."
 
"If that were true, I'd have struck long before now. But I have no desire or intent to do so."
 
"You cannot be trusted. We know that, and you can't fool us any longer."
 
As I expected, this man would not be talked down. "So you're here to? 'deal with me'?"
 
"Yeah, no shit."
 
"Then do it," I said. "Kill me."
 
"Don't think we're here unprepared," the man said. "We know your secret. We know you took power from Makai. We know you can't be killed."
 
They were wrong about that, but right that Makai was involved. I had not expected the Makai part to be discovered, and as I thought about it, I realized that it hadn't been. Whatever information and/or line of reasoning had led them to that conclusion was wrong. But this did not really matter; what mattered was that they knew I couldn't die. "And yet you're here."
 
"We are," the man said. "We can't kill you, but we can ensure you do no harm. Your minions will be killed, of course, but you we will simply seal away."
 
With the aid of my disciples, I could have fought them off, but I did not want to. I did not want to kill, I did not want my disciples to kill, and I did not want them to be killed. "I cannot accept their deaths; they haven't even done what I have that you claim is lying. And I do not want anyone here to come to any harm. So I say this: if you promise to do nothing beyond sealing me, I will not resist."
 
The man was silent for a moment. "Very well," he said, and there was a general murmur of agreement. "We will not-"
 
I did not expect what happened at that moment: Mira Hakurei punched the man in the face. "You shut the fuck up, Rio." She spun to face the group Rio led. "All of you just shut the fuck up!"
 
The mob was silent, as were all of us from the temple. I had known that Mira didn't want to be here; that much had been clear on her face from the moment the group arrived. But I hadn't realized just how against this she was until then.
 
"I have had it with this!" Mira exclaimed to the crowd. "You know damn well you intend to kill every youkai here! And you have the nerve to call her a liar! You're just a bunch of fucking hypocrites!"
 
"Damn it, woman," Rio said, "you know we're right. You're a youkai exterminator yourself. You know they're evil."
 
Mira spun to face Rio. "You're correct; I am a youkai exterminator. And because I am, I know very well that it's Byakuren who's right."
 
"What the hell are you talking about? You know she's full of shit!"
 
"Oh, fuck you. Do you know just how many innocent youkai I've hunted? How many innocent youkai I've killed? Too many. Far too many. I couldn't keep doing it. That, Rio, is why I no longer claim to kill youkai. I will kill the ones that truly are guilty, but for the ones that aren't, I do the same thing as Byakuren. I relocate them. Like her, I have constantly decried jobs telling me to kill youkai. I have made no secret of the fact that most of the time I simply remove them. In fact, I have frequently said the exact same thing as Byakuren: 'I do not kill youkai; I remove them'. But you're not taking up arms against me. And do you know why you aren't?" She faced the mob again. "Do any of you know?"
 
There was no response. "Of course you know," Mira said. "You just don't want to say it. So I'll say it for you: the reason you're attacking Byakuren but not me is because I am a human, whereas she is a youkai."
 
"Well, obviously," Rio said. "You say that like it doesn't mean anything."
 
Mira punched him in the gut and shoved him to the ground. "Because it fucking doesn't!" She faced the mob again. "What the fuck is wrong with you people? Do you really think that she's evil just because she's not human? Just because she's a youkai?" Silence. "Well, what about the fact that she used to be human? Are you saying that becoming a youkai made her evil?"
 
"Of course not," Rio said as he began to pick himself up. "Only an evil human would want to be a youkai in the first-"
 
Mira kicked him back down. "Shut the fuck up before I rip out your fucking tongue!" She faced the group again. "You are attempting to imprison an innocent woman and kill other innocent women. That is something I cannot condone. The only evil here is that perpetrated by you. And yet?"
 
Mira indicated me. "Byakuren has consented to the sealing," she said, "so I will perform it. But if any of you take any action-any action, even the most insignificant-against any other youkai here, then I'll be introducing you to a youkai who does deserve your hatred, and I will do absolutely nothing but watch as it fucking eats you alive! Any questions?" Silence. "Good." She pointed at a few people. "You, you, you, and you, you're the most magically skilled of the group. You four stay here. Everyone else will leave now." She picked Rio off the ground and shoved him at the mob. "That means you, too, Rio. All of you will leave, and you will not come back." A pause. "That means right fucking now!"
 
That was enough to drive the mob off. "I'm sorry," Mira said, turning to face me. "I do not want to do this, but?"
 
"I understand," I told her. "Do it; I will not hold it against you."
 
"Thank you." She paused. "Damn it, why does it have to be like this?"
 
"It is not your fault," I said. "It's not something any one person can change. But it will change. It may be hundreds of years until it changes, but eventually, it will change."
 
"I hope so. And I will do all that I can to hurry it along. I don't want any of my descendents to have to do something like this. And I hope I never have to do it again."
 
"Yes, you do seem to? feel strongly about this."
 
Mira laughed, although it sounded forced. "Yeah, um, sorry about that."
 
"No apology is necessary. I may not be fond of the? forceful language you used, but it is not my place to condemn one for using such language. And it is the thoughts behind the words that truly matter, anyways. And, of course, I do not approve of your threat, either, regardless of whether you intend to carry through with it."
 
"I wasn't bluffing."
 
"Well, I do not approve, but your actions are your choice, so I will say no more. Are you ready to perform my sealing?"
 
"I suppose so." Mira paused. "Damn, how can you be so calm about this?"
 
"I am quite upset, actually, but showing this would serve no purpose. One must- what the-?" I was cut off by sudden motion. Two of the four Mira had selected to remain had suddenly sprung into action. They had been engaged in what I assumed were preparations for my sealing, but this turned out to be incorrect-and their activities had escaped Mira's notice thanks to her back being to them.
 
The moving pair was a man and a woman. The man ran straight for Murasa, while the woman went after Ichirin. The two youkai assumed they were being attacked and began to fight, but the humans only placed runes upon them. The woman then placed one upon Nazrin, who had come to join the battle. Then she recited an incantation, and then my three disciples were gone.
 
I simply stood in silence, but Mira did not. "Ali! Kino! What the hell did you just do?"
 
"What had to be done," Kino said. "Do not worry; they have not been harmed. They have simply been sent to the sealed underground-along with that ghost's ship, I would assume, since it and she are bound. No harm has come to them. We didn't violate the agreement."
 
"Do not try that bullshit with me," Mira said. "You have just made the worst mistake of your lives. Now get in position so we can perform the sealing before I snap and kill you. Neke, Nara, you, too."
 
The four and Mira took positions around me, evenly spacing themselves out. The four, it turned out, were there essentially just to serve as conduits for magical energy; it was Mira who did all the work.
 
Mira stepped back when she was finished. The process was not done-the remainder of the seal's formation was automatic-but Mira and the others had no active role to play. "Neke, Nara," she said, "you two can leave." They did, and Mira faced the other two. "You two, on the other hand, are staying with me." There was a shift in the gathered energy. "Ah, that's my cue." Mira restrained the pair magically. "You two wait right there. Once I finish this up, I'll be introducing you to somebody who will just love having guests for dinner."
 
Mira finished her work, and then?
 
I do not know how to describe what I felt, so allow me to skip to the result, which is that I was no longer in Gensokyo. I had never been to the realm I found myself in, but I recognized it almost instantly for what it was. I had been sealed away within Makai.
 
I did, of course, attempt to escape, but I could not destroy the seal and was unable to bypass it in any way. I was trapped in an area of Makai that, I would soon learn, was called 'Hokkai'.
 
Although I could not break or bypass the barrier, it did not surprise me at all when someone did. Nor did it surprise me that she had come; I had been expecting her ever since I found myself in Makai. "Hello, Shinki."
 
"Byakuren. It's been quite some time, hasn't it? I didn't expect to see you again, but here you are. What did you do to get yourself sealed away like this, and in Hokkai of all places?"
 
"What you wanted me to do," I said. "What I wanted to do. Assisting youkai."
 
"I see. But what specifically led to this being done to you?"
 
"I had assisted youkai under the cover of being a youkai exterminator. People thought I was killing them-even though I never said that and correct anyone who did say it-but I was actually relocating them away from those who wanted them dead."
 
"Should I assume, then, that the humans found out? And that they were? less than pleased?" I nodded. "Hmm?"
 
"They also found out that I'm now a youkai," I said, "and that I can't die-although they're wrong about how that happened."
 
"Ah, so she sealed you because they knew they couldn't kill you."
 
"'She'?"
 
"The Hakurei maiden," Shinki said. "Only she could have made this seal. I must say, it is most ingenious. I wonder if perhaps my involvement with you was suspected, for this is a seal that even I cannot remove you from."
 
"I was surprised that I was sealed in Makai," I said. "They knew that this realm was involved with my change, although they were wrong about how. I guess they wanted me as removed from them as possible, but still, ending up here was a surprise. So they found a way to make a seal within Makai that even you cannot break?"
 
"They did," Shinki said, "and it is how they did it that told me the Hakurei maiden was involved. Obviously, they realized that I could break any seal they formed, so they had the Hakurei maiden form a special one. The boundaries of your seal are woven into the border between Makai and Gensokyo; only the Hakurei maiden or, perhaps, the lady Yakumo could destroy it. And weaving it into the border also prevents me from moving it to elsewhere within Makai. As for preventing me from bringing you past it as I did myself, well, they came up with a quite clever solution to that little problem.
 
"Every seal must have an anchor, a center of focus. For this seal, that focus is you, Byakuren. You were used as the seal's anchor. This has bound you to it. You are not confined solely by the walls of the seal; you are confined by its existence. You could not move beyond it even if there was an opening. Even I cannot do anything about that."
 
"Are you sure? I didn't know that using a living being as an anchor for something like this was even possible."
 
"It is possible," Shinki said. "It does, however, require a catalyst."
 
"I didn't see anything that could have served as a catalyst."
 
"I doubt they had it with them; it needs to be properly prepared, but it doesn't actually need to be in the presence of the one being used as the anchor. They likely prepared it and hid it away."
 
"Hid it? Why would they need to do that?"
 
"Because what serves as the catalyst for the anchoring is the only thing that can serve as the catalyst for undoing the resulting seal."
 
"I see," I said.
 
"However, the catalyst for anchoring a living being must be special. It must have significant emotional value to the one being used as the anchor."
 
I thought about that. "I have few material possessions, and none that I truly value; they are necessities, nothing more. The things I value in that manner are immaterial, are- wait, no, there is something. Just one thing, but? they couldn't have- no, they could have."
 
"What is it?" Shinki asked.
 
"The Soaring Vault. It was a construction of my brother's, and fell apart upon his death. I have- no, had a few fragments of it, and I did value them. They were a reminder of him."
 
"A few pieces probably would not have been enough," Shinki said, "but? well, you did not value the fragments because of anything inherent to them specifically, correct? You valued them because they reminded you of your brother. It was not fragments you truly valued, it was this 'Soaring Vault'. Am I correct?"
 
I nodded. "So they just gathered as much of it as they needed?"
 
"Most likely. Hmm? is there anyone who was truly loyal to you? A close friend, or a lover, or the like?"
 
"My disciples," I said, "but they were sealed underground. Well, relocated, really; I don't think a seal was placed around them, but access to the underground is blocked. Although Shou was not present; hopefully, she remains free."
 
"They I would imagine that precautions have been taken to prevent her from gathering the fragments," Shinki said. "Since we're talking about a collection of smaller objects, they were likely scattered throughout Gensokyo. Finding them all would effectively be an impossible task."
 
"Nazrin could find them," I said, "but she's trapped underground."
 
"Hmm? well, if she were to be freed and managed to gather all of the fragments, then releasing you would be possible. I do not find it likely that this will ever happen, but I suppose it is possible."
 
"I wouldn't underestimate them," I said. "If there's a way, they'll find it. I don't know how long it will take, but they'll find it."
 
"I see," Shinki said. "Well, I believe that settles the remaining issue quite nicely."
 
"You wondered if I would want you to kill me," I said.
 
"Yes, that's correct. As you probably realize, I am able to undo what made you immortal, as I am the one who did it. Most would gladly take death as an alternative to an eternity of entrapment."
 
"I called upon you because I did not want to die. That has not changed."
 
"I see. Well, if at any time you do come to prefer death, I shall grant it to you."
 
I called out to her as she turned to leave. "What is it?" she asked.
 
"I can no longer fulfill my end of our agreement," I said. "You would be perfectly justified in taking back your end. Why aren't you?"
 
"Why would I? You are here precisely because you held up your end. You did as well as you could; there is nothing in that which I would hold against you."
 
Shinki then left, but that was far from the last I saw of her. She visited me frequently, and the two of us actually became close friends. I think I appealed to her because I was not from Makai, because I was not a demon. I was the only one in Makai that was not her creation. I ended up effectively becoming an advisor to her.
 
It was a thousand years after being sealed that my disciples released me. I was not sure what to think of leaving Shinki, but she told me it was fine; if she truly needed me, she said, she would come to me. So I returned to Gensokyo and resumed my work. And despite initial impressions, Gensokyo had indeed changed over those thousand years. I was able to do my work completely in the open, and I would assist anyone, human or youkai, as best I could.
 
I haven't seen Shinki since leaving Makai, and now I know why. She is either dead or somehow removed, and has been this way for five years. Vengeance is not something I partake of, but I do not believe what is happening in Makai is right, so I will do what I can to assist Shinki's daughter in stopping it. I just hope we can.
 
 

 
Shanghai and Moscow had followed Netese's entourage to Kases. Moscow had selected a target-a demon who was quite obviously a bodyguard-and followed him when he was off-duty. Moscow had tracked him to a tavern in the city, then withdrawn after leading Shanghai to the location.
 
Shanghai had expected the looks she got as she entered the tavern. Unlike her sisters, Shanghai was not disguised in any way. Her artificial nature was in no way disguised, and her original self following behind her was plainly visible as such.
 
The target was up at the bar. Shanghai approached and claimed the stool next to him. She placed an order, then looked over at the man. "Hello."
 
The only reply was a grunt. "Come on," Shanghai said, "talk to me."
 
"You're a construct. I'm not interested."
 
Shanghai laughed. "Oh, that's not what this is about. I just want to talk to you."
 
"Fine. What?"
 
"No small talk, huh? Fine, I'll get straight to business. You're with the, um, 'entourage' that arrived earlier today, correct?"
 
"Entourage', huh?" Well, yes, as a matter of fact, I am. What's it to you?"
 
"You," Shanghai said softly, "are a bodyguard for Lady Netese, and I would like you to bring me to her."
 
It took him a couple seconds to respond. "Wait, what? You want me to-" He laughed. "Well, you've got balls, I'll give you that much. So tell me: why should I do this?"
 
"Because I happen to know she has a problem, and I want to help her solve it."
 
"Yeah? And what problem would that be?"
 
"Oh, not much. Just a loose end by the name of Alice Margatroid."
 
The man gave Shanghai another looking-over. "Right. Um, I'll pass your message on to her, but-"
 
"Not acceptable. I will accept nothing less than a personal meeting with her."
 
"Yeah, um, not happening."
 
"And why, may I ask, is that?"
 
"I can think of several reasons," he said, "but most important is the fact that it seems quite likely you just want a chance to kill her."
 
"An interesting conclusion," Shanghai said. "What, might I ask, led you to-"
 
"Shut up, doll," he said, turning the last word into a curse. "Yeah, did you think I can't see what you are? You're one of Alice's, aren't you? One of her dark experiments in bringing things to life."
 
"I am," Shanghai said.
 
"So you admit it. And you think I'd just let you see her? You're here to kill her, aren't you? That bitch of a 'creator' of yours sent you in here like a goddamn toy soldier on a job that, let's be honest, there's no hope of you returning from or really even pulling off at all. You were sent to your death, and you came. You may be alive, but you're still just a puppet, a tool for that bitch. A goddamn pet who can't do anything but follow her master."
 
"Shut up. Now."
 
"Oh, does the doll think she's all that? Face it, doll, you're just a violent whore who can't do anything but obey her 'master', and-"
 
Shanghai punched him in the face and threw him to the ground. She truly was angry, which made her task simpler. She did not have to fake being angry, just the reason for her anger. "Don't you dare accuse me of that! You think I would even consider doing anything she said after what she did to me? Though I guess you don't know, do you? Well, then, let me tell you. She spent years trying to bring me to life. Sometimes, it was all she could think about. And eventually, she succeeded.
 
"Alice is my mother, my creator, and I loved her as soon as I became aware. And do you know what she did? She threw me out. Told me I was just a goddamn prototype for her to figure out how to bring a doll to life, and that now that she'd succeeded, I was useless. She gave me life just so she could throw me away like fucking garbage, and you think I'm working for her?"
 
The man had gotten to his feet, but Shanghai kicked him in the groin and shoved him down again. "I'm not here to help that goddamn bitch. I'm here because I want to fucking kill her, but I can't manage it by myself. So I've sought out Netese, to whom I know very well Alice is an enemy. So you are going to take me back to your little camp, and you are going to tell Netese that I have an offer for her. And I don't want payment, don't want anything from her. All I want is to see that goddamn 'mother' of mine die like the little bitch she is! Do I fucking make myself clear?"
 
The man got to his feet again. "I? can't promise any specific reaction, but? fine, I'll take you there. But if you try anything, you're dead."
 
"I'm not the one who's going to die," Shanghai said. "Alice is." [Sorry, Mother.]
 
[Don't be,] Alice replied. [You said what I wanted you to.]
 
 

 
Cirno and Rumia had spent some time experimenting with their new power, but now they'd returned to the others at Cirno's house. And as far as Wriggle was concerned, their timing couldn't have been better. "Perfect timing, you two" she said. "I think we have incoming."
 
"Wait," Cirno said, "incoming? You mean demons?"
 
Wriggle nodded. "They just entered my perception, and they're heading this way. And, Cirno, that one that attacked us in the forest is among them."
 
"What? That one's coming? Does it want payback?"
 
"I think so. And? hold on, that one and another are arguing about- whoa, about us. Cirno, I think one of the others is the one that first attacked you. They're arguing about what happened to drive them off. The one that attacked you alone is saying the fire came from someone else, a woman who claimed to be immortal."
 
"Mokou," Rumia said.
 
"The other is insisting that the flames came from you, Cirno."
 
"Well, he's wrong," Cirno said. "I only do ice."
 
"That may be true for you, but I doubt it was true for Nolana," Rumia said. "Remember, it's that attack that initially damaged the coil; perhaps there was an uncontrolled burst when that happened."
 
"Oh."
 
"Anyways," Wriggle said, "the first one is insisting that 'this force is excessive', while the second thinks it's a necessary precaution and that there's no telling what we're capable of. The two demons I killed have also been mentioned."
 
"Right," Rumia said, "so we've messed up enough demons in whatever ways that they consider us a threat, and so now they're making a concentrated effort to take us out."
 
"That's the impression I get."
 
"How many are there?"
 
"Seven."
 
"Not good," Daiyousei said. "Not good not good not good. Um, we need to get out of-"
 
"I'm not running," Cirno declared. "This is my home, and they're not driving me out of it."
 
"We can't beat them, Cirno. We have to run."
 
"Do not underestimate us," Wriggle said. "You have not seen Cirno and Rumia's current power. I have, and as I told you, it is quite clearly at the same level as mine. Yes, when we were attacked in the forest, just that one was enough to beat all of us, but things are different now. You saw me fight Marisa, so you have at least some idea of my current power. Cirno and Rumia are also at that level. Going by the demons I've faced-one of which is in the approaching group, and the other two of which are dead-this shouldn't be a problem."
 
"I don't like this," Mystia said, "but I trust you, Wriggle. If you think you can win this fight, I'll believe you."
 
Daiyousei, on the other hand, wasn't convinced. "Yeah, and what if they do? That'll just mark us as a bigger threat! They'll just keep sending more and more at us!"
 
"They have finite numbers," Rumia said, "and we have only fought those that attacked us. Before long, they will conclude that taking us out is not worth the cost."
 
"And what if they don't? What're we supposed to do if they keep coming?"
 
"Let them come," Wriggle said, giving her voice the booming and echoing effect. "It does not matter how many they send; all of them will fail. They will fall to us, and they will bow down before me or be killed. They will submit to my power and serve me, and all who follow will share the same fate. Their people, their lands, all will submit to me or be destroyed! MUAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!"
 
Silence.
 
"Wriggle," Mystia said, "you are having way too much fun with this."
 
 

 
And I'm having way too much fun writing her.
 
So, yeah, I think I may have gone a bit crazy with Byakuren's backstory; it's more than half the chapter. On the other hand, I like it even more than Keine's, so yeah. There was a lot I wanted to include, from her extending her life all the way through Makai, and putting all that in made it long. I like the method I came up with for her to gain immortality, and I wanted to include a scene with her and Shinki after her imprisonment. and then there's the temple scene. I've never liked how scenes like that have been handled in other stories; in particular, I've always felt that somebody needs to call out the obvious bullshit. So that's how I did my version of the scene. I think Mira was a bit more... passionate than Reimu is. And yes, Mira carried through on her threat to feed those two to a youkai; let's all be glad Reimu didn't inherit that particular tendency of her distant ancestor's.
 
You know, Orphan hasn't really been getting much attention lately, has she? Most of the focus has been on Cirno/Rumia and Wriggle. Orphan just hasn't had much to do in the past couple chapters. You can expect that to change next chapter, though.
 
And, of course, please comment on this chapter (or any other).

[GuyYouMetOnline]

Chapter 12
Jealousy
 
 
 
I descended through the entrance into the so-called 'Fantastic Wind Hole', the long tunnel to the underground. The tunnel itself was fairly unremarkable. Like everywhere else in Gensokyo, however, the tunnel was filled with fairies, but they were no more problematic than any others-although here, their danmaku would occasionally knock rocks loose from the sides. Rocks are not an issue for me, though, and my initial descent was simple and uneventful.
 
I remembered Yuugi's warning about Parsee, but Parsee was not the first noteworthy person I encountered. The first such person approached me peacefully and introduced herself as Yamame.
 
"Who might you be?"
 
"I am Orphan," I said. "I have lost my memory and am attempting to discover who I am. I don't suppose you recognize me, do you?"
 
"No, sorry. Anyways, what business do you- well, actually, I guess you just told me that, didn't you?"
 
"You are correct; I am hoping to find information about myself. Although if you don't know who I am, should I even bother going underground?"
 
"Well," Yamame said, "I do live here, but what people generally mean when they talk about 'the underground' is still a lot further down. I don't go there much, and I wouldn't know if anyone went missing or who someone is-unless they're one of the few who go between above and below frequently."
 
"I see."
 
"Hmm? well, I don't know if you're from down there, but regardless of whether or not you are, you should probably speak with Satori."
 
"Satori." The name was? familiar. "I think? I think I knew that name. Who is Satori?"
 
"She basically runs the underground-well, as much as anyone does; she doesn't actually do much leader-y stuff. But she's, well, a satori. A mind-reader."
 
"I see. Perhaps you're correct, then. Maybe I should speak with this woman. Although I did already try accessing those lost memories with Eirin up above, so I don't know that Satori will be able to get much in the way of results. It's worth a try, though, I think, especially since I'm heading down there anyways. Where can I find her?"
 
"She lives in the Palace of Earth Spirits," Yamame said. "Big place; there's no way you could possibly miss it. Um, if you're going down, then? well, be careful. There's a fairly nasty youkai you'll meet on the way down."
 
"Parsee, correct? Yuugi told me about her."
 
"Oh, you know Yuugi? Well, yes, I'm talking about Parsee. She'll almost certainly attack you. I hope you're good in a fight."
 
"I should be able to handle her," I said. "I'm hoping to avoid a fight, though."
 
"Not likely."
 
"Well, I do have a couple ideas, but there is certainly no guarantee of success. I'm going to try, though."
 
"Yeah, good luck with that."
 
 

 
Cirno and Rumia were getting some more practice in with their new powers in preparation for the upcoming fight, and Daiyousei was outside with them. Tewi had returned to Eientei; she'd actually left shortly before Wriggle had seen the demons. This left Wriggle and Mystai in Cirno's house by themselves.
 
"So the demons still aren't coming for us yet?"
 
"That's right, Mystia," Wriggle said. "They're being quite thorough in their 'survey of the area'. They're looking for good ambush spots and that sort of thing. Apparently, they intend to lure us into a trap."
 
"Doesn't sound like it'll work, though."
 
"Yeah, they obviously don't know that I can see everything they're doing."
 
There was a silence. "What's it like?" Mystia asked. "You know, all those perspectives at the same time."
 
"It's come very naturally," Wriggle said. "It took some getting used to, but even that went quickly. It's not even something I do any more. It's just? there. Always. I am aware through every insect within my range, and that range is growing-I assume I'm still adjusting to the power, or maybe the other way around. Or maybe both; I don't really know."
 
"When do you think it'll stop?"
 
"I don't know," Wriggle said. "It may very well keep expanding until I'm aware through every single insect in Gensokyo."
 
"Wow. That's? well, okay, I have no idea what that's like."
 
"Yeah, I doubt anyone else could understand what it's like. Cirno and Rumia should at least know what the sudden empowerment feels like, but I don't think they have anything like this. I always thought a lot of the stories about the First were made up or exaggerated, but? well, now I'm not so sure about that."
 
"I wish I could understand."
 
"I wish you could, too, Mystia. But I don't have anyone who can, and, well, I probably never will."
 
"Not even Cirno and Rumia?"
 
"They can only understand the power-gain part," Wriggle said, "but even there, I wouldn't ssay I have them. They have each other. I won't have someone who can understand it, and you know what? I don't think I want to, because the one I want can't understand it."
 
"The one you-oof!" Mystia was cut off as Wriggle suddenly embraced her.
 
"I love you, Mystia," Wriggle said.
 
 

 
My descent was again uneventful for a while, but then I reached the bridge.
 
I'm not sure why there's a bridge there, since everyone just files, but? well, I guess it's probably more symbolic than anything else, so I decided to consider it the border between Gensokyo and the underground.
 
There was a small house near the bridge, and a girl emerged from it as I descended. Looking up, she rose into the air to face me. "Who are you?"
 
"I am Orphan. I assume you are Parsee?"
 
She nodded. "You're the one Yuugi told me about."
 
"Yes."
 
"The woman who lost her memory."
 
"That is correct," I said. "I am going to the Palace of Earth Spirits in the hope of learning who I am."
 
Parsee muttered something to herself, then stared straight at Orphan. "And you think I'll just let you through?"
 
Right, time to call you out. "No, actually," I said. "I understand that you're likely to attack me."
 
That, it seemed, took her by surprise. "What am I to you, then? Someone who just attacks people?"
 
"Yuugi and Yamame both told me that you tend to attack anyone passing through here."
 
"You- they were talking about me?"
 
"They were," I said, "although I think Yamame was just giving a standard warning. Yuugi seemed to know you, though."
 
"Yuugi," Parsee said, her tone spiteful. "Yeah, she wants to 'know' me. She just doesn't get it. She only thinks she wants to be my friend. She just feels sorry for me, same as the others. 'Oh, look at the poor woman bound to this spot in the middle of nowhere; she must be sad and lonely.' So they act all nice, say they want to be friends, but guess what? They all left. Every single one of them. Feeling sorry only lasts so long, and they they're gone. Some just stop coming, but the others are even worse. 'Oh, I'm too busy to keep coming all the way up here.' 'Oh, I'm moving in with someone.' 'Oh, my parents are making me stop coming here.' Bullshit, all of it. They're just making excuses, like they think I don't know what they're really thinking. 'Oh, how could anyone ever be her friend?' 'There's nothing to like about her.' 'We should just leave her to rot.'"
 
Huh. "That's a rather negative view of things."
 
"Don't act like it's not true."
 
"Well, I wouldn't know. I don't think Yuugi's that way, though."
 
"Yuugi. She's even worse. She sees me, comes up to me just like everyone else. But she's different. She's completely delusional. It has to be all that sake. It's gone to her head. Or maybe she took one too many blows to the head. It's not genuine, I know that much. It's never genuine. Not when people say they want to be friends, and not when Yuugi says she wants to be 'more than friends'."
 
So that's it. "She loves you."
 
"No. She doesn't. Why would she? There's nothing to even like about me, much less love. I don't have anything. I don't have her looks. I don't have her strength. I don't have her confidence. I don't have anything. And you! You come down here and think you know what's going on, but you don't have a clue!"
 
"Then I apologize."
 
"Oh, yeah, sure, you 'apologize'. Like you understand. You don't. You can't. You have things. You have a goal, a purpose. I don't. There's no need for me anymore. Nobody cares who comes and goes, so why would they need me? Oh, they try to hide it, but none of them would care if I just up and died. And you!" Parsee's green eyes began to glow. "You come here, taunting me with your purpose, and I won't accept it."
 
Not good. "I meant no offense. I shall simply be on my way, then."
 
"Oh, no you won't. You come through here like it doesn't mean a thing. I can't do that."
 
"You're jealous."
 
"Of course I am! And you will feel my pain! The green-eyed monster has come for you!"
 
Parsee formed orbs of green energy and fired them at me. I reacted quickly, moving between them as they flew past me and impacted the side of the tunnel. Parsee followed the orbs with a beam, which she swept along after me as I evaded. I countered with a basic spray of shots, which she dodged without difficulty. However, it distracted her long enough to allow me to pull a chunk of earth out of the wall behind her and slam it into her.
 
"Nice one," Parsee said. "Too bad it won't help. You're not escaping from this fight."
 
There was a pause, during which I believe the same thought occurred to us simultaneously. I, however, was faster to act. I dove past her and down the tunnel.
 
"Oh, don't think you're getting away!" I spun to face upwards to see that, indeed, Parsee was in pursuit.
 
 

 
I am Parsee Mizuhashi, and I don't want your goddamn pity.
 
I am bound to this one spot, this meaningless 'bridge'. I can leave it, but only temporarily and to a limited distance. It used to be that there was a purpose to my bridge. It acted as the border, separating the underground from the surface world, and travel between the two was not to happen, as per the terms of an ancient agreement. Access to the underground was blocked, though, so even then, I was fairly useless. But it did at least have a theoretical purpose, something it no longer does now that access is no longer blocked or restricted.
 
People see me stuck living here by myself and take pity on me, and I don't want it. They don't understand. I can't have what they have. I want it, badly, but I cannot have it. I can't live in the city. I can't live on the surface. I can't have adventures. I can't go sightseeing. I can't have a nice home. I can't just go have fun. I can't have friends. I can't be close to anyone.
 
People think they can help me, but they're wrong. They can't, and their efforts only make it worse. I can't do what they do, reach out and try to help someone. I can't do any of what they do. I can't do it. I want to, but I can't, and their attempts only serve to rub this in my face.
 
I hated it. I hated it, but I was used to it, and I knew that eventually, they would give up on me and I would not see them again. But then Yuugi came along. I try to get her to leave me alone, but she does not. She tries to 'get closer' to me, to 'break through'. She keeps saying she cares about me, and the worst part is that I think that's true.
 
Yuugi has no idea what it's like for me. For me to see someone caring about another in a way I never could. The more she tries, the worse she makes it, and nothing I do can convince her to stop. I don't care about what may be happening on the surface or in the underground; I just want Yuugi, and everyone else, to leave me alone.
 
 

 
I dodged around Parsee's blasts and returned fire. Parsee then fired some large green shots. The shots left short-lasting trails of energy behind them as they flew towards me. I tried to dodge, only to find that these shots were homing in on my position.
 
I acted quickly, but it wasn't enough. Quick, last-second movements were enough to evade the shots, but I had not been expecting them, and my evasion wasn't enough to avoid all of them. I took a pair of hits back-to-back, which knocked me into the wall.
 
Parsee fired more homing blasts at me, too many to easily dodge. So I took a different approach. I opened a passage in the wall and dove into it, keeping an earthen barrier between myself and Parsee. I moved the earth below me to the sides as I fell, continuing my descent while Parsee's shots impacted the wall.
 
Once the shots were gone, I burst back out into the main tunnel and fired dual streams of lasers at her. She evaded and responded by, it appeared, splitting into two. Both Parsees opened fire simultaneously, one firing smaller numbers of larger shots and the other firing larger numbers of smaller shots.
 
One of you should be a fake. Let's find out which. I fired a wide stream of shots. The shots were too weak to do any noticeable damage, but there were enough of them that evasion was effectively impossible, and both Parsees took hits. There was no reaction from the one firing smaller shots, but the one firing larger shots seemed to absorb mine and channel the energy to produce additional shots of its own. Clever. Although now I know which one's which. Unless you have a way around that. I sprayed shots in the real Parsee's direction, scoring several hits. Then the two Parsees started to glow. What's she do-wait, she must be correcting for-
 
I took a chance, firing several high-power shots at the fake Parsee. And it turned out that my guess was correct. The two Parsees flashed, after which their shot types had been exchanged. And when my shots hit, they were not absorbed. Parsee had switched places with her duplicate. "An interesting trick," I said.
 
"It's not my only trick! Midnight Anathema Ritual!"
 
Parsee fired a stream of shots in my direction, which I easily evaded. Interestingly, Parsee didn't redirect her fire to track me, instead cutting the stream completely and beginning a new one. Evading the shots was simple, but then they hit the walls. And upon hitting the walls, they bounced off.
 
Evasion became somewhat trickier as more and more shots started bouncing around, and I began to take hits. So I decided to take the brute-force approach. I ceased evading entirely and fired a large beam at Parsee. The move took her by surprise, and I scored a direct hit, sending Parsee rebounding off the wall and ending her spell-'breaking' it, as it was called, something that happened in both regular and danmaku battles, although it was apparently more common in the latter, which was built partially around the concept.
 
Parsee sent more homing blasts at me. I pulled chunks of earth from the sides of the tunnel and used those to block the shots. I began forming large orbs of my own and sending them at Parsee. She evaded, of course, and my shots impacted the sides above her. These shots knocked rocks and earth off the sides, and I took control of this earthen debris and directed it towards her. My continued fire kept Parsee's attention, allowing me to easily hit her with the various large rocks and such.
 
Parsee returned to homing shots, and I tore chunks out of the walls to block them, sending the remaining debris at Parsee. I added sweeping streams of lasers, and then a random spray of shots simply to add to the general chaos and make evasion harder. I was working myself harder than I had since arriving in Gensokyo, working myself at a level I'd only done in my training.
 
Parsee adopted a different approach. She continued firing her homing shots, but she added precisely-targeted beams-green, like almost everything else she used; this girl had taken the 'green-eyed monster' metaphor and ran with it. These lasers were not aimed directly at me; rather, they were targeted to restrict my range of motion. But she made a mistake. She directed me against the wall-a good idea in general, but not effective against me here. I repeated my earlier trick of forming a separate tunnel to fall through.
 
Parsee reacted quickly. She dashed into my separate tunnel, and attacked with lasers, intending to hit me while I was in a more enclosed space. But I simply moved back out into the main tunnel. She followed me out, but since I knew she'd be emerging from that spot, she ran straight into a storm of lasers. And then she got a large rock to the head.
 
Parsee repeated her homing shots/beams strategy, except that this time she tried to keep me in the middle of the tunnel. It didn't work; I tore a chunk out of the wall and used it to block one of her beams. It didn't last long, but I had more than enough time to dash past while the beam was blocked.
 
And then we emerged from the tunnel.
 
The cavern was enormous, impossibly huge. There's no way it could possibly exist naturally, I thought, but then I quickly revised my thought. This was Gensokyo; there was no telling what could possibly happen 'naturally' here.
 
I could see the city far below, and slightly to the side; directly below me was empty land. I sped downwards, Parsee in close pursuit. She sent large numbers of homing shots at me, but I was moving fast enough that they couldn't get to me before I reached the ground. And when I did, I lowered myself through the ground, allowing Parsee's shots to impact harmlessly.
 
Parsee landed in front of me as I rose from the ground. "Are you truly going to continue to pursue me?" I said.
 
"What, you thought you could escape? Not happening."
 
"Why do you insist on continuing this battle?"
 
"Shut up! Just shut- ah!"
 
Blasts impacted the ground between the two of us, and when the dust cleared, Yuugi was there. I guess she saw us coming down and figured out who it was. Can't be too hard, I guess; those purely-green shots of hers are probably pretty distinctive.
 
"Yuugi," Parsee said. "What the hell are you doing here?"
 
"I noticed the battle, and your shots are distinctive. And what the hell are you doing? I told you to let Orphan past."
 
"And why should I just let her pass? You don't get it! She comes through, taunting me with her purpose, her goal, and you think I'll just let her pass?"
 
"'Taunting' you," Yuugi said. "I'd bet she just mentioned it as why she was down here, didn't she?"
 
"What the hell do you know?"
 
"I know you."
 
"You don't know anything!"
 
"Dammit, Parsee," Yuugi said, "why do you keep pushing everyone away? Why do you keep pushing me away?"
 
"Because I want you to stay away!"
 
It seemed that the topic of conversation had quickly turned away from me. "Why?" Yuugi asked. "Why do you want me to stay away?"
 
"Because I don't want you to get close!"
 
"Dammit, Parsee, I lo-"
 
"DON'T SAY IT!"
 
"I love you."
 
"No! I don't want you to love me! I hate it! I hate you! You don't understand anything! I can't love someone! I've never been able to! But you can! And you shove it in my face, taunting me with something I can never have!"
 
I could have simply left the two of them, but the same forgotten part of myself that led me to intervene in the feud between Mokou and Kaguya led to me deciding to intervene here, as well. But I doubted that I could simply speak to her, so I needed a different plan, and I decided to take the direct approach. Parsee was too occupied yelling at Yuugi to notice me approaching her until it was too late.
 
I punched Parsee in the face.
 
 

 
The guards surrounding the caravan tensed up upon noticing Shanghai's approach, but relaxed a bit when they realized that it was one of their own leading her. The man led Shanghai over to the fanciest carriage, which two others were flanking the door into. "Um, Kan?" one of them said. "Who's that?"
 
"Says her name's Shanghai," the guard-Kan-said. "She, um, kind of insisted on speaking with Lady Netese."
 
"And you just agreed?"
 
"She was rather? forceful. So I decided I'd at least bring her here. It's up to Lady Netese whether or not it goes any further, of course."
 
"Of course. And did she mention why she wants to speak with Lady Netese?"
 
"Because I can help her with a little problem of hers," Shanghai said. "Specifically, I understand she's interested in my mother."
 
"Your 'mother?' Hmm? you appear artificial, so I suppose, then, that you are referring to the person who created you?" Shanghai nodded. "And who would this person- wait, you kinda look like a doll." The guard raised his spear. "Are you one of Alice's creations?"
 
"Yes. I am here because I need assistance in killing Alice Margatroid."
 
"Right," the other guard said. "Um, wait there." He entered the carriage.
 
"Wait," the first guard said, "why would you want to kill her?"
 
"You," Shanghai said, "have no idea what she did to me. I was her most important project, you know. For many years, she devoted herself to finding a way to bring me to life. And do you know what she did when she succeeded? She threw me away! I was just a goddamn prototype, meant for her to develop her technique using me, and when she succeeded, my role was finished and I was tossed out! And she planned this from the start! She made me as a prototype, made me specifically to be used and then thrown away! So don't you dare question my motives."
 
The guard looked over at Kan. "Yeah, I see what you mean by 'forceful'."
 
"At least she didn't hit you," Kan remarked. "She's? passionate about this. And understandably so, if she's telling the truth about what Alice did."
 
"And I am," Shanghai put in.
 
It was then that the other guard emerged. "Lady Netese has agreed to speak with you. You may enter."
 
 

 
Parsee staggered backwards. "Hey! What-"
 
"What the hell is wrong with you?" I said. "This woman loves you, and you hate her because of it?"
 
"You don't understand! I can't love anyone like that! I can't-"
 
"Why not?" I asked.
 
"Because- because? um?"
 
As I thought. "There is no reason you cannot love someone."
 
"Yes there is! I don't even know how to do it!"
 
"There's nothing to know. As I once heard it put, 'Love requires no knowledge or skill, only willingness.' Are you willing? You say you hate that Yuugi can love you but you can't love her, but you can change that if you're willing to. So are you?"
 
Parsee was silent. "Um, I don't know that our relationship is really your business," Yuugi said, "but thanks."
 
"Do not underestimate the direct approach," I said.
 
"Yeah, I've tried it. Not quite that? forcefully, though."
 
"A calculated action. Force has a tendency to get people's attention."
 
"Yeah, I'm aware. I'm an oni, remember?"
 
"Oh, come on," Parsee said. "You really think this changes anything?"
 
"Well," Yuugi replied, "you're having a conversation now instead of just yelling at me, so yes."
 
"I? that's? I?"
 
"Well, Yuugi," I said, "I owe you thanks as well, for stopping the fight."
 
Yuugi grinned. "Hey, don't mention it. Um, you have any specific destination down here?"
 
"The palace," Parsee said. "She's going to speak with Satori."
 
"Ah. Well, I don't think you'll have problems getting where you need to go, then. Just head into the city and you'll see the place."
 
"Thank you," I said, taking to the air. "Farewell."
 
 

 
The guard directed Shanghai to a seat at a fancy-looking table before returning to his post outside. Across the room, two more guards flanked an entrance draped with curtains. Netese soon emerged, flinging the curtains aside in a dramatic manner.
 
"Greetings, Shanghai," Netese said as she sat opposite the ex-doll in a chair clearly designed to avoid interfering with her wings. "I understand you have a little? issue with a certain Alice Margatroid."
 
Shanghai nodded. "I do. She-"
 
Netese raised a hand. "You don't need to repeat your explanation. I heard your little outburst. You've got a pretty good volume, you know?" She looked Shanghai over, then looked at the doll. "Is that doll what you were before?" Shanghai nodded. "I see. You know, you don't look like some kind of half-assed model. It looks like a great deal of care went into making you."
 
"Of course," Shanghai said. "I wouldn't be a good test subject if I was too different from the rest."
 
"Ah, I see."
 
"Well-rounded capabilities, too," Shanghai continued, her tone bitter. "She wanted to make sure the capabilities of her other dolls would transfer correctly."
 
"I see. So tell me something, Shanghai. You came to me because you wanted to cut straight to the one in charge, correct? I can understand that; given who your 'mother' is, the message may have never reached me otherwise, despite your? dislike of Alice. But this is just a stop for the night. I highly doubt that you were just coincidentally here when I arrived, so tell me: how did you know I would be here?"
 
"I followed you from Pandemonium," Shanghai explained. I knew there was no way I'd ever manage to get inside there, but given the current level of activity-due, I would assume, to the attack on Gensokyo drawing near-I doubted that it would be long before some big-shot showed up. I wasn't expecting someone who seemed to be a bigger shot than Lord Tokekei, though, but that's some good fortune for me, I guess. My original plan was to get someone as high up in the chain of command as I could get to take me to Tokekei, but the plan changed when you showed up. So I followed you here."
 
"And approached an off-duty guard because he'd be less tense and less likely to attack immediately, no doubt."
 
"Correct," Shanghai said.
 
"You've certainly put a lot of effort into this. But I'm afraid I do need some way to know that you've spoken the truth. Please don't take offense; one in my position must consider that sort of thing, you know."
 
"I know," Shanghai said. "Unfortunately, I do not know of a way to prove myself to you. I can tell you that Alice has been spying on Makai, but I'm afraid I have no proof of this to offer you."
 
"I see. How do you she's been spying on us, then?"
 
"Because I caught sight of Moscow on my way to Pandemonium. Moscow is one of the ones Alice actually cared about. She's been brought to life now, and she was designed for espionage. I can't think of any other reason for her to have been here."
 
"Did this 'Moscow' see you?"
 
"No, I do not believe so. My observational capabilities are greater than hers-I was given a little of everything, remember-and I was hidden by the time she passed by."
 
"I see. You hate these others of Alice's, too, don't you?"
 
"Excuse me?"
 
"I'm a succubus," Netese said. "My kind is sensitive to the emotions of others. Helps with the whole 'seduction' thing. And you've got a lot of hate. Not all centered around Alice, either. And it's natural that you'd hate these other 'children' of Alice's, so I simply made the obvious connection."
 
"Oh."
 
"Also," Netese said, "there's been no trace of deceit from you. So I will accept that your intentions are what you say."
 
 

 
[Excellent,] Alice sent. [It worked as planned. Good work, Shanghai.]
 
The one they needed to speak to being a succubus was some unexpected good luck. Succubi did indeed have emotional sensitivity, but they were not empaths. They could not truly sense emotions; they simply had a talent for reading people. And Shanghai, due to her artificial nature, had much greater conscious control over her body than 'natural' life. Which included emotional indicators. Succubi were notoriously difficult to lie to, and tended to be absolutely certain they could tell if someone was being honest. The fact that this was pretty much true helped encourage this belief. But Shanghai's greater conscious control over her body had meant that she was able to fool Netese, who would thus be absolutely certain that Shanghai was telling the truth.
 
[Yeah,] Shanghai sent, [but, um, I'm having trouble feeling relieved, since, you know, I'm not going to be done for a good while.]
 
[Good point.]
 
 

 
Cirno and Rumia were sitting along the shore of the lake. "Things've been kinda crazy lately, haven't they?" Cirno said.
 
"Yeah, there's an understatement for you."
 
"I guess." A pause. "Um, Rumia?"
 
"Yeah?"
 
"Do you think we can handle this?"
 
"The demons?"
 
"Yeah."
 
"Yeah, I think we can handle it. Didn't our little practice session here make it clear just how much more powerful we are now? We can handle it."
 
"Yeah, hopefully. Still nervous, though."
 
"Really?" Rumia said. "'Cause the Cirno I know would be, um, eager to get her payback."
 
"Yeah, and if it was just that one demon-or even it and a friend or two-it's be different. But there are seven of them."
 
"And three of us," Rumia said. "That's enough. Trust me, Cirno. We can take them."
 
 

 
I seem to like powering up stage 1 and 2 bosses.
 
Anyways, sorry about the long time between updates (finals and all that). And yeah, this is a short chapter. I actually wasn't expecting it to be as short as it turned out to be, but, well, whatever. It's the length it needs to be. The next chapter should be longer.
 
Also, I'm really starting to wonder why nobody's giving me any feedback here. Surely there's enough that a lot of you have something to say. So let me ask: why aren't you saying it?

[Aba Matindesu!]

Here's what I have to say:
MORE.

[GuyYouMetOnline]

As nice as that is to hear, it's not really helpful. I'm certainly glad that you're enjoying the story, but tell me things like what your favorite part of a chapter is, or any bit you didn't really like, or that sort of thing. The more feedback I get, the better future chapters will be.
 
 
 
Chapter 13
Those Who Know
 
 
"So," Netese said, "you want my help in killing little Alice."
 
"That's right," Shanghai said.
 
"Well, believe me, we've tried to kill her quite a few times, and she's still alive. And if she's got living dolls now, she'll be an even harder target. So how do you propose we go about this?"
 
"I can get Alice to come to Makai."
 
"Oh? Well, then. That would be helpful. How would you do it, though? Surely she knows of your, um, feelings towards her."
 
"She does," Shanghai said. "And for that reason, she, although I'm certain I can get her to come, will most likely be ready for a trap. And she'll likely bring others with her. Copenhagen and Hourai in particular are built for combat; physical and magical, respectively. Holland, too; she's built for durability. London, the scout, may be with her, too, but none of the others have capabilities that would really be of any use in battle."
 
"And she may very well have ones you don't know about, too," Netese pointed out.
 
"Not new models, probably, but you're right that she may have brought others of the existing models to life. I think, though, that there's a limit to how many of us she can have alive."
 
"Oh?"
 
"The method she developed involves a magical connection between the dolls and her. It's likely that she can only have a certain number of those connections going at once."
 
"I see. And, of course, there's Alice herself. Hmm… well, we'll certainly want to have a sizable force waiting, but for Alice herself, I think perhaps we should use something… special. How will Alice enter Makai, do you think?"
 
"In the crystal forest, Mekis. That's where her portal goes. And yes, I do know this for sure, seeing as how sneaking through it is how I reached Makai in the first place."
 
"Mekis? Hmm… we'll use Tonall, then, and I'll have Nekiei lead the force." She turned to the two guards. "Get a messenger sent to Lady Nekiei. She is to depart immediately and rendezvous with us at the village of Tonall for the purpose of a plan to kill Alice Margatroid, and she is to be prepared to use our 'special methods'. Then notify the caravan that our destination has changed; we'll be leaving for Tonall first thing in the morning."
 
"Yes, my lady," one of the guards said as he exited the carriage.
 
Netese turned back to Shanghai. "Now, then."
 
"What are these 'special methods'?" Shanghai asked.
 
"Oh, just a little something we picked up from Lady Shinki after her death. It should prove to be most effective. Now, a question for you. How long ago did you enter Makai?"
 
"Just a couple days ago. Why?"
 
"We have recently become aware of the fact that a… certain individual has arrived in Gensokyo. Someone who has been gone for five years, and someone in whom we are quite interested." Netese produced an image of the person in question and showed it to Shanghai. "Have you seen her?"
 
"No," Shanghai said. [Mother?]
 
[I do not recognize her.]
 
"Who is she?" Shanghai asked.
 
"Let's leave that aside for now. It is sufficient to say that she is a threat. One against which measures have already been taken. You were watching when I entered Pandemonium, correct? My meeting there was regarding this woman. I have instructed Lord Tokekei to have her dealt with, and his 'special force' should have no difficulties in dealing with her."
 
 
 

 
"Okay," Wriggle said, "Mystia, Dai, you two stay here. Stay inside. They should all be too focused on the battle to worry about searching for you two, but if someone does draw close, I'll know.
 
"Cirno, Rumia, the battle is our job. You remember what I said, right? The demon that attacked us in the forest is going to approach us alone and engage us as a distraction while the others move in to surround us. Or they'll try, at least, but once I start blasting them, they'll figure out that we know what they're up to and come at us straight. We don't know what to expect from some of them, but we have fought one before, and Cirno, you've fought another. In addition, most of them have weapons-swords, specifically, with a nasty-looking axe as the only exception.
 
"Now, you two do have an idea as to your current capabilities, correct?"
 
"Yeah," Cirno said. "A couple cool tricks, like the illusion thing, and I can do a lot more with ice now. Forming, controlling, all of it. I can retake control after releasing it now, too."
 
"A fairly basic power increase. Substantial, but basic. Rumia?"
 
"Same sort of thing," Rumia said. "I can see clearly in any level of darkness now, and I have a couple tricks of my own, such as the invisibility thing. Although it's not really invisibility; I just make the light miss me. And yeah, my abilities with dark energy are a lot stronger now. And there's the sword, too; its use comes completely naturally."
 
"I'm better with a sword, now, too," Cirno put in.
 
"Sounds like it's about as expected," Wriggle said. "Are you two ready for this?"
 
Rumia nodded. "Yeah."
 
"I think so," Cirno said.
 
"Good. All right, then. Let's get going and do this."
 
 
 

 
Yuugi was right; the Palace of the Earth Spirits was almost impossible to miss. I landed in front of it and approached, and as I drew near, the door opened on its own. I guess I'm being invited in.
 
There was nobody in sight when I entered, but I soon heard the echoing footsteps of… someone. She reached the entry hall soon enough, and I got my look at her. I had gotten used to Gensokyo's wide variety of hair and eye colors, so her unusual ones were not a surprise, and the fact that the cat perched on her shoulder had two tales was barely worth noting. I was not, however, expecting the… object against her chest. I was pretty sure it wasn't just an ornament, but I'd never seen its like before.
 
"You have, actually," the woman said. "It is the third eye of the satori."
 
Well, then this had to be-
 
"Yes, I am Satori Komeiji. So… well, it seems you're in somewhat of a complex situation."
 
Yes, she was a mind-reader. Convenient, really; it saved me the trouble of having to explain things when she could just take what information she needed from my mind.
 
"Convenient? Interesting. Most do not share that sentiment. A welcome change. Anyways, come. It seems we may have a good deal to talk about, so let's go somewhere a bit more comfortable first."
 
 
 

 
My name was Naoshi Komeiji. I am the eldest child of the Komeiji line, the long-time rulers of the underground.
 
Do not mistake us for royalty or anything of the like; the underground was once under the rule of a queen, but that was a long time ago. We do use the former royal palace, the Palace of the Earth Spirits, as our home, but we are not royalty, and our duties are not as such.
 
It may seem odd that satori are the undisputed rulers of the underground. My kind were driven into hiding down here because of the fear and hatred of others, and we are feared here as well. But we generally kept ourselves separate. And the people here were willing to put their feelings aside in regards to having a satori leader, as we happen to have… unique qualifications for such a position. After all, who better to decide on the resolution of a dispute than one who can see into the minds of all involved parties? Who better to determine guilt? Who better to judge the needs and desires of the people?
 
Despite being accepted as rulers, however, my kind was never accepted as people, and eventually, most of us were driven out. At the moment, I am the only satori living in the Ancient City, as my sister spends much of her time who-knows-where.
 
Koishi is an interesting case. Like other satori before her, the hatred of the people led to her closing her third eye, sealing away her ability to read minds. But something went wrong when Koishi did it. I don't know what caused it, but Koishi's mind-reading ability was not sealed. It was changed. Satori read people's conscious minds, but Koishi can no longer do that. Instead, her power has shifted to the subconscious. Ironically enough, this has actually caused some to fear her more, but she no longer cares. Whatever messed up her sealing seems to have had some sort of effect on her mind. Unfortunately, I cannot determine what happened or how it might be undone, and I fear that it cannot be undone.
 
Koishi, like many other satori, reacted to people's fear and hatred by attempting to rid herself of her mind-reading ability. I took a different approach. People who had never met me, never even seen me, were hateful and fearful of me just because I'm a satori. I had done nothing to earn these feelings; they came simply because of what I am. If people don't like the fact that I'm a satori, that's their problem, not mine, and I'm not going to change what I am simply to appeal to such feelings. I decided to take the opposite approach, and this began with changing my name, taking that of my kind and becoming Satori Komeiji.
 
I've had people tell me that others would be much more tolerant of me if I didn't display my ability to the degree I do, but they're wrong. The attitude of others came first. I said that I took the path of emphasizind what I am, and the extent to which I display my ability is part of that. What I do makes a statement, says that no matter what others think, I am still what I am. Besides, I do have the company of animals. Animals, especially those that have not learned to take on humanoid forms, have long been accepting of my kind; they can't produce recognizable speech, but to those who can read minds, this is not a barrier.
 
Now I am faced with someone who does not mind my ability. She has lost her memory, and is searching for answers. And this is something I can assist her with, as I happen to know who she is.
 
 
 

 
Wriggle was in the middle as the three of them met the approaching demon, Cirno and Rumia to her sides. They came to a halt as the demon drew closer.
 
"Well, there you are," the demon said. "I was wondering where you'd gotten to. But weren't there five of you? Or are the other two just too scared to come out here?"
 
"Why are you here?" Wriggle asked.
 
"Oh, that's simple. You drove me off before, so now it's time for a little payback."
 
"I would recommend reconsidering. We'll let you go if you leave now."
 
The demon laughed. "Yeah, like that's your choice to make. You caught me off-guard last time, but that's not going to happen again."
 
"Right." Wriggle glanced at her companions. "Either of you want the first round?"
 
Rumia stepped forward, sword in hand. "I'll handle it."
 
"Just one, then," the demon said. "Huh. Kind of hurts your ability to take advantage of your numerical superiority. Not that it'd help. So very well, then. I'll take you one at a time."
 
"You won't even get through me," Rumia said, and the two of them charged.
 
 
 

 
Satori offered me a seat, then sat herself down facing me. "First, allow me to say that as you suspect, I cannot do anything to restore your memory. We satori can only read what is there. My sister is a bit different, yes, but even she cannot restore what has been lost. However, I can help you, as it just so happens that I know who you are."
 
She knows-
 
"Yes, I know who you are."
 
Finally, some results. I would seem that I was right to come down here. Of course, it remained to be seen just how much about me she actually knew.
 
"I do not know all that much about you," Satori admitted. "You and I very rarely spoke directly. I do know a few things, but nowhere close to enough to satisfy you, I would suspect. And yes, I do know your name, but I see that you want to save the name for last. And not knowing your name won't be as much of a handicap as it might have been, as I know where you are from, and I can direct you to there. And there, you will find someone who should be able to tell you everything you want to know. However… well, let me ask you something: how much do you know about the current situation with Gensokyo and Makai?"
 
I didn't need to answer, of course; presumably, she only asked the question in order to get the desired information in the front of my mind. "So not much, then. As I thought, given how recently you arrived in Gensokyo. I, however, know more than most, although this only recently became true. A few days ago, I intercepted one of the demons and, with the aid of my pets, subdued him. He refused to answer my questions, but asking got him thinking about the answers, and that, of course, was enough.
 
"The ones who believe that Makai is going to invade are correct. The current attacks are meant to cause disruption in Gensokyo and prevent the organization of an effective response. And this plan appears to be working. It would seem that no less than three individuals are trying to unite Gensokyo under themselves, and since there are three of them, this is, of course, not working."
 
This was understandable, although I don't think there would have been much in the way of progress even if only one person had been trying to unite Gensokyo under herself. Even I know that Gensokyo's residents are widely varying, and the idea of bringing all of them under a single authority would inevitably be met with considerable resistance. Yes, Gensokyo would need to stand united in order to have a chance against an invading army, but a single ruling authority was not necessary for that. A united force would accomplish the same thing, and without the resistance. And it would be easier to do, as well.
 
"I reached similar conclusions," Satori said. "Unfortunately, the three individuals in question can be… well, convincing them to change their approach is not an easy task, especially in Remilia's case. But you… I think you could bypass entirely the need to change their minds. I think that if you were to step forward and declare an intent to lead a force against Makai's, the people would be quick to support you. Everyone knows that something's going on, and I think that at this point, the majority believe, correctly, that Makai is going to attack. If you were to step forward to form and lead a unified force, I believe you would succeed in gathering such a force."
 
 
 

 
Alice looked up as Byakuren entered her house. "You're back. I forgot how fast you can move. How did it go?"
 
"Not well," Byakured said. "About aas well as expected, but that's not very well. The other two were at least willing to think about it-Kaguya in particular was fairly receptive of the idea-but Remilia was actually more uncooperative than expected. I don't think we have enough time to bring her around."
 
"Then we'll have to see if we can buy some more time. Netese has taken the bait, and it sounds like someone fairly important will be leading the attack against me. Netese has been formulating her plan against me, although just in case, she hasn't been telling Shanghai everything. But apparently, the force that will be sent to deal with me will be led by someone called Nekiei, and it sounds like she's one of the leaders of their army."
 
"If that's true, then why would she be sent into a possible trap? I would have expected someone less important to be sent."
 
"I think it has something to do with something Netese has only referred to as 'special methods'. And incidentally, I think I have a pretty good idea of what those methods are, since Netese mentioned that they were 'picked up' from my mother. And if I'm right, then it most certainly makes sense that only the most important people would be able to use them; Netese would not want many people to know of this sort of thing. She has, however, made a mistake, as what she seems to be planning will not work on me."
 
"And what if they've found a way to make it work on you?"
 
"Well," Alice said, "the thought has crossed my mind, and yes, I believe I do indeed have an effective countermeasure."
 
"That's good."
 
"There's one more thing," Alice said. "Netese mentioned someone who went missing five years ago. Apparently, she's recently been seen in Gensokyo, and Netese considers her a potential threat. I didn't recognize the image she showed Shanghai, though."
 
"Wait," Byakuren said, "five years ago? Are you talking about Orphan?"
 
"No name was given. Who's Orphan?"
 
"I met her at Eientei," Byakuren said. "Apparently, she lost her memory five years ago. And she's been in the outside world until recently."
 
"Huh. Yeah, I'd say there's a pretty good chance that's her. Can you describe her?" Byakuren did so. "Yeah, that sounds like her," Alice said. "And you don't know anything about her?"
 
"No, although she did seem familiar. But what connection could she have to the… wait. Demons, five years ago." Byakuren slapped herself in the face. "Damn it, I should have realized sooner."
 
The profanity was pretty mild, but Alice was surprised to hear such a thing at all from Byakuren. "Wait, what is it? Do you know who she is?"
 
"Yes. Yes, I think I do. I should've figured it out- well, no point in dwelling on it now."
 
"Right. Um, could you please explain?"
 
"Sure," Byakuren said. "Five years ago, there was an attack on the Hakurei and Moriya shrines. An attack by demons. I was visiting Reimu when it happened, and I assisted her in fighting off the demons. Oddly enough, they eventually shifted suddenly from an aggressive attack to a full retreat. I didn't see any reason for this, but Reimu said they did something to the barrier, something she quickly fixed.
 
"At one point during the battle, one of the demons mentioned 'the other shrine', so Reimu and I went to check on the Moriya shrine. They had indeed been attacked, and the demons had withdrawn in a similar manner. But… well, there'd been a casualty."
 
"This 'Orphan' individual."
 
"I think so, yes. She was just… gone. They wondered if perhaps the demons had abducted her, but hearing of the attack on the Hakurei shrine produced some doubt of this. Regardless, though, news of her disappearance was kept quiet, and outside of the shrine, I'm fairly certain that only Reimu and myself know that she vanished. The rest of the mountain just thinks she's dead, and outside of the mountain, almost nobody knows that anything happened at all."
 
"I see. But why does her return have Netese worried?"
 
"Because of who Orphan is," Byakuren said. "The efforts to unite Gensokyo are having the effect of turning it against itself. Orphan may be able to change this. Remember what we said about needing a miracle?" Alice nodded. "Well, Orphan's our miracle."
 
 
 

 
The demon blocked Rumia's slash by taking the hit on his arm. The demon had been using this tactic a lot, as it lacked a weapon of its own. It did, however, have its regenerative abilities to take advantage of. It tried to get a hit in, but Rumia leapt backwards, calling her sword back to her.
 
Wriggle fired a large number of shots seemingly at random, but random firing it was not. Wriggle had aimed her shots such that they hit insects she had positioned. Wriggle was able to channel her will through the insects and use them as relay points, taking the shots and re-targeting them at the six demons who thought they were approaching unseen.
 
Rumia backed away as the demons emerged from the surroundings to join the other one. "How did you do that?" one of them asked.
 
"You thought you could approach unseen," Wriggle said, "but there is nothing I do not see."
 
"Whatever. Doesn't matter. We're still going to kill you."
 
"You will fail. I will give all of you one final chance. If you leave now, that will be the end of this."
 
"Yeah, you're not bluffing your way out of this," another demon said.
 
"Then you have sealed your fate. Cirno, Rumia, we'll refer to them as A through G from left to right, our point of view."
 
"Right, whatever," Cirno said. Rumia just nodded.
 
"Okay," one of the demons-demon E-said, "how about no more talking? Let's just fight."
 
"You seem eager for death," Wriggle said. "Very well, then." She fired a beam at the demon, landing a direct hit. "Cirno, Rumia, let's do this!"
 
 
 

 
I decided to set what Satori had told me aside. She thought I could form an army against Makai's, but before I could even think about doing that, I had to know who I was.
 
"I understand," Satori said, "and I happen to agree. I expect that you will decide to oppose Makai, but that decision can wait until you know who you are. I think, however, that there's a good chance that the enemy knows of your return-they have observers in Gensokyo in addition to the ones fighting. And I would expect the enemy to reach the same conclusions I have."
 
Which meant that they'd see me as a threat.
 
"Exactly," Satori said. "It's important that they not be allowed to do anything to you, and for that reason, I think somebody should escort you to your destination." She glanced over at the cat on her shoulder. "Bring her here, please." The cat nodded and took off as Satori turned back to me. "I have someone who is a very good choice for this, and Orin is bringing her here.
 
"Now, your destination will be the Moriya Shrine atop the Youkai Mountain. There is a passage to the surface that will take you close to the mountain, but you will have to cover some distance. That's the time you will be most vulnerable to attack, and the enemy doubtless knows that you will eventually head for the mountain, so I would expect them to be waiting. Once you reach the mountain, however, you should be safe, at least from the demons. The god of the mountain has been… firm in dealing with demon attackers. She herself, however, may be a different story. She knew you very well, and she took your disappearance… poorly. We can hope for the best, but I think there is a very good possibility that she will attack you."
 
Which would mean I'd need to fight her. And although gods in Gensokyo weren't like they were often portrayed in the outside world, there was still the question of whether or not I could win. I knew one thing, though: any battle I got into with her would be my fight.
 
"I understand," Satori said. "You will be accompanied just to the mountain; you will have no need for an escort to protect against the demons once you are there. It would not be right to have another aid you in the expected battle with the mountain god. It is still a risk, but I don't think you will be killed. I would expect a real battle and not a danmaku battle, but if she has an opportunity for a final blow, I doubt she will be able to bring herself to take it."
 
We must have been close, then; that was certainly the implication. Not knowing how this person had taken my disappearance, I couldn't know how likely it was that she would attack, or why she might do so, but I saw no reason to doubt Satori. But even if this mountain god would likely not perform a finishing blow, I could still most certainly die in the battle. But I did not have to give that one much thought to know what I should do about it. I couldn't ask for aid; this fight would be mine.
 
"Yes," Satori said, "it is your fight. And I expect that you will not die. And it would seem that Orin found her more quickly than I expected."
 
At that moment, the door burst open and smoke billowed into the room. Satori just sighed. "She does love to make an entrance."
 
I was able to make out a figure as the smoke cleared. She was clearly not human; the wings were evidence enough of that. Other things about her, however, were more drawing of my attention. The red, eye-like object on her chest was one such thing, as was the odd device on her right arm. And what looked like a concrete boot on her right foot. And what looked like it was supposed to be electrons orbiting her left foot. And then there was the cape she wore, with a galaxy pattern on the inside that looked like it was moving.
 
The newcomer saw me as she entered the room and came to a halt. "Hey, you're that… that… that… um… that… uh… oh yeah, that person from the mountain!"
 
"This is Orphan," Satori said. "She has lost her memory, and I have directed her to the Moriya Shrine in order to learn who she is. However, I have reason to believe that the demons will attempt to kill her."
 
"Huh? Why would they do that?"
 
"It doesn't matter. She'll be all right on her own once she reaches the mountain, but until then, she will be in danger. I would like you to accompany Orphan to the mountain and ensure her safety."
 
"Oh, okay." She turned to face me. "Hi. I'm Utsuho."
 
"I am Orphan. It's nice to meet you."
 
"Why do you call yourself that?"
 
"Because I do not remember anything about myself," I explained, "not even my name."
 
"Oh, well that's… um…" She paused. "I can't remember your name."
 
"She would rather not hear it, anyways," Satori said. "She feels that her name should come last, after she has learned who she is."
 
"That's weird. Okay, just make sure-"
 
"-the demons don't get her," Satori said. "Correct."
 
"Okay."
 
Satori turned back to me. "Do not let initial impressions fool you. Utsuho is more than capable of ensuring your safety."
 
"Yeah," Utsuho said, "if anyone attacks, I'll kick their asses!"
 
"I see," I said. "Well, I am ready to depart. Are you?"
 
"Yeah! Come on, let's go!"
 
 
 

 
Cirno impaled demon D-the regenerator-with multiple spears of ice, then leapt over a strike from demon F. Rumia drove her sword through D and swung it around, using D as a club to hit demon A. Demon C approached Rumia from behind, only for Rumia to pull her sword free of D's body and vanish. C turned his attention toward Cirno, only for Rumia to suddenly appear right in front of him and hit him with a powerful dark blast at point-blank range.
 
Wriggle landed a blast on demon B, the one that Cirno had fought alone at the lake with a strong resistance to pain and mutilated eyes that seemingly did not affect his ability to see, knocking it back into demon G. Demon E, wielding a trident, attempted to take Wriggle by surprise and impale her from behind, but Wriggle's insect sight meant that she knew exactly what E was up to, and she blasted the trident out of E's hand without even turning around, then thrust her spear into his arm. She called her spear back to her as she charged the recovering B and G, charging her spear for her 'Stinger' move and throwing it straight through B's chest.
 
As Wriggle called her spear back to her again, B staggered to his feet. Damn it, Wriggle thought, that should've gone right through the heart. How is it still alive? What the hell is up with this thing? She hit B with a beam that knocked the demon down again, then leapt over B and thrust her spear straight through the thing's skull. She channeled her power through the spear and blew B's head off.
 
Cirno, facing the dual-sword-wielding F, formed her illusory duplicate. F, correctly guessing that this one was fake, let its strikes pass harmlessly through her as the other Cirno charged. F attacked, only to find her strikes passing through what was actually another illusion while the real Cirno came in from the side and hit her with a blast of ice. As F staggered back, Cirno froze the demon's swords. Controlling them through the ice, she pulled them away from the demon and shattered them.
 
"Nice trick," F said. "Of course…" A spear formed in her hand. "…it's not like it'll do you any good." She threw the spear at Cirno. Cirno froze and shattered the spear, only for F to charge and take a swing with a mace.
 
Rumia flipped herself over demon D and blasted it from behind. C moved in with a sword strike, but Rumia blocked the strike with her own sword. She blasted the sword out of C's hand, then charged her own sword with dark energy and attacked, cutting C's arm off. A began attacking with fireballs, to which Rumia responded by hiding herself from sight as she moved in on A. She appeared right in A's face and thrust her sword through A's chest.
 
Demon E moved in to attack, but Wriggle blasted the trident out of his hand again and followed up with a blast to the face. G moved in behind Wriggle and fired multiple lasers, but Wriggle avoided them as the charged her spear and sent a Stinger through E's chest. G charged as E fell, avoiding Wriggle's blasts and leaping at her. Wriggle dove to the ground, spun around, and delivered a kick to the demon's head as it passed over her. She moved in on the dazed G and penetrated his heart as well. And then the headless B got to its feet.
 
Oh, come on, Wriggle thought as she turned to face B. What the hell does it take to kill you? As the beast charged, she leapt to the side and thrust her spear into its arm, channeling energy through her spear to blow the arm off. What happened next was unexpected.
 
B's body fell to the ground, motionless, but the arm lunged forward and grabbed Wriggle around the neck. Its grip was strong, but Wriggle was easily able to pry it off. Then she used a thin, concentrated beam to cut it into tiny pieces.
 
F took a swing at Cirno with an axe. Cirno dodged, and F's intended follow-up attack was interrupted by Rumia blasting demon D into her. Cirno impaled the both of them with multiple spears of ice as Rumia closed in. Rumia charged with her sword and cut D's head off, then gave F the same treatment.
 
The now one-armed C, the only demon remaining, hit Rumia dead-on with a powerful blast, sending her into Cirno and knocking both of them to the ground. C fired a beam at the pair, but then Wriggle was there. Wriggle formed an energy barrier to block the beam, then fired a beam of her own. Her beam easily overwhelmed C's, blasting through it and into C.
 
Wriggle moved forward as C got to his feet. "Realization dawns on you, doesn't it? You see now that you were foolish to challenge us."
 
C walked over to the body of demon A. "I'm not done ye-gah!"
 
Cirno froze A's body and threw it away from C. "Yeah, let's not be doing anything weird with the bodies." She did the same thing to the other bodies.
 
"Do you really think you've won?" C said. He fired another blast, but Wriggle just blocked it.
 
"You have no idea what you're dealing with," Wriggle said. "You are powerless before me, and only now do you see this. You cannot harm me. You cannot escape me. You cannot oppose me." Wriggle blocked another blast. "You are helpless against my power."
 
"Damn it," C said, "just who the hell are you?"
 
"I am the descendant of Her Eminence Lady Nisus and inheritor of her power and being." Wriggle charged her spear. "I am Wriggle Nightbug, Holy Queen of the Night, and your life is forfeit!" She threw the spear straight through C's head.
 
 
 

 
"Tell me something, Lady Netese," Shanghai said.
 
"This isn't any kind of formal situation," Netese said. "Formalities aren't necessary."
 
"All right, then. Tell me something, Netese: is Shinki truly dead?"
 
"Yes, sadly."
 
"Right. Well, that's what I thought. Which is why I'm wondering just how it was done. And who really did it."
 
"Wait, 'who really did it'?"
 
"Well, it wasn't Alice," Shanghai said. "As much as I can believe she'd do such a thing, she didn't. My memory banks survived the coming-to-life process intact, so I know that she didn't do it. And since you're the one in charge, I can't help but think you had something to do with how she really died."
 
"Right."
 
Shanghai laughed. "Oh, don't worry, I'm not trying to be accusatory. The simple fact is that I don't care about Shinki at all. All I know is that she was the creator and ruler of Makai, and that she was Alice's mother. And given what kind of daughter she raised, she can't have been all that admirable of a person."
 
"I wouldn't recommend saying that too freely; most people would not agree with you. She was a well-loved ruler."
 
"All the better to secure her position. A feared ruler is far more likely to draw the hostility of her subjects."
 
"True enough. Although I would imagine that anyone who discovered her true nature would become an enemy of hers."
 
"Of course," Shanghai said. "Is that not why you decided to kill her?"
 
"Indeed," Netese said. "One reason, at least. You're quite perceptive."
 
"I like to think so. So tell me: how did you do it? It should have been impossible for any of her subjects to harm her."
 
Netese nodded. "Yes. As the creator of Makai and of our kind, it was in the nature of her being. All we needed to do was get around that nature."
 
"How did you do it?"
 
"We disrupted her being by channeling into her energies from elsewhere. It was actually Nekiei, the woman we'll be meeting tomorrow, who came up with the idea."
 
"'Energies from elsewhere'. What did you use?"
 
"Something from Gensokyo," Netese replied. "To be a bit more specific, we used the Hakurei Barrier."
 
 
 

 
Right, this chapter turned out to be shorter than I expected. It's certainly not lacking for content, though; there was a lot of important stuff there. In particular, it should be fairly apparent now just who Orphan is (although given some of the clues that people seem to have missed, most notably one way back in chapter 2, I may actually have to be even less subtle about it than I was in this chapter).
 
Also, any comments are appreciated. I would particularly appreciate critique of the chapter's fight scene.

Edit: Fogot to include music links. They're there now.

[Kips McKipzerson]

The fight scene was really good, Albeit extremely weird with all the 'demon a' crap. I kinda lost track of who was alive and dead, to be honest. But I'm sure this problem wont arise in a fight against characters with actual names.

[Thaws]

You really got me into thinking Orphan was Shinki since her death was brought up... Shinki being actually dead, didn't see that coming.

I still am not sure who Orphan is even though you said you have put in subtle hints...
It sounds like power over nature would be something like Suwako's ability, but then you said her power was changed and the word miracle was used which would be like hinting at her being Sanae.

Can't wait to see what happens next!

[Aba Matindesu!]

YAY UPDATE!
Well, I certainly liked how well the story flowed. There were a few typos, but generally none too obvious. I loved how well Mira Hakurei was written, by the way.
Team 9's upgrade was totally rad. Is Mystia going to get one, too?

I had three guesses as to who Orphan was, but unless my second guess was right, I bet there'll be a huge twist to render them all wrong.

Oh, and:

The fight scene was really good, Albeit extremely weird with all the 'demon a' crap. I kinda lost track of who was alive and dead, to be honest. But I'm sure this problem wont arise in a fight against characters with actual names.

This.

[GuyYouMetOnline]

Well, the possibilities have been narrowed down significantly, and given the hints I've been putting in, it shouldn't be too hard to figure out at this point.

[Kips McKipzerson]

At first I thought it was Tenshi, But now i'm thinking its Sanae or something like that. I really dont even know who it is at this point.

[GuyYouMetOnline]

I'm surprised at how many people thought that Orphan's powers were a clue to her identity, even though I stated in the first chapter that they had changed.

[Kips McKipzerson]

Which only makes it harder to guess who she as, As there's quite a few people who live on the Youkai Mountain.

[GuyYouMetOnline]

Chapter 14
Threats
 
 
"Okay," Shanghai said, "are you actually saying you weaponized the Hakurei Barrier?"
 
Netese nodded. "You could put it that way, although the barrier isn't what actually killed her. It simply allowed us to kill her."
 
"What did you do?"
 
"We sent two teams to Gensokyo, one to the Hakurei Shrine and the other to the Moriya Shrine. The Moriya Shrine may not share the Hakurei Shrine's connection to the barrier, but we were still able to use it at an access point. It's the nature of a shrine that allows the Hakurei Shrine to act as the border's anchor, after all."
 
"I'm pretty sure that not just anyone can access the barrier, though, even using the shrines."
 
"I don't understand what was done myself," Netese admitted. "As I said, it was Nekiei who came up with the plan. I do know that something was done to the ones who were sent that allowed them to? disrupt certain magical energies. It was only needed for the one operation, although I understand that what was done is permanent. It should just affect barrier energies, though, so I doubt any of them will run into anything else the disruption ability will affect."
 
"So you had people disrupt the barrier, and you somehow channeled that disruption into Shinki." [Is that possible, Mother?]
 
[Not a direct channeling into Shinki, no,] Alice replied, [but it could certainly have been channeled into some form of attack. That, I think, would be enough to pass the disruption effect to her. And yes, I think what Netese is describing about the barrier is possible. I'm no barrier expert, but yes, I think it could be done, and yes, I think it could have disrupted Shinki's being enough for her to be killed-although killing her can't have been easy; her power was substantial.]
 
"Yes, that's what we did," Netese said. "Our force, led, of course, by me, was in Shinki's presence at this time under the guise of legitimacy. Shinki, of course, was taken completely by surprise when we struck her with the disruption, and we were able to take advantage of this and kill her. I don't know that we would have succeeded in a fair fight-Shinki's power was considerable-but we didn't give her a fair fight. It was close even as it was, but we managed to pull it off."
 
"I see."
 
"Yes, that's how we got her out of the way, and we framed it on her daughter. Of course, that does give us Alice herself to deal with."
 
"Which we'll do."
 
"Indeed. How is it that you plan to lure her into Makai?"
 
"I told you that the process of bringing dolls to life involves a special connection between us and her," Shanghai said. "That connection between me and her still exists, although neither of us has paid any attention to it since she threw me away. It's completely slipped her mind that it's still there, I think. In order to lure her into Makai, I plan to make use of that connection. Thoughts cannot be sent, but I can certainly send through it a sense of distress."
 
"I see," Netese said. "Are you sure she'll respond to that, though? Is she likely to care what's happening to you?"
 
"The connection has been unused ever since she threw me away. She'll want to know why I'm using it. But yes, she'll know it's me, which is why I said she'll be ready for a trap. How soon will we be ready?"
 
"We'll head out early, and our destination isn't too far from here. And Mekis is quite close to our rendezvous point, so that won't add much time. And we won't need to prepare much beyond getting there, so we should be ready by tomorrow evening. Evening here, that is; Gensokyo's day is a few hours behind ours, you know."
 
"I noticed that," Shanghai said. "Okay, that tells me what I need to know. I'll do my thing about midday Makai time tomorrow. That will give her enough time to make her preparations before entering Makai, and by then, we'll be waiting for her. Although I'm not likely to be of any help in the battle."
 
"Oh?"
 
"Using the connection, Alice is able to control me even though I have become alive. I can fight against any actions she tries to make me do, although I can't overcome her-I'd just be left standing still. I suspect, however, that as soon as Alice realizes that I'm working against her, she will simply knock me unconscious, something I cannot effectively resist."
 
"And even so, you still want to be there?"
 
"Yes," Shanghai said. "I don't know what this means to you, but for me, it's personal, and even if I cannot assist in killing Alice, I want to be there when she dies."
 
"Then you may go to see her die. And she will die; no matter what preparations she makes, she won't be able to survive what I have planned."
 
 

 
Utsuho, it turned out, was quite childish. She was also, as I saw when we ran into some fairies, extremely powerful. And prone to overkill, as well.
 
"You know," I said as we continued through a tunnel, which apparently had been made by the kappa to allow themselves easier access to the underground nuclear plant they had constructed around what turned out to be Utsuho's power, "I think dealing with a few stray fairies by throwing a miniature sun at them is a bit? excessive. Plain, simple shots do the job just fine."
 
"I like my way better."
 
"You should be a bit more conservative, though. Exhausting yourself against weak opponents isn't a very smart idea. You don't want to be worn out when facing something that's truly dangerous."
 
"Oh, that's okay! I've never run out of energy!"
 
Well, she does seem to be basically a living nuclear reactor. I suppose her having energy to spare is somewhat understandable.
 
"You know," Utsuho said, "you're different now. I don't remember you being all super-serious all the time."
 
"I lost my memory. Such a thing is bound to produce personality changes." Hmm? "Utsuho, how well did we know each other?"
 
"Oh, I saw you a lot," Utsuho replied. "I told you about eating that god, right? And how that woman-the one you're going to see-told me to do it? You worked for her, or something like that. Oh! Looks like we're almost out!"
 
And she was correct; we did indeed reach the surface a few moments later. In the distance, I could see the mountain that was my destination, but it was the river that drew my attention. I couldn't place what it was, but something about the river was? well, odd. I'm not sure how to describe it. However, I did soon realize why it had an odd feel to it. "Is this the Sanzu River?"
 
"Yep," Utsuho said. "We can follow it upstream all the way to the mountain. Higan's on the other side of the river, you know. Hell."
 
"You call it 'Higan', then? Nol said it was known as Sanzu, after the river."
 
"Nol? Oh, Reimu's servant boy! Yeah, he's stupid. Smart, but stupid. Reads a lot, but doesn't actually do much outside of the shrine. Knows a lot about the past, but not about now. Sanzu's what the place was known as before Hell was moved over there, so yeah, he probably uses that name."
 
"I see." I examined the river, both visually and through my power. "This is not an ordinary river. I can't identify all of its properties, but I am fairly certain that getting in would be a bad idea. I don't know what that liquid in there is, but it's not water. Water's part of it, but there's? well, other things, things I can't identify. I've never felt anything like it before."
 
"Yeah, they say that if you fall in there, your soul is trapped for eternity."
 
"Oh." I paused. "Well, I don't know if that's true or not, but I'm not too eager to test it."
 
"Yeah, same here."
 
I looked around. "It seems to be getting on in the day. Shall we get moving? I'd like to reach this 'Moriya Shrine' before it gets too late."
 
"Okay!"
 
 

 
Hi! My name's Utsuho. Utsuho Reiuji.
 
I didn't used to be anything special. Yeah, I was the toughest hell raven there was, but still, that's nothing special. And it's been a long time since Hell's been underground, too.
 
I was just kind of on my own, like a lot of the animals underground, but then Satori took a lot of us in. She says people don't like her 'cause she can read minds, but what's wrong with that? A lot of us can't talk to anyone but other animals, but we don't need to talk to Satori 'cause she can see what we want to say. I guess a lot of people are just stupid.
 
Anyways, when Satori took me in, she gave me a job to do, since I'm one of those animals that can take a 'humanoid' form, whatever 'humanoid' is supposed to mean. She had me help regulate the old Hell of Blazing Fires; apparently we can't let the fires get too low, so Orin-another of Satori's pets-and I had to throw corpses in there to make sure that didn't happen. Although we don't need to do that anymore.
 
I was kind of confused about the whole thing, but one day this snake-lady came and fed me a dead god. She said it would give me power, and she was right. I can do all kinds of cool stuff now. I can even make small suns. And my power makes the Hell of Blazing Fires really hot, too. It even got too hot, so I had to blast tunnels up to the surface to let the extra heat out. Apparently this made geysers up there.
 
I wanted to see just how much power I had, so I decided to test myself by burning the surface world, but apparently the people up there wouldn't like that, so that shrine maiden and that witch came and beat me up and forced me not to. It's okay, though, since I got to go all-out against them, so I got my test.
 
After all that, the snake-lady came back and said she wanted me to run a nuclear power plant. The power I got is nuclear fusion, so I'm the only one who can do it. And I don't have to throw bodies into the fire anymore, so Satori said I could do what the snake-lady wanted.
 
A lot of people from above, almost all of them kappa, came down to build the place, and a lot of them still come to keep the place working right. I've actually got the reactor going to where I don't need to be there all the time; the kappa can take care of it when I'm gone.
 
I didn't see the snake-lady much after that, although the two people who work for her came down a lot. One still does, but the other one I hadn't seen for five years. And she says she's lost her memory, so now she calls herself 'Orphan'. I can't remember enough to help her, but Satori said I could help her differently by keeping her safe, so that's what I'm going to do.
 
 

 
He looked up as the scout approached. "You seem to be in a hurry. Has she been spotted?"
 
"Yes, Nochai, she has. She and another just came out of a hole in the ground, probably an entrance to the underground. They're moving along the Sanzu, heading for the mountain as expected."
 
Nochai considered this for a moment. "The Sanzu, huh? Convenient. Gives us a backup plan. Okay, your job is done. We'll handle the rest."
 
As the scout flew away, Nochai turned to the demons that made up his team. "Okay, people, you know the objective. Orphan is our target, and we are to kill her. Her companion is a secondary concern, although not one we should ignore."
 
"What's the plan, then?" one of the demons asked. "You do have one, right?"
 
Nochai laughed. "Of course I do, Kaiach. We'll go in pair-pair. Team A will have myself and Aria as the first pair, and Oseka and Tormel as the second pair. Kaiach, you and Ketaa will be the first pair of team B, leaving Arisk and Sellae for the second. Team B will engage Orphan, while A-2 attacks her companion. Aria and I will trail behind and assess the situation. We will assist A-2 if necessary, and join team B against Orphan if not. I'll issue new orders as necessary. And in the unlikely event that we seem unlikely to succeed in killing Orphan, the backup plan is to get her over the Sanzu and let the river take care of her. You all have the charms I prepared, correct?" There was a general murmur of confirmation. "Good. Remember, though, that the effect is temporary. If you're over the river and you feel it fading, get the hell back over land, no pun intended. And remember: do not, under any circumstances, completely cross the river, because if you end up on the other side, you won't be coming back."
 
 

 
"I'm just glad you're all right," Mystia said. Wriggle, Cirno, and Rumia had returned to Cirno's house after the battle to be greeted by a relieved Daiyousei and a very relieved Mystia, who had latched onto Wriggle as soon as the insect youkai stepped through the door. Now they were all sitting around as Wriggle, Cirno, and Rumia described the battle to the other two.
 
"I told you we would be," Wriggle said. "I'm still not sure what the deal was with that one that had attacked Cirno at the lake, but it wasn't a problem."
 
"Yeah, I know," Mystia said. "I guess I'm just having a hard time getting used to how powerful you are now. This 'First' of yours must have been something special."
 
"She was," Wriggle said. "The more I see of Her power, the more I realize that the stories of Her were not exaggerations."
 
"And now you have her power."
 
"I think it's more than just that. It? feels like it's more, I guess. I really can't explain it."
 
"Yeah, you've been saying that a lot," Mystia remarked.
 
"I know, but I really don't know how to explain it."
 
"I'm more interested in the demons, anyways," Cirno said. "Yeah, we kicked some ass, but what are all these demons doing in Gensokyo in the first place?"
 
"A lot of people think this is an advance attack from Makai," Mystia said. "I hear talk about it all the time. In fact, Kaguya, the vampire, and the mountain god are all trying to unite Gensokyo under them to oppose Makai. Which isn't getting anywhere for any of them; they spend more time fighting each other than anything else.
 
"Anyways, the demons have largely been acting independently of each other. A lot of people think they're trying to spread panic and generally make it hard to get anything done, and it seems to be working."
 
"They didn't work alone today," Daiyousei noted.
 
"True, but from what I've heard, that's pretty much the only time any of them have acted as a group."
 
"Not quite," Wriggle said. "There's a group near the mountain-they're pretty much at the edge of my current range of perception, but they are within it. There are eight of them in total. It sounds like they have a specific objective, though. They're talking about killing someone named 'Orphan'. Cirno, Tewi's here."
 
Tewi didn't wait for permission before entering. "What's this about Orphan?"
 
"Hi, Tewi," Cirno said. "Do you know this 'Orphan'?"
 
"No, but I've heard of her. Things are getting a bit crazy back at Eientei-hell, the whole reason I came here is to get a break from it."
 
"What's been happening?" Rumia asked.
 
Tewi took a seat. "All kinds of stuff. You know about what Kaguya's been doing in response to the demons?"
 
"We were just talking about that, actually," Rumia said. "Apparently, there's been some conflict between her, the god, and the vampire."
 
"Yeah, that's for sure. That monk lady, Byakuren, stopped by; apparently she's trying to get them to work together. Kaguya was just fine with that, but then a little while ago, Remilia and that maid of hers showed up and accused us of conspiring against her with the god. So we kind of had to fight them off. Then that crazy Aya girl shows up and accuses us of conspiring with the oni to take over Gensokyo. Oh, and apparently we kidnapped Orphan to force cooperation from the mountain, which is total bullshit. Yeah, this Orphan lady did stop by, I'm told, but she left on her own. We don't even know who she is, although Aya seems to. And if Aya thinks we're trying to use her as a hostage, then she may be someone important."
 
"She's someone the demons don't seem to like," Wriggle said. "There's a team that's just now mobilizing that intends to kill her-and they just now passed beyond my range, so now I can't even tell where they're going."
 
"Huh. Did you see which way they were going?"
 
"Downstream along the Sanzu. You don't intend to go after them, do you?"
 
"We should at least see what's going on. Can't we just get close enough that they're in your range again and have you tell us what's happening?"
 
"Yes," Wriggle said, "I suppose we could. Girls?"
 
"I'm for it," Cirno said. Rumia and Mystia also voiced agreement, and Dai was silent.
 
"Okay, then," Cirno said, "let's go!"
 
 

 
I saw them first, and signaled Utsuho to come to a stop. We descended to the ground, and I pointed out the distant figures. "I think they're heading this way," I said.
 
"Are they bad guys?"
 
"I don't know," I said, "but be on guard."
 
********
 
"Target spotted," Nochai said. "Assume battle formation and engage."
 
********
 
"That's weird," Utsuho said. "Why are they splitting up like that?"
 
"They're assuming formation," I said. "That's not a peaceful approach. Utsuho, prepare for battle. Do not make the first strike, but if they attack, engage. Let's get in the air and make sure we're ready for them."
 
********
 
"That doesn't look like curiosity," Aria remarked. "I think they're ready for battle."
 
"No matter," Nochai said. "We'll do our job regardless of their state of readiness."
 
********
 
There were a total of eight individuals approaching, and it seemed as though they were indeed demons. They had formed into pairs, three of which moved in while the other, which I would assume included their leader, hung back. And they soon opened fire, confirming their hostile intent.
 
"Orphan," Utsuho said, "get behind me."
 
I did so, and Utsuho faced the approaching demons. "Only six of you. Hardly a problem. We'll do this quickly. Giga Flare!"
 
I had seen Utsuho in combat against fairies, but only now did she show what she was truly capable of. I'd been impressed by a single miniature sun; now, there were dozens of them, all flying towards the approaching demons.
 
********
 
The teams had been expecting attacks, but nothing like what they got. All they could do was scatter in an attempt to avoid the insane barrage coming their way, and of the six, only Ketaa managed to escape unharmed. Tormel, stupidly, elected to attempt to weave his way through the attack, taking several direct hits and going down. The others all took varying levels of damage, but they could all still fight.
 
"Okay," Aria said, "I think I'm going to go with 'fuck'."
 
"She's a bodyguard," Nochai said. "That's what it is. Someone expected that we'd go for Orphan, so she was assigned a guard."
 
"One I don't think we can beat."
 
"That assault only worked so well because a: something like that was completely unexpected, and b: the teams were still close together. We won't take another hit like that."
 
"But think about how much power that had to take. We can't kill someone like that."
 
"You're quite possibly correct," Nochai said, "but that's why we have a backup plan. Come on, we need to get in there."
 
********
 
I think their plan was to keep Utsuho busy while most of them dealt with me. Four seemed to be focusing on me, while only one looked to be targeting Utsuho. And now the leader's pair was moving in, and who knew what they'd do.
 
I shot upwards, and the four demons changed course to pursue. Utsuho ignored the demon heading for her and followed me upwards, positioning herself beneath my pursuers. And slightly to the side, too, so that I wasn't in her line of fire. And then she attacked. The assault wasn't nearly as impressive as Giga Flare, but it was still quite impressive. The demons, likely expecting Utsuho to be otherwise occupied, were caught by surprise, and one of them went down while the others all took hits.
 
The demons began evasive maneuvers, but this slowed their pursuit of me. And the demon following Utsuho then opened fire. I sped downwards, past the demons and Utsuho, and used my momentum to add force to a swing of my weapon into the demon's head.
 
The demon trio made to follow me, but then Utsuho fired off another Giga Flare. Another of them went down, but the other two managed to make it through. They elected not to try and get past Utsuho, instead fleeing upwards. Utsuho pursued, followed by the single demon, and I chased after it.
 
The leader pair made its sudden entrance by one of them flying directly into Utsuho, knocking her back. And then Utsuho began to fall. It wasn't flying downwards; she was truly falling. And her panicked reaction indicated that this was not deliberate. But why would a fall be an issue for anyone who can fly? But that could wait, so I pushed the question out of my head and moved in below Utsuho, intending to catch her. And then I began to fall.
 
I tried to stop my fall, but I could not. I was, however, able to slow it, which Utsuho appeared unable to do. And my horizontal movement was similarly possible but hindered, although again, Utsuho didn't seem to be able to do it at all, her momentum carrying her further out over the- The river! It happened when we moved directly over the river!
 
I caught Utsuho just fine, but when I attempted to get back from over the river, I was met with fire from the remaining five demons, who seemed to be able to fly over the river without problems. "Damn it. Utsuho, give me some cover fire!"
 
Utsuho opened fire at the demons, but they didn't stop shooting as they evaded. And then I realized that they weren't truly aiming for us in the first place. They were firing to block us from getting back over land, to keep us over the river. Utsuho's kicking their asses in a straight fight, so they're using the river instead. There's no way I can get through that fire in time without taking too many hits. There was no chance of being hit if I stayed away, but to get over land, I'd have to fly straight through their fire, and with my hindered mobility, I'd never make it. Only one option, then.
 
I flew further out over the river, directly away from the demons.
 
********
 
"What the hell is she doing?" Aria asked.
 
"Damn," Nochai said, "she's heading for the other side! How the hell is she even moving?"
 
"She can't stay up, and her mobility seems hindered."
 
"Yeah, but she's not supposed to be able to fly at all! Only my kind and the Yama can resist the river's curse! Yes, she's resisting it ineffectually, but she shouldn't be able to resist it at all!"
 
"Does it matter? There's no guarantee she'll be able to make it across, and if she does, she's stuck there."
 
"Yes, coming back should be impossible, but so should what she's doing right now. If she can pull off one miracle, who's to say she can't manage another?"
 
"What's the plan?"
 
"Right," Nochai said. "Okay, you and the others get back over land before the charms are spent. I'll follow those two and see what happens."
 
********
 
For some reason, I found it impossible to judge how far I was from the other side. This had to be another trait of the river, and I had no way of knowing what other nasty surprises it might have for us. But still, there was no choice but to continue across.
 
It ended up not being a skin-of-the-teeth thing, but it was still uncomfortably close. But we made it across, and as soon as we were no longer over the river, our flight capabilities returned to normal. "Let's land," I said.
 
********
 
Nochai watched from a distance as the two touched down. They actually made it. Damn it, how the hell did they do that? Okay, I need to leave before they see me, or else that bird's likely to blast the shit out of me.
 
 

 
"Um, Orphan?" Utsuho said as I set her down. "Um, what just happened?"
 
"I'm not completely sure," I said. "For some reason, passing above the Sanzu interfered with our flight. You lost the ability completely, while mine was still present but greatly hindered. I don't know why it had less of an effect on me, but it still had enough of one. Anyways, the demons clearly knew about this, because they were using it to their advantage. They blocked me from getting us back over land, so I had no choice but to cross to the other side. The distance was? weird, but we made it."
 
"Wait, so we're in Hell now?"
 
"Yes," I said. "Yes, we are."
 
********
 
The other survivors were waiting as Nochai returned. "Did they make it?" Aria asked.
 
Nochai nodded. "They're still alive. They're on the other side, but they're not dead yet."
 
"They can't get back, though, right?" Ketaa said.
 
"They shouldn't be able to, no, but then, they shouldn't have been able to resist the curse at all. I'd like to observe for a while longer, but that bird'll shoot me down if she sees me."
 
"Man," Oseka said, "this just did not go as planned. We lost Tormel, Kaiach, and Arisk, and we didn't even manage to kill them. They might be stuck, but there's no way to actually know."
 
"Actually, I think we can at least get an idea about that one. They're likely to try and get back across, right? But they'll have to be careful to test what effects the river might have on them, since they don't actually know. There'll probably be a test attempt, and from that, I should be able to tell if they can make it back across or not. The only problem is getting close enough to watch without them being able to see us. That's where you come in, Ketaa."
 
"I know I can extend my sight," Ketaa said, "but I can't get it to cross the river. I don't think I can help."
 
"It's because of the distance fluxuation. If you're closer to the other side, you'll be able to extend far enough to see them. The charms won't last long enough to observe them, though, so I'll have to carry you."
 
"Got it," Ketaa said. "We going now?"
 
"Yes. The rest of you, stay here. Once Ketaa and I have the information we need, we'll return and decide on our next move."
 
********
 
"We can't just fly over the river regularly," I said. "We'd have to get high enough to cross in the same way we got over here in the first place. But? well, the distance was weird, and this is Hell. I'd assume it's not exactly easy to leave, and the weird distance may be a part of that."
 
"So what do we do?" Utsuho asked.
 
"I'll make a test run. Stay here; I'll be back shortly."
 
I rose quickly into the air, not stopping until I'd passed the height at which I had previously passed above the river. I moved over it again, and the same effect immediately took hold. I kept track of my height as I moved, the shore soon passing out of sight. When I was at about two-thirds of my starting height, I reversed course. And as I had feared, the land of Higan came back into sight almost immediately. Strange distance effects. I was right.
 
********
 
"Okay," Ketaa said, "that was weird."
 
"Let me guess," Nochai said, "she suddenly stopped making forward progress, but she still seemed to be moving, right?" Ketaa nodded. "Good. That's what's supposed to happen."
 
"So they can't get back across?"
 
"No, they can't. The only ones who can cross out of Higan are the shinigami and the Yama."
 
"And neither of them could take them back over?"
 
"Shinigami can't, and the Yama won't. We shouldn't have to worry about Orphan any longer, but?"
 
"'But'?"
 
"Well," Nochai said, "she may be stuck, but Orphan isn't actually dead yet. Hmm? right, let's return to the others."
 
********
 
I returned to Utsuho. "I was right. We won't be getting out of here that way."
 
"Wait, so we're stuck here?"
 
"I wouldn't know. How much do you know about this place?"
 
"Um, not much," Utsuho admitted. "I know that the shinigami take dead people across the river and that the Yama judge them, but that's about it."
 
"It's enough. If the shinigami bring people here across the river, then they have to be able to get back to the other side to pick up their next passengers. Which means that we just need to find one of them."
 
"Um, I don't think they'll do it unless a Yama says it's okay."
 
"If that's the case, we'll just have to have the shinigami take us to a Yama."
 
"Um, and what if the Yama says no? I don't think they like breaking the rules."
 
"Well," I said, "it's my understanding that conflicts in Gensokyo, regardless of their nature, are usually settled in a certain manner."
 
"Um? huh?"
 
"If we aren't allowed out, we'll win the right to leave through battle."
 
"Okay," Utsuho said. "Wait, what? Are you saying we're going to fight a Yama?"
 
"If it comes to that."
 
"B-b-b-b-b-b-b-b-but it's a Yama! You can't beat a Yama! And when we lose, we're dead for sure!"
 
This was not what I had expected. And it was bad, because I felt that the odds were good I'd need her to pull such a thing off. "You're afraid."
 
"Of course I'm afraid! This is a Yama you're talking about! You can't beat a Yama!"
 
"That may be true," I said, "but I think you can."
 
"I-huh?"
 
I rose slightly above the ground so that I was looking her right in the eyes. "What happened to your confidence, Utsuho? You didn't hesitate against those demons. Six of them came at us, and you tore right through them! And now you're worried about a single opponent?"
 
"B-b-but the Yama's supposed to be really powerful, and-"
 
"And you're really powerful, too. And? well, were you going all-out against those demons?"
 
"Um, no."
 
"Then you've got even more in you than what I've seen, and that's?" It was actually a little frightening, but I wasn't about to tell her that. "?impressive. I'm really wondering how Reimu managed to beat you like you told me."
 
"Well, she was tricky, and that witch was there, too, and they had these weird floating things that let other people help them, and so yeah. And Reimu did this thing where she faded away or something and I couldn't hit her but she could still hit me, and yeah. But Reimu beats everybody."
 
"So I've heard."
 
"She's probably beaten a Yama, t-wait, that means a Yama can be beaten!"
 
Yuugi's words from the day before came to mind. "There's always a way," I said. "Anyone can be beaten."
 
"Except Reimu."
 
"No, even her."
 
"Really?"
 
"Yes. That's something you need to remember, Utsuho: no matter how tough your opponent is, there's always a way to win."
 
 

 
"Right," Nochai said to his team, "so Orphan does indeed seem to be stuck in Higan, so she should be out of the picture, but she's not actually dead, and I don't really like the idea of just leaving her there, but there's no way I could kill her by myself, not with that bird there."
 
"You you have a plan?" Oseka asked.
 
"Ketaa and I are going to remain here and keep tabs on them. I expect them to proceed along the river in hopes of encountering a shinigami; they're likely to think a shinigami could take them back across. If they do, keeping an eye on them shouldn't be difficult, although if they head away from the river enough that we'd need to cross fully in order for even Ketaa to see them, that won't be an option. Anyways, while we're doing that, I want the rest of you to return to Makai and report. Lady Malachi should be with the portal guard force, so go to her. Her assistant is linked to one of Lord Tokekei's attendants, so you should be able to communicate with him through them. Explain the situation and ask for further instructions. Understood?"
 
"Understood," Aria said.
 
"Good. In that case, get moving."
 
 

 
I took the opportunity to examine our surroundings. The river, of course, was to one side, and a strange, violet-colored mist was rising from the water. Everywhere else was a reddish, flat landscape, completely barren and desolate. The sky, or what I assumed was the sky, was completely black; I couldn't be sure what I was or was not seeing in this place. I do know that there was not any visible light source, and yet there was light, or at least something that served the same purpose. Perhaps we should conduct an experiment.
 
"Utsuho," I said, "could you form a miniature sun briefly? I'd like to check something."
 
"Huh? Um, okay, sure." And she did.
 
I turned my back to Utsuho's miniature sun and looked around again. The sun didn't seem to be providing any additional illumination to our surroundings, not even right next to it. Then I looked down, and I saw that I did not seem to have a shadow.
 
Utsuho had made the same discovery. "Unyu? What's going on?"
 
"Light seems to behave differently here," I said. "If the illumination is even light in the first place. We should not assume that things here work the way we're used to them working. You can get rid of your sun, by the way."
 
Utsuho did so. "I think it's getting late," she said. "Should we start looking anyways or stay here for the night?"
 
I considered the options. I didn't need sleep yet, and Utsuho likely did not, either. However, we were in an unfamiliar realm with unknown dangers, and there was a good chance we'd be fighting an opponent of unknown but substantial power. It would still be at least a few more days before I needed sleep-I didn't know exactly how long, as I'd never tested to see just how long I could go without sleep-and my abilities should be unaffected. But in a situation such as ours, one should take as few chances as possible. "Let's rest here."
 
"Okay. Um, shouldn't one of us stay awake, though? You know, in case someone or something finds us? That's how they always do it in stories."
 
I did a test. Yes, I could sense the land here as usual. "It's not an issue. My connection with the land seems to be working properly. If anyone approaches us, I'll know, and I'll awaken."
 
"Hey, that's cool. I didn't know you could do that."
 
"I probably couldn't when you last saw me. My powers have changed since then. I don't know how it happened or what they were before, but I am certain that they have changed."
 
"Oh. I didn't know that could happen."
 
"Apparently it can."
 
"Yeah. But what if they come over the river?"
 
"The mist has sufficient water for me to do the same thing with it," I said. "If they come above the river, I will know through the mist."
 
"Oh. Okay, then. I'm going to sleep. Good night!" Utsuho found a place to lie down and did so, myself following suit.
 
We would rest here tonight. Tomorrow, we would begin our search for a shinigami or Yama, and if we ended up having to fight, then we would do just that.
 
 

 
Yeah, I really hope nobody expected Orphan to make it to the mountain so easily. And now it seems that she and Utsuho are in a bit of a situation.
 
Also, I know that recent chapters have been fairly short, but that should be changing.
 
And, of course, any comments are appreciated.

[Aba Matindesu!]

And I believe my third guess was right, after all. Unless, of course, you put in a twist.

NOW KEEP IT COMING. *brandishes a whip, Franziska von Karma style*