Reimu Quest - A Paradise At Heart

[Nekomata-chan]

>"Well yeah, I've already got another incident to resolve, so I figured I'd nip this one in the bud before it became a real one."

>Meiling pushes the gate open with one hand, "Yeah, just mind your head when you go in. There's a little chaos, if you know what I mean."

>You see a large red laser shoot through one of the windows on the ground floor, and a loud screech.
>"Flandre!!", you hear Remilia shout, and the sounds of lasers and bullets firing drowns it out.

>Suika giggles awkwardly, "Sounds like they're having fun in there."

[Hanzo K.]

>"....Another typical day in Gensokyo..." Sigh, then facepalm. "Let's get this resolved already."
>Let's head in "See ya on the way out china!"

[Nekomata-chan]

>"....Another typical day in Gensokyo..." Sigh, then facepalm. "Let's get this resolved already."
>Let's head in "See ya on the way out china!"

>Yukari smiles, "What would you have been doing had there been nothing to resolve today?"

>You head inside, and Meiling slams the gate shut with, again, just one hand.
>When you enter the mansion, the first thing you notice is all the fairy maids flying around in sheer panic. Sakuya is busy herding them, or at least attempting to, out of the room.
>In the centre, Remilia and Flandre Scarlet are having a very intense danmaku and close-combat fight.
>Sakuya skids to a halt in front of you, "What are you three doing here..?"

[Hanzo K.]

>Sigh. "Pre-emptive incident resolution, you thought this was a courtesy call? I take it they've been like this the whole day?"

[Nekomata-chan]

>Sigh. "Pre-emptive incident resolution, you thought this was a courtesy call? I take it they've been like this the whole day?"

>Sakuya sighs, "Yes, since last night, actually. Unfortunately, Lady Remilia was the instigator and now.. well, I've managed to keep them away from the library for Patchouli's protection, but the fairy maids have been a different issue entirely."

>Several fairy maids scream as they fly past, a laser narrowly missing them.
>Sakuya facepalms, "As you can clearly see. I've tried everything. If you can so much as get their attention, you'll be lucky."

[Hanzo K.]

>"Well, I think I have a plan. Suika, mind lending a hand? I'll need you to do something with the density of stuff so that those two'll end up having a close encounter with the ground."
>"Once that's done, we can get to the meat and potatoes of the work."

[Nekomata-chan]

>"Well, I think I have a plan. Suika, mind lending a hand? I'll need you to do something with the density of stuff so that those two'll end up having a close encounter with the ground."
>"Once that's done, we can get to the meat and potatoes of the work."

>Suika grins, rubs her hands together and gets to work.
>Almost instantly, the effects are noticeable.
>The Scarlet sisters have trouble keepin in the air, and once they reach the ground it seems as if they are struggling to fly again.

[Hanzo K.]

>Alright, let's call out to them. "Oi! I heard there was a little problem going on, so I thought I'd turn up for some preemptive incident resolution."
>Give them a look that says 'If you two don't stop this now, you'll get a Fantasy Heaven to the face. And I don't think you'd want that again.'

[Nekomata-chan]

>Alright, let's call out to them. "Oi! I heard there was a little problem going on, so I thought I'd turn up for some preemptive incident resolution."
>Give them a look that says 'If you two don't stop this now, you'll get a Fantasy Heaven to the face. And I don't think you'd want that again.'

>Remilia stands up, and folds her arms in a typical bratty, childish manner.
>Flandre just sits with her legs out and sniffs a little bit.

>Sakuya sighs in relief, "Finally..!"

>Remilia growls, "It was Flandre's fault!! She started up by saying 'Oh big sis, why can't I be the more important one? My powers are way stronger than yours! I'm almost a god, so I deserve the Scarlet Devil title, not you'!!"
>Flandre sniffs again, "It was just a suggestion! I wasn't going to do much else if you said no! Just ask for a little more time out of my room once in a while..."
>"Like hell!!" Remilia hisses, "You've been plotting this for weeks!! Trying to overthrow me? Idiot! I knew this would happen..! Why didn't I see the signs? Your nice attitude, your sudden generosity and attempts at being gentle! All a ploy at stealing my spotlight!"

>Suika mutters into the opening of her sake gourd, "Girl has is-sues~!"

[Hanzo K.]

>Walk over to Remi, and flick her forehead. "She's your kid sister right? Haven't you considered that she's just trying to make you happy? I mean, she does care about you y'know."
>Shrug. "Besides, she might think that being in such a position of power might be pretty stressful for you, I dunno. So she might be trying to help in her own way, by giving you a day off or something."
>Slight grumble. "Wish someone'd do that for me so I can get some rest sometime."
>"Not that I'm defending her or anything, but you really need to learn to be more open to those who care about you y'know? Besides, if anything does go wrong, I'm sure me or Marisa will end up fixing things, like we always do."

[Nekomata-chan]

>Walk over to Remi, and flick her forehead. "She's your kid sister right? Haven't you considered that she's just trying to make you happy? I mean, she does care about you y'know."
>Shrug. "Besides, she might think that being in such a position of power might be pretty stressful for you, I dunno. So she might be trying to help in her own way, by giving you a day off or something."

>Remilia stutters and looks to Flandre, the latter of which has resorted to tracing circles on the carpet.
>"Flan, is that-..." Remilia begins.
>Flandre cuts her off, "A little... I thought it'd be nice to have a day or even half of one in your shoes to see what it's like..."
>Remilia bites her lower lip a little, before sighing and turning back to you.

>Slight grumble. "Wish someone'd do that for me so I can get some rest sometime."
>"Not that I'm defending her or anything, but you really need to learn to be more open to those who care about you y'know? Besides, if anything does go wrong, I'm sure me or Marisa will end up fixing things, like we always do."

>Yukari whispers to you, "Marisa is the only one suited to do that, but you can't even trust that kid to solve things diplomatically. She'd be terrible as a marriage counsellor."
>Remilia sighs, and goes to sit by Flandre.
>"I guess I just got a bit over the top this time, eh..? Thanks, Reimu.." Remilia mumbles, almost as if reluctant to thank you for your help.

>Suika smirks to herself, "Imagine how this would'a gone if Marisa had dealt with this instead!!"

[Hanzo K.]

>Sigh, then smile and go sit next to them. "At least this didn't get into being a full-blown incident."
>Glance over at Suika. "It probably would've ended with this entire region of Gensokyo ending up as a smoldering ruin."
>May as well get back to snacking, pull out the rice cakes. "Hey, you two want one? I got 'em down in the underground today, they're a lot better than the ones I usually get from the village."

[Nekomata-chan]

>Sigh, then smile and go sit next to them. "At least this didn't get into being a full-blown incident."
>Glance over at Suika. "It probably would've ended with this entire region of Gensokyo ending up as a smoldering ruin."

>Suika smirks drunkenly, "Yes it would!! Not probably, definitely!! You'd be lucky if you even have chance to blink!!"

>May as well get back to snacking, pull out the rice cakes. "Hey, you two want one? I got 'em down in the underground today, they're a lot better than the ones I usually get from the village."

>Flandre and Remilia refuse the offered rice-cakes politely, and Flandre pipes up.
>"In the underground? What's it like down there?" Flandre asks, with a rather curious expression. Remilia seems pretty curious too - though she probably wouldn't have asked.

[Hanzo K.]

>"Hmm...Well, it's basically this huge cavern. You've probably read about those in Patchouli's books right? But anyhow, there's this giant city down there, it's filled with Youkai like Suika over there. In fact, Oni are apparently the most common sort down there. There's this one girl down there who apparently keeps things going smoothly, her name's Satori, she's a bit like a more mellow version of your big sister. She reads minds apparently, and her little sister's a real handful too. I bet you two would get along pretty good with them."
>Shrug, then bite into one of the cakes. "Anyhow, I was down there earlier today to find Suika and drag her back up here. It was her power that helped me get your attention in the first place y'know. Come to find out, she was having a drinking contest with a friend of hers. Yuugi Hoshiguma, another Oni. She was one of the people I fought back during the Geyser Incident, along with Satori, her kid sister, and a few others."

[Nekomata-chan]

>"Hmm...Well, it's basically this huge cavern. You've probably read about those in Patchouli's books right? But anyhow, there's this giant city down there, it's filled with Youkai like Suika over there. In fact, Oni are apparently the most common sort down there. There's this one girl down there who apparently keeps things going smoothly, her name's Satori, she's a bit like a more mellow version of your big sister. She reads minds apparently, and her little sister's a real handful too. I bet you two would get along pretty good with them."

>Flandre gives a curious giggle, "Sounds like fun!! I've read about huge caves, but I didn't know there were more Oni in Gensokyo!!"

>Shrug, then bite into one of the cakes. "Anyhow, I was down there earlier today to find Suika and drag her back up here. It was her power that helped me get your attention in the first place y'know. Come to find out, she was having a drinking contest with a friend of hers. Yuugi Hoshiguma, another Oni. She was one of the people I fought back during the Geyser Incident, along with Satori, her kid sister, and a few others."

>Flandre shuffles a little closer, and you can tell you've got her interested. Even Remilia looks pretty impressed.

[Hanzo K.]

>"Well, they all moved down there because the surface was getting too boring. That, and they were too powerful for most after Gensokyo was set up how it is these days. All the lost and sealed-away youkai tend to already live down there to begin with, or find their way down there."
>Grin. "But here's the thing. It goes even deeper than that cave. You guys know about Higan right? Well, before Higan was around, that place used to be the old hell. There's still an area that burns with the old flames that's even deeper in. You gotta use this passageway at Satori's place to get there though."
>Take a bite out of a rice cake and then lightly brandish it for emphasis. "But here's the thing, down there lives the person who was behind the whole thing back then. Utsuho Reiuji, a former hell raven. Turns out the whole fuss was kicked off when she ate a god's remains...That god was a Yatagarasu, a Solar Crow. Needless to say, you two would not want to visit there, she throws around danmaku made of suns for kicks, because she essentially inherited that thing's power."

[Nekomata-chan]

>"Well, they all moved down there because the surface was getting too boring. That, and they were too powerful for most after Gensokyo was set up how it is these days. All the lost and sealed-away youkai tend to already live down there to begin with, or find their way down there."

>Flandre blinks, "Does that jealousy Youkai live down there, too? That Parsee girl? I read about her, apparently she guards a bridge down there... can you even have bridges underground?"
>Suika interjects, "Yeah, you can. And... she does."

>Grin. "But here's the thing. It goes even deeper than that cave. You guys know about Higan right? Well, before Higan was around, that place used to be the old hell. There's still an area that burns with the old flames that's even deeper in. You gotta use this passageway at Satori's place to get there though."

>Remilia blinks, "So she lives right next to the former hell? Now that is... extremely interesting..."
>Flandre blinks in confusion, "And here I was thinking Higan was the one and only hell!!"

>Take a bite out of a rice cake and then lightly brandish it for emphasis. "But here's the thing, down there lives the person who was behind the whole thing back then. Utsuho Reiuji, a former hell raven. Turns out the whole fuss was kicked off when she ate a god's remains...That god was a Yatagarasu, a Solar Crow. Needless to say, you two would not want to visit there, she throws around danmaku made of suns for kicks, because she essentially inherited that thing's power."

>The pair both stare at you.
>Sakuya coughs quietly, reminding you that she was there, "Wow, you certainly get around a lot, don't you? You ought to drop by more often... I'm sure I've missed a lot by not coming with you on these incidents..."
>Yukari grins and mutters to herself, "Sanae took some of them..."

[Hanzo K.]

>"Well, technically Flan, you're right. That place is called 'The Abandoned Hell' nowadays."
>"Yeah, her pets actually manage the flames apparently. There's this Kasha who gathers fuel. And Utsuho, commonly called 'Okuu', regulates the temperature of the flames...Or so I understand."
>Glance at Sakuya. "I thought you retired from the whole incident resolution business?"
>Grin, and offer a rice cake. "Don't tell me this little story's gotten you to want to come out of retirement? Rice cake? S'fresh."

[Nekomata-chan]

>"Well, technically Flan, you're right. That place is called 'The Abandoned Hell' nowadays."
>"Yeah, her pets actually manage the flames apparently. There's this Kasha who gathers fuel. And Utsuho, commonly called 'Okuu', regulates the temperature of the flames...Or so I understand."

>Flandre gasps in awe, "Whoa!! You know so much!!"
>Remilia gasps a little quieter, "You do..."

>Glance at Sakuya. "I thought you retired from the whole incident resolution business?"

>Sakuya shrugs, "So did I, but I guess I'm missing out on something interesting."

>Grin, and offer a rice cake. "Don't tell me this little story's gotten you to want to come out of retirement? Rice cake? S'fresh."

>Sakuya sighs, "Okay, so maybe I may want to come out of retirement~"
>She holds up her hand, smiling, "No, thanks. I'm okay."

[Hanzo K.]

>Grin. "Well, it does come with the job after all. Plus, I'm on relatively good terms with the people down there."
>"Y'know, they've actually started having drinking contests between Suika and Yuugi. They're both among the strongest of the Oni, known as 'Devas', so it stands to reason that any contest pitting the two against each other is quite a show. Folks have actually started betting on who'll win, it's gotten that popular down there."
>Oh well, munch that rice cake. "Well, if you decide to come out of retirement, I'll have to fill you in on everything you missed. And I do mean everything, since a lot's happened."

[Nekomata-chan]

>Grin. "Well, it does come with the job after all. Plus, I'm on relatively good terms with the people down there."
>"Y'know, they've actually started having drinking contests between Suika and Yuugi. They're both among the strongest of the Oni, known as 'Devas', so it stands to reason that any contest pitting the two against each other is quite a show. Folks have actually started betting on who'll win, it's gotten that popular down there."

>Flandre tilts her head, "Betting on it? ...Maybe I'll have to start doing that!"
>Remilia laughs, "From what I've heard, Flan, betting is a terrible addiction. But, yeah, I'd like to try that too."

>Oh well, munch that rice cake. "Well, if you decide to come out of retirement, I'll have to fill you in on everything you missed. And I do mean everything, since a lot's happened."

>Sakuya smiles, "I'm sure Patchouli may want to hear that, too. She's nearing the end of one of her lines of bookshelves. You may want to write a book on some of the stuff you've encountered, or several books."

[Hanzo K.]

>Chuckle. "Hope she won't mind it being a scroll then, never took well to trying to write western-style books really."
>"Well, the one for this month's already passed, but I'll see about picking you guys up for the next one okay? Hopefully I should have enough from this month to make a bet next one too. I also recommend you get some rice cakes and dumplings when we go down there, these are some of the best I had in a while y'know. I know where to get 'em too, thanks to Suika.""

[Nekomata-chan]

>Chuckle. "Hope she won't mind it being a scroll then, never took well to trying to write western-style books really."

>Sakuya nods, "As long as it's on some form of paper or manuscript, she'll read it."

>"Well, the one for this month's already passed, but I'll see about picking you guys up for the next one okay? Hopefully I should have enough from this month to make a bet next one too. I also recommend you get some rice cakes and dumplings when we go down there, these are some of the best I had in a while y'know. I know where to get 'em too, thanks to Suika.""

>Flandre and Remilia giggle in excitement.
>Remilia smirks, "Worth the wait, I think."
>Flandre chuckles confidently, "A month is nothing!"

>Yukari quickly peers into a gap, "My goodness. It seems a certain someone is having a lovers' tiff with their certain someone..."

[Hanzo K.]

>Sigh amusedly. "Let me guess, Alice and Marisa again? Those two never stop y'know. Sometimes I don't even have to get involved because they end up blasting each other into their undergarments. S'funny when they end up mutually winning and/or losing via modesty."
>"Anyhow, the next one's in a month from now, maybe we can even convince Patchouli to come along, the Ancient City's got rather nice atmosphere compared to the human village. It's lively, but it feels welcoming. Y'know?"

[Nekomata-chan]

>Sigh amusedly. "Let me guess, Alice and Marisa again? Those two never stop y'know. Sometimes I don't even have to get involved because they end up blasting each other into their undergarments. S'funny when they end up mutually winning and/or losing via modesty."

>Yukari sighs, "I think they're past the blasting. They both look pretty ragged... and now they're wrestling."
>She closes the gap with a shudder, "I've seen enough..."

>"Anyhow, the next one's in a month from now, maybe we can even convince Patchouli to come along, the Ancient City's got rather nice atmosphere compared to the human village. It's lively, but it feels welcoming. Y'know?"

>Sakuya shrugs, "We can try, but there's no telling with Patchouli. You may want to ask her now, while she's in a good mood and still has a while to prepare."
>Suika grins, "I've got ages to prepare!! I'm gonna win next month too, and I'm askin' Yuugi for the winner's cut when I do!! Then the rice cakes are on me!!"
>Yukari frowns, "Winner's cut?"
>Suika laughs, "Two-thirds of the money that was bet on her! She's got friends down there, all of which would bet on her and get me some money-monies!!"

[Hanzo K.]

>Chuckle. "Wow, and that coming from the one person in gensokyo who has her eye on everything. let's hope Aya doesn't get wind of it, otherwise we'll be looking at a deep-fried crow before too long."
>Beat.
>"...Think we should let 'er know?"
>Grin. "Hey, I can't leave incidents to just everyone else y'know, just solving 'em gets boring after a while. I kinda wanna know what it's like being the incident-causer, instead of the incident-resolver."
>Shrug. "Anyhow, I'll see if I can't talk her into it then, maybe I can bribe her with some of these rice cakes."
>Let's get up to head for the library then.
>But before we go, turn back to Remi, Flan, and Sakuya. "Oh, but before I do, you guys really should have one of these, they're what makes the trip fun, aside from seeing two Devas go at it."
>Pitch each of them a rice cake, just because we're feeling generous. "I'm feeling generous, and you guys calmed down easily enough. So you deserve it."
>NOW we head off to the library.

[Nekomata-chan]

>Chuckle. "Wow, and that coming from the one person in Gensokyo who has her eye on everything. let's hope Aya doesn't get wind of it, otherwise we'll be looking at a deep-fried crow before too long."
>Beat.
>"...Think we should let 'er know?"

>Yukari shakes her head, "Not until it dies down. We don't want it escalating. Besides, Aya's still recovering from that mental meltdown - we can't have her dissolving again, can we?"

>Grin. "Hey, I can't leave incidents to just everyone else y'know, just solving 'em gets boring after a while. I kinda wanna know what it's like being the incident-causer, instead of the incident-resolver."
>Shrug. "Anyhow, I'll see if I can't talk her into it then, maybe I can bribe her with some of these rice cakes."
>Let's get up to head for the library then.

>Sakuya smiles, "Patchouli has a soft spot for rice-cakes. It won't take much."

>But before we go, turn back to Remi, Flan, and Sakuya. "Oh, but before I do, you guys really should have one of these, they're what makes the trip fun, aside from seeing two Devas go at it."
>Pitch each of them a rice cake, just because we're feeling generous. "I'm feeling generous, and you guys calmed down easily enough. So you deserve it."
>NOW we head off to the library.

>They catch the rice cakes, and thank you eagerly before tucking in. You can immediately see that they are impressed.

>You head to the library, with Suika and Yukari following you.
>You arrive at the library, right in front of the large door.

[Hanzo K.]

>Grin. "Yeah, we'll let everything settle down a bit before having a little fun."
>Beat.
>"...Now I know I've been hanging out with youkai too much, I'm starting to behave like one."
>Shrug. "Ah well, let's get this started eh?" Knock on the door, then enter.
>"Hey, patchouli, I came to take to you about a few things. I take it you noticed the ruckus dieing down a little bit ago yeah?"
>Offer her a ricecake. "Oh yeah, I brought these from the underground, which is what I wanted to talk to you about."
>"Anyhow, Suika and Yuugi are having these drinking contests down in the underground once a month, and I recently got back from attending this month's. I already said I'd take Remi and Flan down next month, and we all figured you might want to come along too. But don't worry, it's just the two Oni drinking, it's kind of a spectator sport really. Plus, you'll be able to get more of those down there, dumplings too. Better than the ones from the village, that's for sure."
>"And besides, weren't you writing a book on Oni or something last I heard?"

[Nekomata-chan]

>Grin. "Yeah, we'll let everything settle down a bit before having a little fun."
>Beat.
>"...Now I know I've been hanging out with youkai too much, I'm starting to behave like one."
>Shrug. "Ah well, let's get this started eh?" Knock on the door, then enter.

>Yukari grins, "Let's hope you don't become a youkai, it would completely spoil your job description."
>You knock on the door and enter, just as Koakuma was about to open it.
>"Oh, hi!" the little devil grins, and shouts for Patchouli.
>"Miss Patchouli! Reimu and her friends are here to see you!!" she calls.

>Patchouli walks over with a rather tired expression, and you can hear her muttering to herself, "Please don't let Marisa be with her, please don't let Marisa be with her..."
>She notices you are only with Yukari and Suika, and manages a small smile, "Oh, hello."

>"Hey, patchouli, I came to take to you about a few things. I take it you noticed the ruckus dying down a little bit ago yeah?"
>Offer her a ricecake. "Oh yeah, I brought these from the underground, which is what I wanted to talk to you about."

>Patchouli gladly accepts the ricecake. Sakuya was right about Patchouli's alleged weakness... you've never seen her that excited before.

>"Anyhow, Suika and Yuugi are having these drinking contests down in the underground once a month, and I recently got back from attending this month's. I already said I'd take Remi and Flan down next month, and we all figured you might want to come along too. But don't worry, it's just the two Oni drinking, it's kind of a spectator sport really. Plus, you'll be able to get more of those down there, dumplings too. Better than the ones from the village, that's for sure."
>"And besides, weren't you writing a book on Oni or something last I heard?"

>Patchouli leads you over to her table, "The underground? During that geyser incident, I did help Marisa along with Alice and Nitori whilst she was down there... but it didn't sound entirely pleasant. That having been said, it's hard to hear people over the sound of lasers..."
>She studies one of the hundred, no, two-hundred books piled up on her work desk, "Yes, as it so happens, I was compiling an encyclopedic book on the Oni and their ways... a section on a drinking competition would surely break the tedious content. I was also looking for another book to fill my shelf..."
>She turns to you with a curious expression, "Say, you wouldn't be thinking of writing a book about your experiences solving incidents for Gensokyo, would you? I know you aren't a fan of Westernised writing formats, so Koakuma could transfer them if necessary. I should think it would be quite a thrilling series."

>Yukari smirks, "Reimu, you have a lot of people requesting you to become an author, maybe you should..."
>Suika blinks, "A lot? So far, only three have asked her. Sakuya, Patchouli and you, Yukari."
>Yukari sighs, "It was slight exaggeration on my part~"

[Hanzo K.]

>Smile. "I'll be sure to do that when I've got an heir or something, I'll have plenty of time to write it all then. You all will definitely be around when I'm an old fart anyhow, since you youkai live a lot longer."
>Shrug. "But anyhow, I take it that you'll be coming along as well then? If so, I suggest you bring extra cash to spend and bet with, folks have really taken to betting on those two. Heck, even Remi and Flan are interested in getting in on it, especially Flan. Besides, you'll want to stock up on those rice cakes when you can get them, eh?"