?Onee-sama~!? A girlish voice yelled out. ?How could you deny your love for me~?!? A flash, and a thud, and Youmu was on the ground with a knife in her head. ?Ahh~!? She fauned, ?Onee-sama's love is so harsh, but so worth it~!?
KUROKO KONPAKU!
youmu just got 10000x hotter
next up is a mariali fic I wrote that I honestly completely forgot I wrote, so I don't have much to say about it.
Fear is an emotion that has toppled armies, felled kingdoms, and caused the world's greatest men to collapse into a state that children would call cowardly. It is, next to pain, one of the emotions that, humans and youkai alike, attempt to avoid the most, doing everything in their power to achieve this end. The most careful plans, the most constructed men had all fallen to a mere flicker of fear.
Fortunately, Marisa Kirisame had never felt fear.
?Your attack is too weak, ze!? Marisa, side-saddle on her broom, crossed her legs and smiled arrogantly.
?Say what you want!? Alice shot back, her dolls dancing elegantly around her, flinging seven-colored shots around Marisa. ?It's only a matter of time!?
Reimu, sitting on her shrine steps far below the two, sipped her tea.
?Oho!? Marisa twirled around her broom, making a show of dodging the next wave of bullets. ?Come on, come on! That can't be all, ze!?
?Shut up, already! You're infuriating!?
?'S the point! Haha!?
Yukari, sitting on the shrine steps far below the two, sipped her tea. ?They are quite good friends.? She remarked.
?Yes.? Reimu replied in a blank voice, apparently more interested in nibbling on a rice cake.
Above, Marisa was twirling about on her broom, dodging bullets with acrobatics rather than normal flight. At least, she was, until her fingers slipped and she found herself barely hanging onto her broom with one hand.
?Yes! It ends now, Marisa!? Alice signaled her dolls, and they flew forward in a mystical blitz, launching bullets across the sky in an elegant pattern. Rather than taking the inevitable blow, or attempting to remount her broom, Marisa did what Marisa always does?grin and do something stupid. She released her grip from the broom, and plummeted to the ground, twirling through the hail of bullets. Her broom, however, rocketed straight through the shots, arced upward, and then pointed to the ground and in a spectacular blast that launched several multicolored stars from its end, it spiraled down towards Marisa at an incredible speed.
?Still not good enough!? Marisa grabbed her broom, and in a series of fluid motions, she righted herself, dodged a bullet, drew her mini-hakkero, dodged more bullets, and drew a card. ?It's over! Love Sign...!?
?No! Shanghai, Hourai!? Two of Alice's dolls broke from the pack. The one in blue attempted to control Marisa's movement via focused fire, while the one in red charged at her. Marisa blew through the cracks of Shanghai's fire, while simultaneously feinting Hourai, causing her to overshoot her target and explode harmlessly in the distance.
?Master Spaaaaark!? The mini-hakkero glowed, and from it gushed forth a love-colored laser of immense magnitude, tearing through Alice's bullet waves and dolls. Alice made no attempt to dodge, and simply shielded her face with her arms as she was engulfed by the attack.
Moments later, the two were sipping tea with Reimu and Yukari.
?Needs work.? Alice remarked in an abashed voice, still trying to brush the burn marks from her dress.
?The bullet spread was too thin.? Marisa stated.
?The focused fire would keep your opponent in the field you want, but the dolls shooting the killshots are too easy to defeat.? Reimu added.
?Save it for Easy Mode.? Yukari finished. As per usual for Yukari's comments, Alice and Marisa had no idea what she was talking about(though Reimu seemed to understand perfectly).
?Hmm...? Alice began processing the battle through her head. ?If I move the dolls outside the focused fire... and change the pattern to look more like...? She stood, and brushed another burned spot from her knees. ?Thanks for the help. I'm going to go home and work on it.? Without another word, Alice took to the air and headed towards the forest.
Reimu smiled softly. Yukari gave an almost inaudible chuckle. Marisa sensed that they both were thinking the same thing, and she did not like that. They were silent for a short span, sipping tea, munching on rice cakes, and appreciating the area around the shrine...
?You went easy on her.? Reimu said, breaking the silence.
?What?? Marisa turned and flashed a bright smile. ?That's not true!?
It was.
?You didn't fire a single shot.? Yukari said.
?You let go of your broomstick on purpose.? Reimu added.
?You deliberately avoided every path that involved attacking her dolls.?
?You tilted your Spark down so she would only get caught in the edge of it.?
Marisa laughed nervously and scratched the back of her head. ?Okay, so maybe I WAS going a little easy...?
?Just tell her you like her.? Yukari said in the most off-handed voice imaginable, and took a long sip of tea. Across the table, the tea Marisa had aimed to get down her throat and into her stomach, had instead taken a detour down her windpipe, before being evicted by the surprised air in her lungs, and the two traveled merrily up the throat and right back out of Marisa's mouth, making a sound similar to ?ppfffttbbbpfftfffbfbfbttbbppfff?, and scattered across the table.
?What? I don't... that self-centered doll otaku... no way! No way!? Marisa slammed down her cup, tightened her fingers around it a bit too hard, and waved frantically with her free hand, turning far too red for someone who does not like someone else.
Yukari giggled more openly than usual. ?I have seen many lies in my time, but that is by far the most transparent!?
?Ah... er...?
?I'm honestly surprised you haven't swept her off her feet yet, Marisa.? Reimu teased. ?You're always charging ahead without thinking, right? Nothing scares Marisa Kirisame.?
?Hey, I think. You make it sound like I'm sort of bull!?
?You are.? Reimu said flatly. ?Don't change the subject.?
Marisa did not make any lingual response, and instead made some quiet growl.
?Do something romantic.? Yukari suggested. ?Leave flowers at her doorstep... gardenias or red roses, maybe??
?Or you could just tell her.?
?Gah, there's no point, ze! 'S just a passing affection.? Lie. ?It'll be gone in a few days, just you watch!? Bigger lie.
Reimu smiled an almost too knowing smile, and sipped her tea. She did not say anything, and for some reason, this frustrated Marisa.
?Ahh, whatever. I'm goin' home, ze. Thanks for the tea.? Marisa hopped on her broom and flew off. Reimu and Yukari watched her fly off, and were silent for several minutes.
Eventually, Yukari broke the silence. ?You didn't mention that Alice was holding back, as well.?
?Neither did you.?
?Hohoho... say... Marisa didn't head back to the forest, did she??
?Nope.?
?What is that way, anyway??
?The flower field.?
Ten minutes later, Yuka was disturbed from her nap. ?This better be good, human.? She said with a glare that could cause a redwood to wither.
?What's with that mean talk, ze?? Marisa grinned. ?Aren't we friends~??
?No. What do you want??
?Ah, well...? Marisa's arrogant grin was replaced by an earnestly shy one, and she placed a hand on the back of her neck. ?It's kind of...?
Yuka found it hard not to be slightly curious as to what could make the fearless Kirisame so meek. ?Spit it out already. You're already lucky I'm listening.?
?Um... what's a good flower to give someone you like??
?...? Marisa could not tell if Yuka was stunned, annoyed, flabbergasted, or deciding on what spellcard was the best to call. In actuality, Yuka could not tell, either. ?Come.? Yuka led Marisa through the vast sunflower field, to a small section of ground where small, white flowers were going.
?Gardenias. They are not indigenous to this region. I got their seeds from the Kourindou, and raised them here.?
?Thanks a lot, ze!? Marisa bent down and reached for a flower when Yuka grabbed her shoulder and stopped her with a vice grip.
?They will decide if your plight is worthy.?
?What??
?If they decide it is not worthy, then I will punish you for waking me from my nap.? Yuka said with a nasty grin. ?Tell them your story.?
?Uhh...? Marisa scratched the back of her head again, and righted herself. Yuka released her shoulder. ?A while ago, back when I was a kid, me an' Reimu went down to Makai and wreaked some havoc... I forget why, ze. But anyway, I met this idiot down there, and I thought she was kinda cute, but figured I'd never see her again, so I shrugged, we threw bullets around, and that was that.
?Then she moved in next to my house, ze. I was pretty surprised, but she introduced herself, and then stayed in her house for a while just working on dolls. A week passed... two weeks, and then I decided that her being a shut-in just wouldn't do at all. So I barged in and asked for tea, ze! We've been friends ever since.
?Though recently... I think I wanna be more than friends, ze. I'm just not really... sure... how to tell her, so Yukarin suggested I give her flowers, and now I'm here.?
?...is that all?? Yuka asked, looking bored.
?Geez, I just poured out my heart to your flowers. Least you could do is look interested, ze.?
Yuka shrugged, and gazed over the flowers. ?They want me to give you a message. 'For us, it is our greatest wish for our lives to be used to convey a feeling of pure, but shy love. We would be glad to be taken and used to speak your feelings for you.'?
?Complex thought, for a flower.?
?They make better conversation partners than you humans.?
?Harsh.? Marisa smiled. She bent down in front of the flowers. ?Thanks! I'll be sure to put ya to good use, ze!? And one by one, she picked them.
?Now get out of here.? Yuka put a hand to her head. ?I'm tired.?
?Thanks a lot, ze. See you!? Marisa hopped on her broom and blasted off towards the forest. Marisa's head was full of optimistic thoughts, she would knock on the door, hand Alice the flowers, and then... loving embrace? Sweep her off her feet? Full on kissing? Straight to the bed? The details of ?afterwords? didn't matter to her, because no matter what, things were going to turn out amazing.
Marisa was frozen in front of the front door to Alice's house, thanking all the Gods she could think of that Alice had not noticed her yet. All of her brilliant imaginings crumbled and blew away in the wind the second she raised her hand to knock on the door, and for the past five minutes, Marisa had been frozen in place, awkwardly holding the flowers with a fist hovering over the door. ?Maybe I should just call to Alice,? she thought. But when she tried to speak, the words caught in her throat like tar, and her tongue became so dry that it had the same texture as a beach front.
Why was this hard? She was Marisa Kirisame! Nothing got in her way! Ever! It is just simply too uncharacteristic of her to be unable to act! Though she could not exactly place what the eerie tension in her chest was, she would definitely knock on this door and deliver the flowers! Definitely! Definitely! Definitely! Repeating the word in her head over and over again, Marisa swallowed and gave three definite knocks on the door.
In an instant, she dropped the flowers. Oh Heaven, what was she thinking?! What if Alice didn't like girls?! What if Alice secretly hated her?! Oh, damn damn damn! Marisa grabbed her broom and flew over the house as fast as she could, darting into the trees as soon she reached the treeline behind Alice's house. Oh, damn damn damn! Marisa swore to herself over and over, weaving through the trees, landing in front of her house, running through the door, and falling face down into her pillow. Dammit dammit dammit all to hell!
Did she, Marisa Kirisame, just run? Not from a great youkai, no. Not from some mystical demon from another dimension, not from an invasion from the outside world, not from a superweapon from the moon, no. In fact, any of those things Marisa knew she would face with a brilliant smile and a heart full of excitement. But this... she ran! Why did she run?! Nothing scares Marisa Kirisame! It made absolutely no sense! Marisa thought about returning to Alice's house, acting like it was all part of her plan... but the more Marisa considered that, the more irresistibly comfortable her pillow became, enticing her to keep her head right here, far far away from Alice.
?I'm such an idiot...? She muttered, rolling over and pulling her hat over her face. No. No, this wasn't right. Lying here and feeling sorry for herself... that was very unlike Marisa Kirisame. She sat up, flattened her hair with one hand, replaced her hat on the top of her head, grabbed her broom, and set out the door. There was really only one thing she could do, after all.
?I'm such an idiot!? Marisa yelled, sitting across a table from Reimu, drinking tea.
Reimu sighed. ?You got scared. Everyone gets scared.?
?I'm Marisa Kirisame!? Marisa exclaimed, patting herself on the chest. ?I don't get scared, ze.?
Reimu opened her mouth to speak, but was cut off by a knocking at the door. ?I wonder who that is...? She muttered in a voice that sounded more like ?I know who that is?, stood, and exited the room.
Marisa sighed, and rubbed the top of her head through her hat, crumpling the fabric. Marisa Kirisame, scared, honestly. What a preposterous thought! Nothing in this world or the next could scare--
Reimu returned with Alice following her. Marisa's pulse raced, her breath caught in her throat, and it was an uphill battle stopping her face from turning red. Marisa Kirisame was scared witless.
Marisa feebly attempted to greet Alice, her words coming out more like various sounds before any discernible language escaped. Alice responded with a quick and curt greeting, like always, and sat at the table in between Reimu and Marisa. It was then Marisa noticed Reimu's slight smirk, and the pure white gardenia that Alice was wearing in her hair.
?Nice flower!? Marisa said with a wide smile. ?Where'd ya get it?? Already, Marisa was inwardly cursing herself for speaking. But she couldn't let that show.
?Someone left a bouquet of them in front of my house.?
?Oho~? Marisa chimed. ?Someone's finally got some interest in the reclusive doll otaku, huh? Any idea who??
?One.? Marisa tried to ignore how accusing Alice's stare seemed. She also tried to ignore how Reimu's face turned from an entertained, confident face, to a worried, dark face.
What she could not ignore, however, was how her mouth kept making noise despite her brain's frequent demands to stop. ?Ooohh? So who is it? It can't possibly be the prettiest magician to ever exist, huh??
Alice's eyes narrowed. ?Is it??
This was bad. Marisa knew this was bad. But something about that gripping feeling around her heart kept the words flying from her mouth faster than she could panic inwardly about it. ?Maybe it is.?
Marisa blinked. In that instant, Alice had stood, left the room, and was half way out of the front door. The feeling constricted her heart so tightly that Marisa could barely breathe, but she still stood and chased after Alice. ?W-Where're ya goin', ze?!?
Alice paused as she stepped outside. Slowly she turned around. ?I hate you.? She reached and ripped the flower from her hair, crushing the bulb and scattering the petals. ?Never speak to me again.?
Marisa was speechless. A million thoughts, phrases, and words flew through her head, but she had forgotten how to communicate. How to think. How to breathe. She stood in complete, shocked stillness.
Alice turned away almost too quickly and flew off. Marisa felt a hand on her shoulder.
?Marisa...? Reimu could feel Marisa shaking under her hand. Marisa couldn't. In fact, all Marisa could feel was the desperate need to be anywhere that was not here, and made for her broom by the door. She took a step forward, her legs felt like jelly. Another step, the room started spinning. A third step, her knees buckled and she fell to the floor. What just happened? It didn't make any sense...
?It doesn't make any damn sense!?
?Marisa...? Reimu was picking her up off the floor now, pulling her back into the tea room.
?Reimu... I...? Marisa searched for words. ?...can't seem to move, ze. My body won't listen.?
?Don't worry about it.? Reimu sat the table and rested Marisa's head on her lap.
They were silent for a few moments. Then, Marisa did something that she had not done for a long time, and something that Reimu had never seen her do. Marisa cried. She buried her face in Reimu's skirt and sobbed until her throat was hoarse. All Reimu could do was pet Marisa's hair in a feeble attempt to calm her down.
It was at least an hour before Marisa's crying ceased. Her throat was dry and sore, her head felt like someone took a spoon and mixed her brain up, and her eyes were on fire. But at least she was done crying.
?'S not what I expected, ze.?
?Me either.?
?Really?? Marisa laughed dryly. ?You're always right, though.?
?No, I'm not.?
?Yeah... you're always right.? Marisa gripped Reimu's skirt tightly. ?Reimu Hakurei's always right about everything. I'm jealous... maybe if I was like that--?
?Shut up.? Reimu said sternly. ?You have more important things to do than to pity yourself.?
?Yeah? Like what, ze?? Marisa sighed.
Reimu stood, pulling Marisa to her feet with her. ?Who the hell are you??
?What??
?What is your name?!?
Marisa gazed dully into Reimu's fierce stare. ?Marisa Kirisame.?
?Exactly! Marisa Kirisame. Nothing scares Marisa Kirisame. Nothing stops Marisa Kirisame!?
?But--?
?No buts! You're pissing me off!? Reimu shook Marisa by her shoulders. ?The Marisa Kirisame I know wouldn't be beaten so easily! The Marisa Kirisame I know wouldn't have given up, and would have found the truth!?
?...the truth??
?Yes! Now get your freeloading ass out of my house and go find it!?
Marisa sighed again. She rubbed her face. Wet. She straightened her hat, and attempted to clear her mind.
Reimu Hakurei was always right.
Marisa Kirisame never gave up.
These were two undeniable facts about their lives, to the point that it almost governed the world around them.
Marisa grinned. ?You're right, you poor layabout.? Without another word, Marisa left.
Reimu walked out onto her porch, watching Marisa blast off towards the Forest of Magic. A crumpled petal lay at her feet, already slightly withered by the summer heat. Reimu bent and picked it up, rubbing it gently between her fingers. ?Maybe I was too harsh...? She looked towards the forest again. ?...no, I'm sure she'll be fine.?
When you search for the truth between yourself and someone else, there is only one place to go: to the other person. With this in mind, Marisa landed in front of Alice's house. The grip around her heart was stronger than ever before, making her pulse race, her breaths short, and her limbs shake. But this time, Marisa liked it. She knocked on the door.
Alice answered, her face red and puffy. In the instant before she wore a cruel, glaring face, Marisa had seen the truth. ?Go away.? Before Alice could move, Marisa stuck her foot in the door. Alice slammed it anyway.
Marisa winced and gave a slight hiss through her teeth. The door bounced off of her foot and lay open again. ?Your face is red, ze.? Marisa stated.
?...so is yours.?
?You were crying.? Marisa stepped forward, pushing the door open. Alice stepped back.
?I-I was not. Get out of my house.? Marisa stepped forward. Alice stepped back.
?Why were you crying?? Marisa stepped forward. Alice stepped back.
?I said I wasn't crying! Get out!? Marisa stepped forward. Alice stepped back and ran into her table. Marisa noticed her next clue.
?So... why are the rest of the flowers in a vase, ze??
Alice was silent.
?You lied, ze.?
Alice was still silent. Marisa's eyes had a brilliant fire burning in them, and Alice could not look away.
?Why? Why would you do that??
?I...?
?You what?!?
?You... I...?
?Spit it out, ze!?
?We're completely different!? Alice yelled. ?If I... If I...? Alice shook her head. ?I'll outlive you.?
?So??
?I don't want to... I don't want to live that... The hundreds of years...?
?Would you rather spend those years wondering 'what if'?!?
Alice was silent again.
Marisa, however, was also silent, not knowing where to go with her reasoning. She understood what she felt. She believed she understood what Alice felt. Because these two feelings were the same. When considering what to do next, Marisa remembered something that she had lived by for a long, long time: actions speak far louder than words.
So, Marisa grabbed Alice by the collar of her shirt, pulled her head down to Marisa's height, and gave her a firm kiss on the lips. Alice responded by wrapping her arms around Marisa's body.
Marisa pulled back. Alice leaned forward slightly, attempting to continue the kiss, realizing what Marisa was doing, and pulled back embarrassed. ?Alice, I'm spending the night.?
Alice smiled. It was a soft, simple, maybe even somewhat unremarkable. But for Marisa, it was the most stunning, beautiful smile she had ever seen in her entire life. ?Okay.?