Ooh boy. There were so many reasons behind this delay. Difficulty in writing, physical problems, personal problems, college, the works. But, let's toss that aside now, and tune back into our good friend Meira, yes?
---
I'm not the same Meira I was two minutes ago! This time will be different! Here we go!!!As Meira sailed through the air, she reached forward, grasping at the center eyeball's wings. The demon's eye widened, and backed off. This was exactly what Meira wanted. She dropped her arms and landed gracefully on the ground. With this, there was now more room for her to work with. And she had to use it too - if they crowded her, she'll never get past them, and she'll never reach her sword.
As soon as she stood up, the two eyeballs next to that one rushed forward.
"Kya-!" Meira thrust her palms, meeting the two youkai's charge. The impact was hell on her wrists, but she succeeded in knocking them back.
Not about to let their prey get the upper hand, the center and outer eyeballs rose up and began firing danmaku in tandem.
"Aah- shoot!"
Meira's abdomen and shoulders stung. With the eyeballs at three meters, they were too close for her to dodge. Maybe if she could get closer, she could force the line open. It's worth a shot.
Meira charged forward, waving her hands as menacingly as they could. The eyeball she focused on didn't seem fazed, and smoothly moved to block her escape.. Meira swatted at the eyeball, sidling in vain to outmaneuver it. But it refused to budge, staying at head-level.
"Come on dammit, MOVE!" Not even her best armor-piercing slap seemed to phase it. At least it had stopped firing at this range.
*BAM*
"Aah-!" Meira was knocked backwards to the ground.
Damn, I forgot they did that... Meira pushed herself up, but immediately felt the sting of danmaku as the eyeball resumed.
"Ooh, to hell with it all!" Meira bolted back towards the stump and vaulted over it to lick her wounds.
Argh. And after I made that big speech and everything... Meira pressed her hands into the soil as she mulled over her options. She tried to ignore the painful bruises from all the danmaku.
Okay, I gotta get past these eyeballs so I can search for my katana, but they're too quick for me to charge through them like this.Meira stole another glance towards the foreboding trees at the edge of the clearing. She shook her head.
No... Even if I were to try and get past them that way, I'd get headed off. And no way in hell am I taking one step back into that maze.Meira scowled at the ground. Inappropriate as it was, she momentarily took note of her grimy nails. All this trekking will take days to get out of them...
"
Skree!"
!
The center eyeball cleared the stump. Meira sprung to her feet and ran to the right just as her hiding spot was blasted with danmaku.
Shoot, gotta buy some time...!"Umm, umm...!" Meira teetered backwards, grazing most of the bullets. She glanced at the changing formation: The three eyeballs that were firing flew backwards, while the two which she had palmed earlier had now recovered. With a battle cry, both eyeballs charged.
"Aaaah-!" Meira dropped to the ground, missing the double assault by mere inches. Once more Meira's hands were dirtied by the moist ground.
"Tsk..."
Wait, the soil...!No time to think it out. Meira clutched her hands, squishing the soil into her palm. She whipped around and came face to eye with the youkai (she'd have to tank the danmaku for now). They narrowed their eye at her and reared back to charge.
"Not this time!"
Meira slinged the dirt at the left one, and then the right.
"Skreee-!"
Bingo, two direct hits! The two eyes writhed in pain, trying in vain to clear their vision. Meira grinned and hopped back toward the stump to take cover from the fire behind her.
Finally, a weapon! Meira hastily scooped up some more dirt. If it meant her survival, she didn't mind playing...dirty!
Meira sprung out of hiding, this time moving to the left. Two of the danmaku-firing eyes were close together - this was her chance!
"Hiiiii-YAH!" Meira reared back her arms and threw both loads with a mighty samurai swing.
...
She missed. Both of them. They didn't even slow down their rate of fire.
Oh crap.Meira's mind went frantic as she dodged with the finesse of a clumsy aerobics student. What now? She couldn't just hop behind the stump this time; those eyeballs back there will surely recover soon, and then she'll be pincered!"
It was strange, but just then, it felt like there was less danmaku to dodge/get hit by. Meira looked to the right, where the third danmaku eyeball was. It was suddenly a lot closer than when she last looked, and it was moving.
"Uh oh...!"
It wasn't attacking, but she couldn't let it control her zone - that's how they got that loser in Rurouni Kenshin! Meira backpedaled, waving her dirtied hands defensively at the approaching enemy.
"G-get back! Get back I say!"
"Skree!"
!
It's charging!
"Oh shi-!"
In pure desperation, Meira bent her head backwards. Meira held her breath as the eyeball passed within centimeters of her face. She saw the wrinkles of its sickly green skin as its form passed over her. A single band of sweat ran down the samurai's forehead as she exhaled.
I...can't believe it.*PEW PEW PEW*
A few fresh pock marks snapped the girl back to reality. Meira gnashed her teeth, but...something has finally clicked in her mind.
Man...I can do this! Why did I never see this before?!You see, Meira had a revelation about a certain quality of hers. A strength that she never knew she had. Heck, it's something she had always complained about. But now, it might just save her life. She clenched her fist.
Come on girl, this is your chance! Let's do it!!Meira ran towards the two remaining danmaku eyeballs.
I always wanted to be a tall, cool bishoujo, but I guess I'll have to do!If nothing else, she was catching the youkai off guard. She accelerated, aiming for the small gap between the demons. It was impossible to dodge the danmaku, but she pushed forward with all her strength. It was now or never!
"GO!"
Meira jumped, landing in a crouch a few feet away from the youkai. Summoning all her strength, the samurai sprung forward. Realizing her intent, the right eyeball ceased its fire and slammed downward. But it was too late. The eyeball crashed into the ground as Meira passed clean under it. Meira sadly did not have the ninja skills to finish with a forward somersault, but she quickly scrambled to her feet. She had endured the bullets, passed the eye, and broken their line!
HELL YEAH! PINT-SIZED POWER!! Now, where did she drop her sword...? It was when the youkai all flew into an arch, so...
Right, the stumps!Meira ran forward to distance herself from the eyes. As she neared the central stumps, she scanned the ground.
...
There! Meira saw for a moment a small gleam from the moonlight above. She hopped over and sure enough, there it was! She picked it up and held it in her hands in awe. Her katana...her lifeline. She resisted hugging it.
"Don't worry baby, I won't leave you again..." She did a firm practice swing and turned to meet her enemies.
"Come on you bastards. I'm ready for you!" Meira extended her free hand and motioned in a "come on you bastards, I'm ready for you" fashion. No way was she charging into that rabble.
The lead eyeball - the one who tried to block her - met her challenge and charged. Meira steeled her will and held her ground.
Steady...wait until you can see the whites of its eye...!"Ole!"
Meira shifted to her side. The eyeball zoomed past her, clumsily trying to change directions. With a battle cry, Meira leapt at the eyeball and sliced downward, aiming straight for the center.
"
SKREEEEEE!"
Meira winced at the shriek, but it confirmed that she did some damage. It didn't seem to be fatal, but Meira definitely felt a squishy feeling as she pulled her katana back up.
"Hah hah. Not so tough now, are ya?" Meira reared back her arm to thrust her blade into the youkai's back, when it turned to face her. Meira gasped.
Blood seeped down the whites of its eyeball. From the top, all the way down to the iris, there was a bloody gash. The iris itself was deranged, the top collapsed to an oval shape. Meira felt the strength drain from her arms.
"Ah...ah...!"
"Skreeeeee..." The eyeball lumbered forward, its torn eyelid contorting in pain. The veins that were once so pronounced now seemed as if they could pop out at any moment. Meira's knees began quaking, her breath becoming labored. She couldn't move; it was too much.
Is this...is this what this blade can really do?*BAM*
"Aa-!" A sharp blow from behind sent Meira forward, colliding head-first with the eyeball. The blow, combined with the wounded youkai's pained shriek, caused Meira to crumple to her knees. She shook her head and looked up. That fucking creepy eyeball was replaced with two fresh ones, leering down at her.
"Shit."
Meira propelled herself to her feet and jumped to an open space to her right. She cast a furtive glance to the right, towards the central stumps. She may need to use them soon.
*PEW PEW*
"Aah!" More pain, this time from danmaku. Meira looked behind her, and sure enough, there was an eyeball bringing up the perimeter. More importantly, it was all alone! Meira ducked the next bullet and spun around to face it.
"Aaaaah!" Meira dashed forward, slicing horizontally. The eye dodged up, but it stopped firing. Meira ran under it, turned, and swung upwards.
"Skee-!" Not a clean hit - she couldn't swing effectively at this angle - but Meira saw more blood tinge her sword as it stuck the bottom of the youkai. It turned, frenzied, and divebombed. Meira couldn't dodge at this distance, and took its full force in the face, crashing into the ground.
"Nngh..."
Meira grabbed her sword and rolled over, holding up her katana to block any other assault the eye might try.
*PEW*
*POCK*
Before the samurai could realize her mistake, the sword recoiled into her skull. The samurai cried out in pain.
Kkk, gotta get up...!Meira found the strength to push herself back up, still reeling from the blow. She took a moment to catch her breath. Why did her arms have to ache so much...?
"Skree!" The eyeball charged forward.
"Kuh!" Meira sidestepped, almost losing her balance in the process.
*gasp*
*gasp*
Dammit, she won't last if this keeps up. She had to put some distance between them so she could recover.
So Meira ran; the eyeball left a huge opening to the south of the arena. Looking to the north, she picked out the three non-wounded eyeballs moving towards her in synch. Where did that wounded eyeball go anyway?
Bah, forget about it. If it runs away, that's one less to worry about. Besides, she did not want to see that...bloody...thing...ever, ever again.
Meira came to a rest at an outer edge stump. Positively breathless, Meira plopped down against the stump, keeping a wary eye on the approaching eyes. The one she just fought had joined the other three. All together, the four had adopted the familiar wall formation and were closing in. They seem to be a bit tired as well, because their pace was slower than it was last time this happened. Still...could she really win at this rate? What she needed was a drastic turn of events.
Like, certainly, she's making some headway. She managed to trick that eyeball and cut it down to size. If she could get behind these eyeballs...
Yeah, yeah... The samurai stroked her chin as the wheels in her head started turning. She was better at this thinking thing than she thought.
...
Alright, they're getting close, so time to make this happen!
Meira grabbed her katana, took a deep breath, and rose to her feet. She crouched into a fighting stance. Any moment now, one of those demons would break formation and charge.
Well, not this time!
"Hi-yaaaaah!"
Meira charged forward, aiming for the center of the formation. The four eyeballs widened - she must have caught them off guard. As Meira neared them, they split apart, creating the same arch formation as before. Ha ha, but Meira had expected something like this. Planting her feet into the grass, Meira switched directions, turned on the eyeball to the right, and released her slash.
*FLAP*
Shoot, it dodged! Meira wanted to try again, but experience taught her that right around now-!
Meira ducked her head, and sure enough, she felt a whoosh over her head, as the opposite youkai charged. Meira smirked. Looks like they can break formation if she razzles them enough! Then how about a bit more?!
Meira pivoted and dashed to her left to keep the other two eyeballs from flanking her. Human and demon exchanged glances - it seems these two were holding their position, higher up where Meira couldn't reach them.
Well, I gotta recipe to fix that!Meira hopped backwards, bent down and scooped up her recipe - a little bit of...some good ol'...whatever chemicals are in dirt!
"Yeah!" The samurai punctuated her mental affirmation by hurling the dirt at the left eyeball. It wasn't a direct hit, but she caught it off guard enough that it couldn't avoid all the grit.
"Skree!"
Sure enough, the agitated eyeball broke formation and charged. Meira wasn't done yet though!
"Taaaake THIS!" Meira slashed with her sword. The charging eyeball arched its movement upwards and avoided it. Damn, she was sure she had it this-
Aah, here come the other two!They could double team her, but Meira now had a feel for how these things attacked. Meira hopped to the right, watching as the stupid idiots once again tried in vain to halt the momentum of their failed charge. The one that charged her before was dizzy. Meira glanced to the left, toward the central stump formation.
She flashed a grin.
Alright, NOW!Meira cut through the eyeballs, in between the center stumps. Snaking through them, Meira emerged to the other side. Meira quickly turned around, and faced back towards the eyeballs. They totally fell for it; they're all confused. Now...!
Meira jumped onto the stump. She spotted one of the two eyeballs who double-teamed her, its back totally exposed.
Meira leapt with confidence from one stump to the next. She rose her katana high above her head.
Now is the time to strike!!! Meira sprang from the final stump.
"HIYAAAA!"
It was at that point Meira noticed the last eyeball, the only one that had resisted her taunts. Only then did she see that it too had moved, drifting downward to guard the others.
Already in the air, she was too late to prevent it from blasting into her stomach.
"OOOOOOOoooooooough!"
Immediately, she was flat on her back. She was sputtering. She couldn't breathe. This this was definitely the wind getting knocked out of her. Why, why, why didn't she-
*COUGH CO-gkkk*
Get away must get awaayBut she couldn't move. Her stomach was in agony, her fingers tingling. She felt drool on her face but couldn't do anything why did it hurt so MUCH?
Meira gasped for breath. She couldn't even get up. She could barely see. Maybe she'll pass out. But then she'll die, so no, gotta hang on. Focus on the pain, that will he-*cough cough cough cough couuugh*
*gaaaaasp*
*gaaaaaasp*
*gaaaaaaaaaasp*
Amidst all the swirling trees, Meira focused her attention on the moon high above. With a center to her vision, Meira's shattered breaths gradually brought oxygen back to her brain. With each gasp, her senses returned. The canopy. The light rain on her face. The localized pain above her stomach. The rabble of eyeballs bordering her vision. The...the...
!!!
Meira sat bolt upright.
"Nngh-!" She clutched her stomach.
I...I can't move...!The four remaining eyeballs slowly circled around her. Meira's face broke into a cold sweat.
S-sword... Meira felt around.
Where's my swo- *cough cough* A-aah, there it was, to her right. She slid it forward until she came to the handle.
"Skreeeeee...!"
Oh god...in this condition, she can't fight. She can barely even see straight. This...she was in deep shit.
*gulp*
Meira dug her hand into the handle of her katana. What now...what now?
She chuckled and rubbed her neck.
"O-okay. You guys win. I'm only human, heh heh...
*cough*
"So, can I go home now?"
"Skree..."
Meira whimpered. "P-please?"
"Skreeeee." They stopped circling. The one that growled stared down at her must have been the one she nicked earlier - it had a small gash below the eye. Its icy stare sent a shiver down her spine.
Oh no... Meira held back her tears. Its wings began flapping harder.
"Sraaaaaaaw!"
This is it. This is the end. One more blow...one more hit and it'd be all over. Meira's breath crossed into hyperventilation.
Why? Was this all I was capable of? Was I really this useless, in the end? Her brain was tingling. The leathery grip of the katana dug into her palm.
No...no! She wanted to do more. Finally...she was going to discover who she was. She was going to be someone!
"Rrrrrrr...!"
Not...SHE WASN'T JUST SUPPOSED TO DIE LIKE THIIIIIIIIS!!!
"SKREEEEEE!"
!!
It charged!
"SKREEEEEEE!"
"NOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!" She shielded her eyes.
A sickening sound of impact.
...
"H-h-h-h-huh?" She was...alive. It felt as though time had stopped. The only sound remaining was the ringing in her ears. Meira lifted her head and opened her eyes.
*gasp*
Meira nearly heaved. On the other side of her katana, that katana which she clinged to so tightly, was the eyeball. The eye was completely ruptured. Blood oozed down the blade.
"Haa..." The samurai girl's jaw hung open.
I-it's dead.Meira wiggled her katana around a bit. With a slimy noise, the eyeball slid off the blade and onto the ground. Meira quickly crawled backwards to put some distance between them. Slowly, silently, it melted into a green puddle.
*flap flap*
*flap flap*
*PEW PEW*
"Aa-!"
Right, now's not the time. There's still more to be done!
Meira sucked in her breath and stood up -
"Gck-!"
And immediately sank to her knees.
"Aaah..." Meira held her chest.
Damn...what now? She needs to get out of this position so she can recover from that blow. But if she can't move...
"Skreeeee!" The eyeball to her right stopped firing and reared back.
!
Meira instinctively raised her katana in defense. To her surprise, the eyeball startled and froze in place.
"Hmm..."
Meira grunted and crawled forward using her knees.With all her will power, Meira rose to her feet and barreled forward, keeping her katana trained on the beast.
"Haaaaaaa!"
Of course, the eyeball strafe-dodged, but she didn't even bother slashing. All that mattered was that she got passed it.
Meira panted, doing her best to ignore the pain. Well, one thing was for sure - she wasn't going to lose them out in this clearing. Time to finally gather her courage and step out into the unknown...
Upon entering the twisted forest, Meira weaved through a few trees, going just far enough that she was fairly sure she'd confuse the youkai. She soon found a suitable tree - one with lots of branches for easy climbing. Catching her breath, she looked up.
If I'm this injured, surely they won't think to look for me above ground! Part of her questioned this logic, but hell if she was going to let logic stand in her way now. She sheathed her katana and got to climbing.
Maybe it was the adrenaline, but considering her stomach felt like a cannonball hit it, this was pretty easy climbing. Within seconds, she was atop a branch.
Ooh... Meira collapsed against the tree trunk, hanging her legs over the sides of the branch. These eyeballs are pretty simple-minded, so this might just work.
...
Once again, the forest was silent. Other than the rain pattering against the treetops, all there was to focus on was the pain in her gut and the swaying of the leaves. After all that had just happened, it was almost eerie...
...
Killed...?
I actually killed...Oh god, she really did. Meira stared at her hand in awe - It hadn't really registered until now. She smiled.
Dad, I finally did it. I killed one, just like you. "Kree..."
Meira jumped, quickly grabbing the trunk for support. To her left, Meira heard that infernal flapping. Meira turned, and regretted it immediately.
Because staring right back at her was that misshapen, blood-soaked eyeball.
"Ooh no..." Meira felt queasy.
She reached for her scabbard, then stopped herself. Where she was, she couldn't fight with a sword...!
"Sh-shoo." Meira waved her hand tentatively. It didn't budge.
"Shoo!" Meira's voice broke. No matter what, she couldn't stop staring at that broken iris...
"Skreeeeeeeeeeee..." Dear god, it sounded like a creaky door.
"G-get away! I'm trying to hi-!" Meira covered her mouth. She couldn't give herself away to the other eyeballs, or she really would be up a creek without a paddle.
*gulp*
*pew*
"Ow-!" Meira bit her lip as she held her shoulder, careful not to lose her balance. So it still has enough strength to attack. She was afraid of this...
*pew pew*
Meira grunted. What could she do? Her stomach was already starting to feel a bit better, but what good does that do her up in a tree?! And what if the others find her...?
*pew pew*
"Aaaaaah!"
Damn it, this thing's really
pissing me off! Attacking with that fucking danmaku that everyone always uses, always! I oughta take its stupid energy and stuff it up its-!...
You know, it's not like she can't. Use it, actually. She had forsaken what little power she had years ago. Having only a little felt like it was worse than not having it at all.
But, it's not like I was born with nothing.
Meira's left hand balled into a fist. That's right. Earlier, she had sworn to start being true to herself. And who was she, if not a girl of Gensokyo...?
Meira narrowed her glare at her bloody opponent.
*pew pew pew*
"Stop it." Meira cut through her headache and focused on her childhood. She struggled to recall what using it felt like.
*pew pew pew*
"Stop it!" A warm energy pulsed through her arm. Meira let her anger bubble, sending every stab-filled fantasy to her glowing palm.
*pew*
Shut up. Just shut up...! *pew pew*
"I SAID SHUT. UP!!!" Meira thrust her palm forward. With a surge of energy, over a dozen white bullets erupted from her palm. Each bullet hit its mark, dead center, exploding with satisfying pops and flashes. The eyeball recoiled, writhing in the air.
"
SKREEEEEeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee..." The mangled youkai recoiled backwards, crashing into a nearby tree. Meira couldn't even call it an eyeball anymore - just an empty cavity. Slowly, it fell backwards and dropped to the ground below.
Meira let out a cool breath. She felt her heart swell.
"This rocks...this rocks!"
She laughed. It had been
years since she had fired danmaku. And never, ever before did using it work so well! Shifting to regain her balance, Meira pressed her hands to her breasts and sighed.
I get it now... I am Meira. I am a resident of Gensokyo, youkai buster, samurai extraordinaire! Meira could feel it: Her second wind. She flipped over and rappelled down the trunk - it was only a matter of time before the eyeballs found her. No matter, she'll come to
them.The samurai dashed between the trees, her hand trained on her scabbard. She soon emerged into the clearing, where the eyeballs had reformed their familiar line formation. Funny, with only three, they didn't look near as intimidating. They even looked kinda goofy. Meira crouched into a fighting stance.
"Sorry, needed a quick break." She smirked, but quickly shifted to a harsh glare.
*sheen*
Meira raised her katana high, grabbed the handle with her other hand, and waved it down.
"Let's end this."
Meira dashed diagonally to the right, towards one of the outer stumps. The eyeballs began spreading out, with one coming towards her, one heading left, and one right. As she ran, Meira exchanged glances at the approaching eyeball and the stump - she wouldn't reach it in time. Not unless she slowed it down!
Meira shifted her katana to her right hand and reared back her left. Arching her fingers, she swung and released a stream of white danmaku. Out of all that, maybe only one hit, but the eyeball did a double-take in trying to avoid it all. Grinning to herself, Meira took cover behind the stump.
"Hmm..." Meira only had a few seconds, but she wondered how she could streamline using her newfound power. I mean sure, danmaku is helpful, but she needed some way to aim...
A loud roar came from behind the stump.
"Hup!" Meira took off to the right, evading both eyeballs as they crashed down on her position.
Now, what could she do with danmaku again? Meira had never used it much, and certainly never in a real fight. As she ducked behind the next stump, she mulled over her childhood...
"Bang!" Meira looked up from her comic. Noroiko had a finger pointed at her.
"Go away Noroiko, I'm busy."
"Bang!!" She giggled in her typical, grating way.
"Don't make me get mom!" Meira noted the page number of her comic book and rolled it up. Noroiko scampered to the door.
"Bang bang!" There it went. That familiar "snap" of her nerves. She gripped the book and concentrated.
"Oh go away!" Meira swung the rolled-up comic book, releasing several danmaku out of it. Noroiko yelped and slammed it shut. The white bullets exploded harmlessly against the frame.
"Moooooooom!"Meira snapped up. "That's right!" Meira laughed. How could she have forgotten?
The sound of approaching wings indicated Meira had lingered too long. She set her sights on the next stump and took off -
Head-first into one of the youkai.
?!
Meira ducked just in time to dodge its attack, but it was only a short charge. By the time Meira stood and turned to face it, it had already reared back for another.
"Kree!" The samurai gritted her teeth and raised her katana to her face. Instead of charging though, the eyeball strafed right and fired at the tip of the blade.
*Pock*
Meira gasped and grabbed the hilt with both hands. The sword sent vibrations through her arms, but she kept it steady.
"Why you...!" Meira stepped forward and cut downwards, but the eyeball shifted back left. Before she could recover, it charged.
*BAM*
"Aah-!" Meira was knocked backward, but managed to keep her footing. Lurching forward, Meira grabbed one of its leathery wings.
"Skr-?!"
"Get outta my face!!" She planted her foot down and hurled the eyeball to her right. The eyeball screeched and spiraled away.
Meira shook her head and faced forward - just in time to see another eyeball on the attack.
Meira stepped back and fired a single bullet from her left hand, right into the pupil. She fled while the eye rattled in place.
As she arrived at the next stump, she looked back at the stunned youkai.
No good. I won't be able to hide here at all."Nngh..." Meira held her stomach. She forced herself to move to the next stump.
Meira gasped for air and leaned forward on the moist stump in the corner of the clearing.
Darn, I can't keep this up much longer... If she was ever going to put this plan into action, it had better be now.
Meira climbed up and turned to her enemies. The eyeball she threw was still spinning in the distance, but the other two were approaching. Yet again, they were in a line.
Weird...whenever they go into a line, they always move slower. Were they one of those "hive minds" that stuffy science chick in class talked about once?
"Hmph." Meira lowered her stance. Doesn't matter what they are. All that matters is that the scenario couldn't be more ideal. She closed her eyes and let out a deep breath. She readied herself with a practice swing.
"Skree!" One of the eyes fired, but it couldn't be easier to dodge.
"Skree!" The other joined in, both of them approaching.
That does it!!!Meira planted her feet down, taking two danmaku to the chest.
"Skree! Skree! Is that all you can say?!" Meira growled and blocked out the noise, focusing on the sword in her hand.
Concentrate...on how annoying they are...how much you want them gone...! A strange warmth emanated from the sword's handle.
Meira flashed open her eyes and drew back her katana.
"Taaaake
THIS!" Meira cut the air in front of her from left to right, and a stream of danmaku fired from the tip of her blade.
Both eyeballs widened. The thick arc of danmaku whipped them both sideways, and they screeched about in pain. Meira stared at her sword and grinned.
"Alright...let's go!" Meira leapt off the stump and charged.
"Haaaaaa!!!" Meira attacked the eyeball on the left first, cutting forward. The eyeball caught a glimpse of her and backpedaled. Meira stumbled forward before regaining her balance. Damn.
"Skrrrrr-!"
Meira turned to her right - the second one recovered!
*BAM*
Meira stumbled to the ground. She shook her head and sat up. The eyeball rose above her and looked down menacingly.
Meira glared and brought her sword up.
*PEW*
Meira was having none of that. She cut diagonally, channeling a wave of danmaku through the katana. The eyeball's bullet was obliterated, the eyeball seared by Meira's spiritual power.
"SKREE!"
Meira hopped back to her feet and charged forward. The eyeball, shaking about in agony, could not even see Meira approaching. She brought back her sword, and thrust through the center.
A sickening squelch filled the night. Meira turned away so she didn't have to see the carnage this time. She heard was a stomach-churning "pop," like a really large boil.
"Nngh..."
Calm down, Meira. Remember: This is what papa lived for! The samurai nodded to herself and faced forward. The eyeball's wings drooped - it was most definitely dead. Meira took a good long look at the ruptured corpse. She calmed her nerves and took a deep breath.
Meira turned right and swung her sword two-handed. The eyeball's corpse slipped off and fell just short of the stump she stood on moments before.
"Phew." Meira wiped her brow.
"Raaaaa!"
Meira snapped to attention. It looks like both remaining eyeballs had recovered. She shifted her eyes to the left, at the one she blasted with danmaku, and the one on the right - that must be the one she threw.
Silence. The two flapped, unmoving. A smile creased Meira's face.
"Huh? What's wrong? Not so tough with just two of you, eh?!"
They glanced at each other, however possible that was for giant eyes. They turned back to Meira and let out an ear-piercing scream. Meira steadied herself and prepared for their attack.
The eyeball on the right charged her, which she easily sidestepped. She shifted her stance in preparation for the second, but it didn't charge.
?
*PEW PEW PEW*
"Ha-?!" Meira took several danmaku to the chest. She backed up to give herself more room. Shoot, she didn't expect that.
Wait, the other-!*BAM*
Meira gasped in pain as she was slammed into from the left. She let her feet stagger along with her body, and kept her footing. She held her side and flipped to her aggressor.
*PEW PEW PEW*
Meira growled - that other eyeball wouldn't stop firing. Her body was pretty tired - she couldn't take much more punishment.
But before she could even ready her sword to retaliate -
"Skree!"
Meira cursed and hopped backwards. She dodged the eyeball as it charged from the left, but not the bullets.
Meira sucked up the pain and thrust her hand, counteracting the eyeball's danmaku with her own. She could fire faster than these lugs, so if she can keep this up -
*BAM*
"Oogh!" Meira took a right-hand blow directly to the ribs. Tripping over her legs, she stumbled to the ground - coincidentally, right behind the stump.
"Ow ow ow ow..." Meira felt
that one. Feels like she fell onto something on the ground as well... She tried to get up, but her body was giving out again - she wasn't sure how many more winds she could pull.
As if to challenge that claim, the charging eyeball loomed to her right.
"Shit." Meira braced herself with her katana above her head. The eyeball screeched and charged - at her hand.
"Ya-!"
The katana flew out of her hands. Meira watched in horror as she saw it clang to the ground falling several feet to the left. Damn it, looks like she pulled that trick one too many times.
Meira pushed herself to her feet before the eye recovered - her body was screaming at her to stop, but there was no way, no way in
hell she was letting it end here. She backpedaled towards her sword, keeping her eyes locked onto her opponent.
As expected, the eyeball was not going to let her get away. It screeched and attacked. Meira sucked in her breath and bent backwards, letting her momentum carry her down. Just like last time, the youkai flew above her head.
Now!Meira pivoted and ran forward. Her sword was just in front of her now, glistening in the moonlight. She swiped it up and pointed it at the receding eyeball.
"No, wait...!"
Meira dashed right, where the danmaku eyeball sat on standby. It widened as Meira approached and fired.
Gotta avoid it...let's try this!Meira changed directions and ran to the eyeball's left. She swung her sword at the eyeball and sent a stream of danmaku at it. It growled in anger and turned to face her, but she wasn't done, with running OR firing!
Meira switched directions again, keeping the tip of her blade centered on the eyeball. Because they were only a few feet away, the eyeball could neither dodge her bullets, nor face her to retaliate.
She switched diagonals again! It screamed as glistening white bullets battered it from all sides. It strained to change directions, but as Meira had observed, these things were clumsy at turning.
Man, if I knew these things were so weak to bullets, I would have used them from the start! With one final diagonal change, she found herself back where she started. She cut off the danmaku to conserve her energy. Her eyes lit up as she saw its exposed back. It's open!
"Hi-yaaaaa!"
The eyeball was halfway-turned to Meira before she cleared the remaining distance.
"Too late!" Meira slashed her katana right.
"Skre-"
The eyeball stiffened, its eye wide open. The sharp end of the blade dug into its soft, exposed center. Meira let the sweet sensation of the kill set in for a few moments. Then, she brought her katana to her foot and kicked the eyeball off the blade.
...
Meira straightened up. She turned and faced the final eyeball, frozen in the distance.
"Well?" Meira started forward.
"Are you satisfied?" She swung her katana, sending flecks of white pus into the soil.
"Skree..." The eyeball narrowed at her.
"You're a youkai, aren't you? Youkai eat humans. So why aren't you doing anything? Huh?" Meira cocked her head.
Meira paused thoughtfully for a moment, then looked at the shrinking eyeball.
"Everyone always looked down on me, ya know? Everyone always treated me like a failure. My mom yells at me, my teacher beats me, even my best friend always outperforms me on everything. I'm a failure. I thought I should have just gone and died."
The eyeball growled and hovered backwards back. Meira spat to her side.
"But, I realized something during all this. No matter how shitty your life gets, everyone has the right to live. Everyone should be able to fight for that right." Meira hardened her gaze.
"You, on the other hand...you're just a bunch of bullies. A savage pack of demons, only existing to get in my way. The ones with no right to live...ARE YOU."
The eyeball turned around and fled into the forest. Meira broke into a sprint.
"Get back here!!!"
---
Meira tailed the eyeball by a good five meters. Trees and shrubs whirled by her periphery vision as everything but the eyeball faded away. Her lungs felt like they were about to burst, but she would keep moving to the last. She just had to keep running forward!
Wait, something's strangeMeira cursed her head for trying to think at a time like this. It'll get away if she doesn't keep moving!!
But isn't it weird? Why are we running in a straight line...? ?
It was true. Trees lined her left and right, but there was virtually nothing between Meira and the youkai.
...
Meira glanced down, and nearly had a heart attack
The ground...Meira gawked.
It's beaten down...!Meira looked up. She was still traveling in a more or less straight line. Everything in front of her was totally flat.
"Th..." Meira coughed. Right, don't talk.
The path...!She found the path!!!
This was a sign...
The gods favored her. Now she was certain...!
She
Is
Not
Going
To
"DIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIE!"
Meira screamed and pushed herself forward. Slowly, but surely, the distance was closing. She raised her left hand and shot forward. Missed.
Meira fired again, but this time the eyeball swerved left...
Fire, fire, fire fire fire fire!!! Damn it, it kept rocking back and forth! Meira let out a cry.
Her lungs were burning...
She was fading...
But she was not going to let it get away.
The proof of her life...the proof of everything...
She will show it, right
"HERE!!!" Meira threw her arm forward. A purple, melon-sized bullet shot out her hand. She held her breath as her steps trickled down to a halt. She watched it trace through the air.
Through the air...
...Into the eyeball's right wing.
"SKREEE!"
!!!
Meira yelled and readied her blade. The eyeball hung limply on its right and was nearly immobile. Clearing the distance in only a few seconds, Meira wasted no time gloating. She did a horizontal cut at the gyrating wing. It didn't even get stuck; the wing was completely severed.
"RAAAAA!" The eye fell to the left, its center of gravity destroyed.
"YAAAAAA!" Meira swung her sword back the other direction. Its scream was almost deafening, but that only meant it was another clean cut. The eyeball crashed forward to the ground.
Meira jumped forward, landing just short of the writhing monstrosity. Grabbing the hilt with both hands, she slammed the blunt end of the katana down into the youkai.
Then she did it again. Again. Again! AGAIN!
AGAIN! She rose on one foot and held her sword up high.
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAUUUUUUUUUUUGH!"
Meira plunged the sword down.
And then, all was silent in the forest of magic.
*Pat pat pat**Pat pat pat**Pat pat pat*