Rise to Power Final Chapter
Ken's POV
(Ugh~, Where am I?)
(All I remember right now is plopping down on a pillow and instantly sleeping.)
Right now I was in a white nothingness while I was wearing a white shirt and with a black jacket with black jeans.
(Whoa~, since when did I get these clothes on...and where are my weights?)
I saw something below that was ascending to me below my feet, it looked like a floorboard.
"What the..Ack!" I grunted when the floorboard impacted my feet.
(This has got to be a dream.)
Clang! Clang! Clang!
Then walls closed in on me from the sides as my surroundings began to look like a hallway with seven doors, four doors on the left, three on the right.
"HEY!" yelled an unknown voice.
(Holy hell who's that behind me?)
I did a quick 360 and saw it was Cirno.
But Cirno wasn't wearing her ribbon so she looks like a teenage girl about a inch shorter than me with long teal hair. She is wearing a light pink blouse with a blue jumper dress over it.
"I am Cirno, the strongest keymaker!" proudly declared a voice.
(Of course you're the strongest Key.....wait...Keymaker?)
(Isn't that something from the Matrix?)
"Hello Cirno. So you're the keymaker?" I greeted.
(Why am i being nice to her?)
"Yes and I am the strongest keymaker there is!" declared Cirno, again.
Cirno stood with pride while holding out a keyring with a-lot of keys.
(Oh my god that is a-lot of keys.)
(If you're the keymaker, then you should be able to unlock these doors.)
"Hey Cirno here's a great idea. Let's unlock these doors!" I said, cheerfully.
Cirno nodded and walked over to the first door on the left wall.
"Easy! No door can stand in my way!" boasted Cirno.
(Jeez, stop bashing the doors.)
I walked over to where Cirno is and she began to open the door by randomly choosing a key as she put it in.
She turned it as I heard a ping meaning it was unlocked.
"See! This lock on the door has fallen before my might" boasted Cirno.
(Oh, no door can stand in your way Cirno! Idiot.)
I turned the doorknob as I began to see that the area outside the door was only a tree stump in the middle of nothingness.
But there were two people on the stump, One person was Sanae and the other one was Koakuma.
I see that the Koakuma was sitting on the stump with Sanae's stomach on her lap while Koakuma raised her hand threateningly.
Sanae looked sullen while Koakuma had a very naughty face.
(What's with that naughty face?)
Koakuma began to spank Sanae on her backside.
"You have been a very bad girl, Sanae!" scolded Koakuma.
"Waa~! I'm Sorry!" apologized Sanae loudly.
Sanae was crying while she twitched from pain from the spanking.
(Surprisingly this is interesting, I haven't died from irony of moe.)
After staring for five minutes, Koakuma put Sanae, who was crying, beside the stump and then took out a red blanket.
(I only remember seeing a red blanket in cartoons and the next thing you know, there was a bull.)
(What could be closely related to a bull in Gensokyo?)
Koakuma unwrinkled the blanket and began waving it behind Sanae with a smile.
"Come on, Come on El Keine!" lured Koakuma.
(Eh?)
"Moo~!"
Next thing i know, I see horns sticking into Sanae's bung hole as it was EX-Keine who was caving her, while Sanae was screaming her lungs out with her head raised.
"CAVED!" I yelled.
(Oh shit.)
EX-Keine looked at me and took out her horns, before aiming them at me.
(Uh oh, I think i better go.)
I immediately slammed the door close before EX-Keine charged, I immediately jumped back from the door by instinct.
A few seconds later, Horns came out from the door as they stuck out.
I heard a muffled and somewhat despondent "moo" while I began to sweat.
(Whew! That was close. Hey where's Cirno?!)
I looked around for Cirno as she was gone, then she was at her same spot when she surprised me earlier.
"I am over here idiot. I already went ahead and unlocked every weak door for you so go ahead and open away" said Cirno.
I twitched when Cirno said idiot, surprised with situational irony.
(Idiot huh? I wouldn't be talking.)
I went ahead and walked over to the second door. I opened it for it to reveal Ran in her typical outfit with her back facing me, in a room of nothingness again.
(Okay, this seems pretty normal so far. No one is spanking other people.)
"Chen~!" screamed Ran.
(Okay, pretty normal meme so far.)
Then i heard a distant whir.
I heard rapid fire as Ran's body became peppered with gunshots.
(What in the hell?!)
After Ran's body was peppered for another three minutes, she fell down with a loud thud but with only tattered clothes.
(What? no blood, the only blood I see is from the nose.)
Ran seemed to be smiling with bullet holes in her skin with a small nosebleed.
(But....who?)
I looked up and saw a entirely black helicopter with.....Chen holding a big chain-gun labeled ChenGun as the barrels are smoking.
(Chen, you shot down your own master?)
"Chen, what the hell?!" I yelled.
"Nyah! She didn't give me a red snapper!" complained Chen.
The barrels began spinning with that familiar whir going on.
(Oh no I'm not going to get shot down!)
I immediately closed the door and hurried to the third door on the left wall.
I saw the door get peppered with bullet holes as some of the bullets made it through the door to the other wall.
(Chen is scarier than i thought.)
I opened the third door as I saw Tenshi and a brown suitcase on nothingness again, along with Iku putting her head to the suitcase.
Tenshi was wearing a green robe while Iku had on a red dress.
(Are my dreams too lazy to include scenery?)
I sighed as everything around the two are basically just white.
"Hey I hear a mysterious ticking noise" analyzed Iku.
"And it has a cool beat too, hmm~. Ten...ten...ten~shi...ten...ten...ten~shi" sung Tenshi.
(I thought I would never see a crossover between Touhou and Potter Pals.)
I kept thinking about it as Iku opened up the suitcase.
"Oh hey, I found the source of the ticking....It's a pipe bomb!" cheered Iku.
Iku held up a square box with a blinking light that is now beeping and blinking more rapidly.
Tenshi raised her hands in the air.
"YAY~!" cheered Tenshi.
(WHAT?!)
I took out my head that was sticking out the door and closed it, bracing it with my back.
As the beeping began to get faster, I heard muffled voices.
"What the Fuck!" Iku yelled.
Then I heard a Boom, along with the crackle of a fire. I felt the shockwave since I felt a very uncomfortable bump on my back.
"BOOM~! Muhahahaha!" cackled Tenshi.
(Make that a triple crossover, how would Tenshi be still ali....oh yeah...masochist celestials these days.)
I went ahead and opened the first door on the right wall.
(Finally, some scenery!)
It appears I was in a movie screening room with the screen being darkened.
I went ahead and took the closest seat on my left but left the door open just in case I might get trapped in here.
(Never hurts to be too careful even when it's a dream.)
The screen so far has a typical "Turn off all electronics" sign as it slowly dissipated.
The person who was sitting next to me was Nazrin, eating cheese from the bucket, that had the KFC sign on it.
(Hehe what is she eating? Kentucky Fried Cheese?)
"Unto this world, A child is born" said the movie.
I looked at the screen and it depicted, Shou Toramaru half-naked wearing a sarashi and japanese underwear while on her knees who just recently "teleported" to a dark arabic place.
Shou has orange-yellow hair with black stripes in it and golden yellow eyes with a lotus-shaped ornament on her head.
Shou began to look around and stand up as she detected.
(She has some kind of weird robotic vision?)
She sees the three walking Wise Queens with donkeys behind them carrying bags and garments.
(This seems familiar, what is this based off of?)
Shou begins to walk up to them as they stopped.
As I looked in Shou's POV, her vision appears to select every article of clothing on the middle Queen, then a word popped up saying "Match."
(What the hell?!)
"Enjoying the night, my sister?" asked the queen in the middle.
All three queens were in a nun outfit as they were confused and looked at Shou half naked.
"Your robes...Give them to me" said Shou, in a monotone.
(Shou talking in somewhat of a monotone. What the hell?)
"What? I assure you I bring many gifts but my robes are not among them" said the middle queen.
"What are you? Some kind of wise queen?" asked Shou.
The Middle Queen looked at her clothes, looked at her fellow queens, then looked at Shou shocked.
"Well, actually yes I am" confirmed the queen.
Shou just stood there for a second, then she punched the middle queen in the face, making her head tilt up and fall down to the ground.
After a few seconds, Words popped up on the screen with a cheesy announcer talking in an advertising way.
"She's back!"
"Shou Toramaru as Shou Toramaru in.."
"The greatest action movie ever told..."
(This is all beginning to sound familiar.)
We see through Shou's robotic Point Of View again as she sees "No Vacancy" and then "Gone to Human Village."
All of a sudden, Shou pulls out a pair of sunglasses and says, "Hasta La Vista, Baby Hijiri."
(....The Terminator...MadTV style...How did I not know? Seems interesting though.)
Then the scene switched to Hijiri standing in front of many people sitting down with the words, "33 years later" at the bottom of the scene. There are sheep behind Hijiri along with a village behind the sitting people.
Hijiri was wearing brown beggar's robes with several rips with long purple to blonde hair downlength.
(Well, Byakuren Hijiri is popularly known to be like Lincoln or Jesus.)
"Alright, Sit down, Did I make enough?" asked Byakuren.
"Okay, back to my sermon, Thou Shalt Not, what the?!" said Byakuren.
Shou came out of nowhere behind Hijiri with a pump-action shotgun, scaring away the sheep and the people.
(Where the hell do you get a shotgun in the dark age?)
There appears to be three Komachis respectively holding a spear, a net, and a scythe. All three had red hair tied up in pigtails while wearing Lamellar plates, basically what roman soldiers wear.
"Get Down!" shouted Shou.
Hijiri ducked down as Shou fired at the three Komachis.
All three fell down in a comedic fashion at the same time with twisted face expressions.
(Jesus, It's not Ju-on I'm watching here.)
Shou walked up to Hijiri as she got back up.
"What are you doing?" asked Hijiri.
"They were going to arrest you" said Shou.
"I know"
"And seal you"
"This supposed to happen"
"What are you? A glutton for punishment?"
Hijiri twitched at that comment as the scene changed to Hijiri and Shou walking around in a very dilapidated village.
(I say this is funnier than the original parody. I love this parody of a parody.)
I was basically coughing from laughing so hard at Shou acting like Arnold.
"In the beginning, there was Shou" said the announcer.
"I'm a cybernetic organism, with the mission to protect you" Shou stated.
Hijiri had her hands on Shou like she was groping her despondently like any other Christian priest would.
"I appreciate your concern and i realize you traveled a great distance. But there is a plan, a master plan even, and i can't explain to you right now but you must....stay away..." Hijiri explained.
In the meanwhile, Shou "targeted" three Shiki-Eikis in Lamellar uniforms, and was about to shoot them but Hijiri angled it up and stopped her while firing, somehow not catching the attention of the guards.
(Those are the worst guards I ever seen.)
Hijiri glared at Shou angrily.
"And you cannot....go around killing people!" grimaced Hijiri.
"Why?" asked Shou.
"Because it is wrong to kill people for no reason."
"Why?"
"Because it's a sin."
"Why?"
Hijiri started to get frustrated and made weird hand motions in the air.
"Because it's not nice."
"Why?"
Hijiri sighed and looked in the air with a praying manner.
"Forgive her Brother. She's a robot from the future."
Shou looked up to the sky trying to find where is this so called "brother"
(Wow, Shou is only taught how to be a mean killing machine.)
I was laughing obnoxiously loud that even Nazrin glared at me, then went back to eating her cheese from the bucket.
Then the scene changed into the famous last supper scene but with Hijiri and Touhou characters, all in robes except for one.
(Huh? Where's Judas? What touhou character is supposed to be Judas?)
"Thou Shalt not miss this movie. Now...come witness this miracle" said the announcer
"My sisters, my time with you is almost over. But for now, let us eat" declared Hijiri.
Hijiri raised her glass of water as Shou suddenly barged in from a door.
Everyone looked at Shou as a fat person in a shrine maiden outfit looked at Shou shocked with her eyes wide open.
(Reimu as Judas?....kinda fits..)
Shou "targeted" Reimu in her robotic vision as it labeled, "Reimu....Will betray Byakuren."
"Eat this" said Shou.
(That monotone isn't working for you.)
Then Shou shot Reimu which sent her across the table with other touhou characters shocked and backed off the table, while the dishes and goblets fell to the floor and crashed.
(Reimu really does kinda fit Judas. I just don't get the fact that she's fact.)
Hijiri shook her head and glared at Shou.
"You....You just don't get it do you?" asked Hijiri.
"You were targeted for termination" warned Shou.
(Oh god this is too funny, my stomach hurts....)
"I already told you. I'm supposed to die for the sins of mankind."
Hijiri shook her hands and put them on Reimu's stomach, glowing white for a second then it stopped. A chorus sang along with the glowing.
Then Reimu sat up seemingly healed.
"I'm programmed to protect you."
Shou shot Reimu again and pumped her shotgun.
Hijiri looked even more exasperated and made weird hand motions in the air.
"STOP! STOP KILLING RAY-MOO!" yelled Hijiri.
(Your voice kinda broke down during the RAY-MOO part Hijiri.)
"But she's going to betray you" said Shou.
"I know. Look Look. I got a lot on my mind right now and you are beginning to stress me out, Okay?! OK?!" ranted Hijiri.
(Wow you must be really stressed out.)
Hijiri proceeded to "heal" Reimu once again until Reimu sat up.
"Kogasa Tatara at Ten O'clock!" warned Shou.
Everyone including Reimu and Hijiri began to look in Shou's direction as Shou shot Reimu again and pumped her shotgun.
Then Hijiri got really mad.
"Okay! GIVE ME THAT THING!" demanded Hijiri.
Then she goes over to Shou with her hand motioning for the shotgun.
The scene changes to a group of people as Reimu begins to seal Hijiri, making an evil smile as Hijiri hung on a crucifix.
Then it shows Shou with Ichirin crying on Shou. Ichirin was dressed like a nun with light blue purple hair and dark purple eyes.
"Don't worry, she'll be back" said Shou.
Then Ichirin stopped crying and looked up at Shou, then she begins to laugh and cry at the same time.
"What?" asked Shou.
(That monotone is really working for you.)
"Shou Toramaru starring in the greatest action movie ever. Bless this movie!" said the announcer
(Okay, That was nice. It would be nice if this became a meme, especially since it should be year of the Shou right now...)
I stood up and walked out the door I came in through.
(Jeez, it had to be over so soon.)
I stretched myself as I was back in the bleak hallway.
I went to the second door and opened it.
I ended up in an urban playground with the surroundings being fences and tall skyscrapers.
Then I saw a person in a business suit with dress pants with dress shoes with blond hair, a braid on the right side of her head, and wearing sunglasses.
"Mister Sington" said the woman in the suit.
(Marisa? Why does she look like agent Smith?)
"Miss Kirisame" I replied.
"You will like being a girl" said Marisa.
(What do you mean by that?)
Marisa began to walk towards me with her hand outreached.
(Hey! I want to keep my manhood!)
When Marisa got close, I parried her hand and punched her to the ground.
(Unlike in the outside world, you can hit girls if you want. This looks like i can get out all my anger at Marisa, and judging by this scenery, Marisas.)
"Marisas, now!" yelled the one on the ground before disintegrating.
Immediately I saw a ring of Marisas surrounding me.
(Holy crap, this is going to be fun.)
(Now come on. Since it's my dream, I should be able to get what i want...Law of attraction work NOW!)
I imagined an MP5K in both of my hands, and they appeared.
I readied myself and pointed the guns at the Marisas, who were grinning.
Ken:Let's go!
BGM:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hu0rGwySDpE&feature=fvstI fired my guns as the Marisas fell everywhere.
I used my peripheral vision to see who is coming to try to tackle me and immediately fired at whoever came at me.
I made fancy firing moves as I was firing my gun under my lifted knee at one point.
Then immediately every Marisa stopped circling and came at me at the same time.
(Come on, I wanna jump high, I feel like Neo.)
Then it came to fruition, and I jumped high.
Then I pointed my guns down as I spun in the air while shooting.
However, every Marisa I kill seemed to have spawned more Marisas from the surrounding area.
I was then spinning to the ground as I slowly spread my guns apart while still shooting.
(They sure do have a lot of ammo, oh they're out. When I hit the ground, I want to make a shockwave that will launch everyone in the air.)
That came true too, as I came down and it made every Marisa launch up into the air.
(Haha look at them flailing in the air.)
I discarded the guns by throwing them at the nearest Marisas, making the Marisas behind them fall down in a chain reaction.
More Marisas came towards me, while my hands glowed with a green aura.
(Let's see how you like this!)
"SHINING FINGER~!" I declared.
(I better not be blatantly copying off that Gundam thing.)
One Marisa charged at me with her fist high.
"MEGATON PUNCH!" I yelled, before drilling the Marisa in the gut.
She fell to the ground disintegrating while I continued to punch more Marisas.
I gathered up energy in my right hand until it glowed red.
A Marisa foolishly charged at me, I drilled her in the face while saying, "FALCON~ PAWNCH!" The punch propelled her towards the other Marisas, making them go down, as they disappeared. Soon more Marisas replaced the temporary breach in their numbers.
My hands lost their aura as there is a brief clearing around me.
(Come on, I wish I have my Tsurugi and my shield with me!)
It came true as I have the Tsurugi in my right hand and my Astral shield in the other.
The Tsurugi having markings on its blade with its tempered edge while my Astral Kite Shield glowed green with Osmium power and black outlines.
I braced myself as raining Marisas fell on the flow of other Marisas, making them fall.
"You won't get away, Mr. Sington!" Yelled one of the Marisas.
"Let's go! S4 League and Cabal Online style!" I declared
(Come on, what skills can i remember from those games I used to play back in middle school?)
I immediately used a move that I always spam in S4 league.
I jumped into the air, then i went down with my shield against the ground as it made a shockwave, tripping nearby Marisas.
Then I forced it up against the ground, making many blue squares all formed in an uppercut high in the air.
"YAH~!" I grunted.
(I love that grunt they always make in S4 League when you do that counter-sword uppercut.)
Marisas disintegrated into 01010101 while flying in the air as I begin to point my shield towards the incoming flow of Marisas on my left.
"Shield Ray!" I declared.
My shield formed a yellow beam that extended outwards towards Marisas with a "PEW" as the entire horde that was in the way disintegrated.
Then behind me, someone grabbed my shoulder.
I immediately turned around as I twisted my Tsurugi round and round then grabbed it.
Then I directed towards the Marisa behind me as i made a 360 in a stab.
"Wild Strike!" I declared.
Energy filled my sword with an earth aura as it went clean through Marisa, then I withdrew it, making her disintegrated. Before she died, she held up her middle finger.
(Did she just flick me off?)
I got angry as my shield began to glow red.
Then it had a red aura around it, as I braced myself.
"Shield Splinter!" I yelled.
(This is said to be one of the strongest in Cabal Online.)
I let the crowd in front of me gather before they charged threateningly with fists in the air.
Then I let go of my shield as it launched itself towards the crowd, spinning violently with crackling red electricity.
When it first contacted a Marisa, Red lightning from the sky struck the shield, making nearby Marisas disintegrate, then it did it again for another three before returning to me.
Unfortunately I was unaware who was behind me as I was tackled to the ground., then another fell to the ground before me.
"Marisa Pile! Marisa Pile! Marisa Pile!" chanted the Marisas.
I was trapped under a pile of Marisas as they kept yelling those two words.
"How would you like a wet willie, Mr. Sington" said a Marisa.
Then she licked her finger and stuck it in my ear.
I felt a liquid in my ear that was really repugnant.
(AUGH~, Disgusting.)
"No~!" I yelled.
[BGM stop]
I sat up in the bed quickly, still shouting no.
"Jeez it took you long" said an unknown voice.
(Eh? What?)
"Huh?" I said.
I looked around and I saw I was back in the SDM, fully awake.
I still felt something wet in my ear, I put my hand up to it and indeed there was liquid in it.
"It was the only way to wake you up" continued the voice.
NEW BGM:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HCkbfapn-I4I looked for the source of the voice, and saw that it was Meiling, standing next to me while i sat up in the bed.
Meiling was wearing green chinese pajamas, I could tell easily by the pattern by her neck.
In where I slept was literally a barracks for maids, bunk beds stood clustered together with maids asleep in each one, a maid slept with me on the top bunk.
Their belongings would go to some kind of equipment box in front of the bunk beds.
During my time here, I would see a line of maids come into the barracks into their chosen bunks, and immediately go to sleep. The last one who entered the room shut off the lights, leaving only the windows in the room to illuminate the room. When I awoke, they would usually be still sleeping. But at this point, they have awoken, now giving me dirty looks as they grumbled amongst themselves.
"Come on, take a shower first, but leave those weights on. We have a new course I am going to put you through" said Meiling.
(Well whatever it is, it should be easy.)
(But I never did have a memory of taking a shower in Gensokyo at all. I took a bath in the Hakurei Spring, but that was it.)
"Hey? Where exactly is the room to take a shower in?" I asked.
"Go out of this room into the hallway, then the bathroom should be on your right at the very end, door on the left wall" described Meiling.
"Thanks"
"When you are done, meet me at the library."
(Library? That's new.)
"Fine"
I walked out of the room full of grumbling maids as I turned right and began to walk down the red hallway with a red carpet, arches held the ceiling up with busts of Remilia everywhere.
I smelled myself, and I was immediately repulsed by the odor I gave off.
(I really do need a shower, that kinda of explains why Sakuya runs as soon as she gives me food to eat.)
(It was kinda weird that Sakuya kept watching me go through my training and smiling at the same time, but why would she? She's got chores to do.)
As I trained with Meiling throughout the weeks, every exercise she put me through began to gradually get easier and easier as I get more and more used to the weights.
The weights I have on still have an influence on me, making gravity stronger, but now I can lift my limbs up like it's not that heavy at all.
I can also fly without the headache coming to my head as it was very painful in the beginning but it began to disappear throughout the weeks, now I can fly about as half of Aya's speed with the weights on.
Meiling was in reality, worse than Captain Sobel in Band of Brothers, she is the worst drill sergeant you could ever serve under. She was very sadistic while we trained, often using the whip to get me to be better, I still have scars on my back and derriere from the crackle of Meiling's whip.
Our breaks are usually very short, I usually have to discard half of my food so that we could get on with training.
I can graze danmaku easily now, but it was at Meiling's level, and I could tell that probably won't be enough to dodge the more skilled people and youkai.
I have grown to feel danmaku as like a warning to my senses, I have gone through many waves of danmaku on purpose because of Meiling's training program, she made me grow more insensible towards the bullets she used.
But I never used my Astral Shield spell card against the danmaku, instead only against the physical blows Meiling dealt. I think Meiling did this so I would get used to the burns that would happen when the bullets contact your skin.
In fact, the card has turned into a skill card called Astral Shield Aura where I can activate it by will to greatly soften a melee move, but as of this point, it can only handle five blows at a time before I get a painful headache, meaning I should use it sparingly. It also depends on the force itself, with Meiling's blows, which are pretty strong, only five. This tells me that my shield is actually more powerful than I thought, since if Gensokyo only uses melee for combat, Meiling would rule it.
Basically, Meiling turned me into a tank.
But still, I wondered throughout training about why we never worked on me actually using danmaku.
(I may be able to handle dodging danmaku, but when canI actually make others dodge them?)
(Ah here I am.)
I arrived at the end of the hallway as I opened the door to my left.
It was a small bathroom with the end of the bathroom having a bathtub/shower combination accompanied by shower curtains while a picture of Remilia laying on a bed hung besides the bathtub.
Next to the picture was a counter sink with a mirror above it.
(She really can't get enough of herself can she? But she outdone herself. This mansion actually has plumbing.)
By common sense, I turned the knob towards the right as it meant hot water.
Then I pushed on a button next to it that said "Shower" above it as it changed from the faucet pouring water to the showerhead at the top spewing out water.
(This is one of the few modern amenities found in this mansion I bet.)
After i took off my shorts, I got into the shower and immediately felt relaxed.
(Oh god, I can practically feel the grime falling off of my skin.)
I looked down and I saw dust and green liquid going into the drain as my skin felt more cleaner and cleaner.
After I was done cleaning myself, I looked around for a towel after turning off the water.
(I guess I will go look in the sink for any towels.)
I got out of the shower, and before I opened the counter, I caught a glance of myself.
Surprisingly, my hair had stayed the same throughout the entire time, just somewhat short but messy hair.
I had no stubble at all, and I also didn't have a bush growing at all.
(Amazing, Gensokyo stopped all hair growing activities for....possibly only boys. I did remember Reimu cutting her hair, then it grew backm and you never see Rinnosuke cut his hair.)
(Oh yes where was I....getting a towel.)
I looked in the counter for any as I checked.
All I find are dishrags.
(These will do for now.)
I "dried" myself with a dishrag ignoring the hair but only on the skin.
(I always did like the wet feeling you get on your hair..)
After i was done, I put back on my shorts and headed out.
(Brr~, it's cold now? Wait I just took a shower...duh.)
I walked downstairs to the main lobby of the SDM, where Meiling was expecting me beside the doors to the Library, wearing her typical clothes and hat.
"Okay, now that you're here. Ready for what you are about to do?" eagerly asked Meiling.
"Yeah, Bring it on!" I said with enthusiasm.
I have grown enthusiastic as well to training as it was really easy.
"Okay! First, take off your weights and bandages."
(Wait! Wha?!)
(She wants me to take off my weights?)
"Huh?!"
"Just do it! Or does someone want to get disciplined?" threatened Meiling.
(You better not have that whip in your clothes.)
"Uh, No Ma'am!" I said.
I started at the ankles, they seemed to have a zipper on them.
(Where exactly did Meiling get these weights?)
I unzipped them and put them beside me.
Then I took off my gloves, unzipped the forearm and wrist weights, and put them right next to the ankle weights.
I saw I was wearing my weighted vest like a jacket, so iI just shrugged it off, then I took off my bandages.
They were easy to take off since I just went through a shower, then I discarded them next to the weights.
(Oh god, I never felt so free!)
I moved around fluidly, never having to bear the weight of something like that again.
Meiling cleared her throat to get my attention.
"Okay, so why exactly do you want me to take them off?" I asked.
Meiling smiled strangely as she walked over to me, then she put her hand on my shoulder
(Is she planning another sadistic exercise?)
New BGM:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0b8QnEI6AkA&feature=related"That's it! You're done!" said Meiling, cheerfully.
"What?!"
(Is she saying what I think she's saying?)
"You're strong enough to live on in Gensokyo! You don't need to train anymore!" cheered Meiling.
I looked at myself and I was surprised.
(Was it that i didn't care? Or I couldn't see through my weights and bandages? Because I am CHISELED.)
I had gained six pack abs as my body was ripped.
"Woah! I'm ripped!" I said, admiring myself.
Meiling giggled as she let go of my shoulder.
I flexed my arm muscles as my biceps were very noticeable.
"Hehehe, You're strong!" remarked Meiling.
"You know I am! So now what? I removed my weights and bandages" I asked.
"Nothing. You are free to do whatever you want. Originally I was going to test you, but at this point, it wouldn't even be a challenge to you" admitted Meiling.
(Oh yeah, time to pop the question)
"Why was it that I didn't actually shoot danmaku throughout the whole thing?" I asked.
"Dummy. You know how to shoot them. You don't need my help in it. Make your own spell cards."
"Okay?"
I heard footsteps from upstairs followed by a yawn.
"Meiling, What's going on? You're supposed to be guard.....Ken?" said a voice.
It was Sakuya who became visible in her usual french maid outfit.
She kept silent while she walked up to me, and poked my skin.
"Ken, you got so strong. Did China...." stuttered Sakuya, who pointed at Meiling.
"Yep, Meiling helped me become stronger all this time, and think of it this way. She never fell asleep when she was on the job" I said, making Meiling smile.
"You are right Ken. Chin..Meiling..thank you for being industrious in your job" thanked Sakuya.
(Even if all she does is to guard?)
"And the fact you don't...smell anymore....just makes it..and your body"
Sakuya stopped there as she looked up into my eyes with her dark red eyes, then she hugged me, tearing up.
(Huh?)
I looked at Meiling, who just shrugged her shoulders.
"Umm~, why are you hugging me?" I asked.
"Because umm~, uhh~, you stunk up the whole mansion" said Sakuya.
(That took you long. Why didn't you complain earlier about that?)
"Umm~, thanks?" I said, narrowing my eyes at her.
Sakuya let go and smiled before heading to an unknown room.
"Hey, Where are you going?" I asked.
Sakuya stopped and looked back, while blushing and brushing away her tears with her hands.
"I must go make breakfast" answered Sakuya.
I walked up to Sakuya as she blushed even more.
(Since I am free to do anything, I still want to be productive.)
"Err~, I'll help you. My mom and dad taught me how to cook" I said.
Strangely, Sakuya's face was sad for a second, then she grew elated.
"You will? What will I do?" asked Sakuya.
"Well I don't exactly know your kitchen so you need to walk me through where the ingredients are" I said, not remembering any experience of venturing into the SDM's kitchen.
Sakuya smiled at me before walking away.
"Come on, It's this way" said Sakuya.
(It's time to show the SDM residents what a good old fashioned Asian-American breakfast is!)
I cracked my knuckles to warm up my fingers.
(I haven't cooked in a while. Hopefully I haven't got rusty, or else my dad who used to be a cook at Oriental Express would be disappointed right now.)
Sakuya led me to the kitchen where there were surprisingly many conveniences that are in the modern world.
(Whoa, Microwave, Toaster, Stove, Rice Cooker, and the Refrigerator? Where exactly did Sakuya get all this stuff? I was wrong about being there a few modern amenities in this mansion.)
"Since you are from the outside world, do you know how to use these things? I know how to use the stove, rice cooker, and the coldbox.
(Cold box must be the fridge.)
"Yeah I can guide you through the whole way, but for now we are just going to use the rice cooker and the Stove" I said.
(I always loved making an omelet with rice and soy sauce.)
"Okay"
"Do you have either butter, olive oil, or cooking spray?" I asked.
Sakuya walked over to one of the counters and pulled out a canister.
"Is this it?" asked Sakuya.
I grabbed it from Sakuya and observed it.
"'Pam's No-Stick Cooking Spray.' This is perfect...do you have a skillet?" I asked.
Sakuya went to another counter and pulled out a stainless steel skillet.
"Is this a skillet?" asked Sakuya.
"Yeah it is. Just wondering, where do you get these things?"
"Kourin is always a good place for things like these. They interest me and I buy off of him whenever I have extra money from getting food from the human village" answered Sakuya.
(Oh yeah, I forgot that Rinnosuke runs a modern convenience store in Gensokyo.)
"Okay. Good so far. Sakuya where are the eggs?"
"They are in the coldbox"
(In the fridge?)
I walked over to it and opened it, looking for the eggs.
Then I found the egg cartons and inspected them.
(Woah Oh my God! Grade AA eggs? These were rare in Krogers back in Kentucky!)
Sakuya looked at the expression on my face and giggled as I was in pure excitement.
"Sakuya. This breakfast is going to be good. Do you have rice and soy sauce?"
Sakuya looked in one of the counters and took out a bottle of vegetarian soy sauce.
"Do you want me to make the rice?" offered Sakuya.
I nodded as I put the skillet on the stove.
"Wait! Check the rice cooker First!" I said, not willing to waste time.
I noticed there were two lights on a Rice Cooker. One light said it was cooking and the other said it was ready. This time, other said it was ready.
Sakuya opened the rice cooker, generating a huge amount of steam.
"Oh yes, I forgotten that i made rice overnight...so rice is good to go" checked Sakuya.
"Okay. Bring out a plate and 8 bowls with a fork in each of them" I ordered.
I grabbed seven eggs as Sakuya already put out the 8 bowls and plate with the fork.
(Huh~? Must have stopped time.)
I grabbed one of the bowls and cracked open an egg over it as I whisked the egg until it was all yellow and no clumps.
I put the stove on high as I spray cooking spray on the skillet.
After 30 seconds, the spray began hissing, meaning it's time to put the egg on it.
I slid the egg into the stove as it began cooking, while I set the stove's power to medium.
The egg was crackling but there was no grease flying out due to the eggs being grade AA.
After it was done cooking, I used the fork to put the omelet on the plate and did the same process for 6 more times before I had 7 omelets stacked on top of each other like pancakes.
Sakuya watched me cook as she just stood there and watched me flip the omelet over and over again for it be cooked on both sides.
(We're going to have to use the microwave, omelets are getting cold.)
I opened the microwave with a button. I put in the omelets and set the cooking power to 50% before setting it for 1 minute.
"Sakuya, Stop time and put Rice in the bowls, give each an equal amount" I asked.
Then it was done as soon I was finished talking.
(Talk about it being quick, the omelets still have 55 seconds left.)
I began to apply soy sauce to the rice to sweeten the rice to each of the bowls.
(Oh my god, white rice. My mouth is watering by the second.)
We simply waited for the omelets to finish.
"Umm~, Ken? Tonight, Do you want to.....go outside and watch the stars....with me, while everyone is asleep?" hesitantly asked Sakuya.
Sakuya looked down towards the floor and blushed pink while her index fingers touched and touched.
(Meh, I got nothing planned for tonight, plus it might be an opportunity to find out why was she staring at me while I trained.)
"Sure" I answered.
Sakuya smiled warmly as the ping from the microwave scared her.
Sakuya had a knife in her hand as she was about to attack the microwave when I instinctively grabbed her hand with the knife while I was behind her.
(Wow, Training really paid off. I got much better reflexes than before.)
"Relax, It means it's done" I assured.
Sakuya relaxed her arm as I let go, she put the knife in her blouse.
I opened the microwave, laid each bowl of rice and soy sauce with an omelet.
"I hope the mistress eats a bowl, you worked hard on it. She only eats sweets and tea" remarked Sakuya.
"Well this will teach her to be more humble" I said.
I smiled at my hard work.
(That brat better eat my food!)
"Okay Sakuya. Time to give the food to them.....Okay Time Stopping works too" I said.
Five bowls were already gone and probably delivered as Me and Sakuya picked up our own bowl.
"So....who's going to clean up this mess i made?" I asked.
Sakuya giggled before saying, "the maids got it."
Sakuya led me into their dining room where Patchy, Koakuma, Meiling, Remilia, and Flandre were waiting for us.
The dining room had chandeliers over the table as pictures of Remilia are all over the room with occasional appearances of Flandre.
The dining table and chairs were on the red carpet as both the table and the chairs seemed like it's made for royalty.
(Fancy. Indulgent fancy to be more precise.)
"Umm~, Is it ok for Flandre to be out?" I asked, feeling very uncomfortable around her.
"Actually recently, Flandre has been with Patchy ever since that fight with Marisa and Flandre. Apparently, Patchy made her more docile" answered Sakuya.
(Well that's good, I don't want my head to be broken.)
Sakuya bowed to her mistress before we both sat down next to each other...
"Sakuya, what is this?" asked Remilia.
Remilia picked up her yellow omelet with her fork as she grew disgusted.
"Oh, Ken made this. He says it's really good. Right, Ken?" asked Sakuya.
I didn't really listen as I was already about to put in a combination of rice and a piece of omelet.
I put it in my mouth and tasted the combination.
"Oh my GOD! I HAVEN'T TASTED FOOD THIS GOOD IN A WHILE!" I yelled exuberantly, making everyone give me a wide-eyed look.
I chewed slowly as I contently swallowed the mixture happy.
(I have truly missed white rice after my parents got all hyped up about brown rice.)
I laid back with my fork in the bowl as Meiling began to try it.
She did the same as me and made a combination, then she put it in her mouth and chewed slowly.
Without warning, Meiling dug in her bowl like there was no tomorrow.
"Ken, where did you learn to cook like this? nom nom nom" said Meiling while chewing her food.
(Well I know she's happy.)
I peered at Koakuma who noticed and began to eat what me and China already did.
After putting the combination in her mouth and chewing slowly, her eyes brightened up and quickly took another bite.
"Lady Patchouli! This dish is amazing!" remarked Koakuma.
I smiled as I took in another bite, swimming in ecstasy with the food.
Meiling had already finished and pushed her bowl aside, and then nudged Flandre who was next to her and playing with her food.
"Come on, Flandre, Try it already! It's really good!" nudged Meiling.
"Uuu~, Okay" said Flandre with a sense of defeat.
"Here."
Meiling put together the combination then put it in Flandre's mouth after almost putting in her own mouth.
"Chew...Chew" nursed Meiling.
Flandre chewed the food, then the next three seconds Flandre began acting like Meiling. She took the fork from Meiling and began scooping up the food to her mouth.
Flandre had somewhat of a drunken smile on her face as she happily eaten, with a few rice grains on her face.
"Ken. Your cooking is exquisite." complemented Patchy.
I see that Patchy ate already almost half her dish too.
(Ah. Everyone loves Asian-American Cooking, sometimes I even amaze myself.)
I smiled at the fact that the food is delicious, and everyone else is enjoying it too.
The only ones who haven't touched it are Remilia and Sakuya.
"Ken, how do you eat it?" asked Sakuya.
I quickly took another bite before teaching Sakuya, little did I know I had my mouth full when I spoke.
"Here! Ya do this"
Sakuya giggled as Flandre already finished her meal.
"Ken, I want more" said Flandre, making me smile.
"This is why you savor your meal Flan, it's more delicious when you take the time to CHEW!" said Patchy, emphasizing the last word.
Then Patchy glared at China, who looked confused.
In Sakuya's bowl, I cut out a piece of omelet, stick in some rice with the fork, then I took it out of her bowl.
"Open" I said.
Sakuya blushed as she opened her mouth, I put the fork in, she closed her mouth, and I drag the fork out of her mouth.
"Ken, It's amazing" complemented Sakuya.
Sakuya smiled at me as she chewed.
(What's with your common sense these days?)
"Well, glad you liked it, Sakuya" I said.
I patted her on the head as she seemed to have enjoyed it but felt a little embarrassed at the same time.
Now all that's left is Remilia.
But since I put my attention on Sakuya, I didn't know that Remilia already tried it, and the fact she likes it too.
"Ken....You aren't so much as a freeloader as you were" remarked Remilia.
(Umm~, Nice to know.)
Soon everyone including myself got done with the bowls, everyone was happy and sad that it was delicious but only lasted so long.
"Ken, we are going to have this for lunch and dinner. Sakuya help him" declared Remilia.
(Okay. The self-indulgent princess might not be so bad after all.)
Meiling and Flandre jumped in the air jubilant, since they were the ones that already were finished, while Patchy and Koakuma just walked back to the library.
"Yush!" cheered Meiling.
"Wahoo~!" cheered Flandre.
(Wait a second, how long was i here?)
"Meiling, How long was I here?" I asked.
"8 months. It is the sprouting month...or March..." said Meiling.
(Wait a second, I remember it was still snowing outside when I looked out a few days ago, What's going on?)
(Oh god no...a possible incident.)
THIS BRINGS AN END TO THE RISE TO POWER ARC IN CROSSING THE BORDER.
THE NEXT ARC WILL COME TOMORROW.
Now that Ken realizes what's going on...will he tell Sakuya what he thinks is gonna happen when they meet under the stars? Tune in tomorrow to find out!
REVIEWS AND COMMENTS PLEASE!
This chapter has been re-edited.
I enjoyed making that dream sequence, especially the Cirno the Keymaker part.
