~Hakurei Shrine~ > Patchouli's Scarlet Library
Scarlet Soaked Sympathy
Zer0Axiom:
"... and that will be your punishment."
Talk about having been set up. As it turns out, today was a really bad day to have left home. I entered the overly reddened home in hopes of relieving some stress. Instead, I get more added on. In my failed escape, I nearly lost my life, and there was no point in trying to run. At least Reimu was here to keep things fair.
"Far too lenient."
... or maybe not. "I'll remember this, Reimu!" I declared to myself.
"This is boring!" complained the source of my new stress.
In the brief encounter in the rear entryway, I was blockaded by the ever-busy maid. After her initial attack, we were both ambushed by a rampaging maniac. That maniac was none other than the owner's younger sibling. She managed to ruin a large portion of the western side of the large building and nearly buried everyone in ashen debris. She was also the single reason why I didn't try to escape again; the last thing I needed was to give her an excuse to hunt me down.
After submitting to defeat, I was lead into a grand looking room where everyone else was waiting, including Reimu. Apparently, they were going to decide what type of punishment to serve me with Reimu there as an impartial mediator, but if I didn't know any better, I'd say she was in on the conspiracy against me.
With the home wrecker fidgeting needlessly, her older sister suggested, "Why don't you play with that one for a while."
Pointing casually in my direction, the ruin bringer asked, "May I?"
Receiving a nod of confirmation, the energetic tyke leapt for joy as she raced toward me. I was in a panic for an argument to avert the playtime, but my complaints fell apart at the menacing smiles that emanated auspicious horror from the three that were still near the oversized table: Reimu, Remilia, and Sakuya. With another defeated sigh, I tried to prepare for the time ahead as the others revised my punishment.
Drawing together my nerves and resolve, I asked, "So, what kinda game did you want to play?"
Hesitating with consideration, she suggested, "Your pretty fast, so how about we play tag?"
"Sounds interesting," my thoughts mused, "So any special rules?"
"I don't know if it's a special rule, but when I play, we tag with this," she replied with an innocent smile as she unveiled the large black object she was wielding when she annihilated the exit.
"Definitely a no! What kind of a moron plays like that?!" I wanted to protest, but I knew better than to ask something like that. Instead, I complained, "That doesn't seem very fun though."
"But it is!" she insisted.
"Not if you're being chased," I argued.
With a displeased glare, she pouted, "Fine, here. You chase then."
She held her hand out and offered the object to me, and I couldn't help but feel shocked and confused.
"Is that thing safe? Should you really be offering it to others so readily? Should I take it?" I couldn't decide on what to say.
Glancing around helplessly, I asked, "Are you sure?"
"You'll play if you're not being chased, right?" she asked, showing her distinct disdain for boredom.
Reaching for the object, I grasped it as she smiled brilliantly once more. Unfortunately, that thing nearly tore off my arm. I don't know what it was, or how it was possible, but the object felt like it weighed a ton! It pulled me by the fingers with enough force to plow through the flooring. I needed both hands just to keep one end level, the other end was on the floor. We hadn't even begun yet, and I was breaking out with sweat.
"And she carries this effortlessly!?" my pain shrieked to myself as she hopped about ready to begin her game of tag.
Hoisting with all my weight, I lifted the object over my shoulder and managed a full two steps before driving it back down. Needless to say, I missed entirely and resigned to a loss.
"You're no fun!" she complained.
Wiping off the sweat of wasted effort, I argued, "That was harder than it sounded..."
"Then how about..." she mused as she considered a different game.
With my breath evening back to normal, I suggested, "Why not play one of my games?"
Her eyes opened wider as she murmured, "Do you know any fun ones?"
A confident smirk stretched across my face as I boasted, "I know a few good ones."
"Pick one! Pick one!" she demanded, overly eager to have fun, I suppose.
Needing a good premise to impress the tireless playmate, I chose a simple game. It wasn't so much a game for me as it was more of a training exercise. What it entailed doing was trowing a small object out and then hitting it with an attack before it could hit the ground. It was actually an oversimplified way of just shooting things, but it was simple and easy to play.
I'm not sure why, but she liked the idea and was all too eager to get started, not even worrying about hearing its name or any other suggestions. Delayed by the odd fact that there was nothing on hand that we could throw, the mood crashed rather hard until an uplifting answer was given.
"Just use the silverware," the older sister suggested.
With no counteroffers or complaints, we were given some expensive looking forks and spoons to destroy in the name of fun.
"Such a waste," I complained internally, but then again, it wasn't my loss.
Lining up for our little game, I prepared to make the first throw. Afterward, she would make the attempt to shoot down the flying metal spoon, and then we'd switch roles. The rules were all too simple, but that was better than a complicated explanation.
Preparing a trick throw, I made the toss with dynamic force. The trick was that the throw made for a sudden curve in its arc and the unsuspecting competitor would miss as a result. It might not sound very fair, but I needed every advantage that I could muster.
The throw went far and as expected, the shift in trajectory gave it enough distance to sail by as the little one's shot missed entirely.
"Did I get it?" she asked while trembling with anticipation.
As I was about to answer her, I heard the commentary from the spectators: "Nice shot!" "Well done, Flandre!" "Congratulations, Mademoiselle!"
"Yeah! I did it!" she cheered victoriously.
"She did it!?" my fading smirk demanded an explanation, "She clearly missed!"
"What are you talking about?" "You're pitifully human senses are sadly mistaken." "Did you not notice?" the three remarked.
Glaring furiously, I suddenly realized what they meant. If she really did miss, then where is the spoon? There would have been a clatter or a sound of some sort when the silver clump landed on the ground. It was then that I finally saw the answer to my question.
A distance away, there lay a splattered mess of liquidized metal coating the marble tiles. Her attack didn't hit directly, but it still utterly destroyed the spoon. I wasn't specific enough to discredit the differences between a hit and a miss. Overruled my the majority, I congratulated her on her success, but the game had only just begun.
Now, it was my time to shine. I readied my Master Spark and waited for the throw. It was my game, and I wouldn't stand to be outdone by a first timer. With the slight tap of a step as the cue, I unleashed the blast as she released the flying metal.
The radiant surge of power blinded all who even glanced at it. The overwhelming might couldn't possibly have missed. I felt the confidence in my display as the blast faded to a calm.
"How about that!?" I cheered, completely assured of my success.
"That's too bad Marisa," "Such a wasteful display," "Better luck next time," the three mocked.
Facing me with unease, the small one asked, "Did you really miss with that?"
There was no way that I could have possibly missed with Master Spark! It was an impossibility! I demanded satisfaction! My outcry was answered with a simple display.
The maid paced to the opposite wall and glanced closer to were my shot had stained the walls. Uneasiness graced my mind as I continued to watch her pan the scene. Then, finding what she sought, she seemed to remove a speck from the ceiling and approached me.
Holding out her hand, she offered to me what seemed like a rounded coin. It stretched thinly near its edge and was smeared into an elliptic shape. As I wondered what the object was supposed to mean, the answer shot through me like a volley of shooting stars.
It was only obvious enough: the metallic object was what was left of the fork that was thrown. It flew with such an incredible speed, that it outran Master Spark and was flattened as a speck on the ceiling before it could even be hit.
The mistake I made was in comparing our abilities as being anywhere near equal. She was stronger, more powerful, and more capable than I could even hope of being. I was doomed to defeat and raced headlong to it believing otherwise.
A defeated smile adorned my face as I congratulated the winner, "I didn't stand a chance."
With much cheering, she danced gleefully and raced back to her seat at the table.
"I didn't miss anything important, did I?" inquired the pyromaniac as she entered the room.
With a shrug of her shoulders, the pompous mastermind mused, "Just Flandre's decisive victory over the intruder."
"We were going to announce the revised decree," the maid added.
And so, my punishment was finalized... "Hooray!"
Zer0Axiom:
Trice has the Scarlet Devil's home been host to incident. Among them, only one was directly relevant to the the remainder of Gensokyo, and one was not resolved by the Hakurei Miko. With the resettling peace that accompanies resolution, the gathering of the home's residents was host to their new guests as the day continued to pass by.
"I liked the other punishment better," Marisa complained.
"All the more reason for its changed," Reimu chided.
"And this would be a punishment?" inquired Flandre.
"It's probably a human thing," her sister replied.
"If there's nothing else, I have something to say," Patchouli announced.
Gathering the attention to herself, she informed, "This might seem odd, but for a time now, there has been a sound, of sorts, that echoes throughout the basement."
The focus of the announcement shifted form Patchouli to Flandre. Like a child having been outed for a prank, she protested innocence, "It wasn't me; I didn't do anything wrong!"
Shaking her head, Patchouli remarked, "Indeed, nothing wrong was done. What I wanted to note was how much progress those sounds have made. Don't you think now would be as good a time as any to share your secret?"
"But, I'm not ready -!" Flandre complained before realizing her slip up. Shriveling with embarrassment, Flandre sank into her seat as she glared disdainfully at her teacup.
Leaning forward, Remilia whispered, "You don't need to worry. If Patchouli thinks you're can share it, then I believe you are ready. So won't you share it with me?"
Flandre glanced around at the encouraging smiles that wrestled away her hesitation. Looking over to her sister, she replied with a smile, "Then, I'll give you this present now."
Giggling lightly, she stood up from her seat and searched for an appropriate stage for her performance. Caught with indecisiveness, she received as a suggestion, "The table will be fine," "Yeah, so we all can see it."
With a nod, she paced a distance along the table and climbed atop her stage. Turning to face her audience, she introduced herself, "Welcome to the Last Minute Show! I'll be your only performance for this event. Without further delay, the Scarlet Star performing Glistening Eve!"
Closing her eyes, Flandre slowly recited to herself the rhythm and took firm hold to the center of her metallic staff. Gradually beginning her piece with simple strokes to gems that hung from her wings, she continued with the motions and added more patterns in the display.
Through the short intro, Patchouli spoke to Reimu, "It seems you don't hear it."
"Was I supposed to hear something?" Reimu asked back, uncertain about the significance to the remark.
"Not particularly, but you are the only one hear that can't hear it."
Receiving the notification, Reimu observed the others and realized how engrossed they seemed. Puzzled at the sight, she glanced over to Flandre's continued show and then back to Patchouli.
"I'm not sure if it's your powers or just you, but maybe that's why it happened," smiling at Reimu, Patchouli explained, "The chime from those crystals creates a unique sound in the ears of the ones that hear them. Specifically, those sounds are meant to generate a calming sensation within the listener. It's interesting that you can't hear it, and I can't help but wonder why."
Processing the information, Reimu glared back at Patchouli, "What else have you done to her?"
"If you must know, her wings are made of materials that continually drain the power from her body. It's the only way she can contain her immense power."
Reimu turned her sight away and tried to calm herself with the tea before her. Having barely finished her cup, she heard Patchouli continue with the explanation, "Ideally, the wings, crystals, and even that wand provide enough resistance to keep her calm, but you've already seen the level of strength she still possesses."
"What's the point in telling me all this?" Reimu quietly demanded.
"I wanted you to know so you would keep yourself safe next time."
Reimu's body stiffened. "'Next time'? Was that what today was about?" Staring with accusation, she asked, "So you want me to keep away, next time?"
"If you would, yes," Patchouli confirmed as Flandre completed her song.
With the showering praise, Reimu's smile was all she could muster. Containing her grief in her thoughts, she pondered over the request, "If next time really happened, would I really be able to keep out?"
Zer0Axiom:
Doubts grow from where there is no trust. If I truly trust them, I should not doubt them. But with the recent string of commotion, doubting would be the natural thing to do. Even still, I must hold calm and stand firm, "They would not do something so recklessly if not without purpose, right?"
The quiet evening stretched on as the day grew shorter. With the disquieting curiosity that continued to weigh on my mind, I found myself glancing back through the gate. My concerns from so long ago continued to ring in my ears as I tried to recollect my confidence.
"I need not worry, everything was accounted for. They would not be as shortsighted as to leave a problem unaddressed. Everything is fine."
"Indeed, everything is fine," a voice echoed and broke my conflicted state.
"Sakuya," I identified, and took notice of the platter in her hands. With mechanical reaction, I pried the gates back for her as I voiced my observation, "You did not need to go through the trouble of bringing me my meal. Besides, it is still early."
With her unflinching smile, Sakuya replied, "It is no trouble at all, and that aside, mealtime has been made busier due to the earlier ordeal. I hope you understand."
Accepting the meal with apologetic confusion, I seated myself by the gate as Sakuya recounted her day to me. It seemed to consist largely of Mademoiselle's play-date and even included the moments after the unmistakable destruction on the mansion. As the story moved indoors, I chuckled along the game that took place and found myself idyllically reconstructing Mademoiselle's song.
It was then that Sakuya shot me a question, "Did you know that Sol couldn't taste anything?"
Caught in momentary confusion, I looked back to find Sakuya's countenance show a different degree of seriousness. Turning my gaze back towards the lake, I gathered my thoughts on the subject and looked farther into my memories. It has been an odd 60 years since I was taken under Madame's wings. Sol came into Patchouli's care some 40 years ago. Sakuya joined only after we all arrived here, and compared to then, she had changed so much.
The more I thought of it, the more it stood out, "Sakuya is a human, after all."
"Do pardon me for being human," Sakuya courtly chided as I realized what I muttered.
"I did not mean it negatively. It -," I tried to explain before stumbling over my thoughts. Clearing my voice, I tried once more to speak my thoughts, "A youkai does not change so simply, and in a world of youkai, the world does not change. Although you may not have been in this home for long, it feels as though you have always been one of us; like you will always be with us. So when I think of it, I have to remind myself, 'Sakuya is really a human.'"
Taken in with the prevailing silence that followed, Sakuya smiled and remarked, "That's nice, but you've avoided the question."
"Oh, have I?" I mused confusedly, "What was it again?"
With the rolling clatter of the dish in hand, I recalled the object of discussion. Recollecting my thoughts, I asked, "Did you know about her scars?"
With a shifting glare, Sakuya replied, "I know of them."
"But, you have yet to hear the 'why?' right?" I pressed and received silence in reply. Calming myself from the memories, I offered my answer, "There is a connection. Even though I know of the connection, I am uncertain as to what that connection is. Actually, I am certain that Sol is unaware of it as well."
"Is it so problematic that you must be so secretive of it?" Sakuya asked, obviously discontent with my rambling.
"Less so secretive, more so complicated," I remarked, "If you want the full details, you need to ask Patchouli. The answer that I can give is that she was a subject. That was all I understood."
Sakuya buried her expression with concern as she murmured, "If it's really that complicated, I guess I shouldn't bother."
The sun had cast its final shadow as Sakuya headed back towards the mansion. I was left with my thoughts and an empty bowl as I delved into our lingering discussion.
"What does it all mean?" I asked to no one in particular as the confusing blend of change continued to mix.