~Hakurei Shrine~ > Patchouli's Scarlet Library
hungrybookworm's Tasty One Shots - Warmth (Fluffy Reimu/Marisa)
hungrybookworm:
I caught up with Japan on Forbidden Scollery, and this was the result. A bit lighter and sillier than usual, but still serious in places. Features the usual ReiMari, and some Kosuzu/Akyuu as well.
Midwinter Fieldwork
(AO3 Mirror)
Another quiet day in Suzunaan. The winter sun shone through the windows, the gramophone played Bach, and Kosuzu sipped some tea before an open book. The room smelt faintly of wood and dust, and in the corner two customers huddled together, scanning the shelves.
?Come on, Reimu. This is the wrong section.?
?Hold on, I want to check a few recipes.?
Kosuzu watched them nervously. The two most famous youkai exterminators in Gensokyo rarely came into her shop just to browse, but here they were, enjoying a lazy day together in the company of books.
?Hmm, maybe we should try making this for dinner.?
?Go rent the book out if you like it that much. I?m gonna get what we actually came for.?
A few minutes later Marisa approached the desk holding two books. One was a thick cookbook on Chinese cuisine, and the other a dog-eared paperback written in English. Reimu was waiting near the door, impatient. After paying (and confirming that yes, the discount had been applied), Marisa tucked the books under her arm, put a hand on Reimu?s shoulder, and they left the shop.
*****
?Um, Akyuu.? Kosuzu looked down at the floor, twiddling her fingers. ?There?s something I?ve been meaning to ask you.?
Akyuu glanced up from her book. It was evening now, and the shop was filled with a warm orange glow. ?What is it??
?Uh, well, it?s just...? Kosuzu paused, feeling her cheeks go red. ?Are Reimu-san and Marisa-san... going out??
Akyuu paused for a moment, then put a hand to her chin. ?I?ve been wondering that myself, actually.?
Kosuzu tried not to smile as she sipped her tea. So she wasn?t imagining it! ?I mean, they?re always hanging out and talking to each other, and if one of them was a boy the whole village would be gossiping over it, wouldn?t they??
Akyuu nodded. ?The few times I visited the shrine they were both there.?
?Marisa-san?s usually there when I go too.? Kosuzu was getting fired up. ?And when they came into the shop last week, they were standing really close! Like their clothes were sewn together or something.?
?Hm, well don?t get too excited.? Akyuu shook her head, blushing slightly. ?I mean, we talk all the time, but we aren?t going out.?
?W-Well yeah.? Kosuzu blushed too.
?But... it might be of interest to the Gensokyo Chronicle. It could affect the future of the Hakurei line, after all.?
?You?re right. Maybe we should investigate!?
Akyuu looked away. ?That wasn?t quite what I had in mind...?
?Why not? It?ll be fun!?
?I think spying on people is a bit tasteless.?
?What about all those bushes you hid in to research youkai?? Kosuzu crossed her arms and frowned at her.
?Those were special circumstances.? Akyuu grimaced. ?And my health isn?t exactly the best, so I?d rather...?
?Oh, right.? Kosuzu sank back in her chair, feeling a bit guilty. ?Sorry.?
?It?s fine.? Akyuu closed her book. ?It?s getting late. Maybe we can continue this conversation tomorrow??
?Ah, you?re right.? Kosuzu looked up at the clock. It was almost dinner time. ?I?ll check the book out for you.?
?Thanks.?
*****
Akyuu returned the next day around early afternoon, her eyes gleaming. ?I thought about things last night, and I think you?re right.?
?Right about what?? asked Kosuzu behind a large pile of unsorted books.
?As the writer of the Gensokyo Chronicle, I have a duty to depict Gensokyo?s current cultural and sociological attitudes for the sake of future generations.?
?Umm.? Kosuzu tried to remember that part of the conversation. ?Did we really talk about that??
?Due to the overwhelming gender bias among youkai and Gensokyo?s reputation as a more liberal-minded colony, there are plenty of same sex couples found around Gensokyo, but traditionally very few of them are made up of two humans.? Akyuu stepped further into the room. ?However, times have changed.?
?Uh, Akyuu.?
Akyuu seized Kosuzu?s hand, excitement burning in her eyes. ?And what could be a more perfect way to show that than a section on the current Hakurei shrine maiden?s love life??
?Oh.? Kosuzu smiled, and grasped her hand back. ?You?re right! It?s totally normal in the Human Village now! My uncle got married to his partner just the other day!?
?Precisely! I-I mean,? Akyuu calmed down slightly. ?I?ll ask permission before publishing it, of course, but it would be bad if I wrote the article before confirming the facts.?
?Yes, yes!?
?Are you free later this afternoon? The weather?s clear, so I should be able to walk safely to the shrine by myself, but some company wouldn?t go amiss.?
Kosuzu?s shift ended in an hour. ?Of course!? She squeezed Akyuu?s hand, and looked into her friend?s eyes. ?We?ll solve this mystery together!?
*****
The shrine was deserted. Kosuzu moved to sit on the steps, but Akyuu was already heading behind the main building, aiming for the woods. She wasn?t wearing her usual elegant outfit, but had switched to tatty, baggy brown overalls. Her hair was hidden underneath a plain hat. Kosuzu was still wearing her work clothes. ?Wait, Akyuu, what are you doing??
?We need to hide of course.? She smiled. ?We can?t get any accurate observational data if our subjects can see us.?
?I thought you didn?t want to spy on them.?
?It?s fine if it?s for the Chronicle.? Akyuu stepped into the undergrowth. ?Don?t worry, I?ve done far more dangerous things in my previous lives.?
?Oh, all right then.? Kosuzu had come this far, and the thought of playing spy was pretty exciting. She followed Akyuu into a thick, brambly bush. It was surprisingly snug inside, and they had a great view of the shrine porch.
?What if they go indoors?? asked Kosuzu. They couldn?t see inside the shrine building from here.
?Then we?ll try again another day.? Akyuu got out a small pair of binoculars. ?And now, we wait.?
They didn?t have to wait long. A few minutes later they heard voices, and soon Reimu and Marisa appeared carrying several large bags of rice.
?Do you really have to buy this much at once?? complained Marisa, wobbling slightly.
?It?s cheaper this way,? said Reimu, already heading into the main room. ?And it?s your fault for eating me out of house and home.?
Marisa grumbled and followed her inside. Kosuzu and Akyuu grinned at each other. Five minutes later they returned outside and sat on the porch, Reimu carrying a tea set. It was a clear, crisp afternoon, the blue sky clear of clouds.
?Another lazy day.? Marisa picked up the teapot and helped herself.
Reimu held out her empty cup. ?Just the way it should be.?
After that they sat around, stared at the sky, and chatted about all kinds of mundane things. Kosuzu changed her seating posture again, trying to stop her legs going numb. Akyuu was perfectly still beside her, her writing brush and notebook poised. Akyuu?s memory was brilliant, but she still benefitted from taking notes it seemed.
Half an hour passed. Kosuzu didn?t want to admit it, but she was getting bored. ?M-Maybe they are just friends after all,? she whispered, glancing at Akyuu.
?Indeed.? Akyuu looked uneasy. ?I?m starting to feel like a peeping tom, personally.?
?Maybe we should stop??
?Maybe.? Akyuu glanced around her. ?Though... I suppose we didn?t think this through.?
?Huh??
?They?ll notice us if we try and move from the bush.? Akyuu pressed her fingers against her forehead and closed her eyes. ?We can?t leave until they go inside.?
?Ah.? That?s bad. Kosuzu said she?d be back before dinner. And she was meant to help clean the shop later. ?Um, how long do they normally spend on the porch??
?I?m not sure.? Akyuu opened her eyes again. ?Do you have any water??
?Yes.? Kosuzu brought a water bottle and some snacks, just in case.
?Can I have some??
Kosuzu handed her the flask. A strand of Akyuu?s hair had fallen out of her hat, and she moved it aside as she drank. For a moment Kosuzu felt acutely aware of her friend?s fragility. Doing this in the summer would have been out of the question.
?Are you feeling all right?? Kosuzu had to check.
?I?m fine, just thirsty.? Akyuu grimaced. ?And uncomfortable, I suppose.?
They glanced back at the shrine. Marisa was lying on her back, her knees bent upwards. Reimu was sitting near her feet, her arms crossed. They were still deep in conversation. Kosuzu felt envious watching them. She and Akyuu couldn?t talk non-stop like that. The mysterious woman who visited the shop usually left before Kosuzu could strike up a conversation, much to her disappointment, and most of her friends from school had long grown distant. How lovely it would be to find someone like-minded, and just talk and talk as the hours flew by. Kosuzu was sure she?d fall in love with someone like that.
Reimu smiled and leant sideways, resting her cheek against Marisa?s leg. Her expression was full of affection. Kosuzu felt her face go red, and her stomach turned with guilt. They couldn?t stay here. They were watching something personal, something intimate. She grabbed Akyuu?s hand, and moved to stand up.
?Don?t,? said Akyuu, trying to pull her back down, ?we?ll be see-?
There was a loud clicking sound, like a camera shutter. Kosuzu and Akyuu froze. Reimu leapt away from the porch, startled, and Marisa turned over. The magician looked deeply annoyed, and was staring right at Kosuzu and Akyuu?s bush.
A chill ran through the air. Akyuu?s hand felt clammy with sweat. Kosuzu was too afraid to move, too afraid to even breathe.
?What was that?? Reimu picked up her gohei.
?A camera. It came from that bush over there.?
Kosuzu and Akyuu looked at each other. They hadn?t brought a camera, had they? Marisa was getting up now, heading towards their hiding place. It was all over.
?Ah, guess you caught me.? A voice rang out to the left, and the bush right next to theirs shook. A crow tengu stood up, leaves stuck in her short hair and a victorious smile on her face. ?But it?s too late. I?ve got the pictures.?
?Aya...? A dark shadow covered Reimu?s face. ?I should?ve known.?
?You know, the bookmakers up on Youkai Mountain have odds of three-to-one on Marisa confessing first.? Aya shrugged her shoulders in exaggeration. ?I had two thousand yen riding on Reimu, personally. This picture will cause quite a stir.?
?What kind of idiot puts money on Reimu outside a danmaku battle?? Marisa reached into her pocket, and pulled out her mini-Hakkero. ?I mean, come on. I?m a sure bet.?
?Oh, is that a confession?? Aya raised her eyebrows, and looked in Reimu?s direction. ?So have you already become an item??
?It?s none of your business!? Reimu?s face was bright red with anger. ?You tengu have some nasty hobbies, spying on us like that. Maybe someone needs to teach you a lesson.?
?By all means. I?m not giving you the negatives though, not without a fight.?
?Come on,? hissed Akyuu, tugging Kosuzu?s hand. ?We need to get out of here!?
Reimu and Marisa were distracted. Aya hadn?t noticed them. It was the perfect opportunity.
?I?m taking her on, Marisa. You stand aside.? Reimu stepped forward, her eyes locked on the tengu.
?What, after she didn?t bet on me? No way am I taking that lying down.?
?I?ll take you both on if you want,? said Aya. ?At the same time.?
Kosuzu was tempted to watch, but Akyuu was already heading out of the bush. They ducked, weaved through the foliage, then sprinted through a metre of open grass to the front of the shrine.
Success. They heard a shout of ?Fantasy Seal!? in the distance. Akyuu coughed, and shivered suddenly. Kosuzu noticed that they were still holding hands.
?Sorry,? said Akyuu, covering her mouth with her free hand. They had left the water bottle back in the bush. ?I should?ve known better.?
?No, it?s fine, it was my idea in the first place.? Kosuzu touched her friend?s shoulder, worried. ?Um, you?re not gonna... die or anything, are you??
Akyuu laughed. ?No, no, I?ll be fine tomorrow. This is normal.?
They stood in silence for a while, staring at the view beyond the torii gate. Yells, shouts and small bangs echoed far behind them.
?They are going out, aren?t they,? said Akyuu.
?Definitely,? said Kosuzu.
hungrybookworm:
Who's up for some light and fluffy Sealing Club stuff?
Touchy-Feely
(AO3 Mirror)
Renko chose her words carefully. She placed her lukewarm teacup back in its saucer, and stared straight at her companion. ?Merry, can I ask you something??
Maribel Hearn raised her eyebrows. ?What is it??
?Well...? Renko had been meaning to ask this for a while. She twiddled her thumbs. ?I?ve been wondering, you see. Um... why are you so... touchy-feely with me??
?Touchy-feely??
?Don?t get the wrong idea!? Renko waved her hand quickly. ?I don?t hate it. I?m just curious. That?s all.?
It started a few weeks after they first met. Maribel would pat Renko?s arm when things didn?t go as planned, rub her shoulders whenever she complained about exam stress, lean forward and sort out her hair parting if it looked wonky... They were fleeting, sudden touches, and at first Renko hated them. She assumed it was cultural: Maribel wasn?t Japanese, and probably thought it was normal. Renko assumed she would stop after a while.
But as time passed Renko found herself not minding it, liking it even. Once or twice she even took the initiative, grabbing Maribel?s hand during club activities and pulling her along, smiling like an idiot the whole way.
?Hmm.? Maribel frowned. It was the same expression she wore when she saw a particularly hard kanji compound, and Renko worried for a moment that ?touchy-feely? was beyond her vocabulary. ?By ?touchy-feely?, do you mean this??
She put down her teaspoon, and placed her hand over Renko?s. She squeezed it.
?Yeah, that.? Renko smiled, and quickly glanced away. She was glad the cafe was mostly empty. ?I?m guessing it?s normal where you?re from, right??
Maribel didn?t say anything. Then she grimaced slightly, and moved her hand away. ?It?s not really normal. Maybe if I was American...?
?Ah.?
?It?s just embarrassing to say.? She sighed, and picked up her teaspoon again. ?I?ll tell you later, when we get home.?
Of course, after that Renko couldn?t concentrate. She shuffled her feet under the table, impatient for an answer. Finally Maribel finished her slice of cake, and they stood up to leave. It was darker than usual outside, thick clouds threatening the city with rain. Renko swung her umbrella like a pendulum, and it didn?t start pouring until they were safely under the bus shelter.
The journey felt longer and more rickety than usual, and by the time they finally arrived back at Maribel?s studio flat Renko thought she was going to explode. As soon as the door was closed and Maribel?s shoes were tucked away, Renko grabbed her arm and asked: ?Well? Why are you so touchy-feely??
Maribel laughed. Renko wondered if she?d been made a fool of. ?Sorry Renko, you just looked so funny there.? She reached out and took Renko?s hat off. ?I would have told you in the cafe if I?d known it was bothering you that much.?
Renko?s cheeks went red. ?I?m not bothered.?
Maribel tossed the hat onto the sofa. Then, before Renko realised what she was doing, Maribel leant forward and hugged her.
?M-Merry!?
?I?m touchy-feely because I want to make sure you?re real.? Maribel whispered into her ear. ?That?s all. Sorry it?s nothing big.?
?No, don?t be sorry!? Renko hugged her back. ?Of course I?m real, you idiot. I?m a living breathing human being.?
?I know,? she said. ?I just wonder, sometimes. You know.?
?You?re so silly sometimes, Merry.? Renko sighed. ?And even if I was just a part of your dreams, we?re working on making those real, aren?t we?? She pulled away, her hands still gripping her shoulders. ?So I?ll be real no matter what happens!?
Maribel looked relieved. ?Renko...?
The rain tapped against the window pane.
?Thank you.?
hungrybookworm:
And now for something 180 degrees in the other direction.
This is a tragedy with major character death. Consider yourselves warned.
Rebirth
(AO3 Mirror)
Somewhere deep in the Hieda house, a clock struck midnight. Akyuu rolled over, listening to its muffled chimes. Her room was pitch black, her attendants having long gone to bed, and her futon sheets were sticky with sweat. Akyuu slept fitfully nowadays, sometimes unsure if she was awake or asleep in the midst of fever. She had a permanent headache, and shivered constantly.
None of her servants could bring themselves to smile around her. The doctor just shook his head when he came to visit. Everyone knew the fate of the Child of Miare. Their brilliant memory came at a cost, and it would soon be time to pay it.
Akyuu knew she should be thankful. Some of her previous incarnations left behind children and loved ones, and passed away full of regrets. Some of them died all alone, lying on bloodied sheets in a wrecked room. The Hieda family?s history was as varied and volatile as Gensokyo?s, and Akyuu was relieved that her ninth incarnation had gone so smoothly.
That wasn?t to say she felt at peace, however.
The clock fell silent. Akyuu smiled to herself, almost excited for a moment. She hadn?t felt this pleased since her reincarnation confirmation arrived last year.
For the first time in her long memory, she had reached her thirtieth birthday.
She heard a door opening somewhere down the corridor. Pain shot through Akyuu?s head, and she rubbed her forehead in an attempt to ease her headache. She?d asked to be left alone at night. During the day she was surrounded by people, always fretting over her, trying to make her comfortable, even accompanying her to the toilet. Akyuu would rather die unobserved in the witching hour than lose her last shred of privacy.
The footsteps got louder, and Akyuu?s head pounded in time with them. She hoped she was just imagining things, and it wasn?t a worried servant coming to check on her. She rolled over, annoyed, hoping they would go away. Her eyelids drooped.
When she woke up again, there was someone sitting next to her futon. She stared at the silhouette, trying to recall who it belonged to. Ten seconds passed before she realised it was an adult woman. Twenty seconds passed before she recognised the woman?s face. She shook in disbelief.
Relief flooded through her.
?I?ve been waiting for you,? said Akyuu slowly. ?I thought you weren?t going to show up.?
?Happy thirtieth birthday, Akyuu,? said the silhouette. ?I?m sorry I missed all the others.?
?Kosuzu...? Akyuu reached out a hand, to touch her. ?You?re really here, right? I?m not dreaming, am I??
?I?m here, I?m real.? Kosuzu Motoori grasped her hand. Her palm felt rougher than Akyuu remembered. ?Mamizou-san took me to the mountains to train. I?ve been with the tanuki all this time, in the outside world.?
Akyuu smiled weakly. ?Oh Kosuzu. All my lectures back then were a waste.?
?Sorry.?
Akyuu could see her better now. Kosuzu was wearing a simple kimono, and her hair was down. Her trademark bells were missing, and she looked thinner than before. Her smile was kind, but had a sinister edge to it.
Ten years ago, Kosuzu ran away from home. Her parents woke up to find all the youma books gone, money missing from the till, and an apologetic note from their daughter. The village looked everywhere for her. Even Reimu Hakurei and Marisa Kirisame couldn?t find her. But it was clear what had happened.
Akyuu had known for a while that Kosuzu was losing her humanity. She had a front row seat to the spectacle, and was powerless to stop it.
?Why did you come back?? Akyuu wasn?t sure where to begin. She had so many questions. ?Why now??
?I heard you were dying,? said Kosuzu. ?I wanted to say goodbye to you.?
?Are you going to eat me??
?I only eat humans when I have to.?
?Some youkai you are.? Akyuu squeezed her hand. ?I dedicated a section in the Gensokyo Chronicle to you: several pages on early human-youkai transformation stages with examples.? She had to rewrite it over and over, because her teardrops made the ink run. ?Your parents made information pamphlets out of it and passed them around.?
?Do you hate me, for becoming a youkai??
Kosuzu?s voice was weak, and full of remorse. It relieved Akyuu that she felt at least a little guilty about it.
?I do hate you, a little.? Akyuu didn?t want to lie. This was her last opportunity to be honest. ?You were my best friend and you treated me like a normal person. I thought we shared all our secrets together. You might as well have slapped me across the face when you left.?
?I?m sorry.?
?Your parents almost went mad with grief. I couldn?t work on the Chronicle for months because I missed you so much. We held a service for you at the shrine, and Reimu Hakurei and Marisa Kirisame wouldn?t look me in the eye. They told me later that you?d been messing around with some bakedanuki and probably ran off with her.?
?Mamizou-san?s a good person.? Kosuzu spoke quickly. ?She?s... she?s really intelligent, and kind, and...?
?And she pretended to be a human to gain your trust. She didn?t tell you her name for years! How could you trust someone like that??
?Don?t, Akyuu.? Kosuzu covered her face with her free hand. ?You wouldn?t understand.?
Akyuu felt annoyed. ?Understand what? How many times did I tell you that youkai are the enemies of humans? Why did you feel so drawn to them? Why did you have to become one?? She felt tears well up in her eyes. ?Why did you have to become my enemy??
?I did it for you, Akyuu.?
Akyuu was taken aback. ?Excuse me??
?Listen, okay?? Kosuzu?s voice shook. ?I was really lonely back then. So lonely you wouldn?t believe it. You were my only friend in the whole world. My parents left me alone in the shop all day, and I got so bored reading the same books over and over. The few regulars we had were rarely the same age as me. Your visits made my life so much brighter. I never wanted them to end. I knew you wouldn?t live long. I knew you were going to die in just over a decade, and then I?d never see you again. I?d die before you reincarnated. That thought was pure torture to me.?
Akyuu opened her mouth, then closed it without saying anything.
?I thought... if I became a youkai, if I threw away my humanity... then I could see you again, Akyuu. In your tenth incarnation, and your eleventh, your twelfth... And I knew I was already losing what made me human. I was too sympathetic to youkai. I loved youma books too much. And then one day, Mamizou-san finally told me her name, and her true identity. She said she?d help me become a monster, if I wanted. I knew I couldn?t miss that chance. I worked harder than I?ve ever worked before, with her.? She sighed. ?I?m so glad I managed to get back to Gensokyo before you died.?
?Kosuzu...? Akyuu didn?t know what to say. ?Kosuzu... oh, you idiot...?
?I?m sorry for being immature, and selfish, and running away without telling anyone. I?m sorry I hurt you so much. I?m sorry I couldn?t come back earlier.? She looked into Akyuu?s eyes. ?I don?t regret any of it though. You?re my best friend. I love you. I can stay with you for centuries now, if you want me to. Only... if you want me to.?
Akyuu?s emotions were a complete mess, but her darkest feelings had long faded. She couldn?t stay angry at Kosuzu. ?Of course I want you to. I mean, it won?t be like before. You?re a youkai now, and I?ll always be human. But... Kosuzu, you really did all that... for me??
?Really really.? Kosuzu smiled, just like a decade ago. ?You can rest easy now. I?ll be waiting for you.?
?Can you stay here? Until morning??
?Yeah, until dawn.? Kosuzu looked outside. ?Or... until your servants wake up, I suppose. They probably wouldn?t like a youkai in your house.?
?I?m feverish, so I might catnap for most of it.? Akyuu closed her eyes. ?But, when I?m awake, let?s talk. I want to hear about the outside world.?
?All right.? Kosuzu squeezed her hand. ?Since it?s your birthday.?
Akyuu?s breath grew steady. Kosuzu watched her sleep, holding her hand the entire time. She said she would catnap, but Akyuu?s eyes stayed shut for an hour. Two hours. Three. Her breathing grew quieter and quieter.
Kosuzu was gone when the first servant entered the room. The breakfast tray in her hands crashed to the floor.
The village fell into mourning.
There were two funeral ceremonies ? one for humans, and one for youkai. Kosuzu stood beside Ran Yakumo and stared at the floor, listening to the speaker talk about Akyuu?s life. There was so much she didn?t know about her friend now. A whole decade?s worth of memories she wasn?t a part of. She didn?t recognise the woman talking either. She was probably a little girl when Kosuzu left.
She had plenty to learn in the next one hundred years, before Akyuu came back. She had to find her parents and apologise to them. Return the books and the money she took. Visit Reimu and Marisa and explain herself. She wanted to be on good terms with them, before they all died.
And then, once she found redemption, she could face the tenth Child of Miare, and begin anew.
hungrybookworm:
Changed the thread title because none of these are short enough to call drabbles, hahaha...
Oh look I wrote a cute MariAli story.
Passing Notes
(AO3 Mirror)
The dolls were active today, whizzing around the living room like birds in an aviary. Marisa ducked every time one swooped too close to her head, and she pushed her ink pot down against the table, in case a doll smashed into it and spilled ink all over her notes. It was hard to concentrate on studying with all the clamour.
A shanghai doll knocked into the big pile of grimoires in the middle of the table, and the books wobbled dangerously. ?Woah! Come on, Alice,? Marisa yelled, trying to stop them falling with her free hand, ?can?t you calm them down a bit??
The two magicians were sitting at Alice?s dining table, enjoying a Saturday studying session. Or at least they would be, if the dolls weren?t so hyperactive. Alice sat amongst the chaos, calm and composed. ?I suppose I should,? she said. ?They are making a bit of a mess.?
?A bit? Hey, that?s my hat!? One of the dolls grabbed it off her head. ?Come back here!?
Alice giggled, and Marisa leapt up to give chase. The doll zipped through the hall, and towards the back door. Alice controlled the dolls all by herself, didn?t she? What was she trying to achieve, making Marisa run around her house like a moron? ?Give me my hat back, you little-!? She swiped at the doll, but it flew out of reach. It shot outside, into the garden.
Well, it was a fun game to play. It got her exercising after several hours of sitting. Marisa and Alice?s study sessions were supposed to only last an hour or two, but they always overran, the conversation moving from magical theories and potion brewing tricks, to rumours about other magicians and the current economic trends for material prices. The kinds of things Marisa could never talk to Reimu about, nor would ever want to.
The doll did a circuit around the vegetable patch, then flew back into the hallway. But it took a wrong turn, and went straight into the airing cupboard. It had nowhere left to run. Marisa stepped between it and the doorway, cackled like an old fashioned witch, and approached it with her arms outstretched. ?Now now,? she cooed. ?Why don?t you give Aunty Marisa her hat back? You don?t want to make her angry, now do you??
The doll looked from side to side, hung its head, then pushed the hat into Marisa?s arms. It slipped past before she could catch it.
?Hey, I wasn?t really gonna hurt you!? Marisa put her hat back on, and felt something fall on her head. ?Huh?? She took it off again and groped around her head. A folded piece of paper fell to the floor. Curious, she picked it up, and opened it.
It was a short note, written unmistakably in Alice?s handwriting. I really enjoy your company. I?d like it if we could spend more time together. Will you go out with me?
Marisa stared at it for a few moments, confused. Was this a joke? Well, only one way to find out.
?Hey Alice!? She almost knocked the living room door off its hinges. Alice was still at the table, the dolls now behaving themselves on the sofa. ?Is this note for me??
Alice?s face boiled bright red. She lifted her tea cup up and attempted to hide her face with it. ?W-What note??
?This one!? Marisa pushed it under her nose. ?That?s your handwriting isn?t it??
Alice took the piece of paper from her, and looked at it. Then she placed the tea cup back in its saucer, and sighed. ?You are so insensitive sometimes.?
So it was real! ?Oh, so you like me, do you?? Marisa grinned, pleased with this new information. ?Want me to move in and be your girlfriend and stuff??
??I must be completely mad.? She covered her eyes with one hand. The tips of her ears were bright red. ?But yes. Yes I do.?
??Oh.? So Alice was serious. Marisa found herself stuttering. ?Well, um? t-thanks??
?And?? Alice raised her head and looked straight at her. ?I want an answer, Marisa.?
?Okay, okay, umm...? Marisa turned away. She rubbed her forehead, trying to think. How did they go from taking notes on dragon scales to making romantic proposals? Either way, Marisa didn?t have to think long. Alice could be overly serious sometimes, but she had a sense of humour at heart, and Marisa enjoyed her company a lot. Dating another magician would be good for her career too, on a practical level. And unlike Reimu, who was always standing opposite her, Alice had her back when things got tough in an incident.
??Yeah.? Marisa felt herself blush. ?Yeah, I?ll go out with you, Alice.? She turned back around, to see the other magician?s reaction. Alice had a look of total disbelief on her face, which blossomed into a smile.
The dolls jumped around on the sofa, as pleased as anyone.
hungrybookworm:
I forgot to mention it here, but a while ago I did a fic meme thing on tumblr, and I collected the results three weeks ago and posted them on AO3! So here's 15 very short, six sentence drabbles!
Most of them are perfectly innocent, but two of them... really aren't. So don't read this at work. Your boss will be furious! Also be aware that one drabble has non-consensual kissing, and there is referenced character death in there as well.
[nsfw]http://archiveofourown.org/works/2369225[/nsfw]
In other news, I'm doing another fic meme on tumblr. This one involves picking two characters, and then a theme out of a list of 100 (!!) If you're interested, send me an ask with the characters and theme word/number, and you'll get a drabble in the near future!