~Hakurei Shrine~ > Kosuzu's Grand Bookstore

The Shrine of Gensokyo

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WRATHIE_Beatrice: -- [Are you awake?] [?uh?] Looking up, I touched myself to see that I wasn?t dead yet. [.. RED-WHITE, WHAT ARE YOU?] Looking at her, I hurriedly got up only to find that her hand was resting on my head and I pushed her hand away roughly. [Cirno doesn?t need your help!] [You?re energetic? I?m glad.] That damn red-white, she will pay!! Raising my hand, I stopped when I saw that she was not wearing much of her clothes and her clothes were hanging by a stick at the side. [? Red-white is wet? and Cirno is?] Touching myself, I found that much of my clothes were taken off too. [RETURN CIRNO?S CLOTHES YOU THEIF!] [? I?m sorry, they just looked wet so I dried them for you.] Smiling, the red-white threw my clothes back to me and I put them on in a hurry. [RED-WHITE, WHY DID YOU SAVE CIRNO!] Fluttering my wings, I circled around red-white to listen to her. I had remembered that she had appeared before me in a split second and after that I had fallen down to the lake. I could swim, but my body felt weak? too weak to swim. [? because it would be wrong not to?] [? Cirno won?t die, Cirno is youkai!] [What if you did?] That stopped me as I watched the red-white leak in front of me. [I?m sorry Cirno, I didn?t mean to really hurt you? it just? it just happened.] [? Cirno is not hurt, Cirno is the strongest!!] [When you wanted to play with me, I did my best? so? so?] [? Cirno ask Red-white again, why did Red-white save Cirno?] [? I didn?t want you to die, Cirno.] [Cirno told Red-white, Cirno can?t die!] [? I don?t want to take the risk?] [? Red-white is the idiot!] Laughing as I flew all around the red-white, I paused for a moment as the Red-white just shook her head and shouted at me. [Cirno, you really are an idiot? wasting all my effort for you?] As I looked at red-white, I had to turn away as it felt very uncomfortable as I looked at her. She was leaking and her face was red, something that I would never do. [Stupid, Red-white! Cirno is the strongest! So don?t leak anymore. [It?s call crying?] [? Don?t leak anymore, Red-white!! Cirno is the strongest!] The red-white is really weird today as she suddenly started laughing and nodding her head. [? yes, Cirno you are the strongest? in many ways.] [See Red-white, Cirno is the strongest!] [? Reimu.] [??] [Call me Reimu.] [Red-white is Red-White.] [Call me Reimu?] Flying down to look at the red-white in the eye, I tried to look serious but I failed when I just sorta babbled to her. [? R-Red-white is Red-white! Don?t tell Cirno what to do!!] [Call me Reimu, please, Cirno?] [... ...] [? Reimu?] [Thank you, Cirno?] Seeing the red-white smile made me happy for some reason and I found that I wasn?t mad anymore. [CIrno is the strongest, Reimu! Cirno is!] [? yes you are, Cirno? yes you are?] -- Waving goodbye to Cirno, I watched for the wind and took off towards the mansion that was right in front of me. Perhaps I can get some information from there? As I did so, I experimented with my new found ability of being able to fly and I did a twirl and a loop around to see my control over flight. [Woo hoo!~] It worked perfectly and I was very pleased with my results which led to me accelerating my speed as I the mansion gate became larger and larger. All around me, a scarlet mist was gathering around and I prayed for my safety among the spirits that were nearby. [? there?s the gate alright!] Dodging a couple of small fairies that were swooping down at me, I flew close to the ground and came to a stop just a few feet away from the main doors. The doors were impressively built with steel and it looked pretty sturdy as I slowly approached it. [? is anyone there?] Trying to muster as much confidence I had as I approached it, I hated to admit it but it was quite intimidating the way the mansion seemed to glow in the scarlet hue around it. [? IS THERE ANYONE HERE?!] Screaming out loud, I waited for a response from the mansion and I immediately got one from a person that appeared casually from the side of the gigantic metal doors. [? w-what is it? just as I was going to turn in to have a quick snack?] Yawning, the door guard noticed me and I bowed politely to her. [Good evening?] [? R-Reimu?!] Calling my name, the door guard ran closer to me and as she approached, I could make out her features more clearly. She had crimson colored hair and was wearing something that was similar to a Chinese Qi pao that I had seen before, only it was green and it looked very much modified as she looked as if she was wearing a dress and a qi pao simultaneously. Taking off her beret, the gate guard wiped away tears from her eyes before hugging me while I just stood there, stunned at her welcome. [Reimu! You came back! I?m so glad to see you again!! You?ve grown too and you?re so mature looking now, Look at you, you?re the same height as me.] [? erm? may I know your name?] Patting her shoulder awkwardly, I waited for a moment and she hurriedly pulled herself away. [Oh my gosh, what have I done? The mistress will be so mad at me for doing that?] Sticking her tongue out, the girl took off her beret before bowing formally back to me. [Welcome to the Scarlet Devil Mansion, I am Hong Mei? erm? you can call me China, Reimu?] Stuttering half way, China paused nervously before she just sort of shrugged as she placed her hands on her hips. [Well, Reimu? what brings you here? That?s going to be the first thing you are going to tell me after such a long time? I didn?t hear that you are coming back?] Nodding my head at her friendliness, I bowed again to her before requesting that she continue. [May I? enquire your name? You stopped half way?] [M-My name?] Looking at me as if I was crazy, the crimson colored gate guard pointed to herself once more and I nodded my head at her. [Yes, your name please?] [? My name is Hong Meiling.] [Then, Ms Hong Meiling, may I request an audience with the Owner of the Mansion?] [? You called my name?!] [? yes I did, Miss Hong Meiling?] I was surprised that calling her name made such a huge fuss as she fell to her knees and started crying out loud in joy. [SHE CALLED ME BY MY NAME!!!] [? Erm, Miss Hong Meiling?] [Yes, yes of course Reimu. If it?s you, the mistress will definitely let you in. But? you?re weird today? oh wait.] Tilting her head, Meiling paused for a second before she snapped her fingers together as if she had figured out something very important. [That?s right.. I had forgotten, Reimu do you know who I am, I am asking very seriously and I am not joking with you.] Crossing her arms, Meiling stamped a foot on the floor before waiting for my reply. What kind of reply would be the right answer? This was a dilemma as Shrine Maiden?s do not lie. [No? I have a feeling that I had seen you before? but that is about it? I am sorry.] [?] She seemed kind of sad as I said that, her shoulders slumped but the smile on her face never wavered as she rubbed her nose for a bit. [Well, I guess that should be expected, that stuff you drank was some potent stuff? Well, at least you?re back home, that?s what matters. Now? of course?] Sensing the intent in her voice, I jumped back and drew a couple of amulets in alarm when she stamped her foot again, this time with more force. [Even if I agree to let you in, it?s not going to be for free. What?ll be free is that I?ll personally escort you to the mistress, if you win me?] Taunting me by flexing her fingers in my general direction and asking me to make the first move, Meiling readied her stance and I was suddenly awash with new pieces in the jigsaw puzzle that was my past. -- [Say China, what is the exercise that you do everyday?] [It?s Tai-chi, it makes the Qi flows better.] [Oh~] Sitting beside me, I poured China a cup of tea and laughed when China accidentally spilled some of it as she screamed. [Hot hot!!] [Cat?s tongue, China?] [I?m Hong Meiling! Your tea is so hot!] -- [? Danmaku again?] [What else, Reimu? I might actually get to beat you this time?] Grinning wryly, Meiling leapt on top of the Pair of Metal Doors before clapping her hands together in concentration. [? Well, okay?] Reluctantly, I nodded to Meiling and flew up to meet her face to face, me threading air and she threading metal. [? A Single hit?] [A Single hit. A limit of five spell cards.] [Okay, you?re on.] Closing both our eyes, Meiling threw a coin in the air and we immediately understood what she meant. The moment the coin hits the floor is the moment the match begins! [GO!] Meiling was the first person to respond to the coin hitting the floor and as I dived down below her, she twisted her body like a cocoon and slammed both her feet on the floor, causing a mini-earthquake to strike the earth and a big crater to appear just inches away from me. [WOW!! That was close!!] Patting my own chest as I skidded to a halt a few feet away from the impact, I dusted myself off before diving to the side as Meiling charged after me, her fist raised up in a combat stance. [Take this!!] Kicking up in the air after me, I was sure that I got out of the way when a rainbow colored swirl homed in after me, forcing me to do a backflip behind it. [That?s amazing, Meiling!] With my back facing her, I pulled out a couple of ofudas and chanted softly to them before releasing them in the air. [Hakurei Homing Amulet, go!] Releasing a stream of it at once, I did another backflip to behind Meiling to watch her response. As I expected, the ofuda?s chased after Meiling relentlessly till Meiling kicked back at the whole stream with a well timed burst of danmaku. [!!] Emitting ?chi? casually, Meiling knocked back all the bullets and responded in turn with a dazzling cloud of rainbow colored shurikens that converged all around me, trapping me in a circle. [?] [I got you now, Reimu!] Calling out in glee as she landed on the ground, I just shrugged before raising a hand up and chanting. [Reveal yourself, Sealing Amulet: Border!] Light burst from the amulet I had casually placed below on her floor and it bursts around Meiling, trapping her in a self-imposed box. Miss Meiling, with her seemingly lack of ability to fly was not supposed to be able to defend against that, but she did as she grinned at me. [You?re amazing as always, Reimu~ But not enough, I?ve been training! MOUNTAIN BREAKER!] Balling her hand into a fist, Meiling swung mightily at the Border and smashed it like it was glass. [?] Silently impressed by the display, I was knocked back into the battle when the circling shurikens started coming at me and I hurriedly twitched my body in all directions to get out of the way. It was like playing dodgeball and it took a fair bit of effort before I finally was rid of all those shurikens. Soaring up into the sky, I shot a stream of needles on towards Meiling, who was concentrating her power on the ground. [Not so fast, Reimu! Flower Sign: Gorgeous Sweet Flower!] Calling out the spellcard, which I recognized almost immediately as it shone with the colors of the rainbow, a circle of white shots appeared around her in a shape of a flower and it rose to me as one. [You?re amazing as always, but it isn?t enough, Meiling!] As I danced all around the sky, dodging whatever that Meiling shot at me, my memories returned to me slowly about my encounter with Meiling. -- [I am the Scarlet Mansion Door Guard, you shall not past! The many who have tried is countless and you shall be my next victim!] She had first struck me as a cocky, arrogant person. But? [Argh? you are truly powerful! Come? let me show you my true power!!] As we played around in the evening sun, I realized that she was holding back all the time, all her feelings of being alone all the time. She, who lives her life as a doorguard was confined to the post for all of eternity. Doomed not to have any friends, only to have her duty to keep her company. Even the slight time she spends on her day off would undoubtedly be met with nothing to do. [AHh! Forgive me, mistress!!] She has dedicated her life to Remilia? scarlet... -- My thoughts about Meiling came to an abrupt end as I fell from the sky, clutching my head in pain. Seeing me in distress, Meiling broke from her attack and ran below me to catch me. [Reimu! Are you alright?] Catching me with her powerful arms, Meiling breathed a sigh of relief when I nodded my head and gingerly got back up to my feet. [That doesn?t count as I didn?t strike you. Come on, let?s continue! Nothing like a good warm up, eh, Reimu?] The both of us were panting at this point of time, Meiling from excitement and of exerting her own strength for the moment but I was truly tired. The battle was intense and I was not used to skipping about in the air, diving to avoid a new barrage while trying to hit Meiling all at the same time. It was a losing affair? unless. Readying her stance, Meiling was definitely caught off guard when I lunged at her, my fists aiming at the bottom half of her body. [W-What?!] Exclaiming as I revealed my strike as a feint, I attempted to strike her on the chest but she managed to block it with both her hands. [That still smarts, Reimu! You can fight hand to hand? This shall be interesting!!] Provoking her was part of my strategy as angered foes to tend to make many mistakes and I and her exchanged over fifty blows together. Most of the time Meiling was much stronger in her strikes while I was more accurate. She however never misses a beat even when I stopped a strike that should have struck me and she would continue on to pummel me with never-ending strikes. It was tiring to counter and launch the attacks with such repetition but I endured it all, ignoring the beads of sweat that were forming on my forehead. Meiling too should be feeling the pressure as I parried her next strike, blocked her kick and attempted an elbow to her face all at the same time. [HIYAH!] Trying to get me with a roundabout kick to my head, I ducked under the move and attempted to reposition my hands to flip her up. [You are a hundred years too young, Reimu!] Figures, she was more than a hundred years older than me and she stopped my attempt with a sliding movement that almost brought me to my knees if not for me quickly forcing my whole weight unto a hand for support. [?] In a stalemate, the both of us panted in unison until Meiling raised a thumbs-up to me. [You?re great Reimu. Even if it had been a while and you forgetting everything, you still are amazing. You can still dodge all of my danmaku and you learnt how to fight in par with me in Hand-to-Hand combat. You?re amazing?] [You as well, Miss Meiling?] She was definitely praising me too vigorously, and I bowed to her politely only to see her bow back in return. [? In return for you showing me your display of power, FEAR THIS!] Clapping her hands together, Meiling?s eyes turned scarlet for a second and I involuntarily took a step back. [?W-What?] Those eyes, they? they remind me of? Remilia Scarlet!! [Ultimate Flowery Sign: Finishing Mountain Breaker!] In a split second, Meiling disappeared into mid-air and I could no longer see her, despite looking all over the place. [B-Below?] Pulling out a couple of amulets, I hurriedly leapt up into the air and aimed the amulets on the ground, hoping to catch Meiling. Unfortunately, that wasn?t where Meiling was. [GOT YOU!] Appearing behind me in the air, Meiling grinned triumphantly while I just had to marvel at her technique. She had not disappeared but in a matter of less than ten seconds had increased her speed to such a rate that my eyes could not keep up with her. It must be a temporary maneuver as she was panting hard as her fist swung towards me and I was powerless to stop it. [AHH!] In reflex, I raise my gohei to stop the first strike and Meiling knocked it away with nary a pause. The second strike came and I raised a small border by pulling out an Ofuda from my sleeve with my other hand. She too knocked it away before the last strike barreled in. [THIRD STRIKE, SHATTERING THE EARTH!] There was a colorful explosion that rocked my vision and at the same time, sent me flying to the ground. [Ahh?] Laying dazed on the floor, I was shocked beyond words to find that I had felt no pain when the blow was struck and the only injury that I had sustained was due to me crashing to the ground. I was lying in a crater that was larger than me and I breathed a sigh of relief at still being alive when I felt something cold on my stomach. [C-Cirno?!] -- [Ow ow! That hurt, Reimu!] Rubbing her head as she grinned at me, Cirno flew up before pointing a hand at Meiling, her wings fluttering dangerously fast as she did so. [? What is this, neighbor? I thought you never leave your lake, Cirno?] Looking politely confused, Meiling stopped for a moment as she glided gracefully back to air with Cirno in hot pursuit. [I came to save Reimu! Reimu is weak! So Cirno, who is the strongest will save Reimu!] [? t-thank you? Cirno?] I was touched that she came to save me but the way she puts it seem so wrong after I just defeated her with a single strike. But I am not about to complain as she did save my life from being ended prematurely by Meiling. [Reimu is too weak, so Cirno will take over now!] [B-But?] Struggling to stop her, I tried to grab her hand but she flew out of reach and grinned confidently at Meiling. [YOU, RAINBOW COLORED GIRL!] W-wait? Meiling is not rainbow? [I?m HONG MEILING!] [RAINBOW COLORED GIRL!] [HONG MEILING!] [RAINBOW COLORED GIRL!] Gods, this could go on forever? As the two of them squabbled, I took the opportunity to rest and to concentrate on what had happened. Just earlier, Meiling was so fast that I could barely hear her, the sounds of her foot hitting the ground was not even heard before she appeared behind me. Amazing... Cirno was amazing too. She had approached like a bullet and had raised a barrier of ice in front of me and Meiling?s punch in a matter of seconds to dampen the blow. Closing my eyes, I prayed for Cirno?s safety from where I was, helpless and powerless in the dirt as Cirno shouted at Meiling. [REIMU IS CIRNO?S FRIEND! CIRNO SHALL PROTECT REIMU!] She really is an innocent child and as I watched, a brain wave came to me. [Well, it will boost her confidence so it?ll be fine?] Smiling to myself, I raised a few charms in the air and chanted to them softly. [Listen to my call, spirits that are bound to the lake. The ice fairy of the lake requires your help. I am not that selfish to ask you all to personally come to aid, rather, I would myself be off her aid. So, hear my humble request? grant me strength, to aid your friend in need... I beg of you, spirits... hear my call?] As I chanted, the charms flew from my arm and circled straight towards Cirno. [? Let them be her wings, her strength and her shield? let her be the strongest as she wants to be? Christening Shikigami!] Christening it in more ways than one, I closed my eyes and focused on helping Cirno the best way I can, by boosting her powers with my own. [This is my first spell card while Meiling has used three, the odds are with us.] [CIRNO IS THE STRONGEST!] As the amulets circled around her, I could sense Cirno?s thoughts and as I had expected, they were pure and direct. She wanted to get this over and done with and she dived straight like a bullet for Meiling. [RAINBOW COLORED GIRL, DIE!] [It is HONG MEILING!] Dodging the first dive by Cirno, Meiling was surprised when Cirno did an about turn and crashed into her headfirst, knocking her wind out. I suppose that is considered a single hit but Meiling certainly did not think so as she recovered quickly from the blow to launch another straight fist at Cirno. Cirno, being Cirno didn?t bother to dodge it and instead grabbed it with her tiny hands and surprisingly stopped it. [Cirno is the strongest and Cirno has a hard head!] Grinning now as my power mingled with her, Cirno kicked at Meiling?s gut and even as she blocked every one of them, it quickly became clear that Cirno was stronger than I am and she drove Meiling back to a corner by raw strength alone. [HAH!] Just as Cirno and I thought we had Meiling on the ropes, Meiling responded viciously by dodging behind a feint kick and smashing Cirno?s right hand to bits. [I believe I WIN!] Pumping a hand in the air, I was about to give in too when Cirno?s words just brought me back to the fight. [Cirno is tough! Cirno is the strongest!] With the amulets still circling around her, her hand reformed itself by freezing water droplets around and she flexed her arm to show that it was working. [ICE SIGN: ICICLE FALL ?EASY!-] Flicking a finger, Cirno launched the simple icicle barrage at Meiling and I sighed too when she grazed them without breaking a sweat. [You?re weak, Cirno!] [NO, CIRNO IS THE STRONGEST!] Blocking a strike from Meiling with her hands, Cirno smashed her head into Meiling?s chest again and she faltered back, giving Cirno a second chance. Not that she needed it. The amulets circling around her gave her a boost spiritually and mentally as I could control to some extent the influx of her unstable power and control over ice. Her body is stronger and her attacks more accurate due to my power being mingled with her. I am like a shikigami to her, a boost to her abilities even though I am not present in form to help her. I took her and Cirno by surprised when I made the falling icicles broke into smaller needles behind her and shot back at Meiling in a dazzling criss-crossing movement. [W-What?!] Noticing too late, Meiling declared another spell-card, her fourth in an attempt to break out of the trap. [Extreme Color: Colorful light chaotic Dance!] Spinning herself in a circle and spreading danmaku all around her, Meiling repelled all the circles but she did not stop Cirno?s Last attack, which was simultaneously launched by me and her. [FREEZE SIGN: PERFECT FREEZE] [SPIRIT SIGN: FANTASY ORB!] As the both of us called out the spells, it bring out total tally to five and that could have been much better to end it with a big bang, or in this case, a big freeze. The amulets that I had sent out as a boost to Cirno now glowed with an eerie white light before they bursts into small orbs that were colored red, green and blue before circling around Meiling. Likewise, some of them turned into icicles that formed around Meiling, trapping and cornering her. Glowing white, Cirno raised her hands and punched straight at Meiling?s guts as she got slammed all around by the orbs I had used and the icicles were freezing any portion of the body that came in contact with it. The punch connected true and she was slammed into the walls surrounding the gate. Before she could cry out in pain thou, the surrounding air started to freeze around Meiling. [W-What?!] As Meiling cried out in horror, I just prayed for her to forgive me as she was frozen into a large ice monument the second later. [I am the strongest!] Proudly sticking out her chest, I hated to admit it but Cirno really looks like she might be strongest with her raw power over ice. Even thou it took a bit of assistance from me, Cirno?s raw talent in using ice as a weapon are pretty deadly as it took care of Meiling so effortlessly if not without finesse. After she struck a pose to me, Cirno flew back and pulled me back to my feet, laughing as she did so. [Reimu is weak! Cirno is strong! If Cirno did not come to save Reimu, Reimu would be dead.] [No doubt about that, Cirno?] Walking towards the hole in the wall that held Meiling, I apologetically clapped my hands together and bowed towards the frozen Meiling before starting to chip at the monument slowly and carefully with a rock I had found on the ground. [What is Reimu doing?] Tilting her head, Cirno flew around me even as I broke the ice slowly and painfully. [I?m chipping the ice, Cirno.] Patiently explaining to her, I winced when I cut my hand with a sharp corner of the stone and I sighed to myself and Cirno. [Cirno, you shouldn?t have frozen Meiling into a large snowball?] Looking at Meiling, I had to stifle a giggle as I saw the pose in which Meiling was frozen. It was absolutely hilarious as she had a look of utter disbelief as she crossed her arms and sorta resembled a cross between a chicken taking flight and a girl having her photographs taken without permission. It was really too hilarious to pass up but I pinched myself to stop myself from laughing. [Rule of the Shrine Maiden: Do not poke fun at other?s Misfortune] Lowering my head, I prayed for forgiveness from the Spirits before continuing my tasks to get Meiling out of the Ice. [I?m sorry Meiling? Cirno did too good a job this time? I?ll get you out in no time!] [Reimu, the Rainbow-colored girl will attack Reimu again! Cirno will protect Reimu as Reimu is weak and Cirno is strong but Cirno thinks it is stupid for Reimu to let her out!] Turning to Cirno, I reprimanded her like I would to a small child as I continued to chip at the ice-block. [Look Cirno, I know you coming to save me is very commendable. In fact, I owe me life to Cirno, Thank you for saving me Cirno.] [HMPH! Cirno always saves her friends!!] Puffing her chest out again, Cirno blushed when I patted her head and her small ice body seemed to shrink a little in disappointment when I continued to speak, chipping away as I did so. [But, this is too far. Miss Meiling and I agreed to have a danmaku battle and the first person to strike wins. Although Cirno interceded into the battle, you struck her twice. Once when you hit her with your head?] My voice trailing off when I was reminded of the sight, I shook my head and vigorously continued to smash at the Gigantic Meiling Snowball while trying hard not to laugh at that particular sight. [And the other when you punched her in the stomach. So one for me and one for you.] Pulling her fingers, I suddenly struck her on her head as a punishment, something which Cirno must not be expecting as tears started to form around her eyes. [R-REIMU iS MEAN!! CIRNO CAME TO SAVE YOU BUT R-REIMU!!] Losing her train of thought, Cirno sobbed as she sank to her knees and I watched on as tears from her eyes froze up and became ice-crystals on her cheeks. [? Cirno. You must be more responsible.] [? R-Responsible?] [Yes, you must be more responsible, Cirno. You could have killed Meiling there when you froze her in the block. Cirno, even if you are the strongest, you must keep from using your powers too much.] Patting her head comfortingly, I gave Cirno a little hug before persuading her to stand in front of the Frozen Meiling and bowing with her in apology. [C-Cirno is sorry, rainbow colored-girl?] [? We are sorry, Miss Meiling.] --

WRATHIE_Beatrice: Hey wut.. this topic is at the end of the back of the page.. whut -- [Call her China would do, Reimu. And she won?t die so easily, being the Scarlet Mansion?s Door guard. Do you think we would not choose durable things to guard our door?] Hearing a soft, out-of-breath voice calling out from the large iron doors, I whipped my head around to see that the door was creaking open slowly. They must not have been opened recently as they shrieked and screamed as they finally came to a stop. What surprised me thou was when no one seemed to be pushing against the door and the owner of the voice was still staying hidden behind the scarlet mist. [Fire Sign: Agnis Shine!!!] Crimson Fireballs came shooting out of the mist and I nervously jumped back to grab Cirno. The little ice-fairy, who had been apologizing to Meiling just a second ago, was making faces at her when I grabbed her and flew up towards the sky to avoid the fire-balls. Being a ice-fairy, it would be logically that she would not survive the fireballs but I was surprised when the fireballs veered away and instead struck Meiling. [Do not fear, I have no reason to harm you as you are a guest here, Reimu. Still, I would appreciate it if you kept your distance while I thaw China out?] Floating casually from the mist, a small figure presented herself with a light nod of her head as she placed the book she was reading down to look at me. Dressed totally in purple and in something that looked like night-gowns, the purple colored girl smiled slightly before pulling her small beret down to cover half her face. [It has been 14 years, Reimu. It is nice to see that you are well.] [? y-you as well? Miss?] [? Patchouli, Patchouli Knowledge.] [Well then, Miss Knowledge?] Bowing to her, I flew down in front of her and bowed down deep to show my apologies. [I have been awfully rude to treat your door-guard in this manner, I sincerely hope you would accept my apologies.] [?] Not raising my head, I hoped beyond hope that she would accept my apologies and as I looked up slightly to see the expression on her face, I was both surprised and scandalized when her mouth was hanging wide open. Noticing me staring at her, she snapped back to attention and just sort of smiled at me as she replied. [? I could not even imagine this scene? you, Hakurei Reimu, apologizing to me about hurting China. That is unheard of, not to mention you even considering youkai as friends, judging from the little Fairy you have hanging on your arm.] Without Miss Knowledge?s reminder, I had totally forgotten about Cirno and she was hanging onto my arm as if her life depended on it. Judging by how casually she fired those fireballs that are still burning away at the Ice-ball that was Miss Meiling, she is not a person to be trifled with and Cirno?s life would probably depend on me if she decided to attack. [well then, as I thaw China out, shall you be our honored guest for the evening? After all, it is approaching the night and I am sure you would not be willing to stay out after the dark. You, Reimu have some business with the Mistress, do you not?] Her eyes glinting maliciously as she gestured towards the door, I hesitated for a second till Miss Knowledge started to cough up blood right in front of us. [! Miss Knowledge!] Running forward, I helped her to stay on her feet as she patted her own chest in pain. [? i? should be fine? in a moment?] Huffing and wheezing, she hardly looked fine and I shook my head vigorously as she told me to let go off her. [I will not, I insist in escorting you in.] [? Fine? as you wish. The little one might want to follow us as well.] Narrowing her eyes after she sighed in defeat at me, Miss Knowledge pointed to Cirno and just as Cirno was about to make another comeback, Miss Knowledge coughed up blood again and this caused Cirno to fly behind me, crying out in fear. [REIMU, REIMU! THIS PURPLE-COLORED GIRL IS DYING!] [? Youkai don?t die, Cirno?] Rebutting her lightly, I lifted her shoulders over mine and slowly walked towards the large mansion when I paused and turned to look at the Ice-ball again. [I?m sorry, Miss Meiling, leaving you out in the cold?] [Quite literally too?] Huffing between her coughs, Miss Knowledge managed a small wise-crack before she pointed out the entrance for me in the dark, scarlet mist. [It is surprising, Reimu. I know you might be accustomed to be saved by friends in the past, but to be saved by a Youkai, that must be a first?] [? saved?] [By Marisa of course, the theif?] [M-Marisa?] Grumbling between her breaths, I paused for a second as my mind and everything around me went blank. -- [Reimu?!] [REIMU!] [You there, Ice-fairy! Go, get help from the mansion!] [NO!, CIRNO WANTS TO STAY BY REIMU!] [You dense fool! Get help or you would be near her grave! NOW MOVE!!] -- [Say, Reimu? why were you getting beat by that old hag of a maid?] [? I don?t know?] [Aw C?mon, you?re going easy on her aren?t you? You could have flatten her in a moment~] [? ?] [Reimu~ Are you listening to me?] Looking up at the clear sky on top of me, I just grinned before sitting up and smiling at the person that was lying beside me. [Nah, I just wanted you to save me, that?s all~] -- The blonde hair girl that looked surprised, then scandalous still escaped my memories. Her face was a blank even as the rest of her was slowly being filled into my memories. She always carried a broom with her, always wore an apron above her large black outfit and had a hat that resembled a witch. She was pretty and she was someone important to me? But why couldn?t I remember her? -- [Well, that is a surprise, Sakuya?] Laughing lightly as I took the tea that Sakuya passed me, I smiled and tried hard not to cough again as I sipped the tea casually from the table. Sleeping beside me with a ice-fairy below her covers was Hakurei Reimu, the self-proclaimed Shrine Maiden of Paradise. [Yes, that certainly is.] The unusually silent head-maid beside me did not offer any other comment and I continued on myself. [Seeing her appear in front of the mansion was shocking enough, seeing how she had left us. But, seeing her bow to China was another surprising sight. What would really make the others cringe in surprise was when she actually had difficulty to defeat China and was twice almost outgunned by her. But the one thing that takes the cake is?] Taking another sip of tea, I glanced at Sakuya only to see her still staring at Reimu, one of her hand pulling on her sleeve as she did so and I laughed silently at that lonely sight. Remi will sure be jealous when she sees that? [? the look of confusion and shock when we mentioned Marisa? Of all the people in the world, I would have imagined that she would remember Marisa rather than someone like Cirno.] Breaking the ice, Sakuya suddenly spoke and I smiled after the end of her sentence. [? no, I haven?t ask her. It is an interesting question? why would you ask that, Sakuya?] [?] Again, the head maid turned silent and I laughed again, not at her but at the tiny ice-fairy that was snuggled beside her. [Treat both of them like they are guests of the mansion, Sakuya. If not for Remi?s guest but for mine as well.] Nodding to her, I waited for a reply from Sakuya and I smiled as she nodded and took her leave by bowing at me. [But Sakuya, I must warn you. Whatever measures you take, Reimu is more than a match for that now?] Seeing her pause, I saw the glint of a dagger being drawn before it was sheathed again in an instant. Her eyes, which were normally bright blue was scarlet for a second, as scarlet as her mistress and I took a deep breath out of nervousness of that fact. [Reimu has matured over the course of her leaving us, her strength has increased tremendously and her wisdom as well. The many wise-calls she made as she danmaku-ed with Meiling is noticeable even from a distance. She would not be able to make it this far without some degree of skill and even with all her memories erased. She might not even know anyone here? but she did return here, to Gensokyo? and she danmaku-ed. That by itself is very commendable, if not miraculous.] [She is?the Shrine Maiden of the Hakurei Shrine, Miss Patchouli.] [Yes, even so, with one?s memories non-existing, is it even possible to call yourself a shrine maiden? She does not remember danmaku play, yet she is so efficient with it that it makes it look like a dance. I hate to admit it, Sakuya but she is leaps and bounds above what I and you can achieve. ? she is in a different level?] [Miss Patchouli?] [? Still, that is not the end of it all.] Pausing to take a short break and to calm my heaving chest, I looked at Reimu and the ice-fairy till Sakuya followed my lead to look at the both of them. [? her spiritual powers? are the least a hundred times stronger than before.] The sound of crashing porcelain did not surprise me nor was the fact that Sakuya immediately appeared beside me, a shocked and doubtful expression on her face. [? Miss Patchouli, I hope that you are not pulling my leg?] [I am not, Sakuya. She is indeed one of the strongest, if not the strongest person in Gensokyo? if we do not overestimate the other one?] [? ah yes, the other one?] Laughing suddenly, Sakuya seemed less troubled now before she pulled the curtains wide open. [I will begin preparations for dinner, do take care of Reimu for me? not as a maid?s request, but as a friend.] [yes, I would do that most eagerly.] Laughing as I bid farewell to the mansion?s head maid, I turned my eyes to Reimu for a moment  before starting on yet another book. [Ahh yes, to be the perfect host?] -- [So, you?re awake?] Hearing a sigh of relief as I struggled to get up, I winced as my eyes were not suited to the darkness around me. Feeling around, I felt comforted very slightly when I felt Cirno?s little body beside me and I breathed a sigh of relief. [? Thank you for asking, Miss Knowledge.] Recognizing the voice as Miss Knowledge, I calmed myself down and waited patiently for my eyes to be accustomed to the darkness before nodding to her. She was seated right beside me, a heavy book in her hand and an emotionless expression on her face. [It is right for a hostess to be concern about a guest?s well being, Reimu. How are you feeling? Do you need a cup of water?] [No, I am fine? I am just apologetic about having caused so much trouble to all of you?] Trying to get out of bed, I was stopped when Miss Knowledge?s hand stopped me and she shook her head at me. [Please, do not force your body beyond it?s limits. I seriously recommend you staying in bed for at least another hour to rest your body.] [?] [You had been straining yourself for the whole day as I calculated from your level fatigue. I am sure you had not had your lunch and was planning to skip dinner as well, judging from how your stomach had rumbled for the past hour. I would like to invite you to dinner in the Scarlet Devil?s Mansion with my Mistress.] [? I?] Finding myself speechless in front of such an intellectual, I just smiled sheepishly before bowing to her in bed. [I? humbly accept your invitation for dinner, Miss Knowledge.] [Please, call me Patchouli, we are of course, not just newly acquainted, Reimu.] A smile appearing on her face as well, Miss Knowledge slammed her book shut before placing it at the small table beside the bed and I finally had a chance to look around the room. It was huge and the furnishing extravagant. The walls were painted scarlet and with the exception of some cream coloration in the edges, the whole room was scarlet red in color, making the atmosphere somewhat different from a normal room. I could almost swore I smelt blood in the area but I am sure it was my imagination in such a weird surroundings. [? the Mansion?s Owner? is? it Remilia Scarlet? by any chance?] Hesitating as I asked Miss Knowledge, I presumed she was surprised as for a split second, her eyes widened but she seemed to have accepted it as she nodded to me slowly. [yes it is? how may I inquire did you find out?] [?] Racking my brain for the answer, I came up with none and just confessed to her. [I remembered the name from my past? and since the whole room is scarlet in color, I was tempted to believe that I knew the Mistress of the Mansion.] Twiddling my arms, I was relieved when Miss Knowledge just laughed at my response. [Very quick and accurate judgment, Reimu. I could not have accepted anything other than that from you, you are as sharp as I remembered you to be.] Pausing for a moment, Miss Knowledge?s tone suddenly turned hostile and my hair raised in alarm when she huffed and laughed at the same time. [Fufufu? I wonder, Reimu? can you tell me about vampires?] [? vampires?] Surprised at her question, I nonetheless responded to her by counting out the ways that I could identify a vampire. [Well, a vampire is a being that lives in darkness, is mostly associated with bats, sucks blood for survival and is afraid of darkness and crosses and garlic? That is what the Western assumption of Vampires are. Vampires to me are supernatural beings who feasts on blood.] [? Good deduction Reimu.] The expression on Miss Knowledge sent more shivers down her shrine when she smiled more maliciously and I placed a hand on Cirno, ready to take flight at any given moment. [Well, do you believe Vampire?s Exist?] -- [Remember Reimu, Spirits exists because of beliefs and the faith people have in the spirits] In short, the more faith the people believe in it, the stronger the spirit and the more the people believe in the spirit, the more often it will appear before people. -- [? the possibility sure is high? I believe in vampires so I am certain one will appear before me.] Laughing, I showed that I was serious when I narrowed my eyes back at Miss Knowledge. Although I do not know what she is planning, she certainly is planning something and I am determined not to let her intimidate me despite of the overwhelming odds against me. [? Alright Reimu? I will ask you another question? do you know who am I.] [You?re Miss Patchouli Knowledge? are you not?] [True, but not the answer I am waiting for.] [?] Seeing that she is serious, I shook my head finally and resolutely before admitting that I really had no idea who she is, but I am sure that I had known her in the past. [I see, your memory is fragmented into many bits, Reimu. There are parts where you undoubted find familiar but unfamiliar at the same time. A good example would be your surroundings now, would it not? You had seen this place before, your memories are reminding you of that fact but you could not place where or what this place is.] Smiling again, I nodded in earnest as I listened to her detail my predicament with such vivid detail that I would be surprised if she had not had the same experience as I did. [? then, do you know that? you have willingly walked into the lion?s den?] [? how do you want to put it, Miss Knowledge?] [Patchouli, if you will?] Both of us were smiling at each other too sweetly for my liking but I believe we were in a stalemate as the both of us were not able to make any moves at all. Her demeanor spooked me but I refused to be intimidated by her as I just calmly spoke with her, matching wit with wit. [Then, Patchouli, how do you wish to put it?] [By willingly walking into an open invitation that easily, do you put so much faith in the Youkai of Gensokyo? After all, youkai are dangerous. Rule One of the Spell Card System: It shall be easy for Youkai to cause Disasters. That saying does come to mind.] [Yes, but I have faith in my sense in judging people. If I, the Shrine Maiden who is supposed to serve the people and youkai alike is to falter and distrust an invitation offered out of goodwill, I will not be fit to serve anyone, not the least the people.] [? still, you sure have faith in yourself and your judgment to walk into the lion?s den.] [If this is the Lion?s Den, then it shall be a very pampered lion indeed, Miss Knowledge.] [I shall concede that remark to you, Reimu. After all, it is the truth that our Mistress is pampered. Yet, I hope to reveal that fact that we are enemies in the past.] Trying to veil her amusement as she told me that evenly, my heart raced when I heard that news first hand. I was tempted to dismiss it as a bad joke but judging from her expression earlier, Miss Patchouli knowledge was not kidding around when she said that for me. Panic rose through my system but I just as simply pushed down the rising tides of my emotions with ease. My Shrine Maiden training involves Meditating, something that I had mentioned earlier and it was easy for me to keep my emotions in track. One?s emotion can really determine what one will act at times of crisis. Having a cool head will more than likely keep one out of trouble unless they flare up at the most crucial time. I must not make that mistake as I struggled to cope with not fear but panic and confusion as my enemy, as she puts it, sat casually in front of me. [Well then, I have to pray that my prayer is answered now, would it not?] Smiling as I closed my eyes and placed my arm together as I prayed silently to the spirits for assistance while I just responded to her. [Even a condemned man get?s a last meal and? I trust you as?] Opening my eyes wide, I never even flinched when her eyes turned crimson for a moment and I swore that fangs appeared in the corners of her mouth as she stared at me. [I knew, I could trust you by looking at you? Patchouli.] [? flattery will get you nowhere in the world with youkai, Reimu.] Almost bitterly, Miss Knowledge raised a hand and I just sighed in response to that. Perhaps my end is coming in her hands? But, if that is the truth, the least I could do was to protect Cirno as I dragged her into it. [?] Narrowing her eyes as I placed an arm in front of the Little ice-fairy, I lowered my head down even as I silently drew a spell-card from my sleeves before opening my mouth to speak. [Well, it seems that your prayers were heard, in more than one way?] Laughing suddenly, the doors swung open and from the doorway came another figure, a figure that I was able to match her name with almost immediately. [S-Sakuya?!] -- [? You recognize me, Reimu?] Sounding surprised. Izayoi Sakuya, for that was her name, stared at me for a second before she broke eye contact and just as casually served some tea to Miss Knowledge and me. [Yes, you are ? very striking?] Admitting with a blush on my face, I could not help but stare at the perfect elegance in front of me. Her skin was flawless and white with no signs of any perfection what so ever. T hat perfect figure was to die for and I suddenly stopped and slapped myself in the forehead for almost drooling at her sight. [?] [Yes, our Sakuya does have the effect on people.] Starting to laugh, Miss Knowledge gestured for Sakuya to sit by her side before continuing her sentence. [It is perhaps too sudden, but I have to repeat myself, Reimu. Welcome, once again to the Scarlet Devil Mansion. I am the resident Magician of the Mansion, Patchouli Knowledge and I believe you have met the Door guard, China.] [And, I am Izayoi Sakuya, the Chief Maid of the Mansion, On behalf of the maids, I welcome you, Hakurei Reimu to the Mansion as a guest, not an enemy.] Waiting for Miss Knowledge to finish her sentence, Sakuya bowed to me and I returned the gesture from the bed, something which was not polite. But as I had no say in the matter, I had no refrain from jumping out of bed. [And I extend my thanks for you to visit us, even without your memory, to see the Mistress.] [? I? I hope I can meet your expectations.] My Shrine Maiden instincts notwithstanding, there was a favor to be asked when I am thanked for visiting someone but there was still, no way for me to refuse their invitation. It was as Miss Knowledge told me, I had willingly walked myself into the Lion?s Den, into it?s mouth and was entering the stomach very soon. [On behalf of the Mistress, Remilia Scarlet, I welcome you.] Bowing as well, Miss knowledge regained her calm and silent demeanor before returning to her book, a sign for Sakuya to speak to me. [It has been a while, Reimu. You have grown?] Looking at the Silver-Haired maid, I was inclined to dismiss the fact that such an elegant lady would ever escape my memories but it did and I wondered for a moment how am I suppose to converse with her if I do not know anything about her. [?] [That is right, you have more or less forgotten me. The fact remains that you remembered my name is such a blessing in disguise.] Laughing, she poured me a cup of tea and offered it to me on a saucer and I took it gratefully. My throat was getting dry and my stomach famished as I saw the cakes she had brought in for us. [Thank you?] [? It is my profession, Reimu. I am, surprised to see that you have changed so much.] [H-Have I?] [Of course you have.] [Acting with no impulse whatsoever, willing to understand and care for youkai, spiritually powers over your preferred Spellcards and Yin-Yang Orbs. The list goes on and on.] With a gleam in her eyes, Sakuya paused before looking at Cirno, still sleeping beside me. [Well, it is changes for the better? you have matured, both as a person and physically as well, Reimu.] Blushing as she complimented me, I shook my head and graciously denied all her words. [No, I have a long way to go before I am truly a Shrine Maiden, flaws still exists in me.] [Modest as well, that is certainly a change.] Laughing, Sakuya took out a slice of cake from the tray she carried in and offered it to me. [Here, I am sure you are famished. Dinner will be served in a few minutes so use this to tide through.] The corners of her mouth rising up in a definitive smile, I gingerly nodded and took the plate from her hands. [I am tucking in then, I am sorry to intrude?] [If all intruders are like you that would be most desirable.] Scoffing from her position, Miss Knowledge rebutted me while in the midst of her reading and I was rewarded with Sakuya just smiling apologetically at me. [She has been on edge lately, not off Meiling not doing a good job but rather doing too good a job.] Whispering to me, Sakuya giggled when she told me of Miss Knowledge?s infatuation with the Blonde Magician and I struggled to follow the conversation while racking my mind for the knowledge of the person named Marisa. [? that is certainly odd. You remembered me, Meiling, Miss Patchouli, Mistress Remilia, the idiot sleeping beside you? Alice and Suika but do not remember Marisa?] [? That is certainly a mystery.] Looking at me now, the both of them was in deep thought when Miss Knowledge finally broke the silence. [It must have something to do about why you left us, Reimu.] [?] It felt like the both of them were interrogating me and I tried to maintain my calm composure below those scrutinizing eyes of theirs, one of bright purple and the other of a mixture that looked like glass. [? I? I am?] [Do not be sorry. It is something that is beyond your control.] Waving a hand impatiently in the air, Miss Knowledge got up and pulled Sakuya with her before declaring her intentions. [Come, let us have dinner together.] [Yes, I have almost forgotten. I shall wake up the little Fairy, you and Miss Patchouli go on ahead.] Smiling warmly at me and at Cirno, she ushered me and Miss Knowledge out the door before closing the door behind me. [Come, dinner is getting cold.] Repeating herself, she led me to another grand room with a table that had a feast that was feat for a king. [I assume you do not get such royal treatment in the Shrine, do you, Reimu?] Snickering as she took a seat, Miss Knowledge gestured for me to sit opposite her before ringing a bell on the table. [Yes, I am here, Miss Patchouli.] Appearing suddenly, Sakuya bowed to us before helping us tie our napkins and serving glasses of water. [Join us, just for this occasion.] [Yes, please?] Begging her, I felt awkward in such a position and to my delight; Sakuya reluctantly joined us for dinner, dragging a protesting Cirno behind her. [CIRNO NEEDS NOT FOOD!] -- After successfully filling CIrno with ice-cream and a very brief confession by Sakuya that she had not dealt with someone as childish as Cirno for the past 10 years, we had a very peaceful dinner, filled with small talk and mostly of me digging into the food. I was vegetarian, as expected from a Shrine Maiden and I politely refused most of the food that Miss Knowledge recommended to me. [If you insist.] But as I watched Miss Knowledge eating, I was struck by her weak body and questioned her on her diet. To which she responded that she would only dine on Udon, which is a healthy dish. [?] To that, I had plenty to say and by the end of dinner, she had promised Sakuya that she would from now on, start a healthy and balanced diet, much to the amusement of Sakuya and she remarked to me later on, behind my back that she had not seen Miss Knowledge put down as much as today. [?] Sitting together in front of the fireplace, I patted Cirno?s head softly before opening my mouth to speak but it was Miss Knowledge that beat me to it. [Well, I suppose I can hold it off no longer, I shall begin explain the history of the Scarlet Devil?s Mansion. You, Hakurei Reimu are intricately wrapped in it and I would do a great dishonor to you not to fill you in the gaps for you?] Laughing like a grandmother who was telling a tale to her grandchild, Miss Knowledge raised a hand to summon a nearby fairy before whispering to her. [Well then, how do we begin?] [From the beginning would be a good place to start?] Retorting her dryly, Sakuya appeared beside her before dumping a large book on Miss Knowledge?s lap and settling down beside me. [Well, that is true. But first, I rather you know us better, Reimu. Or rather, remember us better, it will help in linking one image to the other.] [I will listen eagerly?] Nodding my head, I got into a comfortable position before Miss Knowledge cleared her throat and started. --

WRATHIE_Beatrice: -- [It was a story about a small vampire girl, a vampire girl that had a big home in a mansion that resided over a lake. She liked leaving in the mansion as she had her maids and her friends with her. The librarian in the library, the beautiful and awesome chief maid, the worthless but hardworking door guard and her little sister who was still young with her. So? one day she decided to make the world know she existed by visiting out.] Speaking in a sing-song tone, Miss Knowledge paused for a second before smiling at me, her purple eyes glinting in the light of the fire. [My Mistress, Remilia Scarlet is a Vampire. Well, are you afraid?] The same taunting expression on her face and I was surprised by my response. It came to me naturally, without thinking or any consideration whatsoever. I just, said out what I felt about the two of them. [No, I am not afraid. I am more afraid? of the unknown? my past? then about the two of you.] Hearing so much about oneself, oneself that I should know the most, myself, was a very daunting task. There were many things I had to come to terms with, the extent of my powers? the expectations of the people and how? how do I be myself again after knowing all this. This question has been lingering in my mind like a bad aftertaste but I know, that rather than waiting in the dark, I would want to face it head on and so I just gestured for her to continue. Miss Knowledge, for her benefit seemed surprised but continued with no hint of hesitation whatsoever. [If you insist.] [When the Little Vampire Girl stepped out of the Mansion, she felt her skin burn and she ran back to the mansion, crying to the head maid that she did not like the sun.] Interrupted by a sudden fit of coughing, Miss Knowledge took a few seconds to recover before continuing with much difficulty. [The Head Maid ?cough-, who was very apologetic, told her that she would get a cute little umbrella for her.] [I did not. It was after the incident that I-] Cutting her off, Sakuya blushed when Miss Knowledge stared daggers at her before clearing her throat again. [I apologize, Miss Patchouli, please continue.] [The Little Vampire girl, who was not used to being bullied said that she would make the sun disappear and with her all inspiring power, created a mist that ?cough- s-spread all over the world.] Looking at me for a response, I just smiled apologetically before asking her to continue. Her coughing fits, which had returned suddenly, was worse than ever before and I clung to Cirno. Cirno however, who had fallen asleep long ago, was still sitting on my lap and I felt chilled to the bone till Sakuya placed a blanket over me. [Thank you?] [You are welcome, Reimu.] The more I looked at Sakuya, the more I realized that the two of us must have been friends, close friends for us to speak so casually with one another. Sakuya seemed to know everything that I was thinking about and the same goes for me as I observed her every little action. There is a saying that opposite attracts, does this hold for the two of us? [?] Holding on to that thought, I focused my attention on Miss Knowledge?s Story again as she continued casually. [The people of the world were very troubled by the new development but they did not know what to do. Day after day, the sun looked less bright and the people were very worried. Till? one day, someone decided to help out after all.] [/i] Pointing a finger at me, Miss Knowledge smiled before telling me the impossible. [You, Hakurei Reimu, resolved the Incident of the Scarlet Mists, defeated Miss Remilia and although it was your partner, Kirisame Marisa who defeated Flandre Scarlet, it is you who played the crucial role there as well.] [I? I? That couldn?t be?!] Putting a hand over my mouth, I was stunned at what I had just heard. Even though Suika had said that I was the Hakurei Shrine Maiden and that I had resolved plenty of disasters and has never lost, I never would have imagined that? Imagined that I could have gone up against such amazingly powerful beings and lived, not to even beginning to fathom besting them. [You made it past all of us, with nary any difficulty I must add. It might seem that I am sore about my loss, but you did catch me while I was having a bad day.] Narrowing her eyes, Miss Knowledge turned beet red when Sakuya retorted her once more. [You do seem to have that day more often than not, Miss Patchouli.] [Silence, Sakuya, do I have to prove to you my worth?] Pulling a spell-card from her sleeves, Miss Knowledge glared at Sakuya; who just as casually drew a spell-card of her own and smiling confidently back at her. [If you are willing to destroy the living quarters for such a trivial matter, I would find it part of my duty to punish you after I have successfully subdued you.] The atmosphere was heated and I was at a loss to what to do, caught between the two powerful beings that, for a moment before was getting along fine. [Please? do not fight! Harmony is always a key to a good relationship!!] Quoting from my training, which emphasizes part of my teaching on harmony between the people and nature, I placed a hand on each of them before coaxing them to break it up. [Please, violence is not needed here?] [?] [? tsk.] Scoffing, Miss Knowledge was about to rebut me when I just smiled and countered her with a saying of my own. [it takes two hands to clap and two people to start an argument? so if one of you just stop arguing?] Using my smile as a weapon as much as anything else, I managed to defuse the situation before it got out of hand and I breathed a sigh of relief deep in my chest, happy that I had prevented a fire that had threatened to engulf. [?Hmph, you are surely a different person, Reimu. But the charm still remains, I am glad.] Gesturing for Sakuya to come towards her, Miss Knowledge wrote something on her book before reluctantly tearing out the page for Sakuya. Sakuya like me was stunned by the gesture and her expression immediately changed when she saw what was written on the piece of paper and she opened her mouth as if to speak. [Give this to China and instruct her to get it as soon as possible.] [? B-But?] [No buts, this is a direct order from me.] [? I understand. If you are so adamant on this matter, I shall not argue further, but?] Biting her lip, Sakuya seemed she wanted to say something more but she paused and silenced herself. Putting a hand on her chest, she looked pained as she looked at me and just as quickly took her leave and left the room. [I will be back shortly?] -- [Now, Reimu, do you understand who you are? You are the Shrine Maiden who saved Gensokyo not once, but four times. The incident of the Scarlet Mists, the Incident of the Fake Moon and the Incident of the Freak Flowering of Gensokyo and finally, the Incident at Youkai Mountain.] [? am I? the same person?] I was totally not prepared for the bombshell that had just been dropped on me. All my Shrine Maiden training was swept away at the magnitude of my previous accomplishments. I had considered myself quite lucky to be able to survive the entire onslaught that Miss Meiling and Cirno had thrown at me and here she was, saying that I had gotten past all of them with ease and had bested even their Mistress, who was the Scarlet Devil of the mansion? [T? you must be lying?] Weakly, I begged her to tell me that she was lying but Miss Knowledge shook her head and said that she was not lying at all. [It is the fact and it is recorded in history, no matter how unhappy I am.] [?] Lowering my head, I tried to rethink through my values and commitments and to my relief I found them all intact among the information that Miss Knowledge has provided me with. [I? I couldn?t be the one who resolved all of this? I am just Reimu?] [Hakurei Reimu of the Hakurei Shrine, that in itself is prove enough. In your bloods runs the bloodline of generations of Shrine Maidens who have the same skills and prowess as you, if in either a stronger or lesser scale.] [?] Cupping both my hands over my head, I desperately did not want to hear what she was telling me. If what she said is true, the responsibility that is placed on me has increased tremendously and I was afraid of it crushing me with it?s weight. How could I ever cope with this stress? How could I ever live with such expectations from the people around me? how could I possibly? [?] -- [You?re wrong, all of that is wrong, Reimu.] Hearing my own voice screaming at the end of the tunnel of my life, I turned back to see a younger me, more energetic and youthful that was waving her gohei about in her arms. [I, Hakurei Reimu had lived this life before.] Stamping her feet on the ground, the younger me paused before looking up and staring into my eyes, all her concentration on me. [I have lived this life before. And? you can do it too, Reimu.] Holding a hand out to me, she smiled beautifully and I found myself charmed by myself, no matter how weird that might seem and I smiled back at her, the questions gone as if like the wind that had just caressed me. [? That?s how I should be!] Winking, she pulled me through the dark surroundings and into the colorful world in which she resided before dragging me towards the shrine. [Everyone is waiting for you.] -- I never got to the end of that dream as I awoke in Miss Knowledge?s arm for the second time today. This time however, I did not immediately spring out of bed and I just stared at the ceiling for a moment, trying to collect my thoughts together. [ Reimu, are you fine?] Ignoring her, I closed my eyes again as I took a deep breath. Yes, there is no need to worry; I have lived this life before, a long time ago? I am the servant of the people, living to serve the people for as long as I can. Spiritually linking them to the Spirits that lived among them? That is my role, if I don?t do it, who will? It is not that I am arrogant or proud that I am a Shrine Maiden? It might not be a choice that I am born the Shrine Maiden or that I have the blood that flow through my veins. But, it is how I cultivate myself to use the power that I am granted. Power, begets responsibility. If I am a lesser person, would I be corrupted by the power that I have wield? If I am a greater person, would I be still serving the people? I am Hakurei Reimu, the past and now, my faith to the Hakurei Shrine has not weakened, Has it? [? I can?t say it is my fate? or my destiny? but?] Feeling my lips move, I whispered to remind myself of who I am, Hakurei Reimu, no one else can call claim to be and I am proud to have that name, no matter what power I weld. [I am always carrying the burden of the name with me? right?] Asking Miss Knowledge, I was surprised when I saw her looking at the door, her eyes deep in concentration before urging me to stand up. [? I guess it is time.] [? time?] [For you to meet the Mistress? she has woken up?] Sensing that Miss Knowledge was afraid of the presence, I felt my nerves tighten too as she turned to look at me, a strained smile on her face as the clock struck midnight, chiming twelve times continuously. [? whether you are ready for her, she will definitely be ready for you, Hakurei Reimu.] Nervously, I swallowed as I sensed the tone in her voice, very akin to fear and very akin to awe at the same time. She had dropped her formal way of speaking and was making it more casual and easy to understand, something that I am very very happy about. [One false move and she will have you for breakfast, crush you between her hands and dig out your insides like scooping ice-cream from a tub. ?] [? I hope not.] [Be aware thou, that you might be the one most suited to overwhelm her than anyone one of us here.] [?] I missed the last sentence that she said before pushing the door open and leaving the room. [The power of kindness?] -- [?SAKUYA!] Roaring my disapproval from my bedroom, I called for Sakuya as I rubbed my eyes irritably in the light of the moon that was shining at me. Normally, I would be happy that the moon was there, as it showed me the endless expanse of power I have yet to achieved. If I could just make it to the moon? But today, it just made me feel irritable, not that I was in a good mood very often now. [Yes, Mistress.] She appeared almost instantly, clever girl. If she was a second late, I would be tempted to suck her bone dry. Gnashing my teeth, I questioned her about the strange and familiar presence that I had felt just a second ago and I expected an answer from her. Izayoi Sakuya, the Head Maid of my mansion and my most important subordinate. Beside the librarian, she is the only person who can perform tasks that are as fast and efficient in my liking. No one, gets the best of Remilia Scarlet and lives to tell the tale. My bed, which was made of the finest silk and dyed red by the blood of my vanquished foes, gleamed in tandem to my scarlet eyes as I rose into the air, spreading my hands out as I did so. [Well, Sakuya? Who is it that we are honored to host? Is it the Teacher?] [No, Mistress, Miss Keine is not scheduled to visit for at least another week.] Nervously and with good reason to be, Sakuya took a nervous step back when I raised a hand up in annoyance to bat at a fly that just happened to be there. Crimson magic erupted from my hands and I obliterated the fly to tiny bits, leaving a burnt crater to the side of the room. [Is it any of our acquaintances? The Border Youkai? If it is her, tell her I have to give her a piece of my mind, or a fist to her face, which ever you prefer.] Shrugging, I shrugged off the thought as I floated off to my window and glaring at the scene that greeted me. [? no, it is not the Border Youkai, Mistress.] [The Rat? Tell Flandre that she might have fun with her, I have no mood to tend to such a vermin like her.] Spitting on the floor, I whirled around when Sakuya visibly hesitated as she shook her head again? [WHO IS IT THEN?!] Roaring, my scream reverberated around the room and it bowled Sakuya over and I grinned as I flexed my muscles. It felt good to see my power at work and I floated over her, enjoying the sight of my shadow creeping up at her as I pointed a finger at her. [The Doll-Freak?! Ask Patchey to keep her entertained. If it is anyone of the Immortals, leave them be and reject them away.] [? no?] [? Who is it. Don?t you dare keep me in suspense.] [? it?s?] Looking nervously, Sakuya got up and pulled open the door and inviting the mystery guest into the room, MY ROOM. [? Hakurei Reimu.] Time stopped and I screamed, screamed so vigorously that I felt my heart shake and my whole body tremble with rage. [HAKUREI REIMU!!!!!!!!!!!!!] -- I was standing nervously at the other end of the door and I just smiled nervously as Miss Knowledge just stood patiently beside me. Cirno was holding Miss Knowledge?s Hand as she trembled beside her. The little Ice-fairy had woken up just prior to us leaving the room and had, to mine and Miss Knowledge?s amusement, had hid her head into Miss Knowledge?s Night clothes and whispered softly to us. [Cirno is scared. Cirno is strongest, but Cirno is scared? Cirno doesn?t know why!!] Wailing, it took a while for us to calm the small fairy down and surprisingly, it was Miss Knowledge who made her stop wailing. [To fear, is a proof of one?s existence. Although the older term of this is: I think, therefore I am. ?] Pausing as she gave a hoarse cough, Miss Knowledge took her hand and slowly walked down the aisle. [I believe that is so? Still, let us return to the original Question. If you fear, do you fear fear? Or do you fear being feared? Or do you just fear, because you fear another being stronger than you.] [? Cino doesn?t understand Purple-Colored Girl.] [You, Cirno, Fear because you fear fear. You are afraid of fear as it is unknown to you. Only when one experiences strength that is overpowering can one understands how meek one can be.] As I followed the two of them, the fear that I had felt when the overwhelming presence swept through the Mansion was justified. I feared her as she is stronger, it is logically. But, do I really fear her strength or do I fear being killed by her? I feared being killed by her, the most common type of fear that is regarding my existence. I fear being killed, as with any other people in the world. [So Cirno, you have the right to fear people who are stronger as it is the basic instinct of any living being.] Looking down at her, Miss Knowledge managed a smile as she trembled, trembled like a shaking leaf as she stood by the grandest door of all. [If you do not fear, you are truly an idiot who does not fear for your life?] -- As I saw the door open and heard Sakuya introduce my name to her mistress, I stepped into the room and bowed. That was all the time I had before the whole room blew apart. [argh?] Coughing to get rid of the dust that I had inhaled when the explosion took place, I groaned in pain and then in shock to see that Sakuya had used her body as a shield to protect me from the falling debris that was once the roof a second ago. [S-Sakuya!] Prying her off me, I tried not to rouse her awake as she lay limply on my lap. [Sakuya!!] Throwing her body over me, she had saved me from a large chunk of the roof as the room just simply blew apart when an ear-shattering scream that uttered my name just bowled the two of us over. With her body full of cuts and bruises, I was secretly thankful that that was all she had suffered at the aftermaths of such a powerful blast. Looking around, I was unable to see anything else due to the crimson fog appearing all around me, isolating me and Sakuya from the rest of the world. [REIMU!] [REIMU, SAKUYA!] Hearing the two anxious cries from the other side of the fog, I felt a wave of relief broke through my mind that I was safe but I knew too, deep inside that the worst was far from over. [? HAKUREI, REIMU!] A voice like a lash struck out through the mist and I flinched when I saw two pinpoints of crimson light materialize from the fog. [?A?Ah?] Nervously standing up, the pair of eyes descended from the heavens and stopped just a few feet away from me, threading air like it was the most natural thing to do. Her shadow, large and ominous covered my entire form and I swallowed when she spoke again. [You, came back.] The volume decreased but the venom in her voice never wavered as the crimson mist slowly dissipated around her, revealing her small frame. Her red dress first came to light, appearing in great contrast to the crimson mist all over her. It was beautiful yet grotesque at the same time as traces of blood was visible even from the height she was. The trail of blood started slowly below her chest and I could see the trail of blood as it dripped off the dress. More horrifying was that I could see a bloody handprint on the right of her skirt, her victim?s last desperate attempts as his hand pulled down futilely on her dress. [?] Her eyes, a crimson red in color stared at me and she licked her fangs slowly and purposely, just like a predator showing of it?s fangs before they chowed down on their helpless prey. [? Yes? Mistress of the Scarlet Devil Mansion, I have came to pay my respects to you?] Bowing deeply to her, I tucked my gohei between my obi and I placed both my hands on my lap respectfully as I waited for her to speak. A fool would stand in front of such a being and not cower and I trembled at the foot of such a powerful being. [Pay your respects? TO ME?] Laughing, she clenched her fists so tightly that it turned white with effort before screaming out to me. [YOU, THE HAKUREI SHRINE MAIDEN PAYING RESPECT TO ME?! THE SCARLET DEVIL?!] Bits of vampire spittle flew towards me and I flinched at her scream. [THE MOST HOLIEST MAIDEN IN GENSOKYO, PAYING RESPECTS TO THE DEVIL. DON?T YOU DARE TO SOIL THE NAME OF THE HAKUREI BLOOD LINE?!] [? Still, It is foolish of me not to do so, Miss Remilia Scarlet.] She seemed to complement that for a moment as she placed a hand on her lap while floating on the crimson air. Levitating, she is like a goddess, all powerful in her power and absolute strength with herself. [? Wise of you, Hakurei Reimu. BUT. YOU HAVE DEFIED ME!] Pointing a clawed finger at me, her eyes turned feral as she roared and dived at me, intent in wiping me off the face of the world. [?!!] Not having time to give a shout of surprise, I dived away from the danger by instinct alone as my body just moved by itself. [? Ha.. ha?] Huffing from the effort of getting away, I leapt into the air to confront that was standing in the mile-wide crater that she had just created by smashing her fist into the earth and I nervously tried again. [Miss? Remilia Scarlet?] [? DIE!] Dashing at me again with her claws out stretched, I was prepared this time and I dashed to the side of her attack and breathed again when she skidded to a halt in mid-air. [? Tsk?.] Spitting, Remilia Scarlet raised a hand up into the air and as I watched in horror, scarlet energy started streaming towards her hand into a shape of a spear. [DIVINE SPEAR: SPEAR THE GUNGNIR!] Roaring in age, she threw the spear straight towards me and another in repeated succession as I sped through the remains of the Mansion. [Miss Remilia Scarlet, Please, Calm down!!] [SILENCE, NO ONE DEFIES REMILIA SCARLET AND LIVES!!] Screaming, her eyes almost turn fully crimson in color as she threw yet another Spear at me. The Spears, which were magical in nature, pierced through every border I set up and I had to try harder to avoid every single throw by her. As the Spear embedded themselves into the earth, it would break free of it?s magical bonds and explode in a fiery explosion of Crimson Magic that obliterated everything close to it. [Argh?] Wincing in pain as a stray piece of debris hit me, I clutched my right arm before looking up at the Little Vampire who was still howling in anger. [DIE, DIE, DIE!!!] Launching round after round of Magical Spears, Remilia Scarlet was not even panting and she still looked as if she had more to throw at me. [? I?m sorry?] Bowing, I raised a hand and started chanting loudly to any spirits that might be nearby. [The Spirits of the Scarlet Devil Mansion, I beg of you to hear my call. Your Mistress, whose strength is unrivaled has lost her once rational Mind. I, The Hakurei Shrine Maiden, wish not to be stronger than your mistress, but please, hear my plea.] Taking a deep breath as Remilia Scarlet flung another Spear at me, I closed my eyes and screamed out my prayer. [LEND ME THE STRENGTH TO RETURN HER RATIONALITY!!] For a wonder my prayer was heard and tiny fairies formed a barrier between me and the Spear and it stopped the spear just an inch before me, it?s tip radiating energy that was enough to fry me in an instant. [YOU DESERVE ALL OF THIS!!!] [HELL CATASTROPHE!!] Raising her arms up in the air, an ancient looking spell circle appeared below her and I quickly dashed away from it, knowing that it spelt doom for all who stepped in the circle. [DIEEEE!! DIEEE!!] As I expected, the circle glowed of unholy magic and streams of magic forcefully erupted from the sphere and into the sky above, obliterating everything within it to dusts. Debris from the roof, the mink carpeting and her own bed, was all erased in a single instant, leaving a field that was dotted with pitholes, proof of her awesome power. [? Please, Calm down!!] Glowing white, I leaped into the air to follow her flight as I racked my mind for anything, anything I could do to calm her down but I came up with nil. Dealing with such a powerful being is beyond me and as she is a vampire, I doubt that I can fully understand her feelings. If she were only human? [Wait.. what am I thinking? No matter what, my service is to the people, youkai or not!] Realizing that I was thinking negative thoughts, I took a deep breath and paused in mid-air as I watched Remilia Scarlet glaring at me, her hands still held up in the air. Magical energy was gathering on her finger tips in a shape of a large sphere and as I prayed hard for power from the spirits, she sent the Magical Orb in my direction just as I waved my hands in front of me to shoot a collection of ofudas straight at her. [Drawing strength from the Spirit of the Hakurei Shrine, BORDER!] Forming a barrier with the amulets around her, I chanted loudly again as I grazed the Magical Sphere with ease. [May the Devil, the Crimson Devil of the Mansion relate to the Great Spirit of the Hakurei Shrine. May rationality return to whence you belong, may the demon that caused you such pain and suffering be banished from the body, May the hatred that you have held in your heart be banished, may the pain you have felt be soothed. In Body and in spirit, you do not belong here, leave now!!] Trying an exorcism, I raised my gohei in the air and then swiftly redirected it to point at the border that was shining around Remilia Scarlet. [MAY THE BORDER THAT SEPERATES US BEGONE?BEGONE, EVIL!] Shining brightly, the barrier slowly disappeared around her but not before turning a deep red, reflecting the hate and the anger of Remilia Scarlet that it had absorbed. Steam was coming from the border and it blinded me for a second but I was not afraid of her now. The hatred and pain that she was feeling was supposed to be removed from her and now, perhaps I could talk with her and to understand her better? [HAKUREI, REIMU!!!] I did not know how wrong I was when she dived through the mist and struck me squarely on the cheek with a tremendous slap that sent me wheeling to crash on the floor below her. [?] I was hurting and bruising where I was slapped but that did not reflect my pain when I saw how Remilia Scarlet was staring at me, her eyes full of hatred and beyond that, I could sense sadness, something I could not feel before I used the border on her. She hates me, For some reason, she hates me, Hakurei Reimu to the core and she could do nothing except kill me to be rid off her pain. At first, I imagined it was a disrespectful act by me that got her so riled up and she was screaming my name in anger. But even after dispelling most of her hatred and pain, she still would not let me go. It was like a dog that had grabbed hold of my sleeve and refused to let go to save her life. Raising her hand, Remilia Scarlet?s Spellcard had not ended and I prepared myself for the end as she raised her hands to form a shape like a cross and she shot magical energy from her fingertips to all areas surrounding her. The areas where the magical energy struck blew up and I was covered with dust as explosion after explosion struck the mansion. I fear that the mansion will soon be leveled if I do not do something, anything at all. Reaching into my sleeve, I prayed again for strength before declaring reciting the incantations on the Spellcard and declaring it, hoping it might work. [Spirits, lend me your strength. From the colors of the rainbow, may you grant power to the Hakurei Shrine Maiden, if only for a few seconds to rid the world of the Spirit that you see before me?] [Spirit Sign: Fantasy Orb!!] Glowing with energy, I raised my hands up in the air with my gohei and directed the orbs, five of them in different colors that had emerged from all around me towards Remilia Scarlet. [PATHETIC, PATHETHIC, PATHETHIC! DO YOU THINK YOU CAN DEFEAT REMILIA SCARLeT WITH SUCH A WEAK SPELL?!] Mockingly, she just shrugged off the energy from the spirit orbs and gathered a orb by herself, infusing her own crimson magic into it. [THIS IS AN ORB!] Laughing manically, she threw the orb at me and it exploded right in front of me, throwing me back once again. [Ugh?] My body slamming against a concrete slab, I felt my vision swim as I stared up blankly at the Scarlet Devil, the Devil that surely will take my life away. --

WRATHIE_Beatrice: -- [The Moon tonight is Red? you have guts to even try to face me, mere human.] [?so you can do something?] [You don?t live for five hundred years without being powerful.] The casual smile that appeared on her face made me mad and I raised my gohei to challenge her. [You?re being a nuisance! Let?s get this over with!] [Yes, let?s get you little pest out of my mansion.] Scoffing, she raised her arms in reply to my challenge and the both of us charged at one another. -- The same image of her appeared in my memories and I raised a finger, trying to reach out to her. [REIMU!] Screaming, she was Remilia Scarlet, the Devil that I had known before, that was reaffirmed when my memories started to return to me. The red eyes that had spent so much time staring at me, the small bat-like wings that was pressing against me as she slept on my lap. [??!!] O..On my lap? Fearing there was a lapse in my broken memory or the world was playing a cruel joke on me, I tried to stand but I coughed blood instead and I sank back to my knees, clutching my chest in pain. [? heh?] Hearing her giggle beside me, I swung around, trying to catch sight of her but I only saw the brief flittering of her wings as she sped away when I moved. [?Your blood, is so? tantalizing?] Feeling a pair of hands, freezing cold clutch my neck, I froze immediately as she traced a finger down my neck, laughing as she did so. [? Never would I Dream you would fall so easily, Hakurei Reimu? WAS YOUR STRENGTH JUST A FLUKE?!] Releasing me, she pushed me to the floor before dragging a finger through the pool of blood and licking it off her fingers. [? Mm~ Such? fragrance?] Turning towards me, her eyes narrowed and her pupils dilated even further as drool dripped from her fangs. It so frightened me that my limbs all froze up in fear, not wanting any part of the Scarlet Devil. [K-Keep away!!! NO!] Screaming, I tried desperately to scuttle back from her, wanting as much distance as I could from the Devil. [? hehe? HEHE? HAHAHAHAHAH!!] Fear is contagious and it must prove exciting for vampires as she got more excited while I scrambled away, clutching my chest as I did so. [Fear weakens you, Reimu.] My mind, the ever rational piece of machinery, screamed at me and I struggled to keep myself in check. [B-Begone, Devil!] Pulling out a stack of amulets, I raised them above my forehead before tossing them all around me. [Be my shining light!! Barrier!!] Usage of barriers and borders are the Hakure Shrine Maiden?s greatest assets, as recorded in my Master?s Manual and I was familiar with many spells and charms. The amulets shone to form a barrier separating me and the Devil but I was not done yet. [Please, forgive me, Remilia!] Falling to my knees, I bowed at the startled devil before firmly placing a Spell-card on the ground in front of me. [Dream Sign: Evil Sealing Circle!] Suddenly, a circle of holy fire erupted around Remilia and engulfed her totally. Mixing in with the sound of the flames, was the Devil?s Scream of fury and pain while I just prayed for her forgiveness. [Please forgive me, Remilia Scarlet, for the pain I had inflicted on you?] That was my last words as a speeding bullet, crimson in color and with claws outstretched, barreled into me. [MIDNIGHT KING: DRACULA CRADLE] -- Erecting a powerful barrier to protect the both of us, I was shocked when I heard Reimu call out Sakuya?s name. With her strength she was supposed to be stronger and agile than Reimu and should logically be able to avoid everything that even Remi throws at her. Apparently some error was made when I made that assumption and that margin for error was Hakurei Reimu. She was not prepared for the onslaught and as I dragged Sakuya?s unconscious body back to relative safety of what was left of the mansion. The explosion of energy was not powerful enough to rock my shield the slightest but it did overpower every other single defense and reinforcing I had done off the mansion. The fairy maids were all taking cover down at the vault, and a wise-move indeed as the barrage of magic by Remi never subsided for an instant. [?] I, Patchouli Knowledge had beforehand estimated the outcome of this particular encounter but this was dragging on far longer than I ever expected it to last. Remi?s power is strong enough to immediately obliterate Reimu, but the fact that she was still screaming in rage meant that she, at the least had not defeated Reimu at the moment and I breathed a sign of relief. [? Thank goodness?] Looking down at the little ice-fairy, who was hanging on to my arm, I faked a sigh of annoyance and tried to shake my hand free of her. [Let go, you?re making it hard for me to maintain the Shield.] Besides maintaining the shield, I was curing Sakuya?s wounds using the same magical spells that the Lunarian has taught me. [?!] A blinding flash of light erupted from the middle of the disaster zone and I shielded my eyes from the sight. The pillar of light seemed to shoot towards the moon as it blazed upwards towards infinity. [?Remi?] Hearing screaming from Remi again, I closed my eyes and prayed when I saw the worst possible sight I could ever think of. The Crimson form that broke through the wall of holy fire slammed to another figure that was a few feet away and the both of them hurtled towards the forests and as quickly as it came, it ended in an explosion of dust. [R-Reimu?] Lowering my head, I prayed for her and our safety even as Sakuya stirred below my feet. -- Looking at the shrine maiden below me, my foot placed squarely on her chest as she coughed weakly only made me more excited about her impending death. Looking at her blood-rimmed hair, lips and body, I silently was impressed at her willpower to be able to stay awake even with such injuries. Feeling the searing pain from her futile struggle, I had lost all patience and wanted to kill her right then and now, thus the spellcard I used, [Dracula Cradle.] Dracula Cradle is a unique spellcard as it brings the user, in this case in a state where bodily harm is very real. I twirled my body like a top, scattering energy all the way as I plowed straight towards the enemy. Spinning around and round, the energy focuses itself on the speared end of the projectile, my head and it most likely will cause instant death, more so when I and her crashed through a concrete wall and several trees before coming to a halt after dragging her body several feet through the ground. [Heh? HEHE? HEHEHEHEEHEHE!!] Laughing manically I released her life-less body for a moment as I turned to look at the moon shining behind me. [OH, THE IRONY!!] In the peak of my power, I was literally overflowing with strength and when I looked back at the frail human in front of me, I just had to laugh. [MANY MANY MOONS AGO, YOU HAD DEFEATED ME, DEFEATED ME!!! THE SCARLET DEVIL!] Pacing around her, the corpse of a human was nothing but pure ecstasy for me. Her body was warm and her pulse was racing, things that I absolutely adore before I sink my teeth into my prey and she was much more than that. She is a delicacy like no other. Who else can lay claim that one has eaten the Hakurei Shrine Maiden? NO ONE!! I SHALL BE THE FIRST, TO DRINK THE HAKUREI?S BLOODLINE AWAY!! [AND LOOK AT YOU NOW!!!] Barely controlling myself, I grabbed her hair and pulled her up to look at me. Groaning weakly, she tried to resist but there was no longer any strength in her body and her eyes had no life in them, the lights gone from them. [PATHETIC, WAS YOUR STRENGTH JUST A FLUKE?!] Screaming and screaming, my vocal cords were hoarse and the nourishment I needed was just in front of me, just mine for the thinking. [? I?m going to suck you dry? even if I am not able to drink all of you? I will drain you? see the blood pool all over your proud shrine maiden clothes, see your face turn white slowly and then? slowly devour your flesh? Ehehe? EHEHEHEHE? WAHAHAHAHAHA!] The situation from before was totally reversed and I had her right where I want her, with no one to stop me or no one to save her. I AM THE MIGHTIEST!! Grinning, I leaned towards her neck and was about to chow down when her hand weakly grabbed mine. [R? Re? Remilia?] Feeling her touch, I was reminded of a time, a time when everything was different and I hesitated, something that I would not have done before. [NO!] Flinching from her touch, I clutched my hand in a mixture of horror and guilt before raising an arm. Crimson power gathered around my fingers in a shape of a spear and I balanced it carefully while glaring at her. [?I? I?m sorry?] [?!] -- All I felt was pain, nothing but pain as a second after I regained consciousness, I was staring at Remilia?s face while my body felt and was a wreck. Having the dim memory of crashing through a couple of things, I could not even scream in pain as it was just too overpowering, even suppressing my thoughts as I just groaned and tried to get away. Every sense in my body was telling me that it hurts, pain was over flooding my senses and it was telling me that my body was broken. [?argh?] Barely able to breathe, I tried to move my fingers but it hurt so much that I gave up, my arm lying limply to my side. Needless to say, I was not even able to raise my head up, not to mention the rest of my body. [? ugh?] I wanted to give up on life now, to release the stubborn hold I have on the ledge of life and plunge down to the depths of hell? But I couldn?t. Some part of me stubbornly urged me to live on. It could be responsibility, the responsibility of saving Gensokyo still hung on my shoulders and it might want urge me to keep living. The same responsibility that I had felt so troublesome might be turning out to be a lifesaver for me? That I do not agree with as? if I died, I would be rid off the burden? right? There are many more powerful beings ready to take the place of such a defenseless and powerless Shrine Maiden such as myself. Even with Miss Knowledge?s reassurance that I am the strongest, I do not believe her, not totally. Truths always must be taken with a grain of salt and till I see proof, I will not truly believe that fact. Responsibility is not urging me to live and neither is the Shrine Maiden?s Teaching that had guided me so far? No, it was another feeling. The Feeling of guilt? I have something that I needed to do, something that was regarding a poor girl?s heart being broken? and it was all my fault. [I? I?m sorry?] Even though that could be my last breath, I still managed to apologize to her. After all? Everything must have a beginning? and that beginning began with me. -- [Argh? I can?t believe I lost?] Looking at the defeated Vampire before me, I panted for a moment before placing my amulets back in place inside my sleeves before I started reprimanding her. [You?re just being selfish, you stupid vampire!] [HOW DARE YOU CALL ME STUPID!] Seeing her flare up, I struck the Vampire on her head before she could cast another spell before scolding her. My rage too, is not something to be trifled with as she had wasted so much of my precious time. [YOU IDIOT! YOU COULD HAVE KILLED EVERY SINGLE ONE IN GENSOKYO!] I was sure I made myself clear as my voice echoed around her bedroom that the both of us had crashed into in the midst of our showdown. She was really an irritating little girl, welding her power almost carelessly, I had grazed all of her bullets without worry till right in the middle when she just dived straight at me. Well, to cut things short, I slammed my gohei on her forehead and she crashed landed after seeing stars for quite some time after the blow. It was a blessing in disguise as I had ended the battle prematurely. Well, she deserved it! I remember our first meeting now. It was like what she had said and it had taken place right under the same full moon right now as we had declared our spellcards to one another. Her strength was incredible but so was the number of mistakes that she made while creating her patterns. There would be the tiny gap left between her attacks that allowed me to dodge her next stream of attacks. It was remarkably easy when I danmaku-ed with her. When it came to physical power however, the battle dragged on and it was only when I blasted her with the Hakurei Sanctifier Orb did I manage a victory. I did not dislike her, she as a spoiled brat but she still retained the class of a refined lady as she admitted defeat very readily. She herself was not childish, just very spoilt and immature for her age of 500 years. She has the power to be so spoilt but when I met her and defeated her, I supposed that brought her world to a spiraling halt. She had the power over fate, to view it and to manipulate it to her own will. She had sealed her own age away, sealing her fate of growing older and thus she will never age, something is unique to vampires and she does not necessarily need blood to remain alive, it is a prized dish perhaps, but not a necessary one. Before meeting me, Remilia Scarlet was the Mistress of her own fate and perhaps all the fate of the people in the Scarlet Mansion. Sakuya, Miss Knowledge, all the fairies and even Miss Meiling. All of their fates were governed by her. She had the power over everyone, the authority and the strength to carry out all that she wanted. She was the overlord of the mansion and everyone knows that and accepted that. They did not know their lives any other way before I came and barged my way through into their lives. It so resembles the saying of the Frog who had lived it?s life in the well. He thought he knew the whole world, the world of his well till he was told of the whole wide-world that laid beyond the well. It is a pitiful story, and it was happening to Remilia Scarlet. By besting her, I challenged her definition of fate. Being the ruler of fate, she could not possibly lose and? she could NOT possibly and WILL not possibly lose. But she did lose, to me. That must have shattered her whole world. [? so you?re here again?] [The day is cloudy, so I decided to drop by.] [Any donations for the shrine?] [Why would I bother to donate to such a run-down shrine.] [No tea for you then.] [EH!? Reimu is mean towards me!!] [C?mon, stop resting your head on my lap, it?s irritating!] [The heart feel warm when I do that!] [? eh, whatever you want?] But it didn?t. She found an unexpected life-line, me. I, the one who had destroyed her world became her world. I was the one who led her to meet the many other people that she would later reaffirm as associates and even some as friends. People like the Lunarians were frequent visitors to the Mansion and even Remilia herself came down to grace the Hakurei Festival with her presence, stunning the crowd who was gathered there. If I had not crashed into their life, as troublesome as it might be now, she would not have met all of the people that surrounds her right now. It was another blessing in disguise that she had the strength to think positively and maturely to cope with her world being shattered. The absoluteness of her power is not real and is just an illusion was the lesson that was learnt when she faced me. It made her realize that people around her do not live for her and people should live for herself. She herself confided to me one summer night as I was sharing a cup of wine with her. She cried and said that she was happy that she had met me and was happy of her life now in Gensokyo. [Despite the difficulties that I have now, dealing with the likes of Marisa, the visits of Alice and the Lunarians. I am happy, happy for the first time in 500 years.] She was still stubborn, refusing to outright admit that she had lost to me but she still hung on close to me, claiming to like me all the time. But I had broken her heart. -- The more I remembered, the clearer the picture came to me off her actions. The cries of rage, the cries of pain and the blood curdling scream of my name were of someone that had her loved one betrayed her. I had betrayed her? left her and in the same time, shattered her world the second time. Her absoluteness in strength makes her a formidable foe, restrained or not. But now, with her rage and pain overpowering her rationality, she was an unrestrained animal and that amount of destructive power was akin to a child throwing a temper tantrum and flattening the grass as she jumped up and down to show her frustration. It must have hurt, to have your world shattered twice and by the person that she had loved, me. [? I?m sorry?] As I calm my mind to think about her actions, the more convinced I am that it was my fault to begin with. I? [I shouldn?t have left you? Remilia? a-at?] Coughing up blood, I weakly tried again as Remilia started taking small steps away from me, shaking her head as she did so. Without me noticing, tears had started to fall from my eyes and they trickled slowly to the ground, just like the blood that was still seeping from my broken body. The pain that I had felt was so overwhelming that I could not feel the pain at all. It was a surreal feeling, pain still screamed at me from every part of my body but I felt no pain at all. This pain is nothing compared to what she had been through for the past 14 years. [At all? I?m sorry?] Trying so hard to speak, I was rewarded by a small shake of the head from Remilia?s side and I tightened my grip on her hand just a bit more. [?NO! STOP SAYING!! STOP SAYING ANYTHING!!] Covering her ears, Remilia went to her knees and tried desperately to pry my hands away as she just screamed out loud to the night sky. [DON?T SAY ANYTHING!!!!] Even as she shook her head, I continued and for a wonder she heard me. [A-At the very least? I? I should have? -coughs-? told you? th-that? t-that? I?-coughs- was lea-leaving?] [I?m? sorry? it mu-must have hurt? ? h-hurt? hasn?t it? i? I wish? I h-had known a-about this? -coughs- I-If I did? i?] Cutting me off, Remilia screamed again as she pressed her nails against my neck, causing me to squirm in pain, my vocal cords not able to gather enough air to scream. [YOU WOULDN?T KNOW!! YOU WEREN?T THERE!!! SO JUST SHUT UP!!!] Bits of vampire spittle struck me but I laid firm as I forced my hand to caress her face, leaving bloody trails behind it as I winced as excruciating pain shot through me even from that effort. [I? I k-know the p-pain? I-coughs- am f-f-fee-feeling now? -coughs- can?t ?com-compare? to what y-you have been through? R-Remilia?] [NO, STOP SAYING!! STOP IT!!] Releasing me, I saw Remilia?s eyes turning back to normal and I struggled to smile as Remilia just backed away from me. [I?m ? s-sorry? f-for hurting you? --for-for taking away? e-everything t-that you have known?] I had taken away her world, her world of absolute control over fate and gave her Gensokyo, the paradise for youkai and for humans alike before abandoning her all at once.. I am guilty, I am at fault? So? the least I can do? is? [y-you must h-have r-relied on me? -l-loved me?-coughs-] Smiling and crying despite the pain that still wrecked me, I watched as Remilia started crying as well, red tears started flowing from her eyes as she sank to her knees a mere hands-length away. [b-but ? I-? I didn??t r-return y-your feel-ings? a-and even betr-ayed y-you? Remilia?] [F-For all? f-for all that? f-forgive me?] [NO, STOP IT! DON?T SAY ANYMORE, NOT? not? not after?] Wiping her tears away, Remilia?s eyes finally returned to what I remembered her to have and she finally, finally called me. [Not after I made my decision? REIMU!] Punching the earth, Remilia moaned again. [I-It?s not fair? t-that your fate? is so easily changed? w-why?! I was about to kill you? I steeled my heart to kill you? to let you feel the pain that I felt? s-so why? can you escape fate a-again?! It?S NOT FAIR!] [R-Remilia?] Smiling, I gestured her to come closer as my body started failing me. My vision started failing and I felt that my time was about up. As broken and hurt as I was, there is no way that I could possibly survive this time. [I? I have-coughs? t-taken your a-abili?ability to con-trol? fate? t-this time? but?. I?m giving it to? back to you?] [?] [M-? My fate? is? in your hands now? k-kill me?] [!!] Her eyes widening in surprise, she was about to speak when I, despite all the pain I was feeling, raised my hand to caress her chin again. [I? I lo-love you?. Too? r-remilia? s? so? kill me? I? I don?t? want to suff-fer t-this pain anymore?] [REIMU? NO! NO!! It-It?s?] [M-my f-fate? is? is in your hands?] From my fading vision; I saw Remilia sobbing even more as she exclaimed to me. [No? NO! you c-can?t!! Reimu! Y-You can?t g-give me that? it?s?. I don?t own your fate, REIMU! It?s not owning? you? your leaving me with no choice? It?s not fair! R-Reimu! NO!! D-Don?t!!] [S-Smile? please? I? I want to see your smiling face?] Down to my last breath as I felt my chest heave with effort, I whispered to her. [I? m-my fate? d-depends on y-you?R-Remilia?] ?to return her life to her? -- [NO! REIMU! YOU CAN?T DIE!! NO!!] [PLEASE NO!! IT?S NOT FAIR THAT YOU CAN CHANGE FATE, REIMU! I AM THE ONE WHO CAN CHANGE FATE? PLEASE! REIMU!!] Screaming loudly in the night sky, I, Remilia Scarlet knew that her fate was not in my hands despite her delivering it to me in a silver platter. It wasn?t fair, that Reimu had the chance to change fate? Once when she defeated me all those moons ago and now? The Second time when she escaped? escaped my hatred? No? B-But? No? [REIMU! PLEASE, NO! NOOOOOO, DON?T LEAVE ME!] From the instant that I had hit her, her fate was towards death? I knew it? despite all my wishes of it not being true now? it did not change the fact? that? -that? She is going to leave me, AGAIN! Despite me saying that she was able to change her fate, fate by itself is not changeable? [R-Reimu?] Feeling the tears increase in intensity, I screamed louder than ever before to lessen the sadness in my heart as I watched Reimu?s life slowly disappear from her. Was? it my fault too that she died? ? or was it solely her fault? I?I do not want to know? All? all I want? is for Reimu to come back to me!! --

WRATHIE_Beatrice: righto.. the... new place to read this is: http://www.fanfiction.net/s/5125582/1/The_Shrine_of_Gensokyo_Gensokyo_no_Jinja I... would update this, when i can.. or when I have the will too.. and i will, now. But no promises for other updates here, for more gurantees, try FF.net, unfortunately... -- [? uh?] Wincing in pain, I pried my eyes open and then just as quickly closed them in the glare of the lights. My vision was hazy and I could only make out individual colors but not individual shapes when everything just struck me like a speeding bullet? Am I alive? Trying to raise a hand to pinch myself, I gave up when all my sensation returned to me. It was a like the dam to all the pain was opened and I screamed in pain and clutched at the covers that were covering me in a desperate bid to distract my attention from the pain. [AHHHHHHHHHHH!!! C-Covers? [You?re awake?] Hearing a soft voice appear near me, I turned towards the general direction of the voice and I called out weakly to the person. [A-Am I alive?] [?] There was a minute of silence where I just clutched to the covers and futilely tried to grab a comforting hand that was in the general direction of the voice. [? yes?] A relieved sigh was heard and I weakly tried to smile, but my muscles were aching too much for me and I gave up. [H-How? w-who?] [? hmm. How to answer that question? yes indeed?] As I waited for an answer, my vision returned to me slowly and familiar shapes came to view around me. [? ahh?] Recognizing the same bed that I and Cirno had woke up in, I gingerly touched my chest and screamed at the jolt of pain that rocked me. [I wouldn?t do that if I were you? Reimu. Well, I suppose I can go alert the Mistress about this?] Recognizing the voice that spoke, I shook my head and tried to make Sakuya stay in the room to no avail. She was determined to leave and she apologetically brushed my hands off before bowing to me. [Please excuse me? and? do not try to move?] In a second, Sakuya disappeared and as I groaned and tried to move, not willing to meet Remilia just yet. I had embarrassed myself by saying such?. Such embarrassing things and I could feel my face heat up as I recalled the conversation I had when I was on my deathbed. [? ahh? I? I should have died?] Sobbing, I turned over and subsequently bit myself on my lip as I stifled a scream. [? t-that hurt?] Lying on the bed, I felt a sense of relief and dread that I was alive. I had expected not to survive after that night and was prepared to live my fate to Remilia, whether to kill me herself or to let me die slowly and painfully. She has chosen the other route, to save me and now, my fate is still in her hands. That thought unnerved me and I twitched in bed, unable to toss and turn in fear of the pain that will surely come and haunt me. I was not dressed in my Shrine Maiden attire but in another pair of nightclothes and I blushed, not wanting to think about who had undressed and dressed me. I hope that it was not Remilia but I do not mind if it is Sakuya? Thinking those thoughts were not befitting of a shrine maiden and I hit my own head in embarrassment. My clothes were logically too stained and torn to wear again but I was worried more about the amulets and the ofudas that was tucked in the sleeves of my outfit. [? I? wonder what Suika is doing?] As I lay on the bed, I had the time to think about a great many things and I allowed my mind to wander just a bit. [??] [REIMU!!!] Feeling the house rock, I braced myself as the door?s hinges just flew off when Remilia Scarlet bursts into the scene. With her hair in a mess and dark eye-bags below her eyes, she flew and flung herself at me while screaming my name. [REIMU!!!] Covering my face in shock and as a form of protection as hurricane a la Remilia stuck the coast. [? Mistress, you shouldn?t do that.] Muttering below her breath, I praised the spirits that at least Sakuya noticed my plight as my face turned white from overexposure to pain. My mouth was wide open but no sound came out of it as I just so badly wanted to pry her off me as her crushing hug tore open my wounds. [A-AHh! I?m sorry, Reimu!!] Releasing me, I got a short reprieve of peace before she could not resist herself again and hugged me once more, this time much more gentler. [? you woke up, Reimu!] [? y-yes? fortunately?] And unfortunately? I might want to add. -- With Remilia sitting beside me and Sakuya serving tea, I had found the strength to sit up after Miss Knowledge casted a wind spell that decreased the burden on my broken bones. After hearing Miss Knowledge?s medical report of my injuries, I fought the urge to get to my knees and prayed to god for allowing me to live. Almost all my bones were either broken or fractured by Remilia?s Spell card; the fractured ends of my ribcage nearly punctured my heart and lungs or that was not the end of it. [Your spine was a few centimeters away from being completely severed. If it had happened, even I or the Lunarian would not be able to prevent total paralysis from the hip downwards. Thankfully however, it was not and I was able to rejoin all of your nerves ends as they were all alive.] Breathing a deep sigh of relief, Miss Knowledge remarked again as she stared at me, her purple eyes showing something akin to sorrow and happiness mixed together. [Another fact that you should know is that you suffered a cerebral concussion and a blood clot that was deep in your inner brain. It took a while before we removed that and I was afraid there wil be further complications. Do you feel any striking pain in your head? Any temporary loss of vision, memory or color? It would be best if we nip the bud of the problem before it blossoms.] She had arrived moments after Remilia and amazingly without a book in tow; explaining later on that she barely had the time to grab her hat before forcing all her magical abilities in flying to greet me. [? Patchey is so cute when she is embarrassed.] Putting a hand proudly on her hip, Remilia tried to spoon-feed me a slice of cake as she giggled at my scandalous face. [Here, open up, Reimu!] [? erm?] [You gave me your fate. And so your fate is to reimburse the 10+ years that you had gone away.] Smiling sweetly, I had conceded to her childish smile and I gingerly took a bite of the cake that she offered me. [Good girl! You?re grown so much, Reimu!] Patting my head, I felt my face burn in embarrassment as the corner?s of Remilia mouth curled up in amusement. [It is thankful, that you have grown Reimu.] Interrupting her, Miss Knowledge placed a restraining hand on her before continuing her medical report. [Most of your bones were broken and we painstakingly took care to set your bones as much as I can. Sakuya sped up your recovery with her abilities but I reckoned it would heal better if we do not deplete your resources so. Thus, I advise you to take these Calcium Supplements first.] Pushing me a few tablets, Miss Knowledge pushed a glass of water and winked at her, giving me a bad feeling as Remilia caught on. [As you can?t swallow yet, let? me.. feed? you~] Blushing, Remilia leaned towards me and popped the tablets in her mouth. [Say, Ahhh~] [W-WHAT?!!!!!] Screaming out in surprise, a full crimson blush erupted and I stuttered in the face of Remilia Scarlet. [I? I couldn?t? I?] [A Shrine Maiden must be a virgin, Remi.] Looking away, I could see that Miss Knowledge was trying desperately not to laugh outright as her shoulders shook with effort and her voice was laced with mirth. [Kissing is not taking away her virginity, Patchey!!] Foiling her defense, I had to wonder which side she was on when Remilia, catching me unaware, kissed me and forced the tablets down my throat. [!!!!!!!!] [Hehe~~~] Giggling as she broke away from the kiss, I was unsure of my reaction or the facial expression on my face as I slumped down the bed and under the covers, wanting to hide myself in disgrace. [See what you have done, Remi? She?s all red, like how Flandre liked to call her.] [She should be honored to be able to touch my lips.] Below the covers, I was dumb to everything else and I was not prepared to give any reply when Miss Knowledge pulled the covers off. [A-AH!] [? well, I suppose by your reaction that was your first kiss?] Speechlessly, I nodded before openly weeping in bed. [Look what you have done, Remi? she?s crying. She?s not a virgin anymore?] [Hehe~ I took Reimu?s first kiss~] [BE SERIOUS!] Losing her temper, the silent librarian smacked Remilia?s head while I just whimpered and looked at the both of them. I feel like a dog now, bowing meekly to the two of them as I was overpowered by the two of them. One, with her awesome strength and the other with her intellectual. I was being driven to a corner and there was nothing I can do about it. How I wished for a savior to come out of the blue now. [? What are the two of you doing?] A low, mono-tone voice suddenly stopped everything in the room and I glanced up to see Sakuya, tapping her foot impatiently with a few anger crosses on her face as she stared at Remilia and Miss Knowledge. [?. Eh? Sakuya?] [?] Remaining silent, Miss Knowledge gently eased away from Remilia while Remilia just raised her hands up, trying to prove her innocence. [It?s nothing, really nothing! Right, Patchey?] Turning to her only ally, I managed a weak grin as I saw Miss Knowledge attempting an escape from the other door only to be stopped by a dagger that struck within inches of her nightcap. [I want an explanation. NOW!] Appearing much more ferocious than I remembered her to be, Sakuya seemed to tower above the two culprits before launching into a full lecture that stretched for nearly an hour. [NOW LISTEN!] -- After the lecture, Sakuya was still holding my hand and serving generally as a comforting form for me to relate to while the other two devils in disguise just lowered their head and apologized to me. [I am apologetic for being so insensitive?this is very sudden? I admit that?] [That?s not the point! A kiss to a maiden is a very important thing, is that right, Reimu?] Blushing suddenly, I was at a loss to what to say when Remiia suddenly appeared behind Sakuya and placed her hands dramatically around her shoulder, startling her. [So, that?s why Sakuya is so worked up. She is a girl after all? she?] Wiping a false tear from her eyes, Remilia dramatically played out a fantasy for us to say, in Sakuya?s expense of course as we watched on. [The young Sakuya, devoid of love would always dream of her prince charming, riding on a white horse to ask for her hand and then? and then..] Dragging the moment longer for her discomfort, Remilia grinned while Sakuya just pulled out a dagger to threaten her mistress. [Mistress, I am warning you. Do not tarnish my name!!] Raising her voice in a bid to look threatening, I am afraid to say that Sakuya failed again as Remilia just giggled as she patted Sakuya?s fringe down. [THE KISS! The melting of Sakuya?s heart as she melted into the arms of the unknown prince, knowing her future is in his hands~ AHH~ YOUTH!] Ending the sentence with a dramatic stomping of her feet, hugging of her own body and a loud giggle, Remilia laughed as Sakuya blushed even deeper before she tugged at my sleeves, apparently wanting to join me in hiding below the covers. Oh woe is us, being cornered by two beings older and more worldly wise than us. [There is something to be said about a Maiden?s Kiss. Especially a Shrine Maiden?s Kiss?] Laughing so much that tears were coming out of her eyes, Miss Knowledge coughed and regained her normal demeanor before continuing what she had said. [It is said to turn a frog to a prince?] [THAT IS SUPERSTICIOUS!] With tears flowing freely out of the excessive teasing, I reached for my gohei and flung it straight at Remilia?s head, striking her between the eyes while Sakuya threw a dagger that nicked Miss Knowledge?s cheek, causing the both of them to retreat out of the room. [AND STAY OUT!!] Huffing in anger, Sakuya slammed the door behind them and locked it from the inside before sliding down the door in exhaustion and probably exasperation as well. [I? -huff- must apologize?] [? no? I share your pain?] Suddenly it all seemed so amusing that I just laughed and laughed, wanting to believe that all that happened the night before was not real. -- Meeting a real magician, a maid and being invited to a vampire?s mansion as a guest. Being treated royally by the hosts and joked and laughed with them over dinner. Learning that I was the Savior of a unknown world not once, but four times? Facing a vampire at the stroke of midnight? Remembering that I indeed, know all of these? All of these people? All of previous life that had been a blank? Were coming together like a jig-saw puzzle? right before my eyes and it was?. It was amazing? the things that I knew before? the talents and skills I had. [What you have once learnt, is all that you need to know] My teacher?s saying came to me and I bitterly laughed at how true that was. During the difficult time with Remilia, I had instinctively pulled out my charms, ofudas and used them without hesitation. It was as if it was programmed into me and I recited the incantations with nary a pause. Looking at my hands, I sighed as I saw them all bandaged and wounded. I should have died then, died at the hands of the Vampire? the Scarlet Devil after I had placed my fate in her hands. But I did not? and here I was? sleeping in the Bed of the Scarlet Devil? [? I?m? sorry about the mess?] Smiling weakly at Sakuya, I gently eased the covers off me to face Sakuya, who was still trying to recover her composure. Seeing that I was talking to her, Sakuya shook her head and bowed at me. [I should be? apologizing? Reimu. Not you?] [How?s the mansion?] Meekly, I winced when Sakuya just looked away and replied. [? It?ll be fine after some touching up?] [? I am awfully sorry?] Clapping my hands together, I wondered if all the money at the shrine would be enough to repair the damages when Sakuya suddenly bowed to me and went to her knees. [Ah! Sakuya, w-what are you do-?] Trying to coax her back up, I fell back to bed in pain when a sharp pain ripped through me, making tears appear in my eyes. [I am really apologetic, for not telling you about the Mistress?s condition.] With her head facing the floor, Sakuya did a full 90 degree bow of apology and her silver hair even touched the floor as she held that position for several seconds. [Please, S-sakuya?d-don?t bow? -ow-] Trying desperately to get up, I was stopped by my own aching body and when Sakuya finally got up, I saw tears in her eyes as she sat beside me and held my hand in hers. [Reimu? it is us who has caused you such pain? we should be apologizing? not you?] Not showing me her face out of shame, Sakuya fell silent and allowed me the chance to ask her. [Apologize for? Sakuya? you did not do anything wrong?] Trying my best to smile, I failed as the pain that still plagued my body was too much and all I do was to bit my own lip in a desperate bid not to scream. [? I? I?] Shaking her head, Sakuya was about to reply as she turned to look at me but her eyes just went wide in horror. [Oh my gosh! I forgot about your pain-killers!] Putting a hand over her mouth, Sakuya disappeared and re-appeared in a split second with a couple of tablets and helped me to drink it down. -- [? does that feel better now?] For a few seconds after I had taken the pain-killers, nothing seemed to happen but after a few minutes, the pain slowly but surely started to subside, starting with the upper half of my body. [? y-yes? thank you?] [You suffered many injuries? at our expense? words? can?t describe how I? we apologetic we were? and still am? if you had died because of our selfish act? we would not have forgiven ourselves?] Furiously wiping the tears from her eyes, Sakuya never released my hand as she spoke, explaining everything to me. [When you left, Reimu? everyone was surprised but? the one that took it the most badly was Mistress Remilia and Marisa. Marisa cried for days, not believing that you left and? she later decided that she would wait for you? She?s such an optimistic person?] Hearing her description of Marisa, I mentally took notes and waited for her to continue. [Miss Remilia? she hid her sadness and anguish for days as she wandered about Gensokyo like normal? she would even go out on sunny days, despite Miss Patchouli and my warnings, all alone? She lost her temper due to despair and? somehow she remained that way for several years?] Bitterly, Sakuya took a sip of tea and helped me to some as well before continuing her story. [the young Mistress, Flandre Scarlet is much more energetic then Mistress Remilia as she was not that attached to you as Remilia is, Reimu? her powers grew over the years and her self-control matured as well, something that we were happy and excited about? but Miss Remilia suddenly began keeping to herself in the mansion, sleeping through the day and waking up later and later? just like before. Her powers, which were powerful, began to lose control as well, making a red-mist appear around the mansion?] Getting up, Sakuya pulled the curtains away and I could see that the red mist was gone and I smiled to Sakuya happily. [Although her powers slowly lost their control, Mistress Remilia herself did not lose her rationality like the Young Mistress and all of us in the mansion were very much relieved but still concerned about her. She rarely left the mansion now and the only one who did regularly were the Young Mistress, Me, China and Miss Patchouli. The fairy maids were afraid to venture out and supplies could only come in through the few of us? Even so, life in the Mansion never changed much? with the Young Mistress filling the gap of the Mistress?] Sakuya almost smiled, remembering the fun and joy that the young mistress used to bring there. [But overlooking all of that was a feeling of unease that the Mistress will eventually lose herself? and she did? gradually she lost all aspects of rationality. I? I did not know when it happened? why it happened but she started forbidding us to exit the mansion unless it was to gather supplies? soon only I was allowed to leave the entrance and only I was allowed to see the Mistress. Even Miss Keine, the teacher that Miss Remilia hired, would find it difficult to visit her to report on Flandre?s progress.] Reaching the climax of her story, Sakuya stared at me while I licked my lips to speak. [Yes, Sakuya?] [? are you mad at us? for not telling this to you? Reimu? If you had even an inkling? you would have protected yourself more? b-but? if we told you? told you, the Reimu who did not know about herself? her powers? you would have ran away? and so?] [? no?] Shaking my head, I struggled to sit up so that I could meet her eyes and I confidently told her. [It was right of you? to fear that I might run away from the situation? but? I wouldn?t. I definitely would not have left you, if you had cried out for help? told me that I can help? I am a Shrine Maiden, Sakuya.] Smiling at her, I clapped both my hands together to pray and pray I did. [Bless this home, it?s inhabitants, it?s every inch and every pore? The faith that the people here? the love that the people here? the trust that the people here have? Spirits, heed my call, the Hakurei Shrine Maiden?s call? answer the call of the people here, answer their faith, love and trust for each other and watch over them?][/i] Finishing my prayer, my unease in my heart cleared and I smiled again to the speechless Sakuya, her mouth hanging wide open. [A Shrine Maiden will serve the people and the spirits? and I won?t leave a person in need?] [R-Reimu?] [Even with all the odds? the spirits will lead me through? my faith will persevere and?. Even if I fail? others will follow my lead? Such is the way of faith.] Waving my hand in front of me, I pointed to Sakuya before smiling at her. [Do you? have faith?] [?] Posing the question to her, I was sure Sakuya must find it amusing as she buckled over, giggling as she did so. But I was proved wrong when her arm squeezed mine. [? Thank you? Reimu?] [? ?] I expected no thanks from her and I shook my head, urging her to continue.] -- [Mistress seemed more and more irrational as the days, weeks and months pass. When it finally turned to the worst, she forbid the young mistress to leave the mansion and when she tried to challenge her will, Mistress crushed her powers with nary a thought, something that horrified us. Her powers seemed to multiply when she is not rational, the same way Flandre is and we cowered in fear at her feet? it was horrible? Reimu? the mistress that I knew had disappeared and we could not do anything about it, helpless as we are?] Shaking her head, Sakuya continued after helping me with another sip of tea. [When you came? we thought that you? perhaps? if it was you, you could talk some sense into Mistress Remilia? that was why?. We withheld her condition from you, in fear of spooking you?] [Can? you ever forgive us?] Lowering her head, Sakuya seemed to have reached the end of her story and she looked up, eyes swelling from all her crying and her lips dry from explaining. She was a wreck but her own mind and soul must be a wreck too. Guilt is forever the greatest corrosive to the person?s soul; one which consumes oneself the easiest and the one which is hardest to remove. But, from her cries, I could hear her love for her mistress and her love for all the members in the Scarlet Devil Mansion. Love too, is the greatest strength of people; the one that can force people to do crazy and amazing things. The motivation might not be good, depending on how you judge it, but it is the best motivator of all time. For a Shrine Maiden, a person looks and ability does not matter. What matters is the soul as the soul will reflect a person?s true intentions. Whether she is kind, cruel, happy or sad, a soul will reflect that? Guilt corrodes away a person?s soul, making him or her more susceptible to corruption by other people, influences from other people and to events that happen to other people. Love increases faith and the better traits of people? But, is that always true? [? Sakuya? of course I will forgive you?] Looking at Sakuya, who was still begging me, I did not want to know the answer to that anymore? she loved her mistress that much that she had disregarded me. [?] For a moment, a feeling like hatred appeared in my soul but I just as quickly feel it disappear. [? Because? you did that as you loved your mistress? right?] Smiling, I hugged Sakuya, ignoring the pain that ripped through me as I did so. Jealousy is not needed in me, nor is hatred or pride? Being? the shrine Maiden?? Lost in my own thoughts, I did not even realize when Sakuya had stopped crying till the first drop of tears dropped on her shoulder, my tears were falling down my cheeks. [R-Reimu?] [?-sob-] Biting my lip, I tried to remain calm even as the tide of emotions threatened to overwhelm me in a moment. [Reimu?] Even Sakuya?s hands hugging me, which had felt so comforting a day ago, did close to nothing to calm me down. It just made me feel even sadder. -- Sadder at myself, for thinking this way? I am the Hakurei Shrine Maiden, I live the Life of the Hakurei Shrine Maiden? I am expected to be the Shrine Maiden? I serve the people, only the people and the spirits? I should not feel hatred, jealousy towards others. I should not be proud of my own abilities, my own talents, my own status and forever be humble. Love the people at all times. Serve the Spirits at all time? The teachings of the Shrine Maiden, to be exact the Hakurei Shrine Maiden echoes in my mind. But? but, I do not want to know all of this? Being with Sakuya? being with Patchoui and being with Cirno? Being with Meiling and being with Suika? All of them, are contradicting and making me doubt my belief as a Shrine Maiden. Am I living, just solely for the people? I am serving the people; that is no doubt that I am serving the people? But, is that my purpose in the world? To serve the people? To be the Hakurei Shrine Maiden? Is that my sole purpose in life? Seeing Suika, loving me and loving being the Shrine Maiden made me happy for her and? maybe a bit exasperated of her existence, a youkai serving the people that do not believe in her? But I had suppressed it, it is not befitting of me to be such a critic to a person of such faith. Seeing Cirno, with his ever childish innocence that left me speechless and the confidence that sparkled throughout his whole being and soul, it made me feel so insignificant. Can I boast of that innocence and the pureness in Cirno? But I had stopped myself, not wanting to feel jealous of her and to hate her. Then, hearing Sakuya confide in me, I fell apart to jealousy. She could? forget about anyone else and give up everything she has just for her mistress. I am sure, she would do it for everyone in the mansion, even if it was for Meiling, she would go all out. She loves them that much? I? I am jealous of her? she has the right to be herself along with her destiny, her fate? her purpose? Sakuya is a maid and will forever be a maid. But that maid, Izayoi Sakuya has the right to love, the right to put everything aside and for a fleeing moment, be herself? Unlike me? Hakurei Reimu, who has no other purpose in life, other then be the Hakurei Shrine Maiden. Whatever I do, whenever I do it and whether conscious of the fact. My actions will be linked to the Hakurei Shrine Maiden? That? is my fate? -- [Reimu?] Feeling weird that Reimu did not reply me after a short moment, I looked down to see that Reimu had fallen asleep, tears visible in her eyes and I stopped, unsure what I should do for now. I had assumed that the tears that had fallen were mostly mine but now I could see that Reimu shed little less than me. Kept in the dark as of why she did that, I was puzzled at why she would cry as I tucked her to bed. Placing a hand on her head, I was relieved when I found that she was not feverish and then, I slowly ran a hand through that silky hair of hers. Reimu sure has grown through the years and as I stared at her face, flushed pink, I could not help but feel just a bit jealous at the young lady in front of me. Yes, Reimu was not a girl now and not the temperamental and selfish Miko she was in the past. She had shot up in height, became more womanly and more importantly, more wise and matured. How she carried herself is different from how she behaved in the past. Always in the centre of the world, was our Reimu but now, she is like the servant of the world; always thinking of the people and displaying acts of kindness that would not be expected out of her, of all people. Pausing for a moment, I placed both my hands on my lap as I just looked at her, wallowing in my own guilt as I did so. All her injuries, from the small cut on her otherwise flawless face to her dislocated legs, were a direct consequence of my actions. [? I?m sorry?] For all I know, she might never forgive me, never forgive me for sending her into harm?s way when I did know of the current situation. I? I truly am selfish? what right do I have in calling her selfish in the past? After all, everyone is concerned only about themselves? --

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