~Hakurei Shrine~ > Patchouli's Scarlet Library
Apocalypse Awakening - A Touhou + Left4Dead zombie rush fic thing...
♛ Apher-Forte:
This is a new story I been pondering and writing for a while, releasing it alongside Origins of Yama Shikieiki, and guaranteed no longer the old Touhouverse I canceled. I hope you all read this, it is a bit of a new undertaking of a different style, even more novelish than before, and guaranteed to be laced with excitement.
:V
I will be using some classic character sets of Touhou characters, and the incident takes place after UFO, about a year later in gensokyo time.
Note the Gensokyo time frame, in chapter 1, so you can grasp a better idea of what happened.
Here is hoping tsundere Wrathie will read because Mokou will likely get involved. (or if not Medicine)
Jeez... I need some personal fans.
Prologue
A drop of sweat slid down her forehead, marking a cold streak of water gently evaporating off the surface of her rising heat.
The heat was not from the weather, not in this cold autumn day, when the sun is barely shining? It was from the fear, a rising panic of sorts, and coming from Yukari, it isn?t a normal sort of panic. She remembers this as being ?flustered?, something she hasn?t experienced in a while since her battle with the maiden of the Hakurei Shrine.
In her hands, a crumpled note with writings on it lay shriveled, rolled over and over again until it is mashed up in her sweaty palms. She looked at her gaps, opened, nothing in them except enigmatic eyes that don?t belong or were indeed attached to a torso or face at all looking back at her blankly. Her servants live inside them, boundary servants that do her bidding.
She can manipulate time and space, and she has a job in the lands of Gensokyo. That job, is to spirit away humans from the real world to Gensokyo, to populate it and continue its existence.
However, her dilemma rounds back to her as she looked at the opened gaps before her, facing a large rock; its shadow looming over her majestically. ?Why??? She asked, to no one specific.
?We don?t know, there is no one left in Japan, we looked everywhere in the usual places you ordered?? One of the gaps replied, the servant within, unseen still, said anonymously with a crackling voice resembling an old geezer on his deathbed.
?The cities?? What about the fishing villages??
?No one.?
?Damn it?!? Yukari cursed, with one wave of her hands, the gaps sealed back up, the ones inside silenced and never heard from again.
She marched away from where she was, quickly now, she wasn?t going to fly, or gap straight to where she wanted to be; she needs time, time to think, what she would say.
Another drop of sweat rushed quickly down the sides of her rosy pink cheeks. She wiped it hard with her sleeves, hurting the delicate surface.
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♛ Apher-Forte:
Chapter 1
Gensokyo?
It is a land of mythical legends, a land within a sealed dimension, where time, seasons, weather, are all governed by a single existent law that is unchanged, and will remain forever unchanging. The days will pass on for nights, and vice versa; the weather and seasons will change, time will pass? but they are mere illusions of progress.
In truth, Gensokyo exists in a timed plane, time passes but to the real world outside where people are living in concrete jungles and flying in giant metal mechanical birds and talking through plastic boxes with numbers on them in little screens? Gensokyo is a world that doesn?t exist nor progress.
It is there, but unseen. It is there, but unheard. It is there, but unfelt. Gensokyo has been there for hundreds of years, sitting atop mankind?s skyscrapers and radio towers, safely tucked away in a dimension without a gap to pry into, without worries of having to be discovered. It is much like the Bermuda Triangle, a mystery that exists in modern mythology, but never mentioned, investigated barely and yielding answers as vague as the mystery itself.
Gensokyo has been in a state of stagnant passing since then, though people age, time does not pass so quickly. Time in the outside world could pass well over 10 years before a single year passes in Gensokyo? time is so slow it felt like it stopped. Yet, of course, no one will note the difference, that is the name of the game, and the Hakurei, generations of spiritualists who are directly responsible for the maintenance of the borders of Gensokyo and the guardians of the land, knows only so much? the rest, remains an undiscovered mystery.
Its population is reset to a quota each specific time of perhaps years and years passing, and there is a need to capture people from the real world and bring them there.
Male, female, man and child, beast or livestock, it is all accounted for by the woman, Yukari Yakumo. She is the manager of sorts, who does all the work of accounting for the numbers of Gensokyo during specific periods of time.
It is now, that time of the year again?
++++++
(Reimu?s shrine, The Hakurei Shrine)
?Sweep~~sweep~~, I love sweeping~~?? She hummed, convincing herself the lie through a ritualistic sense of self hypnotization? it never works though.
Slowly, she put down the broom, looking at the distance in the blue skies.
The breeze only make it harder to work; she gathers the leaves, and the breeze blow it away? annoying really, although there really isn?t anything else better to do until dinnertime. Reimu Hakurei sighed, holding the broom with both her hands, she leaned against it, her breasts, barely hidden through her already old shrinemaiden fabric worn on her body touching it and holding it between them. She sighed even louder? ?I wish something would happen??
?Look no further then, something DID happen.? Reimu slapped her face in disgust at the sudden reply that popped out behind her. She knows exactly who it is, and really, she rather no see the person.
?Yukari? really? Why is it when I feel bored you are always here, and when I feel you are not needed, you are always here?? Reimu smarmily replied to her friend, Yukari Yakumo, the woman responsible for the numbers in Gensokyo? or rather, to be precise, the one who made Gensokyo in the first place.
?Oh, don?t give me such drama, Reimu? you know I hardly ever come here!? Yukari protested, looking cute all of a sudden in her Western frilly dress matched with a centerpiece remarking of old Chinese Taoist purple fabric laced down her middle, giving the dress a West meets East design that is truly unique in fashion. She held her hands to her face, eyes sparkling with excitement, battling the eyelids as though she is a little girl longing for free candy, despite her physical age really well beyond that.
?Ugh? stop doing that, you are giving me goosebumps!? Reimu picked up her broom and gently bonked Yukari on the tip of her forehead.
?Listen?Reimu?can we talk??
?You were here yesterday?to talk, you ended up silent after sharing my food, which you could have a scrumptious meal while at your own home, cooked by your servant shikigami, you choose to share my already lack of rice and miso soup?then? of all things, you decided it was a good idea to grab a carton of Sake wine and drown me and later proceeded to sleep on my porch? so?? Reimu recounted yesterday?s many unpleasant happenings.
?But?but?It is serious, really is??
?You promise?? Reimu countered, still doubting.
?Promise~? Yukari smiled.
?Okay?c?mon? I will get us some tea??
?Okay~? Yukari said, and followed her inside. Although she is taller, and certainly much older, she certainly acted not much her age.
++++++++
(After dinner)
?That was good, Reimu??
?We still haven?t gotten anywhere with your talk?? Reimu lamented, this is going to be another one of those nights again? she thought.
?I am getting to that, but are you ready to hear what I have to say??
?Does it involve me getting up early tomorrow forgetting where my clothes went and why there is a Sake bottle slid between my legs?? Reimu recounted an incident two weeks ago, with Yukari, as well as her friend, magician Marisa Kirisame.
?No, silly! This is serious!?
?Then, get on with it!? Reimu chided. ?Honestly?this woman?? She murmured, silencing herself with the loud sipping of her tea.
?You know about how I keep the numbers of people in Gensokyo right? It is my job and I am sure you are away of the spiriting away incidents?? Yukari began.
?Yeah, what about them??
?Well?something happened, it is that time again and I?I can?t find a single soul to spirit back to Gensokyo?? Yukari revealed, not exactly her nature, considering she likes to beat around the bush a lot.
?What? The normal spots you designated got tired of you and moved away from your grasp?? Reimu joked.
?It is not funny?Reimu?I am worried, something happened in the outside world.?
?And?that concerns us in Gensokyo how?? Reimu is still clearly oblivious.
?Listen?this morning, I was going to begin the operation?I searched across Japan?it took me 5 hours? 5 bloody hours just to get a living soul from Japan? and guess where I found her?? Yukari questioned.
?Some distant village in the godforsaken middle of nowhere??
?No, the city?in a toilet cubicle, under a tunnel called a ?Subway? where ?Underground Trains? are running or something like that, she is holding a knife?, and she was not awake, had I not noted the servants in my network to look for any signs of human breathing and tune their senses to the max, I would not have discovered her at all? Do you know what this means, Reimu?? Yukari said, and questioned, her face full of seriousness, tight and unmentionable fear draped over her face so clearly.
?Uhhh?no??
?It means, she is last breathing human, in all of Japan? does that not tell you something?? Yukari yelled out the answer, slamming her palms down to the smaller table, spilling the tea.
?Heyyy! Watch it, the tea is hot!? Reimu picked up the cup, and proceeded to dab the wet spot off the tatami with her table cloth desperately.
?Reimu!? Yukari reached out, grabbing her hand which is dabbing the ground with the cloth. ?Have some cow sense! The entire of Japan is dead! There are NO MORE Japanese people! I don?t even know how to begin?to??
?Then look somewhere else, isn?t there Korea? there is also the Mainland not too far away?then again, distance isn?t a problem for you isn?t it?? Reimu mocked.
?You don?t get it don?t you?? Yukari sighed, ?I don?t really mind if I should bring in some foreigners, we have a few foreigners here in the past, and even now, living happily in the village with no desire to go back? one man Damien even has a family there now, he took a Japanese wife. I worry, because right now, there is no one in Japan, doesn?t that make you question what the hell happened there? What could have possibly killed the entire possibility of all Japanese lives? What?! An epidemic? A virus? A fallout of war? This concerns Gensokyo greatly, Gensokyo relies on Japan?s existence, if they are gone, we are dead as well.?
?You made this world, Yukari!? Reimu snapped her hand away from Yukari?s grasp, ?You made the damn rules, I recall correctly that you are one directly responsible for the Laws of the Hakurei, and my job is a simple shrinemaiden, I solve incidents IN Gensokyo, NOT OUT. It has not affected me or the people here so why should I give a fuck?? Reimu answered angrily.
?You are so shortsighted, Reimu?no wonder Sanae Kochiya that new shrinemaiden girl at the Moriya Shrine is getting so much attention lately, you suck at understanding the situation?you are just good at solving them, and just in time too?? Yukari mocked.
?Hey! That was uncalled for.? Reimu complained.
?You don?t understand??
?What don?t I understand??
?People are going to die, Reimu, Gensokyo will vanish without Japan?s population, our last ?mass re-stock? was well over 40 earth years ago, and if we don?t replenish the quota soon, we are looking at the breakdown of Gensokyo?s society. Just Youkai alone won?t work?Reimu, besides? don?t you wonder what happened outside??
?I don?t really care, no??
?What if I say I will now proceed to remodel the whole of Gensokyo to speak English? I know a few who are fluent with it, Alice Margatroid for example?even Marisa? but no, not you, Reimu, not you?? Yukari flipped open her fan, which was in her hand all this time, ?I know, you lack a real education because of who you are, your parents don?t exactly care and a strict with your training to become a shrinemaiden, you only learned how to write because it was an occupational benefit?what would happen I wonder, when everyone speaks a language you don?t understand, would you get even less donations? Even none at all? OHOHOHO!!? Alice mentioned here is the magician who controls dolls that lives near to Marisa in the Forest of Magic.
?Yukari?you won?t??
?Oh yes, I will, I only have to twist a certain note in my boundaries?people will be speaking English like they were using Japanese overnight, but not you?you are an exception, because you don?t like it when I do you?? Yukari winked.
She opened a gap, pretending to step in to leave the premises.
?Alright! Alright! You won! I will see what I can do??
?Really??
?Yes, really?? Reimu slumped down, defeated.
?It is not about what you can do however? we are investigating, I will be bringing a few friends along, yours and mine of course, once I consult them of the matter, I am sure they would agree rather readily to chance of seeing the Outside World, unlike you?you seem to care more about that tea-stain on your floor?? Yukari slapped her face with her palm gently, seeing as Reimu is unconsciously dabbing the table cloth at the tatami floor again.
?Oh?oh? This?No, it is not really, I just??
?It is your house, I understand?but please, I am not joking, be well rested, we depart tomorrow afternoon? this is really urgent, you have to be prepared, Reimu?we have no idea what lies outside.? Yukari said in earnest, then?like a whispering smoke, she left as suddenly as she appeared.
?Sigh?? Reimu sighed, and looked at the moon outside hanging brightly in the sky.
++++
(Yukari Yakumo?s house, The Mansion of Mayohiga, Unknown place in Gensokyo)
Shikigami, servant, companion, call her what you will, but first and foremost, Ran Yakumo is family. She has been Yukari?s special companion for so long she even forgot how long it has been. This all began when she was a mere fox, considerably long a history, consider she now carries over 9 tails behind her back, each a sign of over a hundred years, and that adds up to 900 years in total and little more.
This night, she has a strange guest, unusually a human that Yukari has brought home from the Outside. She has seen the Outside before; she was originally from there, with its rolling green meadows and tall barley wheat fields wavering in the cool Southerly winds and people, farmers mostly singing and dancing around a fire to celebrate the great harvest of each year?s end?
How she missed that place, it reminded her of how simple life was. She was a fox, aware of herself, transforming into something else. She was powerful, a powerful fox demon who evolved through self-actualization, growing stronger, leading, and overpowering creatures beyond her, the wolves for example that live in the dense jungles.
Come winter, when their leaders roam in the packs in the jungles, jumping on unsuspecting travelers in their carts and wooden wheeled barrows dressed in thick wool and skin, she would be there, like a silent guardian, scaring them away with her prowess.
She is the guardian spirit of man in that village, from a mere fox whom received warmth and kindness, she pledged to deliver that kindness back to the man whom cared for her. Of course, after he died, in old age perhaps even disease, she had nowhere to go? that was when she met Yukari, who took her in.
Since then, she has continued to live, and for her sake, she has lived well; serving her master?s every need and want, sometimes even sexually? but she serves, and that is all she was doing, truthfully, sometimes the desire to run free in the meadows again like she did so many eons ago makes her regret she took this path. However, an oath is an oath sworn, she knows loyalty, and loyalty she shall display and uphold; besides, she has Chen now, like her own daughter, a cat with two tails in the form of a young girl, barely 12 or 13 at best, a childish young cat spirit who is her assistant.
Together, they are like family, and nothing warms her heart more than to see Chen smiling at her after a hard day?s work.
This day is no different, Chen gave her a smile earlier after eating the dinner she cooked, and went to sleep in the hall, under the kotatsu table, warmly tucking up underneath to escape the cold air, as all felines do during the nearing of winter.
However, she calmly waited until Chen was in deep sleep, almost hibernating before she made her move. She now carries food, on a tray along with some warm tea in a pot. She is heading to the attention of another person, locked deep within a chamber under the house, a place where Chen does not know about nor have access to.
The guest that Yukari has brought back, is probably starving.
Quickly, she closed the hidden doorway under the floorboard of her room, making sure the wooden door has been sealed so that no sound may get out.
+++++
(Under the dungeon room)
The ?guest? never did introduced herself, she had to keep her tied up with some chains strongly bolted to the walls. She was feisty, unwilling, and very tragic indeed, with bits of her sanity completely gone. Still, she had known Ran seemed to be different somehow, so she didn?t particularly clawed her way with her face seeing as Ran clearly has sharper claws than she will ever have or grow.
Ran also had a stare that was nearly as deadly, strong, filled with youkai (spirit) energy that almost permeate the thick walls. Then, however, she presented her with dinner, with proper plates, and food oh so glorious clean food?
It wasn?t sure when, but she felt calm, she wasn?t alone anymore? no more dead bodies?
The stench of death has left her, there was no crying in a distance, which must have been her happily wishing there was and actually heard it in her own head. No one at the time was alive in Japan, Japan was consumed by it? there was nothing left.
It all happened so maddeningly?one man, one person? then?suddenly, everyone else. They gnawed at each other, chewing, biting, killing even their own flesh and blood. They consumed cannibalistically and voraciously, without a hint of mercy if it was their own child or their mother they were chomping on.
It was a horrible sight?but somehow, somehow, she survived. She met up with people, people who told her they would survive, they had guns, or at least ones that didn?t kill but were enough to hurt badly. Pump air guns, capable of shooting smallish projectiles, capable of injuring if shot enough times.
They gathered, and ran, raiding food supplies in local supermarkets, and grabbed what they can. They rode, but everywhere they go, the mad crowd would be there, waiting for fresh uninfected meat. They want her, to be like them. It wasn?t too long before this meager resistance, fell to smithereens. The army launched strikes from the air, but that was no help, the army had infected ranks lurking in the shadows.
They infected from within, and soon even the army perished. The sea farers quickly rode out to sea, only to get infected as well because at least one crewman somehow carried the undetectable virus, and the breakout happened, and they were dead at sea. Some managed to land in neighboring countries, they were never heard from again?
They say the world has gone insane, and they still can?t find the cause for it.
Still?this kind soul, this kind being, who is serving her dinner?
?I?I?? She tried to speak, ?My name? Setsu?
?Good, Setsu?what happened?? Ran asked.
?Ran?I?I?speak?not?forget??
?You have forgotten how to speak?? Ran asked, seemingly confused.
She sighed a bit, looking downed, if only she can remember? yes, she had the virus too, but it somehow didn?t finish rendering her insane, and she had escaped the nightmare somehow?and now, this?
?Look, it is okay, finish the food, we have seconds if you want, this is your place for now, there is water there, warmed up and you can use it for your bath? clean up. Do you understand me?? Ran asked, pointing to the water laying in a pool of sorts by the side.
She nodded, and continued to eat voraciously.
?Poor thing? I wonder what has happened?? Ran murmured.
Somehow, this girl, Setsu, reminded of her when she was a mere fox, hunted down by humans?shot but forgotten, in the name of sports. Had not the boy found her laying nearly dead by the fields, she would have died then.
It is a good thing the boy had a heart of gold and cared for her until she healed.
She patted the head of the girl, and proceeded to unlock the chains tied to her neck.
?I am going to unlock you? now that you calmed down, I am confident to let you roam a bit, but you have to wise, make a wrong move and I will have to put you down?okay?? Ran warned, and snapped the lock free.
Setsu nodded, and looked up a bit, placing her hands on her neck to feel her newfound freedom.
There was a moment of elation, and then she felt it, the need to vomit? no?she can?t, not such delicious food, her host will think of her badly?
With enough force to choke a man dead, she threw her head back and swallowed everything down, staying still while a troubled Ran scratched her head at what she is doing. She held her mouth shut, hands placed over her lips and looked upwards to the empty dark ceiling above made of wood.
The feeling was soon over?
?If the food was that bad, you could have chose not to eat it?? Ran said, disappointment in her tone.
Setsu shook her head sideways furiously, denying that was the case.
?No?it was not? Then was it good?? Ran asked.
?Yes?Yes?yes!!? It was something she could say? and she paired it with nodding furiously.
Ran seemed pleased, and sat there across the room, looking at her.
Yukari would return soon, she might as well wait for her here. Yukari would know where to find her.
True enough, a little bit after, a knock on the upper floor of her room was heard, her master has returned.
Some explanation will be needed.
______
comments critiques are welcome.
Esifex:
Oh, my.
Do go on. This could be interesting - especially since I happen to like Left 4 Dead, and that scenario seems similar. :O
♛ Apher-Forte:
Oo, thanks for reading~
----
I have chapter two right here:
Chapter 2
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(Gensokyo, elsewhere)
?I will join your expedition, but only because I am interested in it medically, a disease that can kill humans entirely, wipe out the whole of Japan and elsewhere? Perhaps it may be strong enough a virus to actually be used for my new work?? Eirin Yagokoro answered, she didn?t even turn to face the woman she was answering.
This is a feared woman of Gensokyo, for a good reason as well. She is the one behind Gensokyo?s medical needs, come to her with a flu and she will give you something that can cure you in one night; walk to her with a limp leg and she will grow you a new one. There is quite literally, physically, nothing Eirin can?t cure with her knowledge in the medicinal world. Not surprising of course, consider she is an alien from the moon, a Lunarian, who is tens of thousands of years old. In her mind accumulated enough knowledge to rival the largest medical library on earth, Eastern, Western, pagan, unorthodox, you name it, she knows it. This woman is also a known drug maker, quite simply there is nothing yet again she can?t make with those miracle fingers of hers? all she needs is inspiration, and then the right material.
?Thank you, Eirin.? Yukari Yakumo answered, and turned to leave.
?Who else is going??
?We need some technical personnel, so I will be bringing Reimu along.?
?Why that useless Shrinemaiden?? Eirin asked rudely.
?Useless? She hardly is, she defeated you in battle and myself.?
?Mock battles using petty magic she alone dictated the rules to, I don?t think danmaku rules applies outside.?
?No, of course not? but still??
?Quick thinking solves problems, not slacking shrinemaidens. Suit yourself, do not have her dragging me down when shit actually goes down.? Eirin continued pouring her concoction into another vial, green this time while the earlier one was red. Only heaven knows what she is making now, or that it was any good.
?Of course. Have a good day.? Yukari left, closing the gap she opened behind her.
Her next destination: home.
++++++
(Gensokyo, Mayohiga Mansion, House of Yukari Yakumo)
?Ran.? Yukari called, the dungeon room resonated her voice perfectly around the walls, making echoes that seemed to tail outwards but bounced back again thanks to the windowless walls.
Water was flowing, seemingly so because there is someone splashing about in the water hole dug in the floor. The hole was designed so that any prisoner, or slave captured will have at least a place to wash themselves. It was considerably a luxury, but as it is, Yukari really has no business starving, dirtying a slave she captured and wants them to work for her? if at all necessary. By technicality, this room was reserved as a guest room, a last resort for any unwanted guest, as her house above is too nice to be given out for unwanted persons. It is not that she expects anyone though, no one even comes to Mayohiga, or knows where it is. The ones who do are Reimu, who told no one else; and doctor Eirin, in case she needs to make a house call; rare as that chance may be.
?Yes, mistress? Welcome home.? Ran bowed at the doorstep, a metal door, bolted, so that no one escapes the room is opened, Yukari walked in.
The girl, Setsu, captured from a subway toilet in Japan, is awake, washing herself. She picked herself up, running to a corner, cowering and covering herself desperately while still being wet, fear in her eyes as she looked at Yukari in a distance.
?She?s awake??
?Yes, she is, her name is Setsu, she seems to have forgotten how to speak.? Ran explained.
?That won?t do.?
One finger raised to her brow, she slid open the air in a black gap, and miasma gas flowed out from it. ?Sukima? it can fix everything??
?Are you???
?The Boundary between Speaking and Understanding is an easy one to fix.? Yukari explained and reached her index and middle finger inside the small slit floating in the middle of the air. The girl looked bewildered, and then suddenly, jolted upwards straining.
She then sat back down again? entirely amazed, shocked even? something has changed in her.
?Now can you speak?? Yukari asked softly.
?Yes, I? I can, how??? Setsu answered. Her eyes wide, inside her mind must now float the entire dictionary she had before.
?I am a demon, capable of changing the things normally unchangeable in this world and beyond, the only thing I can?t change, is perhaps human emotions?which runs freely as water would in the wide open seas.? Yukari answered, smiling.
?I see?you saved me, you wanted me to tell you what happened? am I correct??
?Very perceptive, it is indeed what I desire.? Yukari answered.
?But before that, can you tell me your name?? Setsu asked.
?Oh, where are my manners? I am Yukari Yakumo, and Ran I believe you already met.?
?Yes, we did?I am Setsu?Ijima.? Setsu said in reply.
This night will be long.
++++++
(Elsewhere)
?That Yukari? who the hell does she think she is?? Nitori Kawashiro, Engineer of Gensokyo, murmured to herself as she fixed the four strange foreign contraptions Yukari sent her. ?Fix this, fix that, fix this too?oh and this too? what do I look like to her? Ran?! Ugh!!?
She cursed, and then some, but kept most of her calculating, engineering genius of a mind intact, every detail of the data sheets she is looking flowed into her like a stream of water rushing to the open seas. The wideness of the flow of data in her mind is calculated with instantly, mathematical jargon dissected into small compartments?all forming a large picture of the contraption she is piecing together now. Her fairy assistants which are doing the labor of carrying the heavy parts, called an Engine, fixated it onto the contraption, called a Bike.
She wanted a flashier name, but it seems human like their contraptions named simply, not surprising of course. They could not even make the damn thing fly, it was as easy as 1, 2, 3, and they can?t do it. She took half an hour just now and the engine now puts out well over 4 times its original power, using only original parts themselves and a few extra tubes and bolts. The next hour she managed to get the Bike to use rocket fuel, capable of burning so strongly the Bike can fly if it had wings; which she is installing now with a zealous effort of fixing them to the sides?
In fact, she wants it have a name like: ?Glorious Nitori Flying Machine? but then? it sounded strange to her, so she stuck with Bike. Except now it is called Flying Rocket Bike, cute, she thought. The fairies she employed worked tirelessly, and her friends felt neglected.
?Nitori, are you done? Can we get something to eat?? A certain girl, a fairy called out from in the shadows, holding her stomach to indicate her hunger. This one had ice blue hair, and matching with her ice blue skirt. Her special feature would be her wings, which are really six floating magical pieces of ice shaped like long sharp diamonds and crystal clear with icy mist flowing off them due to their sub-zero temperatures. She is an ice fairy, called Cirno.
?Yeah, you been at this for hours?nanoka?? A blond one with eyes as red as the darkness can hide, but failed to as they glow within said as well. She had a blood colored ribbon attached to the sides of her hair, short but flowing, making her purity shine from within. However, make no mistake, she is no ordinary girl, she is a predator? a demon of the darkness, coming packaged in a cute outer image only because? and her name is Rumia.
?Just a while longer, girls.? Nitori answered without looking up, still eyeing the schematics of her fancy piece of modified bike.
?You said that 2 hours ago?alright, that?s it, it is getting late and I am hungry, I am gonna go hunt.? Rumia got up and immediately took off, halted only by Cirno jumping down from the platform and landing on her face in a rather stupid fall she took.
?Ouch??
?Careful?why are you so clumsy??
?I am not clumsy! Not stupid either!? Cirno replied angrily.
?Didn?t say you are, now get up?? Rumia helped her up slowly, Cirno has yet again, by some wondrous work of math perhaps, forgotten she could fly.
?Ok, done!? Nitori yelled out. ?See? Told you guys it will only take a sec.?
?Yeah, like 2 hours of a sec.?
?Whine, whine, c?mon?let?s go.? Nitori grabbed her backpack, which is filled with tools she won?t really need and slung it to her back. They all quickly ran out of the curtain of water, which hides the cave Nitori dwells in behind the waterfall.
?What were you doing?? Rumia asked, suddenly interested.
?A contraption that can fly, and take riders with it?? Nitori answered, she felt her hungry stomach grumble in dissastisfaction as she traveled into the night with her friends. The nearby river as a small patch, which is filled with fish, tonight, their hunting grounds is there.
?Oh, I forgot? you can?t fly? but erm? why do you need 4 of them??
?It is not for me alone, the expedition according to Yukari will be with Reimu and someone else human tagging along?? Nitori paused, suddenly realized the comment that she can?t fly, she felt inclined to reply? but paused only by Rumia, who shot another question.
?But Reimu can fly?so??
?It is conserve energy I suppose, it is an expedition after all, it would be silly to waste so much energy flying and spare none for emergencies?plus, why fly yourself when something else can carry you along?? Nitori explained, and turned her head to Rumia this time clearly as she walked, ?One more thing, I can fly?it is just??
?Oh really? You never showed us before??
?That is because it is not very ladylike??
?Show us?show us? cause we are flying to the river and if you don?t we are leaving you behind~? Cirno childishly said, suddenly remembering how to fly again she jetted off into the night sky ahead.
?You seriously won?t laugh if I do?? Nitori asked, she looked really cute somehow now to both of them, her face slightly red with a tad pink blush, she ever knocked her knees together somehow, and her hands were placed right between her thighs, as though she is rushing for the toilet.
?Nope.? Rumia answered bluntly? she was preparing to let out a snicker of course.
?You know? the Kappa are resourceful creatures, they are the only youkai after the Tanuki to have more tricks on their bodies than 3 or 4 different youkais combined? so?erm?it is not that I can?t fly?I can?I just??
?Just what?? Rumia snapped, impatient already.
?I FART! Alright!? I use?my fart?to fly?it is our ability?just like how I am able to shrink one of my arms into myself to extend my other arm? and how my shell can shrivel like so because I don?t drink enough water!!? With one forceful push, her face turned beet red now, Nitori let out a rip of a sound from her rather unmaidenly end, and forced out a hail of wind that spread the dirt below her which immediately jetted her up the air vertically.
?This?is?unbelievable?? Rumia looked on, too bewildered even to laugh?but did so anyway.
This night, will be a secret kept between the three friends, for more than ample reasons.
The three flew safely without being sighted by anymore other youkai or people along the way, and reached the river?
An embarrassing dinner indeed.
++++
(Mayohiga, House of Yukari Yakumo)
?It was like?madness, I didn?t know what happened, first it was that one man I heard on the news?the next was like a strange dream, a nightmare?they all?they all began acting up. Their eyes turned red as blood, and came out and started biting people in the neck?? Setsu said, her voice trembling. She is fully dressed now, sitting on a soft pillowed futon by the floor, with Yukari kneeling next to her listening to her like a shrink would to a patient in her office.
?I see?were they possessed? Maybe spirits??
?I don?t believe in spirits?at least, until you came along?but I don?t think that was the case?the news said they found saliva viruses?and worse thing was?they can detect breathing?if you breath human, smell human, they can find you no matter where you hide!? Setsu continued her terrifying tale.
?What else?do you know??
?I followed these people, they were otaku you know? Military fanatics, they are boys?I thought I would safe, they are friends afterall?and they offered some kind of protection. They have these things called BB Guns, and they shoot these little projectiles that can blind you, or hurt you badly if you fire it into someone? They are made of little metal pieces, so they can really hurt?I believed them, I?.? Setsu trailed off, recounting that event.
[1 month before, Japan]
?They are coming, they are coming!! SHIT! SHITTTT!!!? Yelled the younger man, who had a bandana in white with the Japanese flag pattern over it and armed with an airsoft rifle slightly modified by his own genius to give a higher power output enough to stun oncoming hordes of attackers with its projectiles.
He is panicking, of course he would?
Who wouldn?t? This madness is truly without control, it has barely been 2 months, Japan is dead? all but them left? cities were bombed, armies were sent but nothing can curb the raging disease? they say it runs in the air, no one is immune from it.
By the time Setsu realized it, it was all over the news, it was already off the news in fact because no one is left alive to report it. People fled everywhere?but nowhere remained safe. They got to the sewers, only to encounter the infected inside them, in the form of rats. They ran to buildings, but somewhere, there must be one about. They rode out to sea, only to have one in the ship, or swam to them in desperate hunger for fresh blood. No matter where they go, even atop planes, they were chased down, and the infection spread like wildfire, unstoppable, incurable.
Suddenly, a bang, loud as thunder and something cracking, giving way?a door!!
?Hold that door, Kensei!? A boy with a blob of fat hanging bout his chin and on his belly shouted to another one, who is his brother, just as overweight as he is. Kensei followed, rushing at whatever speed his weight can handle to the door? only to be late.
He aimed his airsoft rifle at the door, half broken now and the angry mob looking in, clawing their way at the door, clamoring for a way of entry? It was madness, all of it, and he opened fire mercilessly with the automatic rifle.
It was too late, the guns don?t kill, they stun?there were too many of them. Setsu saw that, and she saw it quick, she ran.
Like a desperate soul, she jumped out the window, from the second floor of this small house, without waiting for the others. She couldn?t care anymore, her mind is doused with fear, there is nothing left to question, there is only time to run?if any.
She ran, hearing from behind her the bloodcurdling screams of her protectors, the three boys, submitting to the terrible angry mob?chewed madly by them in cannibalistic manner. ?WHAT THE FUCK? WHAT THE FUCK!!!!? She held her hair, clawing into the sides of her head crazily as she ran helter-skelter down the road onto the railway. There were the others, they are chasing her but she had a head start.
She felt breathless, her throat stinging for water, her eyes red from the tears, but nothing matters now more than to hide. If she lives, she will live on something lesser luxurious? it doesn?t matter, it just?
Then?like as though fate has been playing her all along, she opened the door to the toilet? a crazed infected lunged for her, and promptly chewed down onto her neck.
The rest seemed like a blur.
She blacked out.
(Yukari?s house, in Mayohiga)
?I see?so that is what happened?? Yukari nodded her head, she can see now that Setsu is tired, it is quite late now to the night, not surprising. Most of Gensokyo?s humans would have slept by now, and it is feeding time for the youkai and nocturnal beasts, a dangerous time approaches.
It would be unwise to keep her awake if she is to follow on the expedition, and she needs to tell her this.
?Setsu?I need you to follow us back to Japan tomorrow?don?t worry, we are not abandoning you, we want to go on an expedition with some powerful, truly capable people of Gensokyo? so I want you to lead the way as we don?t know our way around modern Japan, or rather, in your case, Tokyo. We would begin our expedition there?? Yukari said, softly a voice so not to stress her, but she could see Setsu?s eyes widened to a bloodshot state, almost fearful, trembling irises inside and tears seemed to gather.
?I?I?don?t understand, you rescued me from hell?why would you want to go to hell yourself??? Setsu questioned, trembling now in her futon. It has been some time since Ran retired back to her room upstairs, and the place leaves only Yukari?s presence about, the quietness so deafening that one can hear her teeth chatter as she spoke.
Yukari placed a hand on her shoulders, patting it softly before placing another one to hold her still.
?Setsu?you understand, you are now the last living specimen of Japan, whatever happened needs answers, you were in hell yes, living hell?you were very lucky. Right now, I ask this because I obviously don?t work for free, I saved you, and this is the best compensation you can give by returning a favor I ask of you?? Yukari sighed, before looking down to the floor below; then, she continued, ?There is a place much more terrifying than that place you were in, trust me, I been there, I seen true hell, and it exists?you haven?t seen anything yet.?
?Are you threatening me???
?No, I am not, but I just want to tell you, because I am not human, I don?t understand your fears. More so, won?t you assist your savior? Is that what humankind have become today, so dishonorable, thankless, that they expect only one sided devotions? Even I do not treat Ran that way?despite our relations being Master and servant.? Yukari replied with a stern look on her face staring closely into Setsu?s eyes.
?I?I?, alright?fine, I will go?but please?don?t leave me, not even one moment, I may?have not seen?those cannibals, the infected for a time, but God?oh God, I know they are there?they must be??
?Don?t worry, the capable people I mentioned are not only incredibly versatile, they are also rather strong?perhaps, one of them, who is doctor may even find a cure, she is an excellent doctor mind you?? Yukari smiled, totally unlike a moment ago. Setsu wondered if this is how all youkai react, their emotions and behavior changing as fleetingly as a blink of an eye.
?Okay?? With that, almost immediately as she collapsed to the soft fabric, she fell asleep.
Yukari looked, poor child, she must have not been sleeping for a long while? the sheer loneliness, the fear of all that? somehow, she lived a month in that cubicle, she must have been raiding the shops or something.
If anything, this girl is strong, whatever that must have somehow helped her live that long and still kept her sanity, must have been the work of a miracle. When she was found, she had a large chunk missing from her, had it not been Eirin?s miracle drug that can regenerate entire limbs when eaten, it would have been literally impossible to revive her. At the time, while in the cubicle, she had miraculously moved into a state of hibernation, something entirely impossible for a human, and somehow breathed really shallow, really few, until help arrived.
Possibly, the only reason why the infected cannibals did not find her again despite she never becoming one of them was because of the life signs being so weak on her, she is basically dead. Still?this is worrisome. Yukari wanted to go to the place now, to see for herself what madness has left behind, but she has a feeling she would save the excitement for tomorrow when everyone is ready.
Eirin, Nitori?and then of all people, Alice for her significant surveillance capability with her army of dolls. There is a reason of course for the first two, Eirin has medicine, which they need and she wants in for the sake of investigating the disease. Nitori is a technician; a member on the party who can work their way around the bundle of the electronics would be great to have around in the modern world. Yukari has asked them each to bring a partner of their own, and she of course herself, will have Reimu with her as a necessary precaution; they both work well together anyway, as was before during the underground geyser incident with that bird that controls nuclear fusions.
Yukari has no doubt Eirin will bring along that useless bunny Reisen, she rather that Eirin brings the immortal princess, she has the firepower much needed if anything goes wrong with those mythical treasures of hers. For Nitori, it is unsure whom, but judging by their recent alliance not too long ago with Marisa, it may be her; however, that may conflict with Alice, who is also likely Marisa due to the lack of any other choice. Though necessary, Yukari wished in her mind that Nitori would bring someone more?selective, a useful partner who doesn?t rely on firepower, maybe a technical partner, perhaps someone like that half-ghost, whom is both capable of speed and swordsmanship, that they may cover wide grounds before nightfall.
Whatever the case however? it is time for a rest, it has indeed been some time since Yukari had to move so much in one day.
Outside?the nightingales sing, perhaps a song of distress, an ill omen waits.
++++++
Chapter 2 finished.
Esifex:
Japanese Zoey. :B
I like it so far, keep it up