~Hakurei Shrine~ > Kosuzu's Grand Bookstore

The Shrine of Gensokyo: The Prologue

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Dizzy H. "Muffin" Muffin: Curse you for ending on a cliffhanger! XD But yeah, still epic.

WRATHIE_Beatrice: Ahh, meido.. i wan to QUIT. -- Or at least, like I stressed, it was part of the plan… what we didn’t expect Yuka to do, or for us to even imagine happening for that matter, was to have Yuka grab Star with one hand and hold her there while all the magical energies from the spell continued burning happily away and Yuka was barely straining from the effort. For my credit, she did get pushed back a few feet from the force of the magical charge but it is supposed to knock her unconscious for gods sake, not… push her a few steps back… or another few steps back… ohhh is Yuka-chan straining da ze?? But it’s not supposed to be this way!! Seeing Yuka’s feral grin as her free hand reached for her umbrella, presumably to fire a spark at me while I am unable to get out of the way, what with her holding Star ‘hostage’ and all, I shrugged, regained my cool and fired off another spell, this time right in Yuka’s face, disregarding mine and Star’s safety for once. [Light Sign: Luminous Strike!] I endured the backlash of the magicks that I hurriedly drew to use the spell but the magical star did strike Yuka and exploded in a brilliant white explosion, causing her to release Star in a hurry... but the shockwave was strong enough to knock me and Star into the air but it was DAMN worth it!! Punching the air, I was not surprised to see numerous numbers of gigantic vines grow out of nowhere and started pursuing me while I casually dodged and grazed their attempts, whirling and spinning about in the air and generally pissing the emerging Yuka, dusting herself off as she glared at me, cursing and hurling expletives that was not fit for a general audience. Listen kids, don’t ever repeat what Yuka-chan said until you are old enough to understand Boy-girl relationships!! Grinning, I was less than amused when her spellcard took effect once again, covering the field in lush, green and very dangerous vegetation in a heartbeat. It was so not fair as I and Star flew towards Yuka, who was directing her army of greens towards me, snarling her teeth and generally making a hell of a scene, blasting lasers and firing large oversized flowers that I and Star easily avoided. I wish I could say the same for those poisonous thorns they spat out at me thou, those are dangerous!! [Reflowering of Gensokyo!!] Her screams echoed far and wide as she tried to get me with more and more firepower, she was calling for the Calvary, the air strike and even the navy with the air-force all rolled together into one to hit me, lonely and solitary old me with Star. Ain’t that cute of her, da ze? If she wanted me she could have me with just three words! But I’ll break her heart with one and spoil her day with four! [Sun Sign…] And this is for you, Patchey! [ROYAL FLARE!!] Raising both my hands up into the air, I closed my eyes and winced as the intensity of the light could easily burn me and the intensity of the spell, if not controlled well would more than likely burn me to a crisp in a split second. Patchey named this spell after a Sun for goodness sake, it’s going to burn and burn everything in sight within a few minutes of the spell!! And burn it did, when I opened my eyes after the duration of the spell, which is a whooping minute long, there was nothing left of the field of green I saw earlier. Everything was burn to a crisp and the earth was scorched. [And the earth shall be scorched and burnt…] A distant memory suddenly surfaced but I shove it away, this wasn’t the time to reminisce or catch up with old memories… I could not see Yuka and I can betcha she was pissed. [Yuka… you wanted power… I showed you power…] Shouting out, I waited for Yuka to emerge. There is absolutely no way Yuka was killed with that spell. If she did I will eat my hat!! Slowly from the dust, the visage of Yuka was seen and she looked like she was crying. Definitely not a good sign… if Yuka was crying… the world will probably end the following day. She knows no remorse, knows no pity… and definitely do not know sorrow… and I am sure I did not hurt her that bad… did I? -- Wondering to myself, Yuka’s face; which were covered by her hands earlier, revealed itself when her hands slowly slid down and what was hiding behind those hands was a face of pure rage. Gnashing her teeth and seeing veins all around her face, not to mention the way she radiated rage just by standing there and complete with the angriest eyes I have seen made me want to haul butt out of there. But I held my ground, if I backed off now… I’ve wasted my time with Yuka. She wanted a fight, I gave her one… If I ran now… it’ll be pointless… [Had enough Yuka?] Narrowing my eyes and waiting for her response, I kept a steady grip on StarFire as Yuka raised both her arms into the sky. […] Whispering something to herself, I blinked once and I was immediately engulfed in flowers… Now it probably don’t sound menacing to you the way I described it but I’ll put it into perspective for you. Imagine yourself walking on a road that you’ve walked for ages and ages on end, with nothing harassing you and all of a sudden… BAMF!! You were suddenly ambushed by a crowd of ninjas holding knives to your neck… that’s how it felt to me when I was engulfed in flowers, no joke da ze!! Yuka’s powers involved manipulation of flowers and as such any flower is her weapon… being able to summon and grow such a huge number of flowers meant that she had endless weapons at her disposal but to expend so much strength to get at me is a little overboard, don’t you think so too ze? [W-woah!! She’s serious now!!] With my body all tangled up and pretty much cut up with the thorns on the vines and StarFire in the same predicament, it didn’t look great for either one of us and I cursed loudly while trying to wriggle my way out, which just made more lacerations on my skin. [G-gee Yuka…] I am feeling fear now, it has been a while since I ever felt fear but now the dreaded feeling welled up inside me as I saw Yuka slowly walking towards me, the vegetation making a path for her as she haughtily glanced in my direction as if I was not worthy of her time. [Simply insignificant, Kirisame… I could have killed you easily but I decided to let you live.] [Ever heard of the pet biting the master Yuka? Aren’t you afraid of what I will do to you?] [Biting me? Hardly when the pet is just a drowned rat…] Scoffing and rebutting me, Yuka ran a finger across my cheek and licked her lips in satisfaction. [I wonder how your flesh will taste like… It has been ages since I have human meat…] [H-Hey I am youkai now!!] [Not quite… you have not passed the time of your human death, Kirisame….] Her eyes were understandable intimidating as she circled around me calmly as if I was something she bagged in a hunt, which was quite right.. she did beat me, not fair and square but she did beat me in a fight. [Well, you’re cannibalizing a youkai-human Yuka! That sounds good to you da ze?] Yuka thought for a moment as she studied me from head to toe, it really felt like she was appraising which part of me to slice off for dinner. [Hmm… which part of you would you hate to lose the most, Kirisame…] [I like my whole body intact, thanks Yuka ze~] [Oh no… you have to choose your favorite spot! It’ll be more satisfying for me!] Being unreasonable, and who wouldn’t be in her position, Yuka smiled savagely as she prodded me repeatedly with the tip of her parasol. [Choose Kirisame, or we’ll have Da-Ze soup today!] [G-Gahh!] I let out a cry of frustration that was mixed with fear when with a flick of her fingers, made vines crawl all over my arms and they tightened their grip on me, making it impossible for me to escape. [Well now, Kirisame, not so cocky now, are you?] She grinned in triumph and I had to admit, she got me in a bad spot right about now and I do need help. [I am humbled da ze, by your power and all that, Yuka-chan! You must love me lots to do this, I won’t run anymore…] Grinning and twitching to pull a card out of my sleeve, I winked at Yuka as I opened a magical dimension from behind me and out shot another broom, one that is similar to StarFire but the name that was engraved on the handle was MoonLight. Original name, I know… but let’s save the small talk for later… now I want to bust out of here… [Go go go gal!!] Urging her on, I looked away when MoonLight rammed it’s body into Yuka, sending her back for a split second when I hurriedly casted a spell to free myself. [Fire Sign: Agni Flare!!] Burning away the vines and flowers that were holding me, I jumped on the waiting Star and hauled butt of there with Yuka and MoonLight in hot pursuit. But as I soared towards the sky, the lush vegetation would follow, seemingly going against gravity in it’s pursuit of me. [Your power cannot hope to defeat me, Kirisame, is that all you have?] Finally after reaching the clouds and several hundred feet in the air, Yuka and her plants stopped reaching out to me. Twisting itself to form Yuka’s throne again, she chuckled and spread herself over the throne, relaxing and scarcely [Not yet, not now… not ever… I won’t lose to anyone, not to Yukari, not to you and definitely not to her… see my power, tremble in front of me… Cry for your mummy… EAT MY DUST!] [SUN SIGN: ROYAL FLARE!] Raising my hands upwards, I unleashed the fire spell once again and watched in satisfaction as the plants once again withered under the heat but this was just the filler of what I am preparing. Like I said, if Yuka get beaten down from this spell, I would eat my hat and Starfire WHOLE. From the blistering inferno, I saw the unmistakable figure of Yuka taking a giant leap and breaking through the flames and I narrowly avoided her lunge towards me. I smelt the scent of burning when she zoomed past and I let the spell end before going after her, this time finally ready to end this. Yuka is taking too much of my time and she is too dangerous. If I let my guard down forever a second, she would more than likely hunt me down and kill me, something that is really not cool. I will bring Yuka down today, utterly so she would shut up and take her defeat like an Elder Youkai. I wanted to beat the stuffing out of her for several reasons, she must know something about the current incident and… I wanted to take revenge for Alice, who had faced her several years earlier and had gotten severely hurt as a result of their encounter. The way she gloated over the injured and bleeding Alice made me sick and since then, I’ve never had the chance to meet her again. She is a monster, a dangerous and arrogant one that should not be let loose in Gensokyo. So kill her… you know you can, with your power… it’ll be a piece of cake, wouldn’t it? I heard that same voice, the one tempting me into the darkness and for a brief and short moment, I felt compelled to do that. There is an open door in front of me but it was not a white door, it was a door that was as grim and pitch black like the darkness. It was THE door… the door of no return. ---- Shuddering, I took a very large step back and shook my head. Now is not the time, now is not the time to waver from my determination, from my path. She’s not back yet… i-it’s just not the time… [What’s the matter, Kirisame? Cat got your tongue?] Snapping back to reality, I saw Yuka’s sadistic grin before I got all of my wind knocked out of me when she brutally kicked me in the gut, sending me flying and away from both StarFire and MoonLight. The pain was intense and I probably saw most of my life as it flashed by me in the long minute that I took to crash into the undergrowth, probably a hundred feet from Yuka. D-Damn, I might have broken a few bones with that kick… scratch that… I’m thankful I can still move… that bitch has a mean kick, that’s for sure ze. Looking up, I saw Yuka strolling casually towards me, her vines wrapped all around StarFire and MoonLight as she advanced slowly , purposefully. She knew she had got me, my trump card and my allies tied down and she was flaunting her victory in front of me. Oh how I hate that grin on her face…. [Satisfied, Kirisame? Now that you are powerless against me… What say you beg me and kiss my foot? Maybe I’ll let you live.] Sneering, I looked at Yuka’s foot and made a face. Eww… [You probably haven’t bathe for ages, Yuka-chan… ze] [Enough with your wisecracks, I’ll rip that mouth free if you don’t shut up, Kirisame!] Crossing her arms, Yuka smirked as she blasted a Spark casually a few inches away from my face, causing my hat to fly off if I hadn’t grabbed hold of it. That is Yuka for you, raw power to the core. She probably wanted to intimidate me to submit to her, not happening ze. [I’ll ask you one last time, Yuka. Did you or did you not cause this?] [I said it before… defeat me, Kirisame…] ... ... .. [You got it.] Smirking and rubbing my nose, I pushed my hat firmer and cracked my knuckles. [Now I’m getting serious. Enough with your freaking games. Toying around as if you’re the strongest… you’re not the strongest Yuka. I AM.] Pointing a finger at Yuka, the look on Yuka’s face was priceless till she tossed her parasol to the side and demanded an answer from me again with the most terrifying face to date. I would have soiled my pants if not for the fact that I had probably seen that face before. [You dare call yourself the strongest?! What are you, barely a speck of dust in my way!!] Roaring her disapproval, Yuka fired a spark directly at me and I easily absorbed most of the magical energies by merely gathering it around my fist, enjoying the look of disbelief on Yuka’s face as I readied my spell. [Heh, Yuka-chan. You’ve never even begun to know my powers… let alonne touch them. I’ll let you have a glimpse of what I can really do.] Grinning, it was my turn to gloatingly advance towards Yuka, who for her benefit never backed down, the same look of rage on her face as I shrugged and waved my hand at her. [there’s always a problem with me ya know ze? Not like you have my problem, Yuka-chan da ze~ You see, Yuka-chan… there is a tweeny tiny difference between you and me~] Looking at her in the eye, I blasted a laser similar in size to hers just by her head and seeing that she didn’t as much bat an eyelid, I smiled and nodded my head. [You’re like me, fearless and what not, and cocky and whatever da ze. But the difference that separates us is that…] Taking a deep breath, I fingered the hakero on my neck and told her frankly. [I’m worried about going all out all the time ya know? I could, I probably could go all out. But the consequences wouldn’t be amusing.] Shrugging, I bent down to take a handful of dirt and just by holding it in my hand in the presence of the magical energies, they disappeared into smoke and drifted away in a matter of seconds. [At any moment, any second, any stupid mistake I make… I could kill. Not just kill, I could vaporize you if I go all out, Yuka. You don’t have that problem right? I mean… you don’t really care what happen to Gensokyo, right, Yuka?] Glaring at her, who was looking a little apprehensive at how calm I am, I narrowed my eyes to a slit as I went all out on her, accusing her of many things and saying very horrible things to her. [You don’t give a damn if people or youkai die, da ze… you don’t even care if your neighbor next to you is killed or not killed. All your life is about fighting ze, who is the strongest and what not da ze… Not caring who you stomped over to get your way to the top, destroying all who got in the way, killing those who you think was stronger than you but who might just wanted to be alone by themselves da ze.] I might be accusing Yuka for things she have not done but the heck with it ze, for all I know it might be true as she got angrier but was looking a little, guilty? Was that even possible for Yuka to even have? [How many lives have you changed in your lifetime, Yuka ze? How many people have you killed just for being in your way? How many youkai have you killed just because you were bored? How many of them have you gloated over and said they were weak when the real weak one… was you ze?] Hearing me calling her weak, Yuka regained some of her anger and directed another spark at me, which I casually flicked away with my hands like it was nothing. Weak, weak, weak!! She call that power?! She can’t even focus her magicks properly to make it even remotely close to deadly ze!! [How dare you call me weak!!] She screamed at me but I barely flinched, she is just a spoiled brat who got her way too many times for her own good. She must be taught humility just like how she taught so many other youkai before her ze…   [Yes, you are weak, Yuka, weaker than everyone else in your loneliness. You don’t have a reason to fight, other than the to be the strongest. You are strong among the people of Gensokyo, yet you treat them as dirt ze… you don’t care about them, you won’t give a damn even if all of us are killed, better still if it’s by your hands, huh Yuka ze?] Grinning at her, I continued my verbal assault on her. [Ironic, ze. When all of us are gone, who is the strongest then? No one, Yuka… you will be alone… always the strongest but always the weakest. Never at the top and never at the bottom at the same time… da ze.] As if proving my point, I saw Yuka turn white as she considered my words. [Pathetic, Yuka… you don’t know what is true strength… true power…] Taking my hat off, I slapped my own chest as I told her what it means to have true power and to be the strongest. [You have nothing on your shoulders, nothing to hold you back, nothing to feel responsible for, nothing to regret, to stay up at night wondering did I do the right thing… … wondering if I did this differently would that change what happened?] [I do, Yuka… I do that all the time. Thinking about the things I did to everyone, thinking about how I can be stronger to prevent it, how I can do things differently the next time… and you know why is that, Yuka? Why do I do so many inconvenient things? Why do I even bother to reflect when I am clearly stronger than all of them? Why, do I do such silly things…] I laughed as I shook my head, knowing Yuka wouldn’t be able to understand the pressure, the pain and the suffering I feel from being alone. There is no one else who would understand other than her. No one would experience the same thing as I do, check that, no one else who had felt the same thing she did… she was the first and I the second to experience it. I wondered how she never cracked and I’ve discovered that myself along the way… [You know why, Yuka? I have all of Gensokyo on my shoulders, mine and no one else. I can ignore all of them and play around like you do. I can ignore everyone and declare queen of Gensokyo if I wanted to… I can probably kill ALL the people in Gensokyo and make a whole new world if I want to… I can do that, Yuka… DON’T I WISH I CAN DO THAT!!] I screamed viciously at her, which took her aback as she dropped her parasol. [It’s like the freakin world is made of paper… and I’m the fire… one slip up from me and it’s all over… I can fix many things, Yuka… but there are things I can’t taint, not this place… not Gensokyo… So I have to hold back ze… every single pore of me just want to blow you to smithereens, Yuka… you deserve it.. all of it. For being a dick and everything ze…] Taking a deep breath, I shrugged and smiled very briefly to her. [But I can’t… I made a promise with her… I said I’ll protect Gensokyo for as long as I live till she comes back and by golly I will… I will do it and you’re in my way Yuka… you’re freaking standing in my way ze… Get the fuck out of my way, NOW.] Firing another laser at her, this time dwarfing hers easily, I grinned as Yuka glared at me, seemingly exploding from her rage and knowing that she was powerless to stop me making it even worst for her. [You don’t know the pain, you don’t know the loneliness.. you don’t know the crushing responsibility on me… or her…] Gritting my teeth, I called for StarFire and she zoomed beside me, waiting for me to mount her while I repeated my question to her. [Kazami Yuka… I’m asking you for the final time ze… did you… or did you not cause this incident ze…] -- I waited patiently for her as she looked at me and then grinned, opening her arms wide as if to welcome me. [MAKE ME KIRISAME!! GIVE ME YOUR BEST SHOT!] […] Looking at her, I was torn between temptation to truly blast that bitch to kingdom come and to settle this incident once and for all. But if she’s innocent… … in the small off chance… that she really is… ze… [You asked for it… Yuka…] But then again, this is a brilliant chance to let her get in touch with humility and perhaps, for her to be a just a tad more cooperative in the future. Likewise ze, she might just focus all her efforts in besting me and taking me out… but hey, that’s better for both of us… and I’ll grind her to the ground every single time she tries. Bring it on, Yuka… I’ll wipe the floor with ya, every single time. I won’t lose ze… I’ll hold on to this promise I made with you… as long as I can… till the day you return or till the day I crumble to dust. --

Dizzy H. "Muffin" Muffin: Wow, awesome. And an almost literal World Of Cardboard Speech (warning, link leads to TVTropes, you will lose hours browsing if you click that link), too ...

WRATHIE_Beatrice: Yes, i know this has not been posted for at least 4 weeks or more. Yes, I am posting. Here we go. -- [Do you really want that to happen, Yuka? I?ll trample over your ass? you?ll tremble in front of my might? But HEY~~] Pushing my palm forward, I was reminded of my two fellow magicians in Gensokyo. Both of which are precious to me and has faced off with Yuka with terrible consequences? Alice was horribly injured with her clash with Yuka, the reason being Alice picking a few sunflowers to brighten her home with? Yuka had the audacity to level Alice?s home and nearly killed her if not for Patchouli coming to her aid? Why Patchouli was there in the first place was a great mystery to me? but hey, whatever makes her happy ze. All I do know is that by the time I heard of it and came over, the two of them were badly wounded and barely clinging on to life? It took a few weeks of constant care for them to fully recover. The carnage, the destruction and the laughter of Yuka as she approached the two of them, her whole body covered with blood and gore was forever burnt in my mind. I drove her off quickly ze, but in the back of my mind I knew Yuka wanted to leave in the first place? proud in her handiwork? Although a handful, Yuka does not cause as much incidents as people are inclined to believe ze and so I had not much opportunity or reason to go after her? or I?ll be just like her?. Now?s the perfect opportunity to take revenge for the two of them? [there?s something we have to settle? among friends.] [Among friends?] Yuka asked, almost whispering and I chuckled. Yuka doesn?t have friends? not this Yuka? the Yuka I knew was dead? this Yuka wasn?t the Yuka that had friends? She too, like me changed but her change was more drastic and to her friends, what friends she had? a total shock?to them [You don?t have friends? not anymore, Kazami Yuka? you lost all of them the day you were defeated by Yakumo Yukari? your once living, beating heart buried under your defeat? ?You have no right to call yourself the strongest when you lost to yourself? the one person you should not lose again?] [How, dare you!!] [I dare you to rebut me ze!! Kazami Yuka!! Look at yourself? you?re not the Four season youkai.. you?re barely a shadow of your old self?] Now that I have a reason, thanks to my thoughts giving me an ample reason to blast Yuka to next week? and beyond? [Say goodnight? Yuka? I hope you repent from this experience!!...] [From the Raging soul in me?  Awaken from my consciousness? Burst through me?. Show the world your power?] The magical energy gathered in a glowing golden orb the size of my palm in front of me? insignificant to Yuka as it is as she just laughs when she saw it? I supposed it must be funny, me declaring that Yuka is dead meat and me summoning just a small orb to deal with her. It?ll surely be amusing to her? Except I have other plans? and her inability to sense the concentrated mana energies collapsed in that small orb makes it even simpler for me. [Well, Kirisame? That?s all you got?!] Sneering at me, Yuka raised her parasol directly in parallel to me and fired a Spark directly at me without warning. So she was lying about giving me the first shot? oh well, suits me more to show my power to her! The Spark was like all her other sparks, half of the energy dissipating as light while the rest as heat? only a bare 10%of the Mana gathered to fire off the Spark was translated to the actual attack. It is flashy, it is powerful perhaps? but the energy of the attack was spread too thinly? -- [EXTREME-------------] I caught sight of Yuka?s triumphant grin the split instant before I decided to let it rip. [--- BREAK!!] -- Punching the orb in front of me, small bits of the earth around me shivered and broke loose from the release of energy and even the air vibrated to create a large howl that nearly deafened me. The energy blast that was released from the orb tore through the spark like it was nothing. Compared with the Spark more mana energy was being converted to the attack and with the concentration of the magicks in the orb? it was like a mini nuke going off in my arms? Yuka stood no chance as she was struck by my spell. The resulting explosion and the release of magicks was so intense in heat and light that the entire flower field simply ceased to exist? There was a large crater that dwarfed everything that Yuka had thrown at me. -- Flower field? What flower field? there was no flower field? heck, there was nothing ze. All that?s left was a broken and bloodied Yuka, lying in the middle of a desolate landscape? pieces of earth raining down even while I was walking over to her. As god damn expected of her, Yuka is still alive? being an elder youkai has it?s benefits after all. A lesser youkai would be blasted apart and deader than a doornail now? Even as I speak, Yuka?s body is desperately trying to restore itself and for the first time, I can safely say that Yuka won?t be bothering anyone for a long long time ze. [I know you can hear me, Yuka? ze] Bending down, I solemnly delivered my last warning to her before I mounted Starfire. [The one person you lost to, is yourself? find yourself again, Yuka? the weakest person in the world is a person who is alone, who does not know who or what her friends are? you are that person, Kazami Yuka? No matter how much of a jerk or a insulting I am, ze? I know who my friends are and my friends know how I am?] Gathering the residue energies from the devastated land, I gathered a few handfuls of dirt before scattering it around me in a large circle. [? just like how nature wills you to? just like how the seasons wish you to be? just like how the people and animals wish you to? Grow.. Reflowering of Gensokyo?] Using the same spellcard Yuka did, I magnified the results and within seconds, the Garden of the Sun was back to it?s former glory. The side effect was that it might take a while before the mana energies is recharged in this particular area? but hey, I fixed everything Yuka and I did so give me a break ze? [Have you forgotten the friends you had before, Yuka? .. Lowly and insignificant as they might be when compared to your power? it is their very presence that kept you alive till now? kept your sanity, what?s left of it that is.. in check?] Sighing deeply, I lamented to the regenerating Yuka that I am the same. [? without them, I am nothing ze? without someone to protect.. wanting to be the one protecting them, standing in front of them, reassuring them with my back? I will not be the same person as I am? and most importantly ze? fulfilling the promise I made with her? that?s what makes me strong. So Yuka? can you remember why you want to be the strongest?] Without waiting for an answer, I sped off, towards my next destination? if the culprit wasn?t Yuka? then that must mean? -- Racking my brains, I tried to think of another culprit for this incident that Akyu talked about? Alice knew something about it, but she?s not talking? at least for now? Suika being the culprit is out of the question? the only incident she would cause is another drunken party or another festival out of nowhere? Well, there is the obvious suspect ze? but she?s kinda hard to track down without some help? Taking a leisurely flight after that long and prolonged battle that resulted in no clues at all, I found myself questioning how did Reimu solved incidents the way she did? going to exotic locales and beating youkai up before she finds the culprit? If Yuka was the first to go? and she is a tough cookie? an elder youkai kinda does that to ya ze? what?s next on the list? [what do you think, Star?] Giggling as Starfire did a little jig while flying, moving sideways like a snake and tickling me with her actions. [Right, I must be serious? CONCENTRATE!!] -- [? Yo.] I heard a voice call out to me while I was speeding along the Sanzu river and I immediately halted. It was more of surprise as I didn?t expect such a quiet voice to even register while I was speeding but then again?. That?s a figure you don?t see everyday? [Hiya, Marisa.] [? Kirisame, Marisa.] The two figures, walking casually in the green field, stared at me and I knew that they were looking for trouble, likely me and I nudged Starfire for her to hover above the two of them. The pair of Judge of Death and the Riverwoman of the Styx is a combination rarely, if ever seen. Hell, I?ve only seen that once, when they came to celebrate Natsu Matsuri one year and that was only after Komachi swore to not slack for 3 months to get that single day with the Yama. She?s a tough lady, business-like, serious and with just a silver of a sense of humor, if we call that a sense of humor. The type of person I hate and I?m the type of person she hates, so we?re quite evenly matched on that. [Yo, Komachi, Shikeiki.. Nice weather, huh?] I smiled at the two of them with what I thought was a casual smile, trying to hide the fact that the two of them meant serious trouble for me. As I said before, the two of them? is not to be trifled with? and looks like they are after my number this time. [Yea Marisa, good for a long nap yea?] At least Komachi was trying to hide the awkwardness with her smile but the yama, Shikeiki Yamaxanadu was not smiling, she was dead set on something. [Kirisame, Marisa.] She repeated herself again, she had a weird voice, perhaps it?s the Yama?s voice that sound different but no matter how loud or how soft she is, any one of us would know if she spoke to us. No excuses with this bad ass lady, when she means business, she will rip you a new one if you ignore her? [Do you think you can get away?] She smiled grimly at me and any smart retort was instantly stifled. Well, so much for bluffing my way out of this. Even Komachi, with her normal carefree nature looked away when my eyes fell on her. Can?t blame her, ya know? If my boss told me that she?ll have to kill one of her friends I?ll be sober too? well worst when there is nothing I can do about it? [get away? from what?] I testily replied while grinding my teeth, great? of all the time for death to come looking for me? [From your fate, Kirisame Marisa?] [? I have my own fate. What do you mean, Yama? ? Spit it out? I can take the heat.] [So?] She paced for a while, walking in circles while tapping her convincement rod on her chin, it was a bad habit of hers but it just made me nervous. This is definitely not my day? [You think you can handle the truth, can you?] [Well?] I considered for a moment, she was the yama, she would know where I go to when I die, if I died in the first place? more likely I?ll strive to become a ghost but still? [No, you shall never achieve the goal? unless you face me.] I turned to her, and with her hands on her hips, she glowered over me and even her shadow covered me, something which should be impossible? but she IS the yama? gee this is unfair? [? Right? so yea, what?s up? I?m on a rush, ze?] Shaking my head, I took off my hat and hung it on the handle of Starfire, this is gonna take a while and I want to get comfy. Patting Star, she lowered herself to the ground and I hopped off. The green field was instantly turned to one of a desolate, ravaged landscape, similar to what I saw at the Underground near hell. [This? could well be your future, Kirisame. This land, could be this way due to your hands?] She stared at me, her eyes glowing red and I shivered in fear and in reflex. If there is ANYONE, anyone at all that is sane and won?t flinch from that glare, I?ll give you my hakkero. I swear on it. [? yea.. so what about it. I?m not too surprised?ze] I admit, I knew the power I gain was incredible but at the same time, it was the ultimate double edged sword with the points of the sword pointed at my neck quite literally. [? I know what I am getting into? it?s? not like I didn?t expect it, da ze?] I lowered my head, it was the truth? if I ever lose control of this power? it?ll? --

WRATHIE_Beatrice: Author's Notes: Ya know, sometimes i wonder if I should stop. then my right hand slaps me and so: "SURE YOU DO, PEOPLE READ THIS" and then, yeahh... maybe, i dunno... but i go on anyway... weird, huh? -- [you?ll destroy Gensokyo, the land you love? with your bare hands.] Her eyes were like shooting daggers at me and I took it to heart, she was saying the truth but I knew the risk, I accepted it and I embraced it. Hell am I going to lose to it? [? You have determination but the willpower of a person like you? do you even have faith in yourself?] She asked again, this time her eyes softened as she had made her point to me, made me aware of the burden on my shoulders. [Heh, if there is anyone who believes in me. It?s me? ze? I?ve been my only supporter up till now ya know?] Isn't that the truth, years after she left, and I?m still hung over that fact? [I?ll get the job down, somehow, no matter what it takes. You can read my soul right, Yama? Well read it now and tell me? am I lying to you?] [She?ll take your tongue you know?] Komachi darkly added while she leaned against her sickle. Up till now it was all talk no action but that may change, very quickly and Starfire hovered nervously beside me, sensing my unease. [? no, you are not lying, Kirisame Marisa? your soul tells me that. If there is anything, your determination and perseverance shines above all else? both of them, are notable virtues.] She added softly to herself before she turned stern again. [However, Kirisame Marisa, you shall not escape me today.] With curt nod from the yama, Komachi sighed and swung her scythe towards me, cutting the earth just in front of me. She is serious today? I can sense it, the power of death radiating from her. Her eyes were focused only on me and I could see my own reflection through her eyes, they were clear and without remorse. I suppose one would be that way after ferrying the dead for who knows how long. [? not like I could in the first place?] I muttered back to her but she chuckled, unlikely of her but the laughter was anything but comforting, I felt shivers down my spine and I licked my dry lips? this is not looking good? [Oh? you underestimate yourself? Countless times you have danced with death, fought with death and? all the time, you had escaped me. Kirisame Marisa, you were supposed to have died many many years ago, but you averted each one? somehow?] She narrowed her eyes while I grinned back at her; that was something to be proud of, no? Who can boast that I cheated death and I was told that by the Judge of death herself!! SWEET! [Your Master Spark, a technique that would drain anyone else of their magical energies and even their life with constant use? with each fire of your? laser, you came closer and closer to death. With each use, you were signing your death warrant, Kirisame Marisa.] [But hey, that was a great move, Marisa?] Komachi grinned wearily at me as she swung her scythe absentmindedly. That?s good Marisa, keep them talking, the longer they talk the more time you have to find a gap? [Yet, you did not even tire with each fire? your body, which should have collapsed long ago, got stronger and stronger with the mix of magicks you were experimenting with? somehow, your lifespan was lengthened?] [?] She stopped and pointed to the Hakkero before commenting. [And that, most likely was the reason? the mini-hakkero? a device that perhaps was your savior.] [Well I did keep it clean and perfect for all those years so it?s doing something right, right?] [?] She shot a look that if could kill, would have me sprawled on the floor and I kept my mouth shut? [it is a sin, Kirisame Marisa, to avoid what fate has in store for you, no matter your reason. And yes, your fate is determined the moment you are born. However, there are times where fate is in your hands? but your lifespan is beyond your control. It is determined the moment you are born, Kirisame Marisa? but certainly? accidents do happen? and one?s life is cut short? those are things we cannot judge nor foresee.] I shot a look that meant: Really? To the both of them and they chuckled. [yes, even for us? foreseeing the future is difficult? and is practically impossible.] [Yea? I know for sure you?re gonna die tomorrow? but not how or when? something like that.] Komachi shrugged but the Yama was not done. [You?ve averted your death, not once, not twice and definitely thrice? even after your lifespan was lengthened once again by being a Youkai Magician? you gain that power?] [?] There was a moment?s silence as I remembered what I felt when I got my hands on it? the power as she said. It was something different, there was a victory fanfare and all that? and most importantly the surge of power that I felt empowered me, it was like I was running in a new body; spells that I could only cast once could be fire off repeatedly? but like she said, it came with a price? [Kirisame Marisa? that is not even including the countless artifacts, the rituals you performed to gain you current strength?] [? yea well I suppose Satanic Rituals, sacrifice and all is not really in the book of good deeds? yea?] The Yama laughed again and I laughed with her? funny how the sound of her laughter echoed around the field? [? No. it?s not. Not when blood has been spilled? not when the Three of the Five Morals have been breached?] She muttered sternly as she counted them off to me. [Greed, Attachment and False Pride? you are guilty of these three? Greed, in your endless hoarding of knowledge, even knowing that it would corrupt you very soul. Attachment, you have grown attached to your strength, to your power and to your life? You would do anything to cling on to them, will you not, Kirisame Marisa? False pride? do you not feel yourself superior to others, Kirisame Marisa? You arrogance know no bounds.] She clucked her tongue as she ran a hand through her hair and muttered softly. [May you reflect on your crimes? Kirisame] Well? looks like the crap have hit the fan? [Komachi?] She nodded to Komachi and she swung her scythe, releasing a gale that could cut through rock, shown cleanly when a large boulder behind me promptly fell to two halves [That was a warning shot? Marisa.. I don?t want to hurt you? so, just come quietly? will you?] Good ol? Komachi, she?s a friend aright, well too bad we?ll have to do this the hard way? [? Look?s like there is only one way to settle this? don?t cha think?] I smirked and the next moment I mounted Starfire as a terrific screaming, the sound of Komachi?s scythe slashed where I was a few seconds earlier. [Heh!!!] Firing small lasers at Komachi, I circled around the standing Komachi when she slashed at apparently nothing in front of her. [!!!] Her slash took out the ribbon that I had tied on my hat and I grabbed it from mid-air. [Like I said, Marisa? that is a warning shot? won?t? you just come peacefully?] [? Manipulation of distance? eh?] I slowly descended from the heavens and looked at Komachi in the eye, she was not serious yet. A Death god is not someone so easily trifled but her ability, that to manipulate distance was a killer one. No matter how much I try to outrun her, she?ll catch up in a heartbeat. That?s not even mentioning how she can essentially attack from anywhere she wants to with her big ass scythe. [You?re? not going to Danmaku?] I asked her grimly, biting my lip as Komachi too looked away to the Yama-sama and slowly, regrettably, she shook her head. [No? I?m sorry? this is a job? So yea?] She brushed back her hair and the Komachi in front of me changed, it was not the lazy, carefree Komachi I knew, it was the incarnation of death, the figure that would take you across the dreaded Styx River, the Death god, Onuzuka Komachi. Taking off my hat, I toss it to the side and grinned devilishly back at her. [Well, if it?s a fight you want. A fight. Is what you GET] Without any warning, I set off a laser straight in the face of Komachi. The spell burned brightly to the extent that I could make it scarcely anything for a while, not to mention that the laser pretty much singed my fingers casting it in such a hurry. [Heh, just as damn expected of her and of course, drats.] Well, it was all for naught as Komachi, with her godly reflexes had cleaved the laser cleanly in two, leaving the two of them none the worse for wear. What was even more incredible was that the laser continued to fork where Komachi has split it in two. Amazing, I?m speechless? [? ?] Shrugging, she slashed the air in front of her again and I ducked in reflex and that was good of me as it took off quite a bit of my blonde hair with it. Double drats I suppose? It was a one way fight, it was going all the way down hill for me as Komachi just kept the pressure going by simply hacking at the air in front of her. It took all my reflexes to avoid being slashed directly but even with that, cuts were showing up everywhere. I was in serious danger of showing some fanservice here!! [?? Give it up, Marisa, you can?t win.] [Damn hell I would let that stop me!!] Muttering a quick spell, I tossed a magic potion in the air and dashed forward as Komachi sliced the bottle in half. Course that WAS the plan? [Devildom spark?] A spell that would explode by itself anyway but this was the upgraded version? Looking down, I was spared from the worst of the explosion, which was a gigantic flashbang by itself? the magical contents mixed together and blasted apart with a deafening explosion complete with the brightness to match with a small sun. [STAR!!] Jumping into the air, I landed on Starfire as she screamed from wherever she was hiding and I rode her, literally like a skateboard, charging straight towards Komachi. [Stardust Reverie!!] Jumping off just before impact, I grinned in triumph but winced too as Starfire slammed right into Komachi and she was knocked off her feet. Komachi is one tough cookie alright, considering someone else would have flown off several feet by then. But then again, a fight is supposed to end quickly and deadly? and my target was not Komachi? Time for the BigBad to face the music!! [STELLAR MISSLE!!] The Air strike I had planted from the moment I got into the air rocketed straight at the Yama, who looked pleasantly surprised when it detonated a few feet in the air in front of her just like how I had did with Yuka. The magic missile kicking up a terrific cloud of dust that blinded me for a second as I sat on Star to admire my handiwork. [You wanted a fight? I?ll give you to one?] Silence reigned for a moment as I waited for a response from them, they had to have something? I?m sure the Yama and the God of death won?t die so easily. [heh?] Hearing the chuckle, I whirled around to see the both of them smirking at me; Komachi had her scythe rested on her shoulder while Shiekiki just glared, tapping her convincement rod in annoyance. I knew enough about expressions to know that she was pissed off and Komachi was too, there was a certain crazed look in her eyes as she stared at me. [Now that?s interesting, I?ve never felt pain for a while? If you really wanna fight, let?s get it on.] Instead of slashing the air this time, Komachi rushed at me and engaged me face to face with her scythe. [Tsk!!] Not suited for hand to hand combat at all, I first parried the first strike by using Star as a pseudo shield. [Not working~~~] Komachi just leered as she kicked me in the gut and added insult to injury by slashing another torrent of air at me, which I narrowly avoided by rolling to the side. Leaping forward thou, I swung mightily with Star right over her head and she blocked it with one hand before knocking me back with a muscular shove. [You wanna fight, Marisa?! Come on, STAND UP!!] Komachi was focused, that I can give ya as she stamped her feet and waited for my recovery. [Sure? I?ll give it to ya?] Riding Star, I charged forward again but I did not expect her to grab hold of Star and hold her there, in the middle of a spell as she slowly, painfully lowered her scythe at me. [? die] Uttering a statement worthy of her name, the scythe would have gotten me then and there if not for Star?s sudden reversal out of there, causing her to topple, unbalanced for a moment. [?] Looks like hand to hand is out of the question and I ran through my other options, which, let?s face it? when you?re fighting a death god and the judge of death can be counted with one hand. Firing a small laser at Komachi?s side, I bit my lip too hard and drew blood when she deflected it with a simple wave of her scythe. She was toying with me? [Argh!!] Firing round after round of lasers, magical blasts at her, all I got was a smirk as one by one shut cut them down or deflected them back at me. [C?mon Marisa, where is your confidence now? You said you were going to beat me, beat death?] [? Shut up!] The both of us glared at one another, it was not a standoff, a standoff would mean the both of us were equally skilled but no, Komachi was giving me handicap, if she wanted to it?ll be over quickly. Man that smarts to know? [Foolish, foolish, foolish!! You can?t win me!!] Ain?t that the truth? [? Take this on for size? NON-DIRECTIONAL LASER!] Chanting the incantations, I narrowed my eyes and glared at her before unleashing hell on earth a second time. I knew it wouldn?t work but at least I?m being defiant!! The Laser stopped right in front of Komach to my utter disappointment and shock as it was stopped by a force field of sorts and it would not budge, no matter how much juice I pumped into it. [It?s futile, Kirisame?] My concentration broken, I glanced to the side and the Yama glared at me. [The manipulation of distance? your attacks would never reach her.] She stated as quite suddenly, Komachi came into view, her scythe bearing down on me and as the blunt end struck my chest, I saw and felt nothing but red. --

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