A Touhou Fiction Novel ~ Beyond Border Gensokyo

~Hakurei Shrine~ > Patchouli's Scarlet Library

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Kitaen Silva:

When she had left Marisa with Remilia, Alice had been terrified beyond belief. Terrified mostly that she had just lost Marisa, whom she loved more than anything. Terrified that she was now overaware of the fact that she, and everyone in Gensokyo, were all trapped inside of a giant invisible bubble that could crush them all into soup at any moment. Terrified that nobody would listen to her, when she told them what was happening. That she would be left, curled up all alone in a blood-splattered little ball in the middle of Reimu?s shrine, while all the friends she knew were literally painting the outer walls with their own entrails. This was a nightmare that has haunted her for years and she never knew why, or what it could mean until tonight, and was now intensified by all the information she had received tonight. Her worst nightmare has now been confirmed to be something that could actually happen. At any time now, no less. As she ran back to the shrine, she worked on bolstering her spirits. By the time she made it to the shrine, she had managed to upgrade her thoughts, and was only suffering from a severe case of claustrophobia brought on by the bubble idea. She had convinced herself that she could take care of things. Mostly;

?I will get my Marisa back!? she repeated to herself several times before starting to run across the grounds of Reimu?s shrine. Flandre saw her first, and went flying to meet her halfway.

?Yaaay, Alice is back! Where?s Marisa? And sister?? The cute little vampire asked innocently with a grin. But it was this simple question that made Alice break down again. Flandre started to cry with her, terribly hurt to see her best friend in tears. ?What?s wrong, Alice? Why are you crying? Please don?t cry!? Alice dropped to her knees, and everyone came running out of the shrine at the sight of Alice staggering.

?What happened out there, Alice? Why have you returned alone?? Sakuya asked, spotting the gash in Alice?s side, something that Flandre somehow missed completely. The maid decided to keep quiet about it for the time being.

?Marisa is with Remilia?? Alice responded, hanging her head dismally.

?And where is my mistress?? Sakuya pressed, concerned for her mistress? safety. ?I should have gone after her!?

?Lady Remilia? crossed the border while looking for Aya and Reimu.? It seemed as though time stopped when that sentence was uttered. And with Sakuya being present, that may well have been possible. The maid?s face contorted in rage and disappointment in herself.

?Impossible. The border can?t be crossed, unless you want to cross it.? Patchouli said in disbelief.

?Aya wanted to leave Gensokyo. Because of me. Reimu wanted to reach Aya, so Reimu passed through as well. Lady Remilia wanted to find Reimu and Aya, so she was permitted to pass as well??

?And Marisa?? Sakuya finally said, though she was unaware of the thin ice around anything to do with Marisa in regards to Alice.

?I don?t know why she was permitted through, but not me? I was flying with her on her broom, when I was tore away from the broom by the border. Marisa fell off of her broom on the other side of the border! She fell, and hit the ground, and wouldn?t move! I?m scared!! I want to know that Marisa is okay!!? Alice wailed, drifting into hysterics, trying to curl up and disappear into herself. ?Please don?t die! Please wait for me! Please, Marisa!?

?What a terrible night? I knew we should have never left the mansion.? Patchouli said, turning to walk inside the mansion and find a place to get comfortable, then changing her mind to see if there was more to the story. She stood with her back to the crowd.

?We have to get my sister back! Remi-chan is my sister!! My sister!? Flandre finally got over her shock, and her emotions shattered. Both her and Alice huddled together and grieved over their lost loved ones. ?Remi-chan is my only family! She?s all I have left of my family! We have to save my sister?? she wailed in unison with Alice, and the whole scene was upsetting everyone present.

?We must find a way to get Lady Remilia back into Gensokyo.? China said resolutely. ?This is my chance to show my worth!? Sakuya just eyed the redheaded guard with a look that spoke volumes about how ridiculous the statement was.

?Remilia gone over border? Marisa, Reimu, and Aya?? Phoebe said with her ever-increasing vocabulary. She had only been in the realm mere hours, and she had already studied enough to join conversations. Hourai made an excellent teacher to a certain point, and then Patchouli took over the vocabulary lessons and left Hourai for the artistry. Hourai even picked up on a few new words. But everyone?s mood had shifted from having fun with Phoebe, to being upset over Alice coming back alone. Phoebe didn?t let even that tiny detail escape her grasp.

?Yes, Phoebe?? Sakuya said, trying to keep her voice calm, but an edge of her emotions had tinged her words with sharp daggers.

?Phoebe have idea.? She said with confidence, despite Sakuya?s turmoil. Everyone?s attention turned to the strange human girl, even Alice and Flandre made an incredible effort to calm down just enough to hear what Phoebe had to say. However, Eirin chose this exact moment to burst out of the shrine and announce her findings.

?I have news! Phoebe is not human! Well? not entirely.? The medicine said matter-of-factly. Phoebe?s face instantly twisted in pure rage, and everyone took a step away from the girl. Even Sakuya quailed when she noticed.

?Not now, Eirin!? Sakuya pleaded, not at all curious to see this strange girl?s capabilities. Phoebe tried to take a deep breath and relax, but not before a large wound tore across her forearm. She quickly covered it before anyone noticed, and took three sharp breaths, then lifted her hand to inspect her wound.

?Phoebe has an idea on how to get everyone back into Gensokyo.? Patchouli said calmly. She was oddly calm through all of this, but if one were to look at the librarian?s eyes, you could tell that she was thinking hard and very rapidly. Patchouli had written theories on what would happen to the border if the one that maintained it were to step outside of it. She had discussed these at length with Remilia, and they both came to the conclusion that the most plausible theories were that the border would either shrink in on itself, or it would simply disappear, and Gensokyo would be scattered across multiple realms.

?What? Who left Gensokyo?? Eirin asked in shock.

?Remilia, Aya, Reimu, and Marisa have all crossed the border!? China told her. Eirin looked beyond the guard at the two girls huddled on the ground in despondency.

?Where have you been all this time, Eirin??? Sakuya asked her rhetorically. Eirin strode out to join the rest of the group and listen in on what she could. Then oddly, she turned and went back inside like she had forgotten something.

?Phoebe, tell us your idea, please.? The maid stated, with a nod to the foreign girl. Phoebe nodded back after quickly confirming that her recent wound had already healed.

?Magic book! ?Hakurei Border Enchuridion?!? She said proudly with a smile. Everyone stood or sat in silence, expecting more.

?What??? Sakuya asked for all of them. Hourai poked her head from behind Phoebe?s neck.

?Same book bring Hourai back Gensokyo! Bring Remilia back?? the puppet explained.

?Book bring me, Desiderius, and Kaeli! Gensokyo!? Phoebe confirmed Hourai?s explanation.

?Desiderius and Kaeli are both in Gensokyo too?? Sakuya asked. Flandre sniffled and hugged Alice.

?Phoebe think yes??

?None of that really matters, because we have no way of telling them about the book!? Meiling said, dashing everyone?s hopes to pieces. Flandre started to cry again, bringing attention back to Alice.

?Sakuya? Remilia said? She said that we have to get everyone in Gensokyo into the Hakurei Shrine. And? we have to? do it as fast as we? can! She says the border? will collapse!? Alice said, her voice laden with strain. Flandre pulled her hand away from Alice?s side because she felt something wet, and spotted the blood on her hand.

?Alice!! You?re hurt!!? Another fresh stream of tears came from Flandre?s eyes.

?Yes, Little Flan? but this time it?s much too deep? for you to fix. Eirin?s? going to have to work on me? for this one?? she said with a wan smile as Flandre stared at her hands, which were dripping with a crimson stain. It wasn?t the blood on the vampire?s hands that was unusual, because that was a common sight, rather it was the expression of pure sadness that the vampire had in reaction to that specific blood. ?Waste not, want not, right?? Alice said, trying to smile again, thinking about her tastes. Hourai panicked and flew to Alice.

?Mommy!! Mommy hurt!!?

?Hourai? Mommy is proud? of you? My one-of-a-kind? living treasure?? Alice winced in pain, and turned back to Flandre. ?Have Eirin save what blood she can? I want you to have it for in an emergency, okay??

?Alice? No. I don?t like to see your blood. It means more to me when it?s inside of you, so don?t lose it!? Flandre said tearfully, grabbing the puppeteer?s shoulders. ?I don?t want it! Keep it! Keep it all, Alice!?

?Aww! You?re?. Such?. A cutie?.? Alice said slowly, and she blacked out while trying to raise her hands up to hold the vampire close to her. Alice?s body fell between the vampire and the puppet, and Eirin came back out at this moment.

?What is it with you people? I can?t even leave to tend to my equipment for a moment and someone else gets hurt!? She had seen Alice fall, and quickly went to see what was the matter. ?This isn?t good at all! She has a massive laceration on her left side! It might be too late for me to do anything! She?s lost far too much blood!? Eirin rattled off, inspecting the wound. ?It looks like she was impaled on a tree! There are leaves and splinters all along the inner walls of the gash?? Flandre completely freaked out. Both Sakuya and China had to get a grip on the miniscule vampire to keep her from attacking the doctor.

?You have to do something!! I refuse to lose my sister and my two best friends! Save my friend, Eirin!? she screamed at the silver-haired medic. Hourai was screaming and crying by Alice?s face.

?I will do my best, but I can?t guarantee anything!? Eirin immediately went to work stopping the blood. ?Sakuya, Meiling, I need you two to go and get Reimu?s ladder, and place a plank on the rungs so we can get Alice indoors! I think she usually keeps it in the storage shed!?

Patchouli went indoor herself to get away from all the screaming and yelling for a moment, so she could think. Alice had mentioned that everyone needed to get to Hakurei Shrine as soon as possible, and Patchouli intended to investigate the reasoning behind this claim. Remilia had been the one to tell her to gather everyone, but why in Hakurei Shrine? There wasn?t nearly enough space in the shrine to house every person in Gensokyo. The logical choice would have been Scarlet Devil Mansion. There would have been space to put all of Gensokyo in a single room of the mansion. Did Remilia know something about this shrine? Or was it Alice that knew something the rest of them didn?t? Sakuya and China huffed by her as she walked into the shrine. A moment later they ran back to the doctor with the makeshift stretcher. Eirin instructed the other three girls to gently lift Alice onto it, while Patchouli wandered along the front walkway of the shrine, inspecting the paper doors and the posts. She stopped when she noticed all the charms hanging from the lip of the roof, and that there was a spiritual ward placed on every post. She spoke quietly to herself.

?If all these wards are here? that means that? the border will actually collapse, and these wards are designed as a failsafe to the ones on the border. But will they work, even though that Reimu has left Gensokyo? How long do we have to act? We need to not only gather the people of Gensokyo, but supplies, as well. With Alice down, that leaves just myself, Sakuya, China, Hourai, and Flandre. Phoebe might be able to help, but I intend to have her stick with me. Hourai too. They don?t know much about the lands of Gensokyo, and would get lost quickly.? Eirin and Sakuya ran by with Alice between them on the ladder. China, Flandre, and Hourai were right behind them. ?The faster we act, the safer we will be.?

Kitaen Silva:

Remilia didn?t linger when Alice turned and ran toward Hakurei Shrine. But she was worried that Alice wouldn?t make it back, and if she did, she wouldn?t live much longer, unless Eirin performed some kind of medical miracle on that puppeteer. Remilia fancied she could smell and taste the blood as soon as she saw the bright crimson stain on the side of that sky blue dress. Now she had an even bigger problem. Several, in fact. Firstly, she had to keep Marisa with her. Then she had to find Reimu and Aya. Now she was hungry. There was also the problem that Marisa?s pulse was fading. If she didn?t get medical attention, she would surely die. That fall from her broom had done some serious damage, and Remilia could tell even without being a doctor that four ribs had been broken, both her left arm and leg had broken, and she had a massive knot forming on the side of her head. Marisa had surely sustained equally serious internal injuries to match her external ones. The knot practically glued the pointy hat of hers in place once Remilia had retrieved it and placed it on her head. Remilia used her broom as a splint for her leg, and she took care not to upset the witch?s position as she flew over the trees and kept an eye out for Reimu. She was relieved to see a flash of red and white about four kilometers ahead of her, but now that she had found Reimu, there was the question of where Aya could be. But Remilia stopped for a moment, when she heard something rustling in the trees just below her. She listened closely, and pinpointed where it was coming from.

?Aya! I?ve found you! Hurry! We have to catch up to Reimu! Now is NOT the time to split apart!?

?Remilia!? Is that you!? Wait? Why are you here!?? Aya?s terrified voice hesitantly called out to the vampire.

?Not the time for questions! Let?s go! Reimu is several kilometers ahead of us!?

?Why!? Why are you and Reimu out here!? I left Gensokyo!!? Aya?s voice quivered sadly as she stepped out into a moonlit clearing on the forest floor and peered up at Remilia?s silhouette.

?We came after you! Reimu is worried to tears over you! And I?m not going to let a friend wander the woods alone in the dark! Now let?s go! Reimu is looking for you, and has no idea that she?s passed you!?

?Remilia?? Aya murmured. Remilia could tell that she was crying, even from the distance she was at. ?Thank you, Remilia Scarlet! I?ll never forget that you called me your friend! And I?m terribly sorry that you crossed the border just because of me!?

?Yeah yeah, come on!? Remilia urged the tengu. Aya took a moment to wipe her face on her sleeve.

?Right!? Aya brightened and leapt into the air to join Remilia, but was nearly startled back out of the sky when she saw that Marisa was held in the vampire?s arms. She continued to follow Remilia through the air toward Reimu. ?Marisa! What happened to her??

?She apparently came searching for you too, and brought Alice with her. But something happened at the border, and Alice wasn?t able to pass through, while Marisa could. Marisa fell from her broom and was nearly killed when she hit the ground, while Alice suffered a possibly fatal wound to her side. I sent Alice back to the shrine to warn the others that Reimu has passed through the border and cannot maintain it.?

?What!? Wait! What?s going to happen since Reimu can?t maintain the border anymore!??

?I?m not really certain, but Patchouli had a few theories-? Remilia started to explain, but Marisa struggled and coughed, then spoke.

?The border? will collapse. Everyone inside? will die. Hakurei Shrine? is the only? safe place in Gensokyo. Everyone? will die.? She said grimly, as tears flowed freely from her closed eyes. ?I?m sorry? Alice? I should? have told you sooner.? She finished, exhaling with the last of her strength and falling infirm again. Remilia had been about to try and quiet her, to save strength, but was a bit late. Aya stopped flying.

?This can?t be? I can?t believe this! I won?t believe it! Why should everyone have to die just because Reimu went through the border!??

?It?s not that they have to, it?s just that Reimu is no longer able to maintain the Wards in Gensokyo. When they deteriorate, it seems that the border will collapse, and crush everyone inside, just as Patchouli theorized. The only way that they wouldn?t be crushed, is if they wanted to leave Gensokyo, just like you did. Then the border would simply pass over them. But they don?t know that the border is dying, and therefore want to live in Gensokyo. Alice is our only hope to warn them about all of this?? Remilia said, a hint of sadness appearing in her own voice. Aya started flying again, and kept pace with Remilia.

?What good would it do to simply warn people??

?Hakurei Shrine has backup wards placed on and around it, just in case of an event like this. Alice is to warn everyone to flee to Hakurei Shrine. She is to have Sakuya expand space inside of the shrine, and Yukari try to slow the border. Once everyone is at the shrine, they must decide on their own that they want to leave. Once they decide that they want to leave Gensokyo, they can?t be harmed by the border. That?s the plan, based on theory, anyway.?

?It?s a good plan? but why do we even have the border in the first place, if we have all this land around us? What?s the point of sealing us in a bubble like that??

?I couldn?t begin to tell you. Reimu would know the answer to that.?

?Speaking of which? where is Reimu? You said that you had seen her.?

?She?s?? Remilia scanned where she had been watching earlier, and saw no sign of the priestess. ?Gone.? Remilia looked harder.

?What?! Gone!??

?You ask a lot of useless questions, for a reporter! I said gone! I don?t see her anymore!?

?I?m not a reporter anymore! I have no newspaper, I have no notepad, and I apparently am a terrible writer anyway! I?m nothing. Just? I want to find Reimu now, ok??

?Whatever. Help me look, then.?

?You?re a mean friend.?

?I?m sorry. I?m just a little stressed out at the fact that I?ll never see my home again. Plus, I?m stranded outside of the border without an umbrella, and no idea if I?ll even see a house to rest in again! I?m a vampire, Aya. Sun spells death for me. And out here, there?s nowhere to get away from it, so come morning, I?ll most likely be a pile of ashes! But I?m not giving up on Reimu! She might have a trick or two to save all of us.?

?Well? I think I see something flying over the trees about a few kilometers to our left?? Aya said, pointing at what she had spotted. Remilia peered at the object.

?Nice work. That?s Reimu that you?ve found. Let?s meet up with her and find out what?s next.?

Apparently Reimu had spotted them as well, for a few dozen amulets whizzed by the two of them with the purpose of gathering their attention. It only took a moment and they had regrouped. Reimu went straight for Aya, embracing the still terrified tengu, who returned the favor with no intention to let go. Reimu didn?t mind this at all.

?Remilia? Why are you out here? And what happened to Marisa??

?Long story. Let?s make plans, first. The sun is going to rise soon, and we all need to rest.?

?Well, believe it or not, I found a dilapidated hut further east, so we can rest there.?

?That?s great, but we can?t live out here. We?ll perish of starvation.?

?We?ll starve before you will, Remilia.? Reimu said pointedly.

?I have no intention of taking blood from friends. That?s something I?ve picked up from my younger sister, it just so happens.? Remilia said, then frowned, remembering that she?d never see her sister again.

?I?m sorry again? I didn?t want you to follow me beyond the border!?

?If we hadn?t, we wouldn?t be real friends!?

?But what about Marisa? She and Alice hated me! And I thought nobody wanted me around!?

?Well, they must have been worried enough to come after you and risk passing through the border. I?d call that a friend, even if they practically hated me.?

?Let?s find that hut again. Like Remilia says, the sun will rise soon. We don?t want to lose our dear friend, now, do we??

?No! But I don?t think I?ll be able to rest? After all, It?s my fault that we?re all stuck out here??

?Aya, we?re out here because we chose to come after you.? Remilia said, and carefully adjusted her grip on Marisa. ?Not one of us would survive out here alone, so we have to stick together and fight our way through this. We might be able to go back to where Alice fell, and write messages in the sand to talk to our friends and family. And they can bring us food and supplies, because things like that can pass through the border.?

?That sounds logical. We could build a shelter near there.?

?And we could use staged danmaku in the sky to gather attention of someone at the shrine.?

?Right! Let?s do it! We need to get attention while it?s still dark out so everyone at the shrine will see the light. Reimu, you?ll have to use your spellcards, because little pieces of paper flying around aren?t going to be seen from that far away.?

?No, but I can try to aim them at the shrine. If a few land near the shrine, someone is bound to notice. Remilia, I?ll lead you to the hut, so you have shelter from the sun, ok??

?Fine. Marisa will stay with me. I?ll keep watch over her.?

?Wait! Don?t leave me alone out here!? Aya screeched, clinging to Reimu?s sleeve and staying close to her.

?You?re not allowed to be left alone anymore. You get in trouble when you?re left alone.?

?That?s right! I cause a lot of trouble when I?m left alone! I start blowing things up and shredding the countryside with my laserbeams-" Aya bluffed.

?And taking pictures of vampires in half-transformation.? Remilia interrupted with a raised brow.

?Err? I tossed my camera aside as I was walking? no more pictures. I?m sorry.? Aya said remorsefully. Remilia looked surprised.

?You threw away your father?s photograph device??

?Don?t make me miss it, Remi! It was a very hard thing to do! Now let?s go about or plan! Let?s get you and Mari to this hut, while me and Reimu fly back to the border and gather attention.? Aya stated with a mock tough countenance while tears rolled freely down her cheeks.

?Right? Follow me.? Reimu said, and led the small group a few kilometers north of their current position. Not one of them spoke a word during the time it took for them to locate the domicile. But when they did find it, Aya stopped in mid-flight to add her two cents.

?Wow, it really is falling apart. Just look at those walls! It looks like even a light fog could knock them over!? Aya said. They flew down to it anyway, and found that it was sturdier than it appeared. There was a large chunk of thatching that had collapsed into the hut, but it was better than nothing.

?Guess this is home for now?? Remilia said dismally as she landed and stepped into the construction. ?I?ve never even seen such low-grade housing? Even Hakurei Shrine is like a castle by comparison.? She continued as she lay Marisa ever-so-gently on the worn pad that furnished the interior of the humble dwelling.

?Hey! I resent that comment, Remilia!?

?Why? It?s not like you can use that shrine anymore.?

?I??

?Forget about it. That shrine is unowned.?

?Suika could??

?Could what? Run the shrine? That oni can?t even take care of herself, much less a shrine.?

?Alright! Fine! I?m just a rogue priestess now! I have no shrine! I?ll make an excellent part of this team! I?ll exorcise trees! Here, let me make you an amulet out of a leaf!?

?Now, Reimu, you know I didn?t mean things like that.?

?No, of course not! You?re just as lost as the rest of us! Your precious mansion is on the inside of a gigantic invisible bubble! The only thing for you to feed on is us, and squirrels!?

?Stop this, you two!! We need to make this work, not start fighting each other!? Aya shouted over their bickering. They both stopped with a cold stare at each other until Remilia went and tended to Marisa. ?Come on, Reimu. Let?s go set up our communication.?

Kitaen Silva:

Aya found the border first, however, her method of location was rather unorthodox.

?Aya, I think in this occasion, you should have had sense to not fly headfirst.? The priestess said to Aya, who had just suffered bloody nose, a lump on her head and a severe loss in dignity by ramming into the border with her face.

?Not my fault. Someone put a border in my way.? Aya mumbled. Reimu just giggled and retrieved the tengu?s odd hat. But not before putting it on her own head with a look of curiosity. ?Give. Me. That!? Aya said, and swiped it from the priestess? head without moving a hair on it. In the same motion she had managed to place it back where it belonged.

?What? I just wanted to try it on.?

?What is it with you and hats? You had on Marisa?s hat yesterday, even Ran?s strange hat, and now mine?? Aya inquired as she fine tuned the pinnacle upon her head.

?I have no idea. But I do know that now we have to find where Alice and Marisa were separated. Remilia said they were writing in sand, and I?m assuming that it?s south of here. So all we have to do is fly along the border until we see sand, and investigate.? Reimu was explaining, but Aya was already several meters away, gliding southward with her hand touching the border while she stared hard at the ground, which was lit only by moonlight. ?Aya! Wait up!?

?I don?t like being in the woods, Reimu. I want to get something built that we can live in. I want things to seem somewhat normal again. Even just a little bit. If we can get a house built, I?m certain that we?ll feel a little better about being on this side of the border.?

?You may be right about that, Aya. I have hopes that we may be able to return to Gensokyo somehow, though.?

?You can return to Gensokyo if you want? But I have no reason to go back. Nobody liked me.?

?So I?m nobody? Remilia, she?s nobody??

?That?s not what I mean. I?m saying that nobody likes me. And because you?re my friend, people say things about you because of it. They think that you?ve ?become desperate for companionship because she?s stooping so low as to be friends with Aya?. And I know that Alice and Marisa share a bit more than just a friendship. I?m not stupid. It?s just that I didn?t want to attract that kind of attention to them? On top of that, I don?t even think the two of them are sure of it themselves. I know that I wouldn?t want something like that to be written about me? I won?t write what I wouldn?t want to see written about me in such cases. I have dirty little secrets like that too. If I can?t keep their secret ? which they?re doing a terrible job of, mind you ? How could I possibly hope to keep my own?? Aya rambled as she searched diligently for sand at the border. Reimu couldn?t search, because she was listening to Aya open her heart up to her. She was more than glad to listen to anything Aya had to say.

?Aya? I like you. I don?t care what they think about me for choosing you as my friend. Their opinions are not important to me. They shouldn?t matter to you, either. And honestly, it?s not you that people don?t like. Merely seeing themselves from someone else?s view. They don?t like what they see in themselves through your eyes. I bet that if you had chosen to be a florist, everyone would love you!? Reimu told her, trying to pay attention to searching, but was too distracted by Aya to care much. She was pretty much following Aya just for the sake of following Aya.

?? You think?? the ex-reporter said, looking over her shoulder at the optimistic priestess.

?I do.? Reimu confirmed. Aya?s raven hair flashed in the moonlight as she whirled to face Reimu. She grasped Reimu?s hands and looked the priestess square in the eyes.

?Reimu?? Aya said quietly, forgetting all about the darkness. Forgetting that she was deep in the woods. She was one-hundred percent focused on the priestess in red hovering before her. She felt little more than Reimu?s hands in her own, and the warmth radiating from the priestess.

??Aya??? Reimu said, and a heavy blush sprung to the tengu?s cheeks. This, in turn, caused Reimu to blush and become very aware of Aya?s touch.

?Reimu? I want to know?? she started timidly, fidgeting her feet as the two of them hovered in the moonlight. ?I wanna know what you think?? Aya blushed even further, getting nervous. Reimu had an idea about where this was going, and also got very nervous. She then thought about it, and suddenly didn?t care. They were stranded, all alone on the other side of the barrier. She wasn?t sure if she was prepared at all, but she thought that she wouldn?t mind much. There wasn?t anyone who could say anything about it, not anymore. Reimu?s mind raced with her heart, and she wondered which would explode first. Her grip on the tengu?s hands became moist, and she held tighter, unintentionally drawing them closer.

?Aya?? the priestess managed to murmur quietly.

?I want to know? what you would love to see me do for a profession! There! I said it!? Aya blurted, averting her gaze and closing her eyes. Reimu blinked several times, completely dazed and confused.

?P-profession?? She said, disbelieving. She had gotten all worked up over a simple request for an opinion? ?I? I don?t know.?

?Aww, there must be something I could do for work that would make you happy!?

?Aya.?

??Huh??

?We?re stranded on the other side of the barrier.?

??Oh. Right.?

?You were making me happy a minute ago, but you had to go and ruin the moment??

?I-I was? How??

?I said ?the moment?. That was a hint.? Reimu said simply. Aya thought for a few seconds, then her cheeks brightened again in pure embarrassment. ?Yeah, there you go. I knew you?d figure it out.?

?It was a moment! Our moment! And me, I?m such an idiot!? She withdrew from Reimu and started scolding herself in frustration. ?Stupid stupid! I ruined it!! I?ve been waiting to have a moment for years! And with Reimu, of all people! Why did I have to go and ruin it!?? Aya revealed something she didn?t mean to, but was far too flustered to notice.

?Years?? Me? ?Of all people?? Wait? Aya???

?Wut?? Aya said, pausing her tirade against herself in a strange position to look and see what Reimu wanted. Reimu took on a silly tone.

?Have you been waiting all these years for a moment with me?? Aya straightened and blushed even harder than she ever had before, with her face turning a brilliant pink. Reimu knew what that meant. She dropped the silly tone, for now she meant everything she was saying. ?Aya? that makes me happy.?

?It-it does!?? Aya looked like she was about to explode with excitement. ?No way! You?re just picking on me, aren?t you??

?No. I?m not picking on you. Do you like me the way that Alice likes Marisa? I don?t mind if you do?? Reimu asked, drifting toward the tengu again, but she couldn?t hide her own blush, not even in the darkness. Aya noticed it and seemed to be lulled into a trance of being attracted to the priestess, and seemed to become magnetized to her as she floated toward Reimu.

?I?I might? But what about you? Do you care about me the same way that Marisa cares for Alice? I? won?t mind at all if you do?? Aya returned quietly to the priestess as they joined hands again. Reimu pulled Aya much closer, and the tengu noticed that Reimu was warmer than before. Aya didn?t resist at all, when Reimu drew her the rest of the way into a romantic embrace. She only smiled, and her eyes sparkled in the brightening morning sky.

?It?s possible, Aya??

?I believe it?? the tengu said hurriedly. She noticed how little the distance was between the priestess? delicate lips and her own, and desires that she had kept locked away because of embarrassment now had a bright fire lit beneath them. She wanted so much to touch those delicate lips of Reimu?s to her own? and was amazed to find herself doing just that. Aya held her kiss with Reimu for as long as she dared before pulling away. ?Reimu??

?Quiet?? Reimu interrupted, and moved to return the favor to the ex-reporter. Aya?s eyes slammed shut, and she held onto the priestess as tightly as she dared, pressing their warm bodies against each other. Aya?s desires were running wild through her mind, drifting into very dangerous places. When Reimu pulled away, she was highly disappointed, and craved more.

?Reimu? I have been waiting far too long for this? Please don?t let this end? I love you, Reimu!? Aya confessed through tears of joy.

?I know, Aya. I don?t want to end this, either? But we have Remilia and especially Marisa to worry about out here? we promised to gather attention and set up communication with someone, so we must get back to searching.? Reimu said, and took Aya?s hand in her own.

?So we did?? she replied, part of her regretful, part of her in a hurry to get back to searching. They went back to looking, but this time they flew hand in hand. After several moments, Aya spoke again. ?And to think that I was going to let myself die out here. Every reason I had for living came chasing after me, and even made my dreams come true!?

?Hehe~! Stop it, you?re gonna make me blush.?

?As if you aren?t still blushing!?

?So? You?ll make it worse.?

?It can?t get any worse, silly. We?re both grinning and blushing like little girls should on their first kiss. I certainly feel a lot differently about you, though? It?s now more of a huge flame of desire. I crave you. Haha~!?

?Hehehe~! Seriously, Aya. No more. That was a bit cheesy.?

?It?s true though! I have waited ages to simply work up enough nerve to sit closer to you? and suddenly I?m walking through borders and kissing you. What happened to me??

?Whatever it was, I?m not giving it up.?

?Hahaha~! Now you?re gonna make me blush!?

?You can?t possibly blush any harder than you already are! Hehehe~!?

?Well? you might make it last longer! Haha~! Hey look, Reimu! There?s sand with writing in it.?

?Yeah, looks like our fun and games are over. Time to go up a ways and start making a fuss.?

?I get to make all sorts of fancy fireworks danmaku. I?ll celebrate our first kiss with some hearts and stuff, ?kay??

?Sure! I just have to throw a few hundred amulets at my own shrine, and hope someone notices.?

?Let?s do this.? Aya said cheerily, and flew skyward. Reimu followed closely behind.

Kitaen Silva:
[Note: Phoebe is learning the language of Gensokyo very quickly, however, her grammar skills still leave something to be desired. This makes it easy to identify when she's speaking, at the cost of being harder to understand sometimes.]

Phoebe had stood outside after Eirin and the others took Alice inside. Phoebe had this strange feeling like she just knew that she could do something special as soon as she saw Alice?s blood. The same feeling she had whenever her skin broke and blood poured out of her. Everyone told her that it was a disgusting disease, and that she wasn?t human for having survived with it this long. They always said she wasn?t human because no matter how badly hurt she had gotten, it never took her more than an hour to completely heal. They always said she wasn?t human because her eyes were strange and frightening. Her adoptive parents back home even thought she was a freak, but her adoptive mother accepted her for who she was, not what she looked like. But she still constantly worried about all the bloodstains Phoebe left behind everywhere. For a while, it made them angry when she would bleed, and they always accused her of being an emophiliac and a liar. Then they found out that she would bleed whenever she felt a strong emotion other than happiness, and things went back to normal. But she didn?t miss Mercatia, as these people in Gensokyo called her world. In fact, she felt more at home here in Gensokyo than she had anywhere else. There was something about this place that made her feel like she belonged. Maybe it was the stars. They were different here than at home. They were brighter, and they were in different places. But it was still a familiar starry sky. The only thing she missed in Mercatia was her mother, and school. She loved to hear the lessons at school. But there was more to learn here in Gensokyo. She looked down the path that led up to the shrine, and wondered where her two friends could be. She wondered how they were faring in this world.

<I promise to find you, Kaeli and Desi. Alice says that this world is collapsing around us. We have some pretty bad timing, don?t we? I mean? it?s not like we meant to come here? right?>

Patchouli silently came up beside Phoebe without her realizing, and joined her to look up at the stars. Patchouli was about to speak when she saw something happening to the girl?s arm. It seemed to split open on it?s own and start pouring blood on the stones at her feet.

?Phoebe.? The blood sprayed from her arm and two fresh wounds appeared as she whirled to face Patchouli.

?Patchouli!? Phoebe quickly covered her arm. ?Phoebe not know Patchouli there! Patchouli scare Phoebe bad!?

?My apologies. Can Phoebe tell Patchouli about Phoebe?s arm?? the librarian said, pointing at the area of interest. Phoebe first looked angry, then apprehensive about responding. ?Not to worry. Patchouli just curious.? Patchouli felt awkward lowering her vocabulary level to that of the strange girl?s, but it was necessary for communication.

?Phoebe have? bad sick.?

?A disease??

?Do that word mean for bad sick, never go away??

?Yes, Phoebe.?

?Yes. Phoebe have disease.?

?Phoebe, use the word ?I? in place of ?Phoebe? when Phoebe speaks.? The librarian said, giving a quick grammar lesson that was immediately put into effect. ?Does Phoebe?s disease make Phoebe lose blood??

?Yes? I lose much blood when I not happy.?

?You lose a lot of blood when you aren?t happy?? Patchouli said, disconcerted that such an ailment existed. Phoebe made another observation from this simple question, and brought attention to it.

?Do ?you? be word for when I talk to Patchouli about Patchouli? Or when Patchouli talk to I about I??

?Correct, Phoebe. You learn things very easily.?

??Correct?? Do word mean ?Yes???

?Yes, Phoebe. This time?

?I learn easy from you. You look? like I know you before.?

?I don?t think we have met before, Phoebe. And the word is ?familiar?.?

?I familiar Gensokyo, too.?

?That time you meant ?recognize?. So you recognize me, and Gensokyo??

?Correct. I recognize stars, too? Do word ?me? mean when I talk about I, and when you talk about you??

?Yes. ?Me? is used for talking about you. ?My? is used for talking about a thing you have.?

?Like? ?I know my name???

?Very good. Phoebe? Do you think you are from Gensokyo??

?? Yes. I think me from here before. Like, I not think me not here before.? Phoebe stopped to think. ?I not know word. Like. I can know my name. That easy for me to know. But even much time pass, and I still know my name easy.?

?Do you mean ?remember?? As in, you know your name now, then you not think about your name for some time, and know it again??

?Yes. I remember from here before. But I not remember from here before. When I fall on shiny floor inside, I touch Remilia, then I fast recognize Remilia, only small. Then I try after short time and touch you, then I fast remember you when you small too. And me. But I know I never see you or Remilia before. I fast remember you and Remilia play with me much.?

?You recognize us from when we were little??

? Do ?little? mean ?small???

?Yes. Phoebe, think hard. Do you remember a big house from when you recognize me??

?Do ?a? mean? ?one?? I do remember? a? very big house? Always dark inside. I remember you always with books, and Remilia always play with dresses. I remember I can not go to basement, only Remilia. Scary cry from basement? sound just like Flandre cry?? A thought struck Phoebe, and she put voice to it. ?Wait? Flandre and Remilia sisters! Flandre stuck in basement!??

?Yes, Phoebe? Flandre was stuck in the basement for near 500 years. I can?t remember being around you when I was little? And Remilia didn?t seem to recognize you either? Maybe Reimu had everyone forget when you left Gensokyo, and that?s why some of us don?t remember parts of our childhood.?

?Do ?forget? mean ?not remember??? Phoebe inquired. Patchouli nodded. ?I remember more when I think more. When I see more Gensokyo, I remember things.? Phoebe stared at her bloodstained hands. ?I remember how I heal fast. I remember my blood, too. Remilia take my blood when Remilia go to basement. Do Remilia give my blood to Flandre? For drink? What word for one that drink blood??

??Vampire?, Phoebe? This means that you are from Gensokyo. Nobody remembers, because when a person leaves Gensokyo, Reimu has to make everyone forget everything about that person, and makes that person forget everything about Gensokyo.?

?I see. I never feel like home in Mercatia? but Gensokyo feel like home. I have not a want to leave Gensokyo anymore.?

?One more thing. Your disease does not exist in Gensokyo. Do you get disease from Mercatia??

?No? all people in Mercatia who work like Eirin say my disease has never happen before.?

?Then perhaps?? Patchouli went over the possibilities. Phoebe waited patiently. ?Phoebe, why do you always have your eyes closed??

?Everyone say my eyes scary. Not human. I close them, but I can still see??

?Can you open them for me? I am curious to see.?

?You sure? Everyone not like my eyes. Scare other kids. I not have people that like me because my eyes different.?

?Yes, I am sure.?

?I will, then.? Phoebe said, and opened her clandestine eyes. Patchouli took a step back. She remembered those eyes. Nothing beyond that, but she remembered those eyes full of laughter and happiness. They were large and bright. They also had the shape of a vampire?s eyes. However, instead of having a vampire?s crimson eyes, her left eye was like liquid candle-flame with splattered flecks of neon orange, and her right was like icy cobalt with rays of sapphire. Both irises eerily dominated her eyes, leaving very little white in the corners. Instead of having circular pupils, there were thin ellipses that went from the top of her irises to the bottom. They were unmistakably the eyes of a youkai, and this girl hadn?t the slightest clue of her true nature. Patchouli was surprised, even after making this very prediction based on what she had heard from Phoebe.

?Phoebe, do you know what you are??

?What ?are? mean??

??Are? is used for ?be right now?.?

?I are human.?

?Do you know what your mother and father are??

?I not know them. I are human. Like everyone else.?

?Phoebe, you are not human. I mean that.? Patchouli said carefully, remembering Phoebe?s rage at Eirin simply mentioning the possibility that Phoebe wasn?t human. But Phoebe still took offense to Patchouli?s statement.

?How are I different from you!? My blood make me different from you?!? Phoebe questioned, raising her voice. Her previously ?frightening? appearance that was brought on with her rage paled in comparison to her current state of ?terrifying?. With Phoebe being angry while having her eyes open as they were made Patchouli shake. She actually wanted to turn tail and run.

?No. You and I are the same. I am not human, Phoebe.? Patchouli managed to say calmly, but she took a step back.

?I? confused. You look human to me. You vampire?? Phoebe now turned to face Patchouli directly, her intimidating gaze piercing the librarian like a laser.

?No, I?m not a vampire. But I am not human.? Patchouli took another step back, retreating toward the shrine, suddenly scared to be in Phoebe?s presence.

?What are you then?? Phoebe said as she took a step toward the librarian, maintaining the exact distance between their eyes.

?I am a youkai. Demon.? A slight waver forced it?s way into Patchouli?s voice as she replied.

??Youkai?? ?Demon??? Phoebe?s head tilted eerily as she took another step.

?Humans think you and I are not real. You and I are things from human stories. Like how Remilia and Flandre are vampires.? Patchouli made no effort to hide the fact that she was now backing away from Phoebe.

?I do not drink blood.? Phoebe was getting angry again, and it was all the librarian could do to keep herself from running into the shrine and hiding somewhere. The fabric on the girl?s shoulders tore as blood flew forth from them into the skies, creating the illusion of blood rain

?I don?t drink blood too.? Patchouli practically wanted to slap herself for such atrocious grammar, even though she was scared out of her wits. Her white gown and cap was quickly being stained crimson, and the half-moon on the front of her cap shone like a tainted ruby instead of a golden swash of light.

?I? confused. What are I?? Her flow had calmed to a boil like what Patchouli has seen through her filtered telescope when looking at the surface of the sun, with arches and flares of blood flying across her body as though she were ablaze.

?You are a Youkai. You have a power of some kind.? Patchouli was able to stop retreating now, and even guess at what Phoebe?s power could be, watching the way the girl?s blood flew from her in spectacular flares, arches, and showers.

?Power? Like? fly?? Phoebe had now calmed down at a regular rate, and she was dripping as though she had just stepped out of a crimson rain torrent.

?Well? All youkai can fly. But you have a power that is unique to you.?

?Unique??

?Sorry. I say that you have a power that belongs only to you.?

?I can heal fast.? She said, which was something that she happened to be doing as she spoke.

?Most youkai heal fast? what else can you do that is unusual?? Patchouli said, but she was not without awe at the rate of healing that Phoebe was displaying. It was most assuredly unmatched in all of Gensokyo, and from the sounds of it, all of Mercatia as well.

??Unusual? mean ?special???

?Yes. What is something special you can do??

?Nothing? really. I only lose blood.? Phoebe looked at Patchouli in such a way that told the librarian to stop toying with her.

?Maybe? your power uses your blood?? Patchouli quickly responded, not ignoring that look in the least. Any look from Phoebe was scary, really. If Phoebe wasn?t placid or happy, she was very frightening.

?Uses my blood? I need my blood, I can?t use it for my power.? Phoebe?s irritation with the conversation was quite evident, but she paused to allow Patchouli to try and explain her hypothesis.

?If your power uses blood, you don?t run out.? Patchouli said, which was actually an educated guess derived from observation.

?What could I do with my blood, Patchouli?? Phoebe was getting more irritated.

?That?s entirely up to you. You do what you like with your blood. If it?s your power, you can do what you like with it.? Phoebe stared at her hands again. She was wondering about this concept Patchouli was talking about.

?Do what I like?? She flexed her fingers, and dropped her hands back to her sides to stare at Patchouli.

?That is my guess. I would assume that you could use your blood to defend yourself.?

??Assume?? ?Defend???

?You could keep yourself from getting hurt bad by using blood. Assume means ?guess?.?

?You not make sense. I have to get hurt to keep from getting hurt?? Phoebe was about done with this conversation.

?That may be. But you may get more powerful the more you lose blood.?

?That sound bad. I do not like.? Phoebe stood back a bit.

?A youkai?s power can be very dangerous, whether it be to the user or to others.?

?I am a youkai? And I have a power? I can fly?? Phoebe went through the concept, not really believing it.

?I assume, but I do not know for sure.? Patchouli said, unaware of Phoebe?s doubts.

?I see. How do you fly, Patchouli?? Phoebe inquired, looking for a way to test the idea. Patchouli thought for a moment on how to answer, but didn?t really have one to offer. There wasn?t really any way to tell Phoebe how to fly? that would be like teaching her heart to beat.

?It? happens naturally. It?s like raising your hand. You just? know how to do it.? She said.

?Like what?? Phoebe looked up from the blood on the ground at Patchouli questioningly. Patchouli raised her hand up.

?Like moving your hand up to greet me. You can just do it. It?s not something I can teach you. You will know how to do it when it happens.?

?I will know?? But I do not know.?

?Do you know how to make your heart beat??

?No??

?Does your heart beat??

?Yes.?

?Flying is just like your heartbeat, or breathing.?

?What about Marisa? She can fly using magic broom? I want to try that.?

?She would have to teach you how to do that. Unfortunately, Marisa is not in Gensokyo anymore.?

?Marisa will be back. I can learn from her then.?

?I hope you?re right.?

?I not hope. I know. My body say it so.?

?Phoebe? that was a very odd thing to say.?

?Odd? Should I not say those words in that order??

?You could, but some people might take it differently from how you mean it.?

?I see.? Phoebe said, and thought about what she had said. A red piece of paper flashed between Phoebe and the librarian, catching the attention of both. They looked at the paper, and recognized it as one of Reimu?s amulets.

?Phoebe! That?s-?

?Paper from Reimu! Reimu not cross border??

?I?ll go get the others! You wait here!? Patchouli hopped into the air and quickly drifted into the shrine. Phoebe blinked and stared at her as she flew through the air.

?Patchouli not human?? She said in disbelief, then she stared at her hands again. Patchouli was back outside in a moment, followed immediately by Sakuya and Meiling. The others had chosen to stay inside and tend to Alice. ?Patchouli! You fly!?

?Of course I can fly. So can Sakuya and Meiling.? Phoebe was dumbfounded by this. But Sakuya wasn?t having any chitchat.

?This is one of Reimu?s amulets for sure. She left a mess of them in the mansion and I had to clean them all up. I?d recognize one of these blasted things anywhere. Which direction did it come from?? The maid confirmed Reimu?s amulet to be genuine. But no more had her question left her lips than a shower of several more amulets flashed by them, landing in various places on the shrine grounds. All four of them whirled to look at where they had come from and spotted something very strange.

?Do I see???

?Hearts? Fireworks in the shape of hearts??

?No! That?s danmaku! Someone?s trying to get our attention from over there!?

?But Sakuya? Why would they shoot hearts??

?Who knows. Look, exclamation marks. Thy want our attention, so I say we see what the fuss is about. Stay close to me-?

?I come! Marisa over there, and I want Marisa teach me to fly with magic broom! Take me!? Phoebe insisted. Her eyes had closed again at some point before Sakuya and Meiling had come outside, but there was no mistaking her determination.

?Right. Don?t fall too far behind, Phoebe. We won?t have to move very fast, because it?ll seem like we?ll appear in front of them before they can shoot another spellcard.? Sakuya said.

?Wait! We should let them shoot one more off, and then take off, so it?ll stay in the sky and we have something to follow while in your time-warp.? Meiling interjected.

?Good call, Meiling. Patchouli, you seem to know what you?re doing with Phoebe, so please take responsibility for her while I focus on the time stop.?

?It seems I have already taken responsibility of her lessons, so why not? Phoebe, we must stay near Sakuya. She will stop time around us, so we will reach Marisa and Reimu in no time.?

?Yes, Patchouli. I stay near Sakuya.?

?Let?s go.?

Kitaen Silva:
Aya and Reimu were tiring just as fast as the sun was rising. Reimu had thrown several thousand amulets in the direction of her own shrine, and Aya was on her last few spellcards.

"Y'know, Reimu... I'm getting pretty good at making hearts with my danmaku." The ex-reporter said optimistically through her sweat as they stopped to rest for a moment.

"Well... I have one spellcard left. Let's make it count-" Reimu started.

"Wait!" Remilia shouted as she flew up from behind them and stopped between the two.

"Remilia! What are you doing here?!" Reimu said, upset at her vampire friend's recklessness at this particular hour.

"How many people are going to ask me that tonight? I'm doing the same thing you are. Coming to get someone's attention." she replied.

"You should have stayed with Marisa! The sun is coming up!" Reimu said heatedly.

"I came because I had an idea. It's a one-shot deal, but worth a try."Remilia said. At this point, Aya piped up with a grin.

"Is it the one... the one Patchouli mentioned before?" she asked.

"The Spellcard Collaborative Combination." Remilia confirmed for the tengu. Reimu looked confused, but Aya was ecstatic.

"What is it... exactly?" Reimu asked, putting voice to the reason for her confusion. Remilia could see that Aya plainly wanted to speak.

"Care to explain, Aya?" she said.

"Of course! Um, the basic concept is that we combine the powers of our spellcards into one spellcard. this is done by tapping the power in a spellcard and vocalizing the combo preparation, then all participants casting the spell as one. Remilia knows more about the casting and combining, but that's the idea." Aya explained.

"And that's... the Spellcard Collaborative Combination?" Reimu asked hesitantly.

"Yes. Well, in theory." Remilia said.

"In theory?" Reimu raised an eyebrow.

"It's never been tried before. Patchouli and Remilia were going to test it over Misty Lake in a week, but... well, I think it's fairly safe to say that's not going to happen now that the border's in the way. Didn't you ever read my papers?" Aya said.

"Ehe... yeah... about that..." Reimu said, caught.

"This is as good a time as any to test this. Better than standing here babling about newspapers and subscriptions, right?" Remilia said, saving Reimu a problem.

"Right!" Aya said excitedly.

"I suppose so..." Reimu agreed, a bit more hesitantly. Remilia pulled out one of her favorite spellcards

(At this point, I have come to a standstill in my work. I have a large writer's block in regards to continuing with the rest of the chapter. Also, I'm kinda preoccupied with Ally's constant pressure as well as several smaller touhou things. Like successfully installing Touhou into my local library with a large Cirno cieling hangar.)

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