~Hakurei Shrine~ > Kosuzu's Grand Bookstore

Dolphin Rider Koishi - The End

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FinnKaenbyou:

Koishi had expected her recovery period to be measurable in months, but in actuality she regained her muscle strength with incredible speed. She received a potent combination of rigorous physiotherapy and magical stimulants that knocked her body back into shape. The whole process must have been massively expensive, Koishi thought to herself. She wondered just what strings Satori had pulled to afford it.

Her physician for the rehab was a slender fox youkai who spent more time talking about himself than the treatment. After a few days of therapy, she?d probably heard more about his thesis than all of his workmates put together. The concept was intriguing - using magical agents as a replacement for chemotherapy - but the raw jargon he spewed made Koishi?s head spin. It pushed her to get out of bed faster, though, so perhaps it was deliberate.

The moment she could walk again, Koishi made her way to the bathroom and looked at herself in the mirror. It was a surreal experience, the woman in the reflection so familiar and yet so alien. She recognised her eyes, her nose, her lips, but it felt like they?d all been pulled off of her and stitched onto someone older. Two years of her childhood - time she would have used to learn, laugh, play - were lost to her forever.

That night, she allowed herself to have a good long cry. It was utterly selfish, and she knew it - in exchange for those two years, she?d saved countless lives and changed the world for the better. But she was only human, and there was nothing to gain from denying her emotions. She let out all her grief in one long burst, crying until her eyes had nothing left to give.

When the sun rose the next day, she felt like she?d been reborn. Strength flowed into the parts of her that had been clogged up with self-pity. All the fear and doubt had been washed out of her, and she had no regrets about her decision - if she had to, she?d gladly do the same all over again.

The last few days were nothing but exercise to get her muscles back to their former state. The stimulants left her too tired for visitors, but Satori dropped Koishi a text every night wishing her well in her recovery. Those little encouragements drove Koishi on, adding a spring to her step as she made laps around her room, then the ward, then the whole wing. When the exertion finally got to her, Rin and Utsuho were waiting for her at the window, waving as she fell into a peaceful sleep. Sometimes she thought she saw other friendly faces, but by then she was too tired to be sure.

Seven days after she had woken up, her doctor strolled into her room with a puffed out chest and a prideful grin. He gave her a routine check-up, but she could already see the satisfaction in his eyes.

?Congratulations, Komeiji-san. You?re fit as a fiddle.? His tail wiggled about behind him as he placed a bag at the foot of Koishi?s bed. ?Your sister left these for you. Hopefully they fit, or you might have to hang around for a few more days.?

Koishi reached down to pull the bag closer. She pulled out a bright yellow shirt and green skirt, along with the rest of her old outfit. Everything was a size or two larger to compensate for how she?d grown, but from first glance everything looked like it would fit.

?Thanks,? she said, stretching as she stepped out of the bed. ?So am I free to go??

?Of course.? The fox?s ears stood on end. ?Unless you want to hear about my latest study on thurmacarcinogens, that is.?

?I?ll pass, thanks.?

The doctor shrugged. ?Your loss.? There was a playful glint in his eyes as he left the room, closing the door behind him to offer his patient privacy.

Koishi picked her phone up off the counter and fired off a message to Satori. Just got discharged. Where are you? She left it on the bed as she changed into her outfit, glad to finally be rid of the same old hospital gown.

By the time she was changed, Satori had sent her a reply. Wait at the entrance. I?ll send someone to pick you up.

Koishi furrowed her brow. Satori wouldn?t be coming herself? That was awfully unlike her. She wondered what had left her sister preoccupied as she made her way out of the hospital room.

The paperwork was already done by the time Koishi reached the reception desk. All she had to do was sign a few forms and she was free to go. She took a long, deep breath as she stepped out of the entrance to get her first view of the nation of Gensokyo.

The first thing that struck her was the colour. Vibrant buildings made of shining brick, tending to every taste and interest. Signs and logos jumped along the walls, beckoning in customers to spend their hard earned money. She needed a few seconds to acclimate to the sheer energy of the bustling street.

Then came the people. The sidewalks were packed with men and women of all shapes and sizes. Most were humanoid, but she saw the odd tail or wing poke out from the swarm. Overhead, bird youkai swooped through from the side alleys, ignoring the flow of traffic entirely.

She was so caught up in watching them that she barely noticed one land beside her.

?You! You?re Koishi Komeiji, right??

Koishi went stiff, jerking around to face her questioner. ?Uh, yes? Who are-?

She didn?t need to finish the question. She recognised the woman who?d fallen from the skies to pin her down. Her heart sank in defeat.

?I knew it!? Aya Shameimaru pumped her fist, pulling out a notebook and pen. Her wings were artificial, folding in with a metallic clank as she began to scribble. ?You were spying on me during the whole Red Lily business, weren?t you? Knew I saw your face somewhere before.?

She talked to herself in a monologue too fast for Koishi to follow. The Siren stumbled backwards, but there was no room for her to slip into the crowd. She didn?t know what Aya was asking for, but she could tell it was nothing good.

?You, uh...? She grabbed at her collar, trying to make some kind of small talk. ?Your wings are...nice.?

?I know, right?? Aya patted at the contraption on her back, and it let out a pleasant hiss of steam. ?Way easier than shoving my way through crowds. All it takes is a bit of wind manipulation, and I can go anywhere I want.?

She stepped forward, right into Koishi?s personal space. ?But let?s not talk about me. I wanna hear about you, Koishi-san. Is it true your sister pulled your medical funds straight from the taxpayer?s wallet??

?I, uh...? Koishi?s brain froze. She couldn?t even understand what Aya was asking, never mind how to answer it. ?Why would-?

?What about the rumours that she?s taking bribes from a hawk-run real estate firm? Surely a minister shouldn?t be getting involved in business like that, right??

With every question Aya took another step forward, finally pushing Koishi into a wall. The Siren had barely managed to comprehend one question when the journalist hit her with another. She could almost hear her brain sizzling in her skull - maybe Rin hadn?t been lying after all.

?Well, um...that is to say...?

?Hold it right there, Shameimaru!?

A figure emerged from the crowd, stomping towards Aya with violent intent. It was a woman in a close-cut black business suit, a pair of expensive sunglasses covering her eyes. Her skin was well tanned, and Koishi saw a set of gills hidden just above her collar.

?M-Manou-san!? Aya jumped back, looking around for an escape route. ?I?ve got to say, you look wonderful today-?

?Don?t try to sweet talk me,? Jozu hissed, stepping between Koishi and the journalist. ?Komeiji-san is under no obligation to answer any of your questions.?

?Aw, come on!? Aya waved her arms about, notebook fluttering around in her hand. ?I worked my ass off getting this scoop! You can?t just scare me off by-?

Jozu smacked her fist into her palm, gazing darkly into Aya?s eyes. The colour drained from the journalist?s face.

?Point taken.? Her wings pulled open, and she hastily took to the air again. Within seconds, she was nothing more than a dot in Koishi?s vision.

?Dammit, I hate it when they run,? Jozu grumbled. ?I?m never gonna get to fight someone, am I?? She turned around to face the Siren. ?You alright, Koishi-san??

?Yeah. I think.? Koishi?s brain was still trying to catch up with the events that had just transpired. Life in Gensokyo was apparently much faster than what she was used to. ?You?re here to pick me up, right??

?Got it in one,? Jozu said. ?Sorry I wasn?t here earlier. Didn?t realise Shameimaru had a lead on you getting discharged. Seriously, I?ve got no clue how the woman does it.? She thumbed at the sidewalk. ?Follow me. And stay close.?

She stepped forward, slipping into the crowd almost seamlessly. Koishi rushed to follow on behind, struggling not to step on anyone?s toes as she took the shark?s hand.

?Sorry about all the commotion,? Jozu said, yelling to be heard above the crowd. ?Satori?s got her hands tied with business right now, so I?ve gotta bring you to her.?

?What business?? Koishi yelled back. ?Shameimaru said something about a minister.?

?You mean she didn?t tell you?? Jozu smirked. ?Oh, man, are you in for a surprise. It?d be best if you heard it from her own mouth, though.?

?Heard what?? Koishi wasn?t in the mood for this sort of evasiveness. ?And where are we going, exactly??

?Where else?? Jozu pointed off into the horizon. ?We?re headed to the best damn restaurant in Gensokyo.?

-----

Lorelei?s may as well have been a metaphor for Gensouto?s transformation in general. Human and youkai alike dined on lamprey freshly fished from the coastal waters, while the owner?s ?soothing? melody echoed out from the kitchen. The reserved tables, naturally, were the ones as far away from the music as possible. For those who hadn?t been smart enough to book beforehand, earplugs were available for diners at an extra cost.

Koishi felt more at ease as she stepped into the restaurant. It was nowhere near as crowded as the streets outside, and for the most part it was as she remembered it. The only magical features she noticed were the candles, burning in colours no flame should have been able to attain.

?Moodwax,? Jozu said, noting the question in Koishi?s eyes. ?They?re meant to change colour to go along with the emotions of the customer.?

Koishi nodded. She saw two lovers at one table, making small talk as a bright pink flame hung between them. On the other side of the room, two middle-workers grumbled over a fire that was a murky brown.

As she looked around the room, Koishi?s eyes fell on a familiar face. Satori was hidden in a distant corner of the restaurant, dining with a pair of stiff-backed gentlemen in suits. One was human, while the other appeared to be some sort of dog youkai. Over all the commotion Koishi couldn?t hear what they were discussing, but the candle at the table sparked a violent red.

?Looks like we got here early,? Jozu said, leaning on the wall and keeping her distance. ?I figured they?d be done squabbling by now.?

Koishi watched on from where she stood. Satori kept her voice level, as did her two acquaintances, but even from here Koishi could feel the animosity. After another few minutes of polite bickering, the two men bowed towards Satori and made their way out, leaving their meals totally untouched.

?Geez.? Jozu rubbed at the back of her head. ?What a bunch of manchildren.?

Satori leaned forward on the table, sighing as she grabbed at her temples. The candle flickered from red to blue as she stared absent-mindedly into space. Koishi took that as her cue to step in, lowering herself into the seat across from her sister.

?Long day?? she asked.

Satori jerked back to life. ?Oh. You saw that, didn?t you?? Koishi frowned and nodded.  Satori sighed again, hissing through her teeth in frustration. ?Sorry. I didn't want your first day back to be ruined by grown men squabbling.?

?It?s fine, really.? Koishi looked to the door, making sure the two men were nowhere to be seen. ?So was that a business meeting, or something??

Satori opened her mouth to answer, but before she could Jozu stepped in with a mighty flourish. ?Good madam, it is my humble pleasure to introduce you to Satori Komeiji, Gensokyo?s Minister for Interracial Affairs.?

Satori?s face scrunched up. ?Do you have to do that every time??

?Aw, c?mon. I do it ?cause I love you.? Jozu leaned forward, giving Satori a quick peck on the cheek. Koishi felt her face heating up.

?Wait, are you two a-?

?A couple, yes.? Satori tried to bat Jozu away. ?Though some of us try not to be so open about it.?

?Muu. You?re no fun.? Jozu pouted, slipping into the seat beside Satori. ?Is it okay if we help ourselves to their food??

?Go ahead,? Satori said. ?It?s not like I can get a refund.?

Koishi looked down at her plate, eying it up before she dug in. The lamprey was going cold, but the taste was more than enough to make up for it. It was her first non-hospital meal in years, and it was a welcome change.

?But yes, what Jozu said was accurate.? Satori recovered admirably, straightening her back and regaining her formal stature. ?I?m serving as an overseer for human-youkai relations in Gensokyo. Jozu here is my bodyguard, though thankfully I haven?t had any need for her yet. For the most part business is good, but sometimes...well, you get incidents like what you just walked in on.?

?Then who were those two?? Koishi asked, absently looking at the door again. ?And what were you talking about??

?They?re CEOs for a pair of large blue-collar companies,? Satori said, fiddling with the hem of her dress. ?A few months ago, they pledged a large fund towards development of a new interracial charity. Unfortunately they haven?t performed well this financial quarter, so they?ve decided to take back all of their promises.?

Koishi raised an eyebrow. ?Is...is that even legal??

?Of course not, but they have a very selective memory when it comes to the law.? Satori rolled her eyes. ?You were right, Koishi. Humans and youkai aren?t that different after all.?

The mood-candle?s flame faded to a barely visible grey. Satori glared at it for a second before finally putting it out with her fingers. ?Sorry. Never been a fan of those things.?

?I can guess why,? Koishi said. She understood now why Satori had looked so tired during her hospital visits. ?So how did you end up in a position like this? You never struck me as the political sort.?

Satori?s expression was dark, complicated. ?When Kawashiro made Gensokyo its own country, she nominated me for the position. I think she knew I wanted a chance to atone for what I did before. What I...? She gulped. ?What I almost did.?

The shadows lifted from her face, and she looked up at Koishi with a smile. ?But that?s all in the past now. After you took down the masquerade, I did what I could to make up for it. I figured while you were unconscious, I had to stand in for you.? She held her head high. ?And if you don?t mind me saying, I think I?ve done a decent job of it.?

?Oh, really?? Jozu smirked. ?Then what about that whole incident with the American government and the bald eagle youkai??

Satori?s eyes narrowed. ?I thought we agreed not to talk about that, Jozu.?

?Prove it.? Jozu leaned back in her chair with her hands behind her head. ?I didn?t sign anything, did I??

Satori tensed for a second, but eventually she couldn?t help but force out a laugh. ?See what you?ve left me to work with, Koishi??

?It looks awful,? Koishi said with a smile. ?There?s no way you?re being paid enough for this.?

?Sure she is!? Jozu said. ?My company is worth more than all the money in the world.?

The atmosphere around the table lightened considerably. Even in spite of the severity of their discussion, Koishi felt remarkably at ease in the presence of her sister. She started to think she could get used to this new world of hers.

?So what are you going to do?? she asked, wiping the last crumbs of her meal from her cheek. ?About the CEOs, I mean.?

?Well, I can?t let them off the hook,? Satori answered, brushing at her dress as she rose to her feet. ?We?ve got to make an example of them if Gensokyo?s legal system is to have any sort of reputation.?

?City Hall, then?? Jozu asked.

Satori nodded. ?Koishi, do you mind tagging along??

?Is that okay?? Koishi asked, raising an eyebrow. ?Just poking my head into serious affairs like that.?

?It?s fine. I?ll vouch for you.? Satori winked. ?Besides, I can think of at least one person who?ll want to hear the good news...?

-----

The sun hung high over Koishi?s head as she reached her destination, trailing behind her sister and their bodyguard. Now that the rush hour had passed the crowds had diminished to a bearable level, letting her see where she was going rather than stumbling blindly along with the flock. It was comforting to be able to put one foot ahead of the other without worrying about stepping on someone?s toes.

City Hall ended up being a thoroughly-renovated version of Gensouto?s courthouse. The changes had been mostly for the better, turning a tired-looking structure into a respectable seat of power. The slightly-worn walls had been tended to, the whole building giving off an almost marble-like sheen. It had the aura of a ruin, an ancient relic that was full to the brim with power. Koishi felt humbled simply by approaching it.

A pair of lion statues stood at both sides of the entrance, and above the doorway a new creed had been carved into the stone: IN LAW, THERE IS POWER. IN JUSTICE, STRENGTH. IN TRUTH, FREEDOM. It was just forceful enough to put Koishi on edge as she stepped into the building, hiding in Satori?s shadow.

The court?s inner workings had seen little change - at least, from what few details Koishi could remember. She?d only been here once for a quick visit during the Red Lily incident, but much of what she saw wouldn?t have seemed out of place in the old Gensouto. She saw the odd youkai among the lawyers making their way around the building, but no-one who seemed to be in more than a junior position. It was too soon for that, she supposed.

?Can I help you?? A passing lawyer broke out of her step to look up at the group for a moment. It only took a second for recognition to flicker on her face, and she carefully adjusted the shako cap sitting on her head. ?Ah, Komeiji-san. Here on business, I assume??

?Good day, Raikoji-san.? Satori bowed forward towards the lawyer, as if their positions had been reversed. ?Business is all I seem to have time for nowadays. How is the district holding up??

?Fine enough,? Sumire answered. ?There was some murmuring of a new smuggling ring starting up at the docks, but we have You-Know-Who scouting the place out right now. It?ll be dealt with before the day is through.? She looked over Satori?s shoulder, only now seeing the girl behind her. ?Ah, and you must be Komeiji-san?s sister. She?s told me a lot about you, you know.?

Koishi raised an eyebrow. ?She has? What exactly has she-? Before she could finish, she saw Jozu shake her head out of the corner of her eye. That was her hint that the question wasn?t worth finishing. ?Never mind. How?s Komachi-san been??

?Oh, Komachi?? Sumire pointed towards the judge?s office with her thumb. ?She got kicked upstairs when the whole youkai thing took off. The mayor needed someone who knew her way around magic, you see.?

Koishi narrowed her eyes. ?I don?t remember Gensouto having a mayor.?

?Add that to the list of things you missed out on, then,? Satori said, pulling the discussion back on track. ?I?d like to talk with the mayor, please.?

?You do know she?s having lunch right now, I assume.?

Satori grinned. ?Since when has that stopped her from talking business??

Sumire hesitated for a moment, then sighed. ?You have a point. Go right ahead.?

?Thanks.? Satori bowed again before heading in the direction of the office. Koishi hung close behind, and Jozu crept forward as if she was her charge?s shadow. The shark was perfectly built for the role physically, but there was a childishness in her expression that seemed inappropriate for a bodyguard. Not that Koishi would ever say so out loud - it seemed like a good way to get her arm chomped off.

The judge?s office was like Koishi had remembered; small, and relatively unassuming. A few details had been added to make the room a bit more memorable - a picture here, a film prop there. It still seemed awfully plain to house the ruler of an entire nation.

?Who?s there??

Seated at the bench was a familiar face. It was hard to recognise her beneath her newer, much more ornate robes, but the head judge of Gensouto looked the same as she had two years ago. The outfit fit her well - authoritative without falling into gaudiness.

?Ah, Komeiji-san.? Eiki let out a little sigh and nodded. ?Who else would interrupt me at this hour? She edged to the side of her chair, leaving her lunch unfinished to take a look at Satori?s companions. ?And this is...?

?That?ll be Koishi Komeiji, ma?am.? Another old acquaintance spoke up, the woman standing at Eiki?s side. She was just as difficult to recognise as her superior, dressed in a well-measured suit with a perfect posture. But as she rushed forward to embrace the Siren, her old eagerness began to shine through.

?Komachi-san!?

Komachi smiled, squeezing Koishi almost hard enough to break a bone. ?Congrats on rejoining the living. I tried to say hi while you were recovering, but you were too drugged up to notice me.?

?You did?? Koishi tried to summon up her memory, but her recollection of the last week was fuzzy at best. She vaguely recalled a Komachi-shaped silhouette in her window, along with all the other Sirens she had traveled with. ?Sorry,? she said with a shrug. ?I guess I have a lot of catching up to do, don?t I??

?You bet.? Komachi looked back at her superior. ?Boss, you mind if I talk with her for a bit??

?Go ahead,? Eiki said, focusing her attention on Satori. ?I suspect I have my own business to take care of, anyway.?

Satori nodded, stepping forward to the desk with Jozu hanging beside her. Koishi stood a few feet away, too focused on Komachi to catch much of their conversation.

?So what are you doing here?? Koishi asked. ?I thought you?d gone back to being a lawyer.?

?That was the plan, yeah, but things came up.? Komachi laughed, the chuckle just awkward enough to give her emotions away. ?Seriously, though, when Gensokyo split off there was no real government holding it together. We had a couple of politicians, but there wasn?t anyone that could actually take charge of the country.?

Koishi looked back toward the desk. ?So Eiki-san ended up as mayor??

?She had a good reputation around the court. Even after the truth came out about the Morichika incident, her power was enough to make up for it.?

Komachi turned to her superior, watching Eiki listen intently to Satori?s explanation. The judge nodded to herself every few seconds, finally closing her eyes in thought. When her eyes opened again, her pupils flickered black in judgement.

?Understood,? she said. ?I?ll track down these CEOs and have them pay their dues.?

?Are you sure?? Satori folded her arms, but a satisfied grin sat on her face. ?They?ve got some very rich friends. Gensokyo could lose a lot of business if we step on the wrong toes.?

?Then it?s not the sort of business we want anything to do with.? Eiki fiddled with her collar, looking perfectly attuned with her position. ?The money isn?t everything, Komeiji-san. We need to let the people know that this sort of corporate dishonesty won?t stand in our country.?

The conviction in her eyes was so powerful that Koishi could barely face her head on. That was just the sort of ruler a small, developing nation like Gensokyo needed - the sort that left an impact and refused to be ignored.

?She was anxious when she started,? Komachi said, chest puffed out. ?Didn?t know nearly enough about youkai to get anything done. Luckily she had a good friend who was willing to get her up to speed. In fact, the friend was even willing to run as her deputy just to make sure she got the job done.?

Koishi looked up at Komachi?s expression. There was no sign of regret, only a faint nostalgia for what had once been. It hung only for an instant, replaced by her typical lazy grin.

?So how much do people know about the Sirens, then?? Koishi asked. ?Do people know about the Teardrops? Or that we were responsible for the masquerade coming down??

?Most people know the general story about the Pearl and the Claw,? Komachi answered. ?They know that a bunch of humans saved the world from the Ravager and had to take down the masquerade to do it. But most people don?t know who the Sirens actually are - and now that everyone?s got magic powers, it?s pretty hard to tell. A few higher-ups in the White Pearl still know, but they?ve been pretty good at keeping quiet.?

Koishi nodded. She?d assumed as much, given that there wasn?t a massive fanfare when she?d recovered from her coma. Admittedly, she was grateful for the anonymity - she had dabbled with being an internet icon for a while, and decided it definitely didn?t suit her.

?Still, we?re through the hard part now.? Komachi gave Koishi?s hair another ruffle. ?Good to see you?re back. I?m figuring there are a bunch of other folks who?d be happy to see you too.?

?Yeah,? Koishi said. She had two years? worth of catching up to do, and no idea where to start. ?Any idea where I can find anyone??

Komachi grinned. ?As a matter of fact, I do.? She turned back to the mayor. ?Hey, boss, I?m taking Koishi-san down to the academy. You okay with that??

Eiki didn?t even acknowledge the question. She and Satori were locked in discussion, fervently discussing a strategy for taking down the CEOs that had wronged them. Jozu looked towards the two Sirens, offering an apologetic shrug.

?Well, that?s pretty much a yes,? Komachi said, taking Koishi?s hand. ?Now, if you?ll just follow me...?

FinnKaenbyou:

The Arcane Academy clung to the side of City Hall like the training wheels of a bicycle. There was no synergy in the architecture of the buildings - where City Hall had carried a proud and stubborn demeanour, the academy was bright and inviting. Signs on the windows promised to ?unlock your latent potential? to help ?craft a brighter future for Gensokyo?. It was so excited about itself that Koishi?s eyes stung a little looking at it.

?You get used to it,? Komachi said, patting Koishi on the back as she led her in. ?Imagine how hard it?s gotta be for the people who work here.?

I don?t think I want to, Koishi thought to herself.

The inside of the building was considerably more down-to-earth. The main hall had the same merry feel to it, but as they slipped into the deeper corridors the decor became much more generic and pedestrian. Anyone who came this far, Koishi thought, wouldn?t need any more convincing.

?So what do they do here?? she asked. ?Is it some sort of police academy??

?Close enough,? Komachi said. ?There?s a whole new dimension of crime now that magic?s outta the bag. This place is meant to teach humans and youkai how to combat it - training their own powers, and learning how to deal with troublemakers.?

?What sort of crime are we talking about??

Komachi rolled her eyes. ?A few months ago, a band of activists called the Merry Men tried to magically wipe out every financial record on Wall Street. They dubbed it the Robin Hood Incident - stealing from the rich and all that.?

?Incident?? Koishi asked, the peculiar word choice throwing her off slightly.

?We try not to use words like ?terrorism? anymore. Gets people scared and angry. So if the crime is stopped before anyone is hurt, we just call it an incident.? Komachi sighed. ?Trust me, Eiki had to ram that idea into my head before it stuck.?

Koishi nodded, looking into the rooms they passed as they walked down the corridor. Many of them had been styled after conventional classrooms, though they had been built with adults in mind. From a cursory glance the youkai and humans seemed to be evenly represented, though youkai made up a vast majority of the instructors.

After a minute?s walk, they stepped out into an open courtyard. Four trees stood in the corners, none of them matching in shape, size or colour. Perhaps it was a symbol for the celebration of diversity, Koishi thought. Then again, it could just have been lazy planning on the part of the architect.

?Not like that, kid. Follow through on your punches.?

A voice rang out from the middle of the courtyard. Stepping closer, Koishi found two distant figures locked in a brawl, the taller one bobbing and weaving around her opponent. They were both dressed in light blue tracksuits - the academy uniform, most likely.

?I would, if you?d just stay still!? The smaller girl reached out, grabbing her adversary?s forearm. Her eyes shone blue, and tendrils of ice began to creep out from her fingers.

The ice was dispeled in an instant, a flame running down the longer woman?s arm. That was all Koishi had to see to identify the two.

?I told you, kid,? Mokou said with a sigh. ?No cheating.?

Cirno pouted. ?It?s not my fault you?re so fast. And since when is using magic cheating??

?The point is so you can brush up on the basics.? Mokou stepped backwards, disengaging from the fight. She looked just like Koishi had remembered her, which could only be a testament to the phoenix?s intense regimen. ?If you use your powers as a crutch like that, you?re gonna fall apart without them.?

She craned her neck back towards the entrance, eyes falling over Koishi for a moment. ?Besides, you?ve got plenty of other students for-? When her brain caught up with her senses, she pulled a dramatic double take. ?Wait, Koishi-san? Is that you?!?

?Oh, nice try.? Cirno folded her arms and grinned smugly. ?I?m not falling for that one again. There?s no way that Koishi-san is-?

Before she could finish Mokou was already running up to Koishi, at a speed so absurd that Koishi swore she was about to be run over. The phoenix stopped abruptly a few inches from the Siren, mouth bobbing open and shut.

?You?re up already?? The revelation seemed to have caused her more exertion than her sparring. ?I figured you?d be bedridden for at least a month.?

?You and me both,? Komachi said, placing a hand on Koishi?s shoulder. ?But I reckon we should?ve given her a bit more credit than that.?

Koishi?s cheeks warmed up. ?It was all the doctors, really. I didn?t realise medical science had advanced so far.? She looked up at Mokou. ?So what?re you up to? Are you a student here??

?Not quite.? Mokou grinned. ?I?m working as a part-time instructor in hand-to-hand combat. You?d be surprised how many of these youkai have no idea how to throw a punch. I was just giving a little tutoring session to-?

?Koishi-san!? Cirno vaulted over Mokou, landing on her shoulders so perfectly it seemed almost scripted. ?Oh man, you have no idea how many cool things have happened while you were gone. As soon as they built this place I was first in line, and I studied real hard like you said to, and-? Mokou reached up, cupping her hand around Cirno?s mouth to silence her. ?Mmmhh!?

?So you know each other?? Komachi looked at Koishi, then at Cirno. ?I guess I?m the only one who?s out of the loop, then.?

?Well, uh...? Mokou paused, struggling for the right word. ?This bundle of fun is Cirno. She?s the academy?s top student, and there?s talk of her getting her own squad when she graduates. I?m just here to make sure she doesn?t cut any corners.?

As she pulled her hand away, Cirno pulled a massive frown. ?No fair, boss. I wanted to tell her that.?

?Then you should?ve waited your turn like a good girl.?

Cirno slumped forward. Even as Mokou moved away she hung in the air, crystalline wings fading in behind her back. Fortunately, Koishi knew the look of a girl who was desperately seeking a compliment.

?So you?re the top student here? That?s amazing, Cirno-san.?

?Really?? Cirno pulled her head up. ?You think so??

Koishi nodded. ?I always knew you had it in you, Cirno-san. Congrats!?

For about a second, a look of pure glee hung on Cirno?s face. Then she remembered herself, clearing her throat and lowering herself to the ground. ?W-Well, uh, of course I had it in me. You?re talking about the strongest fairy Gensokyo?s ever seen.?

?Fairy?? Koishi furrowed her brow. ?But I thought fairies were-?

?Actually, fairies aren?t their own race at all,? Komachi said. ?Turns out what we call ?fairies? are just a certain branch of human bloodlines.? She pointed at Cirno?s wings. ?Which your frigid friend here seems to be a member of.?

?Ah,? Koishi said. Her own ignorance both amazed and intrigued her. There was so much of this new world she had no idea about, but she couldn?t help but feel a charge in her blood at the thought of it. ?What about you, Mokou-san?? she asked, turning back to her fellow Siren. ?Did you ever manage to make amends with Kaguya-san??

?Uh, well...? Mokou looked away, one hand unconsciously clenching into a fist. ?In a way, yes. But we?re not exactly on speaking terms.?

?...I see.? Koishi could tell that pressing further was a poor move. There was a distance in Mokou?s eyes that said she was done with the matter. It had been two years, after all.

?Why?d you decide to be an instructor, anyway?? Komachi asked. ?I figured you were more the type to go out and actually stop bad guys.?

Mokou rubbed at the back of her neck. ?So did I, for a while. I tried that for a couple of weeks, but it just didn?t feel right. But here, I can help out people who need me and help to make something rather than break it. Rather than taking bad things out of the world, I can put good things into it.? She gave Cirno a pat on the back. ?Like my little prodigy here. It just feels a lot more rewarding, I guess.?

Cirno blushed and looked away. ?J-Jeez, it?s not that great, boss...?

?Anyway, let?s not dwell on the past.? Mokou stretched her arms to expel the dark mood. ?The kid and I were about to break for lunch. You two feel like joining us??

?I?ve gotta pass, thanks.? Komachi waved it off with a frown. ?My lunch break?s just about over, and Eiki is crazy strict about punctuality.? She looked down at Koishi. ?I figure your sister will be talking with her for quite a bit, so if you wanna go look around I can pass on the message.?

Koishi needed a second longer to decide. The offer was tempting, and her stomach rumbled in contemplation, but she wanted to see everything she could before the end of the day. After some thought, she found a way to solve both problems at once.

?About that. Is the Scarlet Bakery still around??

Mokou?s eyebrow lifted as she caught Koishi?s intent. ?I see. Checking up on the old gang, are you?? She nodded. ?Yeah, last I checked, they were still in business. Same place as before.?

?Thanks.? Koishi bowed towards Mokou before turning towards the exit. ?And it?s good to see you again, Mokou-san.?

Mokou wore a weary smile. ?Same here, Koishi-san. It?s been way too long.?

As Koishi made her way out, she heard Cirno muttering to the phoenix. ?What old gang? What?s so important about some bakery??

Spinning around, she saw Mokou wrap her arm around the fairy. ?Kid, there?s a loooong story behind that...?

-----

Koishi found her bearings faster than she had expected. Though the buildings and the people had changed the streets of Gensokyo were just as she remembered, the same canvas under a new layer of paint. She found herself taking shortcuts, slipping around corners to beat the hustle and bustle of the crowd. At least some things haven?t changed, she thought to herself.

The trip would have taken her half an hour normally, but Koishi managed to cut the time down to twenty minutes. She knew immediately when she had found her destination - a building covered in the gaudy red paint that had imprinted itself on her retinas. Magic circles clung to the walls, pulsing like neon signs. An extension at the side of the bakery offered a caf? for customers to sit in while they ate. Looking through the window, Koishi saw that the room was full to bursting. Had the bakery ever been this popular before?

Eh? On closer inspection, Koishi saw two young waitresses walking between the tables, handing out meals to waiting customers. The two girls were polar opposites, one treading gracefully and oozing charisma, the other skipping around the room like it was a playground. One opted for a simple, formal dress, while the other was dressed in full-blown magical girl garb.

If she hadn?t known better, Koishi would have never guessed they were sisters.

Remilia? Flandre? What are they doing out here? She looked up at the sun, remembering Patchouli?s story about xerodernum pigmentosa. Even this should have been enough exposure to do some serious damage. What had changed?

?It?s rude to peek, you know.?

Koishi almost dropped dead where she stood. Adrenaline screamed through her as she jerked around. Sakuya had silently slipped behind her, as if she had emerged from the ether. She wore the maid costume from the night of Flandre?s kidnapping, fitting it to a tee.

?H-How did you-? Koishi got halfway through the sentence before realising the answer to her own question. ?Oh. Right. Time stop.?

?Clever girl.? Sakuya drew her pocketwatch for effect, one finger running across the engravings. ?I saw you out the window, and I couldn?t resist a quick scare. Consider it my way of saying welcome back.?

?Could I at least get a warning next time?? Koishi said, trying to calm her stuttering heart. ?You?re going to put me back in the hospital at this rate.?

Sakuya sighed. ?You haven?t been up for a day, and you?re already spoiling my fun. You?re just like I remember, Koishi-san.?

Koishi?s body relaxed, her pulse dropping to a dull roar. She?d been caught totally unprepared by the assault. Here she was, barely able to walk, and already people were trying to scare her senseless. With friends like this, who needs the Black Claw?

?But still, you can?t blame me for wondering,? she said, looking through the window at the waitresses again. ?I thought those two weren?t allowed to be out during daylight hours.?

?They still aren?t,? Sakuya answered. ?But there are enchantments across the building that filter the sunlight coming in. So as long as they stay inside the bakery, they?ll be perfectly fine.?

Koishi?s mouth hung open. ?Wow. You can do that??

?Oh, it wasn?t my work.? Sakuya pointed into the corner. ?You have Patchouli to thank for that.?

Koishi followed Sakuya?s finger, her eyes falling on a slumbering librarian in the corner. Her face was buried in a book, her long purple hair falling all over the desk. Papers and research were strewn about in no obvious order. A sign above her read ?WAKE IN EVENT OF EMERGENCY?, as if she was some sort of fire alarm.

?She?s been researching magical countermeasures to XP for two years straight.? Sakuya?s words carried a rare tone of respect. ?She?s become a leader in the field. Not that she would settle for anything less, of course.?

Koishi nodded. She could envision Patchouli immersed in her work, studying and practicing to the point where she collapsed. She imagined the researcher had to be content with the new hand life had dealt her.

?And what about you?? Koishi said. ?What have you been up to while I was asleep??

?Hm...difficult question.? Sakuya pursed her lips, looking off into the distance. ?I suppose I?m living two lives now. I?ve got two families to look after, and I?m trying my best not to neglect one for the sake of the other. Besides that, well, not much has changed.?

?Really? I never put you down as the stay-at-home type.?

?I?m not. Given the chance I?d be out breaking the bank, but nowadays casinos have rules against magical intervention.? Sakuya frowned. ?It takes all the fun out of it if I have to play fair.?

Koishi held back a laugh. Sakuya had mellowed a little, but deep down she was essentially unchanged. She seemed content with her lot despite her complaints, a lazy smile rising to her face when she thought Koishi wasn?t looking.

?Speaking of your second family, how?s Youmu-san?? Koishi asked. ?I haven?t managed to catch up with her yet.?

?She?s been busy with her own enterprises,? Sakuya said. ?I was about to head over there myself, actually. You?re welcome to come along if you like.?

?Is that okay? I mean, aren?t you meant to be working right now??

?My shift ended a few minutes ago. Besides, Meiling is on kitchen duty, so she can probably pick up the slack-?

Seconds later, as if on cue, a pillar of smoke began to rise from the kitchen door. The diners shuffled to their feet in panic as Flandre and Remilia tried to maintain some semblance of order. The noise caused Patchouli to stir, pulling her head off the desk to reveal bloodshot eyes and a furious scowl.

?Or not.? Sakuya took Koishi by the hand, leading her away. ?Come on. Let?s get out of here before we get roped into cleanup duty.?

?Eh? But what about Meiling-san??

As Patchouli stomped into the kitchen, Sakuya wore a wry smile. ?Now, now, Koishi-san. Let?s give her a chance to learn from her mistakes.?

The squeal of horror that followed would haunt Koishi?s nightmares for weeks.

-----

After a few minutes, Sakuya judged herself far away enough from the bakery to slow to a walking pace. She caught her breath, brushing off the frills of her outfit as they stepped back into the main street.

?Is that okay?? Koishi asked, looking over Sakuya?s maid uniform. ?I mean, no offense, but that?s not exactly a normal outfit.?

?Maybe not in the Gensouto you remember,? Sakuya answered. ?But Gensokyo doesn?t have much of a dress code. Take Hakurei-san, for instance-?

?Hakurei-san??

Sakuya bit her lip, doing a poor job of hiding her annoyance. ?Reimu Hakurei. The sleazy lawyer who got Morichika off on all charges??

Now the name rang a faint bell in the back of Koishi?s head. ?I think I know who you?re talking about. What about her??

?Her fortunes took an...interesting turn.? The maid grumbled and folded her arms. ?Turns out having twenty generations of shrine maidens in your blood gives you an obscene amount of magic power. She?s the most powerful human in Gensokyo, and only the strongest of youkai would pose her any sort of threat.?

?...Really?? Koishi hesitated, looking for some sign of dishonesty in Sakuya?s eyes. For once, there was nothing to be found; besides, the story was too bizarre for Sakuya to have pulled out of thin air.

?Believe it or not, yes,? Sakuya continued. ?Anyway, she insists on dressing as a shrine maiden whenever she?s on duty. Something about honouring her ancestors.? She raised an arm into the air. ?And she never, ever changes outfits. Even when it?s raining or snowing, she dresses just the same.?

Again, Koishi looked Sakuya over for some sign she was lying. For the second time, every hint pointed towards the maid telling the truth. She remembered a cryptic conversation with Sumire about ?You-Know-Who? heading out to shut down a smuggling ring. It made sense - or at least the new, twisted sense that Gensokyo now seemed to function on.

?Point taken,? Koishi said. ?I guess dressing like a maid isn?t that unusual in comparison.?

?Your acceptance means a lot to me,? Sakuya said flatly. ?Anyway, we?re here.?

The maid came to a stop in front of a rustic-looking dojo. Koishi looked it over and felt as if she?d walked into a museum, a perfect replica of the samurai era hidden between a drug store and a delicatessen. She could hear wooden swords clashing against each other from within. The blows carried enough force that Koishi couldn?t help but feel intimidated.

?Sounds like the recruits are sparring. She?ll be available, then.? Sakuya had no such concerns, pulling the sliding door open for Koishi. ?You first.?

Koishi stepped through after a deep breath. The interior was as faithful a facsimile as the outside, all wooden floors and tatami mats. Scrolls on the walls offered Zen-like teachings in haiku form. A single open window let a dim light into the room.

She counted about a dozen students present, a mixture of humans and youkai. They had split into pairs, sparring with their partners, but with a passion and focus that wouldn?t have looked out of place in a real fight. Koishi saw two fighting styles split between the class, with some fighters dual-wielding their blades, and others fighting with sword and shield.

At the end of the dojo were two chairs, upon which sat the masters. Youmu?s expression was unreadable as she watched the students battle, her ceremonial robe making her look twice as old as she was. Momiji was more willing to show her disdain, shaking her head and muttering beneath her breath. Neither of them seemed to have noticed the two visitors popping through the entrance.

?Watch this,? Sakuya whispered. The maid stepped away, pulling out her pocketwatch and tapping at the face with two fingers. She disappeared, and in an instant she was on the other side of the room, yelling right into Youmu?s ear.

?Boo!?

The yell brought all the sparring students to a halt. Koishi saw Youmu flinch, but only barely. Within instants she was looking at her sister in disappointment. ?That was frightening the first time, Miyo. The fiftieth, not so much.?

?Hm. Good point.? Sakuya pulled back, stroking at her chin. ?I suppose I should come up with something more original next time. Maybe I could crack an egg over your head??

Momiji looked over from her seat and sighed. ?Izayoi-san. I?m not sure if you?ve noticed, but we?re trying to work here.?

?So am I. It?s my job to look after Youmu, remember?? The maid ruffled at Youmu?s hair, utterly shattering the tense atmosphere of the dojo. To her credit, Youmu didn?t even acknowledge Sakuya?s shenanigans with a response. The self-control that demanded was more than a little impressive, Koishi thought to herself.

?Besides,? Sakuya continued, ?I brought a special guest with me today. Someone you haven?t seen for a while.?

That was enough to get Youmu to raise an eyebrow. She nodded towards her students, who split apart and stood with their backs pressed against the walls. Now the swordsman had a clear view of the Siren in the doorway.

?Um...? Koishi awkwardly raised a hand. ?Hey, Youmu-san. Sorry for interrupting.?

The sight of Koishi brought about a transformation in Youmu. For lack of a better word she became more human, her emotions finally floating to the surface. The calm demeanour fell away as she put on a warm smile.

?Well, if it isn?t the prodigal daughter herself,? Momiji said, her tone a difficult mixture of surprise and relief. ?I thought you were supposed to be a vegetable nowadays.?

?I was.? Koishi stepped forward, shrugging the claim off. ?You?d be surprised what a person can recover from.?

For a moment, Youmu looked ready to jump out of the seat and embrace the Siren. She decided otherwise at the last minute, standing up but refusing to budge.

?Students!? she yelled, her voice booming through the dojo. ?Our guest is a woman to whom I owe a mighty debt. I trust that you will treat her with the respect that she deserves.?

That seemed to be all the convincing the students needed. Like components of a well oiled machine, they all moved in unison to bow in Koishi?s direction. Koishi blushed, unsure how to feel about youkai ten times her age deferring to her. She made the rest of the journey to the seats to remove herself from that awkward position. Youmu nodded again, and the students returned to their sparring.

?So this is what you?ve been up to,? she said, looking back at the pupils. ?Is this a joint venture? Between you and Momiji-san, I mean.?

?Correct,? Youmu said with a nod. ?With Gensokyo?s rapid expansion, we felt it was necessary to build a shrine of sorts to the art of swordplay. Perhaps it?s defunct in this era of magic and machines, but its beauty continues to thrive thanks to our efforts.?

?More importantly, we?re doing what we can to keep the competitive spirit alive,? Momiji continued. ?Our school teaches two wildly different styles - mine and hers. Each month we put our best students against each other to see which of our styles is strongest. The urge to win that clash convinces us both to put everything we have into our teaching.?

?The score is ten to four in Youmu?s favour,? Sakuya said without a hint of restraint. ?Don?t worry, Momiji-san, there?s always next month.?

The wolf glared at Sakuya, growling beneath her breath. Perhaps now that Youmu wasn?t reacting, Momiji was the next best target for Sakuya?s pranks. Koishi tried not to think the idea over too hard.

?What about your mother, Youmu-san?? she asked. ?How is she doing??

?She?s fine now,? Youmu answered, loosening her back as she let her emotions show again. ?She?s been training quite hard herself, actually. I think she might be planning to come out of retirement.?

?And you?ll beat her handily, I assume?? Sakuya?s voice was a little colder than usual when she spoke about Yuyuko. It seemed some grudges remained unsettled, Koishi thought to herself.

?I?d hope so,? Momiji said. ?If my rival lost in a duel with a grandmother, I don?t think my pride could take it.?

Youmu clenched her teeth, silently withstanding all the attacks on her authority. With workmates like Momiji and sisters like Sakuya, Koishi imagined this had to be part of Youmu?s daily routine by now. Perhaps that was how she?d grown such a thick skin.

?But enough about us,? Youmu said. ?What about you, Koishi-san? What are you planning to do with yourself??

Koishi hesitated before answering. She really had no clue how to answer the question. She?d assumed it would be something simple like going back to school, but now that she thought about it the idea seemed almost too pedestrian. After all her experiences as a Siren, going back to an ?ordinary? life just didn?t feel right.

?I?m not sure,? she said at last. ?Right now I?m just trying to catch up with everyone. I still haven?t managed to get hold of Nazrin-san.?

?The mouse?? Sakuya?s eyes glinted with recollection. ?I?m pretty sure she?s off in the outskirts helping the youkai get by. Shouldn?t be too hard to find her.?

Koishi nodded. ?Right. In that case, I?ll let you get back to work.?

?Already?? Youmu frowned slightly. ?But you?ve only just arrived.?

?I know, but I?m just trying to catch up with everyone. Besides, you?re busy right now, aren?t you? We can try to get the whole gang together another time.?

The swordsman let out a long hard sigh before accepting defeat. ?I?ll hold you to that promise, you know.? She made another gesture, and the fighters split apart again. The discipline she commanded was nothing short of impressive.

?You?re welcome to study here any time,? Momiji said. ?I?ll even give you a position as my star pupil, if you want.?

?I?ll consider it.? Koishi made it halfway to the exit before another question hit her. ?Ah, Youmu-san, one more thing.?

?What is it??

?You and Momiji-san...do you ever fight each other??

The two swordsmen looked each other over, sharing a private smile. ?We fight every day,? Youmu said. ?But not until after closing time.?

FinnKaenbyou:

Sure enough, a little bit of questioning was enough to lead Koishi in the direction she wanted. Most people had trouble putting a name to Nazrin’s face, but they knew enough about ‘the charity mouse’ to help Koishi along.

By the time Koishi had arrived, the sun was beginning to set in the distance. The city grew progressively simpler the further Koishi moved from the center, multicoloured skyscrapers giving way to ordinary apartments. By the time she hit the city’s edge, she was passing by rickety flats and overcrowded apartment complexes in what could only be the lower-class district.

A quick head count showed that the youkai here outnumbered the humans about four to one. The air was tense, every pedestrian viewing their neighbours with quiet suspicion. They were dressed plainly in ragged shirts, well-worn denim and hole-ridden shoes, the sort of hand-me-downs that humans would throw away without a second thought. Above all, they seemed extremely poor compared to the rest of the city - Koishi passed by half a dozen beggars going down one street, all of them looking up at her with pleading eyes. She fumbled in her pockets, but there wasn’t a penny on her. All she could do was shake her head in apology as she walked past.

“Hm?”

Looking ahead, Koishi saw a single building that was bustling with life. People flowed in and out of it with impressive pace, squeezing through a set of rickety double doors. A hand-painted sign hung over the entrance, declaring it to be the NazRan Soup Kitchen.

Direct hit, Koishi thought to herself. She joined in with the crowd, letting the current of society guide her through the doors. A large cafeteria stood before her, dozens of tables at each side. Here the desolate atmosphere of the district seemed to fade away, and she could hear friendly banter flow freely between humans and youkai. The warm smell of food flooded her nostrils, though she struggled to identify a distinct flavour in the aroma.

“Alright, people, gather round! Dinner’s ready!”

One voice rose above all the muttering from the far end of the room. The crowd formed an orderly line without being asked, with Koishi caught somewhere in the middle. One by one they stepped forward to the counter, receiving a bowl of soup from the server before taking a seat at one of the tables. Koishi never saw money changing hands through the entire process - every bowl was completely free of charge.

After a few minutes, Koishi was at the front of the queue. The server was hidden under the counter, dumping the contents of her ladle into another bowl. Only her long grey tail poked out from below, but that was more than enough for Koishi to identify her.

“Alright, be careful with this one.” Nazrin rose up, a bowl of steaming hot soup in her hand. “This stuff is pretty hot, so give it a minute before-” She dropped the bowl when she saw who she was talking to. “W-Whoa! Koishi-san?!”

Koishi reached forward on instinct, grabbing the bowl before it could hit the ground. In the same gesture she spun around, handed the meal to the youkai behind her, and turned to face Nazrin again.

“Hi, Nazrin-san.” She paused for a moment, looking back at the growing line. “I guess now is a bad time?”

“...Slightly.” Nazrin’s ears drooped as she recovered from the initial shock. “Give me a few minutes to work through the dinner rush, okay?”

Koishi nodded, stepping out of the queue and finding herself a seat. She took the opportunity to look over her surroundings. The building was bland and featureless - perhaps because its owners couldn’t afford to furnish it - but it held a certain charm that Koishi couldn’t put words to. It felt friendly, especially in contrast to the harsh world outside. Koishi imagined that some of the poorest residents used the kitchen as a shelter, sleeping here when they had no home to return to.

Eventually the flow of diners subsided, and the counter slid shut for the day. Nazrin emerged from the back of the kitchen, almost buried in an apron three sizes too large for her. Another youkai followed behind her - another familiar face, this one in a much more sensible business attire.

“So it is you, Komeiji-san.” Ran Yakumo let her mouth hang open, one hand gripping at the hem of her skirt. “When Nazrin told me you were visiting, I was convinced she was making some sort of euphemism.”

“Thanks for your trust in me,” Nazrin said, rolling her eyes. The two youkai sank into the seats across from Koishi, the fox easily towering above the mouse. “Go ahead. Pinch her if you think I’m lying.”

“Hmm. An interesting suggestion.” A mischievous glint rose to Ran’s eyes. “Komeiji-san, do you mind if I determine your authenticity?”

“I’ll pass, thanks.” Koishi spat out the answer. Ran’s fingers extended into razor sharp nails; getting pinched by those seemed distinctly unpleasant.

“A wise decision.” The fox smiled. “Don’t worry, Komeiji-san. Yours is not a face I plan to forget any time soon.”

“If you’re done threatening our visitor...” Nazrin’s tail poked Ran in the thigh, prompting her to stop her antics. “What’re you doing out here, Koishi-san? This isn’t exactly a nice part of town.”

“I know, but I wanted to check up on you.” Koishi looked around the building again, rubbing at the side of her head. “I wasn’t expecting this though, Nazrin-san. You didn’t come across as the charity worker type.”

“Well, I guess someone’s got to do it.” Nazrin looked away, tail swishing about behind her. “Even with all the changes the city’s seen, there are still plenty of poor people who need to be helped. Besides, we need to make up for all the damage that the grandma did around here.”

Koishi tilted her head. “Grandma?”

“She means Byakuren Hijiri,” Ran said. “Former director of the Myouren Institute. She’s now the head of a pro-youkai charity who are trying to make Gensokyo some sort of holy city for youkai. And by holy city, I mean she wants to kick out all of the ‘wicked, sinful humans’. She protests around the district frequently, and she has a small but vocal following.”

“She’s a pro-youkai supporter?” Koishi furrowed her brow. “But isn’t she-”

“Human?” Ran nodded. “Correct. She says that she is aware enough of her own failings to realise the flaws of humanity, or some similar nonsense. If you ask me, the woman is utterly deluded.”

“I think the fire left its mark on her,” Nazrin said. “This is probably what she thinks qualifies as repentance for not being able to ‘save’ my master. But all she’s doing is giving the district a bad name, so even less money comes our direction.”

“Technically, we aren’t even making enough money to stay afloat,” Ran said. “Even with Nazrin running all over the city collecting donations, we’re still in the red.” The fox fiddled with her collar. “Fortunately, my talent with numbers means I can play a trick or two with our finances. We’re surviving - for now, at least.”

Koishi nodded along solemnly. It seemed that even after the transformation of Gensokyo, there were some inequalities that still needed to be ironed out. She imagined the Mayor and her Siren accomplice would solve the problem in time. Until then, it was thanks to these two youkai that the district was holding together.

“What about you, Nazrin-san?” Koishi asked.

Nazrin’s ears twitched. “What about what?”

“Shou-san. How do you feel about...you know.”

Nazrin sucked in a deep breath, her tail wrapping around itself. “That’s a pretty upfront question, Koishi-san.”

Koishi immediately regretted her choice of words. “Sorry. I just...I was worried. Shou-san got pulled away so suddenly, so I don’t know how well you took it.”

The mouse stared down at the table, one hand rubbing at the flat surface. “It was...hard. I felt like garbage when I got back and realised I was alone again. I didn’t even get to say goodbye, not in the way I wanted to. If I hadn’t found something else to focus my attention on, I’d have probably broken down entirely.” She smacked her fist down hard enough to make the table shake. “But I can’t do that. I’ve gotta keep going for master’s sake. She’d feel awful if she saw me moping about her. And, well...” She shrugged, smiling sadly. “I know she’d do the same in my position. So it’s only fair I give it my all.”

Ran nodded, her fox tails bristling behind her. “A good answer, Nazrin.” She gave the mouse a firm pat on the back. “I’m sure your master is looking down on you with pride.”

Nazrin let out a little chuckle. “Same to you. I bet Yakumo is thrilled that her most powerful apprentice has been reduced to charity work.”

“Ah, but what would you do without me?” The fox smirked. “Imagine how this place would function without my guiding hand. The city would collapse faster than you could say ‘proletariat’.”

“Is that a challenge, Ran?”

“No, it’s a fact.”

Koishi couldn’t help but break into a smile at the sight of them and their playful bickering. With these two looking over the district, she knew things would turn out alright.

“So what’s your plan, Koishi-san?” Nazrin asked, once she’d finished messing with her partner-in-crime. “The world’s changed a lot while you were gone. What are you looking to do with yourself?”

Koishi sighed. “Honestly, I don’t think I’m ready to answer that question right now. I need a few days to get comfortable before I make any rash decisions. Just sitting around the house and acclimating to how different everything is.”

Ran nodded. “Understandable. And after all the work you’ve done for the White Pearl, you deserve a chance to rest.”

The Siren nodded back. She’d have taken the chance to relax whether it had been offered to her or not. For the first time in months, she didn’t have to worry about the Claw hiding around every corner. It had been a long and difficult fight, but at last she and her friends had emerged victorious.

An idea struck her then. They’d managed a great victory, so what was the harm with celebrating it?

“Say, Nazrin-san. How available are you over the next few days?”

“Uh...” Nazrin pulled back, taken off guard by the question. “I can probably get some time off with enough of a warning. Why do you ask?”

Koishi smiled. “Well, I promised Youmu-san I’d arrange a little get-together...”

-----

“Alright, people! Let the festivities commence!”

Nitori twirled around two soda bottles in her hands, demonstrating grace and dexterity Koishi hadn’t seen since their visit to the Rabbit’s Foot. She flipped off the bottlecaps with her thumbs, sending two streams of foam across the room in brilliant arcs. The foam flew cleanly over the entire table, without leaving so much as a drop on the gathered Sirens.

“You are going to clean up after yourself, I assume?” Sakuya said, the only one not taken in by the spectacle. “I’m not getting paid to look after this place, you know.”

“Aww, don’t be such a spoilsport.” The kappa stuck out her tongue. “This is our big victory parade. Let’s leave the worrying for later.”

Sakuya continued to scowl, but Youmu’s glare was enough to convince her to drop the point. The maid took a few deep breaths, falling gradually into the party spirit. A single table ran the length of the Scarlet Bakery’s cafe, more than large enough to seat the seven Sirens and their leader. In the corner a television displayed a music channel, pop songs adding a lively vibe to the room.

There was also one additional guest at the proceedings. A guest who was making short work of the buffet.

“Mmmnn, nnfffh...” Jozu took in another mouthful of food moments after swallowing the one before. Her plate was three times as tall as anyone else’s, full to the brim with all the meat she could find. Koishi took a glance at the shark’s lean figure, wondering how Jozu ate so much without putting on a pound. She wrote it off as a peculiarity of youkai metabolism.

“How did you even find out about our arrangements, Kawashiro-san?” Satori was much more restrained, with only a few morsels which she intermittently nibbled on. Perhaps she was trying to compensate for her bodyguard’s overindulgence. “None of us could get in contact with you.”

Nitori tutted the minister, waving a finger about. “I’ll have to keep you in the dark on that one, Satori-chan. Mine is an existence of mystery and intrigue, and anything I tell you is a secret my adversaries could overhear.”

She spoke with sing-song melodrama, but her expression was so earnest that Koishi was honestly unsure whether the kappa was being serious. Then again, that was a state of affairs she’d had plenty of time to become used to.

“Who cares how she got here?” Komachi leaned back in her chair, looking immensely pleased with herself. “This isn’t a day for questions. Let’s eat, drink and be merry, alright?”

“I’ll second that,” Mokou said, having taken her fair share of the salad. “This is Koishi-san’s welcome-back party. That means all silly bickering is banned. Understood?”

“That sounds troublesome,” Youmu said. “After all, sarcasm is the only language Miyo knows how to speak.”

“Ouch.” Nazrin sucked in a breath, looking at Sakuya with poorly hidden pity. “Looks like you’ve been rubbing off on your sister.”

Sakuya shrugged. “I’d be offended if it wasn’t true.”

Koishi giggled. Mokou’s warning had gone unheeded, but there was a playfulness to the jibes that took out all the animosity they could have carried. They’d had to struggle against tight schedules to find the time, but they’d all managed to come together for her. It was Koishi’s first chance to truly appreciate the friends she had made in her time as a Siren.

But that made the one empty chair all the more obvious. Koishi looked at the seat to her right, sighing too quietly for anyone to hear.

“Thinking about Sango-san, I assume?” Satori was the only one to catch it, the other Sirens either chattering with each other or focused on dinner. Either she caught on to Koishi’s ticks, or she saw the thoughts flowing through her sister’s mind.

“...Yeah.” Koishi nodded. The dolphin was still off doing her recon on the coast. Even Nitori couldn’t get in touch with her, and the date of her return was a mystery to everyone.

“If it means anything, she visited you just as much as I did.” Satori put a hand on Koishi’s shoulder. “If it wasn’t for work, she’d have been by your side 24/7.”

Honestly, Koishi had expected as much. She and Sango had been particularly close, and near the end their friendship had reached that peculiar level where it probably didn’t qualify as friendship anymore. Koishi had always been meaning to have a talk with Sango, to figure out where they stood with each other. Now she had no idea when that chance would come.

Dammit. What am I doing? Koishi shook off the thought, puffing her chest up. This was a celebration, not a pity party. She could leave her navel gazing for another day. Her eagerness renewed, she filled up a glassful of soda and gave it a hearty chug.

“That’s the spirit, Koishi-chan.” Nitori offered her a round of applause as she raised her own glass. “Everyone, a toast to the return of our favourite Ocean Princess!”

The Sirens heeded the call, each raising a cup in Koishi’s honour. “To Koishi-san!” They clinked glasses together before downing their drinks - alcohol for Komachi and Nitori, soda for everyone else. Nitori picked up the remote, raising the volume of the television. Cheerful j-pop hung in the background of the party as everyone present exchanged small talk.

When the music abruptly stopped, everyone turned in the direction of the television.

“We interrupt this broadcast to give you a breaking news bulletin.” Hatate Himekaidou sat with her back straight, her expression grave. “Mass rioting has broken out in the island of Okinawa, with dozens already confirmed injured.”

Koishi gulped. She could almost hear the mood of the party shattering into a thousand pieces.

“The riots follow controversial protests by youkai-rights activists, who accuse the Okinawan people of illegal whaling. Though the practice was officially outlawed two years ago after the fall of the Masquerade, protestors claim that small whaling operations are still functioning. Prime Minister Miyahara has urged the protestors to appeal to common sense, as police -”

The television flickered off halfway through the bulletin. “Blech. I’ve had enough of that, thanks.” Nitori turned the television off, throwing the remote across the room. An awkward silence hung in the air for a few seconds afterward, no-one sure exactly how to react.

“It’s a real shame,” Komachi said, leaning forward with her elbows on the table. “I heard things were pretty rough over there, but I didn’t think things would go that far south.”

“Is it true, though?” Sakuya cradled her fingers, still looking at the blank screen. “About the whaling, I mean.”

“Who knows?” Nazrin shrugged. “I don’t have time for the news anymore. That soup isn’t gonna serve itself.”

“I’ll make sure to bring it up with Eiki some time tomorrow,” Satori said, fiddling with the collar of her dress. “I’m not sure if there’s much we can do, though. We have our own business to deal with, after all.”

A sad nod passed across the table. Koishi was the only one not to join in, catching onto a truth her companions must have realised two years prior. They weren’t superheroes anymore - they still had all their powers, but the rest of the world had caught up with them. They’d done their part to keep Gensokyo from coming apart, but their influence hadn’t expanded far beyond their own city.

As the other guests recovered their brevity, Koishi felt her thoughts drifting away. She nodded along and did a good job of feigning interest, but the news report had planted itself in her mind. She’d forgotten that there was still a whole world beyond Gensokyo, a world that had its own share of problems to solve.

But what am I supposed to do? Koishi dipped a finger in her drink, swirling it around. I’m not a hero anymore. She looked around the table, at the other Sirens. They’d been magical girls once, heroes who kept Gensouto safe. Now they were teachers, lawyers, charity workers, ordinary occupations she would see from anyone on the street. The White Pearl seemed nonexistent - perhaps with the war over, it simply lost its reason to exist.

For months, her work as a Siren had defined her. She took pride in fighting evil, in doing what she could to make the world a better place. Now she was just an ordinary girl, her talents unremarkable in a world of youkai and magic. The same question echoed in her ears, growing louder and louder until it deafened out everything else.

Where am I supposed to go from here?

-----

“Phweeeeeeeeeee~!”

Sango charged through the streets of Gensokyo with blatant disregard for other pedestrians. Her heart was lodged somewhere in her throat and refused to budge. Every muscle in her body felt set to snap, but she continued to dash on regardless.

“Koishi-san, what the heck are you thinking?!”

She’d returned from her time on duty to two different surprises. First was the good news, that Koishi had regained consciousness and that she was up and walking. The moment she heard that, Sango had gone straight to the Komeiji residence to give Koishi the biggest hug she could manage.

When she had arrived, she found Satori consoling the two pets. Rin and Utsuho were unusually quiet, burying their faces in their owner’s chest. It was Jozu who ended up letting Sango in on what had happened.

“Koishi-san is leaving the country,” she said. “All she told us was that she wanted to see the world for herself.”

The news had left Sango numb, and for a moment she just stood in place as if she’d been paralyzed. Satori looked her over, and Sango saw a telltale glint in her eyes. It was a sign the valkyrie had looked into the depths of her heart, seeing the feelings the dolphin had held back for two whole years.

“She only left half an hour ago,” the Siren said, one hand on the heads of each of her pets. “If you hurry, you might be able to catch her.”

In an instant, Sango’s frigid blood turned red hot. She offered Satori a small nod of thanks before running in the direction of the city’s entrance. She hadn’t slowed down since, hitting speeds that would have made a swordfish jealous.

Please be there, Koishi-san! Her brain could barely function, the same thoughts playing over and over again. There’s so much I have to tell you!

At the edge of the city was a small checkpoint, a gate that separated Gensokyo from the rest of the world. Two youkai in uniforms were present - one stood at the gate to watch for new arrivals, while the other was examining a person on her way out.

Sango would have recognised the Siren anywhere.

“Koishi-san!”

Sango yelled at the top of her voice, two years of waiting reaching an explosive climax. Koishi flinched at the sound, turning around to face her. Her expression had changed, Sango thought to herself; it was a little older, a little wiser, but still unquestionably the Koishi she knew.

“Sango-san?” Koishi’s eyes widened. “What are you-”

Before she could finish, Sango leaped forward and wrapped her arms around the Siren. Koishi went still, stiff at first but gradually melting into the dolphin’s embrace.

“What do you think, stupid?” Sango squeezed harder, holding back the urge to slap Koishi across the face. “You think I was gonna let you run off into the sunset without saying goodbye?”

Koishi returned the hug, her warm hands wrapping around Sango. The dolphin had never forgotten the softness of Koishi’s touch, the tenderness of her fingers, the earnestness of her smile.

“I’m sorry, Sango-san,” Koishi said. “I tried to get hold of you, but no-one had any idea where you were.”

“Sorry about that.” Sango pouted, pulling back from the hug. “I’m not allowed to make any contact with other people on duty.” She looked over at the border guard, who nodded as he finished his check of Koishi’s bag. “But what’re you doing? You’re barely walking and already you’re trying to leave.”

Koishi shrugged. “I know, but well...there’s a big wide world out there. Even with all the work we did as Sirens, there’s still a lot of problems that need solving. It just doesn’t feel right to sit back when I could be out there making a difference.”

Sango’s jaw dropped. Koishi had already saved the world, and millions of youkai were in her debt. Most people would have rested on their laurels at that point, but Koishi still wanted to push herself to do everything she could.

“You sure about this?” Sango said, scratching at her forehead. “I mean, you’re not a Siren anymore. If you’re going out to fight evil, everyone else is gonna be just as powerful as you.”

Koishi sighed, body tensing for a moment. “That’s true, Sango-san. I spent a lot of time thinking about that. I’m just your average girl now. There are plenty of people more qualified to make a change in the world than I am. All things considered, I’m probably pretty powerless.”

She let out a sharp breath, as if to expel her uncertainty. “But ‘probably’ isn’t the same as ‘definitely’. As long as there’s a chance I can make a difference somewhere in the world, I’ll do everything I can to pursue it.”

“And if it’s too big for you to handle on your own?” Sango asked.

“Then I’ll find somebody to help me.” The Siren smiled. “After all, I didn’t beat the Ravager on my own, did I?”

Sango had no way to hide her amazement. This was the determination that she’d come to know from Koishi, the raw passion and commitment that made her so memorable. Two years in a coma had done nothing to change her - a fact Sango was deeply grateful for.

At the same time, she knew there was no way she’d be able to hold Koishi back. Sango had come here hoping to talk Koishi out of it, but having seen her in person she knew nothing she said would make any difference. And even if it could, she felt like she didn’t have the right to tell Koishi how to live her life.

“You’re really sold on this, aren’t you?”

Koishi nodded, her posture stalwart and strong. “You know me, Sango-san. I can’t leave a good deed undone.”

The dolphin sighed. This was no time to say what she’d planned to tell her. Coming out with it now would just feel wrong. With that in mind, she only had one real option left.

“Seriously, Koishi-san. You’re a bona fide maniac.” She stepped forward, stretching her arms out to get the guard’s attention. “Someone needs to make sure you don’t get yourself hurt.”

“Wait, you don’t mean-” Koishi gasped. “Don’t you have your own job here?”

“Eh, they can survive losing one pair of hands.” The dolphin looked back with a smile as the guard patted her down. She’d brought nothing with her, so the job only took him a few seconds. “Besides, I’ve always wanted to go sightseeing,” she added, wrapping an arm around her companion’s shoulder. ”May as well have a good excuse for it, am I right?”

Koishi went bright red at Sango’s touch, but she showed no sign of discomfort. She nuzzled at Sango’s chest, looking up at her with a smile. “Thanks, Sango-san. Really.”

“Don’t mention it.” Sango would have hugged her forever if she could, but now wasn’t the time. Maybe later she’d have a chance to tell Koishi how she felt. But for now, there were other things to worry about. “Well, then. Shall we?”

Koishi nodded. She reached out, taking Sango’s hand and squeezing. Sango returned the gesture, her hand feeling more comfortable in Koishi’s than anywhere else. They looked in unison towards the gate as it rose upwards, both the guards bowing as they motioned towards the exit.

“Not gonna lie, I’m real excited.” Sango felt electricity channel through her blood. “It’s like a whole new adventure, isn’t it?”

“Yup,” Koishi said, with a brilliant smile. “And I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

Hand in hand, the pair stepped out into the open world beyond.

-----

DOLPHIN RIDER KOISHI
END

FinnKaenbyou:

In the year 2010, the world seemed like a very different place. BP managed to screw up royally and wreck the Gulf of Mexico. WikiLeaks was the website on everyone's lips. And the world watched anxiously to determine the fate of a caved-in team of Chilean miners.

And it was also in 2010, on August 18th, that I began what quickly became a very personal endeavour.

Dolphin Rider Koishi started as a joke, based on the insane ramblings of Koishi from another story of mine. But it ended up expanding as I took it more seriously than it probably deserved, until I had an entirely multi-arc story sprawling around in my head. It was easily the largest and most ambitious story idea I'd ever had - my biggest story at the time was Rising Star, which clocked in at about 63000 words. DRK, in its final incarnation, is at least five times as long as that. Hell, there are probably entire trilogies with fewer words than what I put together here.

So now, 1194 days later, I have to look back on the whole thing and ask 'was it worth it? was this story about magical girls and dolphins worth putting three years of my life into?' And as corny as it'll sound, I feel like the answer to that question is yes.

Let me preface this with one important point - I don't like my writing from three years ago. They say you are your own worst critic, and when it comes to the early days of DRK that definitely holds true for me. The whole thing was bogged down in melodrama and exposition, and worst of all Koishi herself was a character that got on my nerves the more I tried to write her. All this frustration ultimately came to a head halfway through arc 4, where I got completely stumped during the protest scene and ended up writing absolutely nothing for about six months.

That hiatus taught me something very important about writing in general - characters grow, sometimes without you being aware of it. Much of the reason I struggled with the protest scene was that I was still imagining Koishi to be the coward she was at the beginning of the story, hiding beneath her bedsheets and trying desperately to refuse the call. I never realised that she'd done her own bit of growing up in the time between, and she was actually much more equipped to handle the scenario than I thought she was.

That realisation was what convinced me the story had to be finished. Never mind how much I learned from writing it, how much prouder I am of my writing as a consequence. I felt like after going that far into the story, I owed it to everyone to finish - not just the readers who'd stuck with the story after so long, but the characters whose arcs never made it to an end. John Green put it best when he said your responsibility is not to the people you're making the gift for, but to the gift itself.

There was also a feeling that I had to tell the story for its overall theme. There seems to be a big wave nowadays for shows where the bad guys win and everything goes wrong - shows like Game of Thrones and The Walking Dead, for example. I've never been able to get into shows like that - I feel like if I want to engage in some fictional escapism, I'd want to read something that wouldn't make me feel even more downbeat. That's why I wanted to write something that would buck the trend - there would be trouble, strife and sadness, but in the end the efforts of the heroes pay off and they manage to change the world for the better. Call it a metaphor for my world view, if you want.

Anyway, I'm glad to have finished DRK, and I feel like I've learned a lot from the experience, but one thing I really want to make clear is that this is 100% the end of the series. I get really mad when people say 'this is the end of the show/series/whatever' and then go back on it to make another one, so I decided I really don't want that to happen to DRK. So this is the end of DRK as a series unless I receive a healthy donation in the mail. Cash is preferred.

One more question I've received a lot from people is 'what are you going to do after DRK is finished?' At the time I wasn't very sure, but having thought about it there's only one way I can go from here - I'm currently trying my hand at writing my own original novel. I'm about 10k words into the first draft right now and doing my best to maintain momentum. It's got dolphins and magic in it, so you could argue that I'm writing what I know. :P

Right, I've let this drag on for long enough. I just want to finish by offering a few acknowledgements for people who helped me along the way to finish this:
-Iced: Obviously. You've been my proofreader for years and have generally helped to keep me in check when I freak out. I couldn't have done this without you.
-Esi: You were the guy who picked me up whenever I felt down. You were the one who had something good to say when I got disheartened, the one who convinced me I could make the story work. When things got rough I would just read over your comments to get myself back into the mood.
-Amra: Bro beyond bros. No particular reason, you're just awesome.
-Moerin: You're probably never going to read this, but you're the person who convinced me to write DRK in the first place. Thank you.
-Kracko: Holy crap that art you did for the Sirens was amazing. It was great seeing ideas I'd had locked up in my head for so long come to life on paper.
-Ruro: The other author writing a monumental epic revolving around the Komeijis. :P Seriously, though, your success was the challenge I was trying to match. Best of luck with White Rose when you get back to it. Hope I didn't mess up Sumire's character too badly!
-The TVTropers responsible for DRK's Trope pages. When I found out this page existed I felt absolutely amazing, knowing what I'd produced was good enough for people to put work into building a page like that. Have fun trying to summarise the last arc, though! :V
-And just generally, everyone who's stuck with this story since day 1. I wouldn't have been able to finish without all the support I've had over the last three years.

Thanks, everyone. Hope you enjoyed. See you whenever.

S1nZ_9001:

Awesome finale to an awesome story, Rou. Many thanks for writing this heartfelt tale~. I'm kinda of sad that it has to end... but everything must eventually.
Thanks once again, Rou. And I'll be sure to spread the awesome that is Dolphin Rider Koishi for time to come~.
I wish you the best of luck with your next project, and look forward to more awesome stories from you~.
*is actually a bit teary eyed right now*

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