Chapter Text
A year had passed since the 'Incident' with Kazami Yuuka. Unfortunately for Reimu, said youkai had also, much like many others in her life, made a habit of visiting the shrine regularly.
Half of Reimu's mind was annoyed at all the troublemakers and youkai visitors she got, but the other half was just thankful she had regular company.
But, that wasn't the problem she was having today. No, today's problem was the god-awful amount of demons from Makai that seemed to be wandering about. It almost felt like the prelude to an invasion.
“Something about this is strange,” Mima commented. “Makaians don't usually travel like this. They're stationary by nature.”
“You seem to know a bit about them,” Yuuka said. “Met a few in your time?”
“A few, yeah. They were rather hermit-like, too. Not liking to leave Makai,” Mima explained. “So this...”
“Doesn't make a lot of sense, is what you're saying,” Reimu finished. “Sounds like a proper Incident this time.”
“Hope so,” Marisa said. “Last two times kinda flopped, not gonna lie.”
“Well, you can blame one of us here for the last one,” Reimu muttered.
Yuuka, in response, laughed. “You say that as if I have control over how people react to me.”
“At least have some awareness about it,” Reimu muttered. “Whatever. I'm going to investigate this ordeal. Who else is in?”
Unanimously, all three were in.
Over a large field somewhere in the north of Gensokyo, the quartet of Reimu, Marisa, Mima, and Yuuka, all looked out in different directions.
“Mima-sama, are you sure this is the right place?” Marisa called out. “I'm not seeing any door here.”
Mima groaned irritably, mostly at herself. “I was sure it was around here,” she muttered. “Damn being out of commission for so long.”
“You're getting on in your years, Mima,” Reimu said. “You see anything, Gramps?”
“Nothing, Reimu-sama,” Genji replied. “Perhaps we should move out search...”
“Hold it!” a new voice shouted. All eyes turned, to see a pink haired woman dressed in red and white, standing before... a strange doorway. “I am Sara, gatekeeper of Makai! For the sake of my lady, you shall not pass!”
The four shared a look between each other. “Guess we're on the right way, then,” Reimu said. “Who wants to take her?”
“Dibs!” Marisa called. “I call dibs! I wanna try out my new thing!”
“Oh? You got something new to show off?” Mima asked. “Do tell, do tell.”
Sara felt herself instinctively back up, as Marisa produced a small, octagon shaped box from her pocket. “A new kind of magic conductor,” Marisa explained. “I was finding the old wand to be a bit too flimsy for my liking, so I got Kourin to whip this thing up. This Mini-hakkero will help me keep up with you lot, no sweat!”
Sara felt sweat begin to form on her brow. “Um... Is it too late for me to surrender?”
Magic began to swirl in the Mini-hakkero. “Yup,” Marisa stated plainly, before unleashing a Spark.
Reimu had to admit, that was an impressive display, and proved that the right tools make all the difference. She might have to step up her game to not be left behind.
The space between Gensokyo and Makai was a lot like the night sky, when Reimu really looked at it. A vast sea of blackness, speckled with a few lights.
Now that Reimu really thought of it, she had been travelling through a lot of those sorts of places over the past few years. Kinda strange how they blurred together like that.
As the four moved forward, a blonde haired Makaian demon dressed in white appeared. Her name was Louise, but they never had the chance to learn it, because the moment they were even remotely close enough to converse, Mima shot first. Something about not wasting too much time on utter nobodies.
As they continued on, past vast Makai plains and great forests, at some point, Marisa disappeared from the party. Later, after the Incident was resolved, they would learn that Marisa had a chance encounter with a girl named Alice Margatroid, but that was neither here nor there.
Eventually, they came across a large lake, guarded by two witches, known as Mai and Yuki. For whatever reason, Mima and Yuuka had decided to tag-team these two, and let Reimu go on ahead.
So, Reimu did. Just one problem; she had no idea where she was going.
For what seemed like hours, Reimu and Genji wandered the breadth of Makai. At one point, they came across some large seal, but decided to leave it well alone. Best not awakening any sleeping dragons that might be down here.
“Oh? Do we have a guest?” a voice spoke finally. “Apologies for not greeting you sooner.”
A white haired woman dressed in red appeared before Reimu. Reimu could tell at a glance that this woman was someone important. “Well, it's not like this place has any signs up telling me where to go,” Reimu said.
The woman's expression shifted to one of understanding. “Oh, I know!” she said. “Even I still get lost from time to time. I keep telling Yumeko-chan to put up signs, or at least some sort of landmarks, but she keeps saying they're unnecessary.”
Huh. This woman seems quite approachable. If she really was a big deal around here, maybe they could sort this Incident out easily? “So, who are you, anyway?” Reimu asked. “I'm the Hakurei Shrine Maiden, here because of the sudden and, quite frankly, uncontrolled influx of Makai demons in Gensokyo. It's got people freaking out.”
“Influx?” the woman questioned. “Ah, right. That was going on, wasn't it?” She seemed to realise something. “A local travelling agency had been putting out a lot of flyers lately about sightseeing in the Human world. I didn't think much would come of it, though, and left it alone.”
“Well, much came of it,” Reimu snarked.
“Yes, that would be an oversight on my part,” the woman admitted. “But where are my manner. I haven't introduced myself, have I? My name is...”
“Shinki-sama!” someone new called out, much to Reimu's growing irritation. A blonde haired maid dressed in red flew between them, brandishing a blade. “There is no need for you to converse with someone as lowly as that!”
“What do you mean 'as lowly as that'?!” Reimu shouted.
“I'm actually with the shrine maiden on this one, Yumeko,” the woman, now identified as Shinki, said. “That was just plain rude of you, and she had a legitimate problem to bring up.”
“Please, allow me to deal with this nuisance,” Yumeko said, not really listening. “I shall deal with her post-”
Reimu felt the ground -that is to say, Genji- fall out from under her for a brief moment, as Genji shot forth as a spinning shell, striking Yumeko clean in the face, before just as quickly returning to his position under Reimu. “What a rude maid you keep, miss,” he said. “Interrupting a conversation with threats of violence.”
“I have no excuse for that, I'll admit,” Shinki said. “I created Yumeko to be the diligent sort, sure, but that was a bit extreme.”
“Created?” Reimu asked. “Does that mean you're...”
“Yes. I am the Goddess of Makai,” Shinki gave a friendly smile. “But please, don't let that distract you. Shall we discuss this matter?” Shinki couldn't help but notice the grip Reimu had on her gohei. “Is everything alright, Hakurei-san?”
“Sorry, force of habit,” Reimu admitted. “We're not... going to break down into a fight anyway, right?”
“Not if you don't want to.”
“I'd rather not.”
“Then fight we shall not,” Shinki said with a smile. “How about some tea, instead?”
Shinki, Reimu found, was a very agreeable person. Not exactly a 'fighting' person, and also willing to help in resolving the Incident (granted, she has options to help, unlike in Yuuka's case).
All in all, she was probably the nicest person Reimu has had to deal with. A part of Reimu wondered if this was what having an actual mother was like.
After some time, Mima and Yuuka joined them. Before too long, they had reached an agreement with Shinki to at least limit how many residents of Makai could travel to Gensokyo at one time.
As they made their way back, they happened upon Marisa, lying on the ground next to a young Alice Margatroid, both looking exhausted from battle.
That certainly looked to be the start of a good friendship, maybe even more.
But, that was a story for another time.