Chapter 10
?Yeah, and that over there is the Human Village. Self-explanatory really, most of the humans in Gensokyo live there, particularly the ones without any power. There are a few shops there which have some half-decent stuff and there?s a rising number of youkai who inhabit the village now as well. I guess it won?t be called the Human Village for much longer if it keeps on like this.? I explained to the two scientists as we flew by the settlement, as part of my guided tour to Gensokyo.
?So? the stores there are more general?? Chiyuri asked.
I nodded. ?Yeah. After all, what need of magical artefacts and outside items do helpless peasants need? All that stuff is found in Kourindou, the shop we flew by a couple of minutes ago.?
?Can?t we go in there for a look?? Chiyuri asked.
?Kourindou?? I laughed weakly. ?I would have, but I?m kinda? banned from there currently.?
Grins appeared on the scientists? faces. ?Come on then, let?s hear how.?
I chuckled. ?Well, I was browsing around Kourindou for anything interesting and what do you know, I managed to find an old games console. God knows how it got into Gensokyo but I knew Yuka would love it. So I picked-?
?Wait a second, Yuka likes video games?? Yumemi shouted out without thinking. ?The same Yuka that supposedly enjoys genocide??
?Well, when you look at some games the two go hand in hand, don?t they? Anyway, you can blame Yukari for introducing her to them.? I recalled the night before the fight for Gensokyo in my mind and the headache caused by the plastic instrument wielding band consisting of two youkai, a ghost and a magician.
?True.? Yumemi nodded her head, satisfied by the answer.
?So yeah, I go to the counter to buy it and the owner, Rinnosuke, is nowhere to be seen. Curiously there were some sheets of paper on the desk with drawings on, so naturally I picked them up and had a look.?
I coughed slightly before starting my next sentence. ?What I wasn?t expecting them to be were? pictures containing scenes of Rinnosuke and various female youkai doing? lewd things. Things got even better when he walked in on me having found his handiworks and he didn?t look too happy about it.?
?He tried to blabber out some excuse about the images but I just laughed and told him to relax, I wouldn?t tell anyone. The main problem was when I threw the papers back onto his desk; my eyes caught the final page of the pile which contained none other than Yuka.? I laughed out loud. ?He knew I?d seen the image and his face filled with fear as he knew what was coming. Unfortunately he didn?t have enough time to react before my fist landed square in his face, propelling him through the back wall of his shop.?
Elly burst out into laughter as I finished speaking which made me remember I never actually told her about this story. ?But yeah, I walked off with the console after that and next time I went he claimed I?d been influenced by Yuka?s violent nature too much and banned me. Funny how that ban seems to vanish whenever I go there with Yuka though?. Not like the ban means anything though.?
Yumemi laughed. ?I guess you really do care for Yuka then.?
I laughed weakly. ?Yeah. Considering I killed myself for a chance to be back with her and have spent almost 40 years with her? I guess you can say that.?
?I see. Well, Yuka certainly seems to care for you. She was constantly checking up on you while you were unconscious, and that was after I?d woken up.? Yumemi commented.
?She does. She just only shows it when it?s convenient for her.? I laughed. ?Anyway, we can talk about this when we get back. We?re not far now.?
?One more question related to Yuka, please.? Yumemi pleaded. ?I don?t know if she was joking or what, but Yuka said she had died not long ago. Can you? elaborate? She didn?t look like a spirit or anything.?
?Oh, she never told you? Yeah, she died a few years after we met you.?
?What? How?? Chiyuri asked clueless.
?She died saving Gensokyo from what was possibly the biggest threat to it ever.? I continued melancholically, reliving those moments. ?It was heartbreaking for me.?
?Who or what could possibly kill her?? Yumemi asked.
?Kikuri.? I answered. ?With the stolen body of Yukari Yakumo.?
Yumemi and Chiyuri exchanged confused looks before bursting into laughter.
?G? good one!? Yumemi said between bursts of laughter. ?You?re saying that shy girl killed Yuka??
?Yes. She did. She wasn?t always that way you know. I?m sure we?ll tell you the story one day.? I grinned weakly.
The scientists nodded. ?I?d certainly like to hear about it.?
?Wait a second.? Chiyuri objected. ?Does that mean Yuka is dead now??
?Oh, right. No, she?s alive again. It was our prize for saving Gensokyo, I guess you could say.?
The blonde scientist nodded in confirmation and a quiet spell fell over us. It wasn?t very pleasant considering I was reliving that terrible fight but it?s something I?ve become used to over time.
As we flew past it, I presented the forest of magic to them and explained to them what and who you can find in there, following it up with the neighbouring bamboo forest.
?Sounds like this Yagokoro could get us some interesting chemicals to play around with.? Chiyuri commented.
?Interesting to say the least.? I mumbled, thinking back to the time when Reisen was turned into a sentient blob of goo.
At this point in my journey to Mugenkan, I would usually be concentrating on the swaying sea of yellow caused by the sunflowers but this time was different, someone was flying above it towards the forest; someone who shouldn?t be here.
What the hell is she doing here?
?Hey, you two. Stay completely still.? I ordered as I cast a spell on them. ?I?ve hidden you with my power; let?s see if we can give someone a surprise.?
Flying a bit closer to the figure, I shouted out to catch her attention. ?Hey! Mima!?
Instantly the spirit turned and noticed me and began flying over to us.
?Ah, Haru. How are you?? Mima nodded. ?And you?re with? Elly. Don?t say you?ve broken up with Yuka.?
I laughed weakly. ?I wouldn?t dare to. She?d probably gouge my eyes out.?
?That?s a valid point.? Mima agreed.
?So, what are you doing here? Aren?t you meant to be on some tropical island in the outside world?? I queried.
?Well, yes. But I thought I had better spend a few hours checking my? domain to see if anything had gone wrong. Apparently there has.? Mima scratched her head in confusion. ?Do you know anything about it??
?As a matter of fact. Yes. We resolved the incident.?
?What! Really?? Mima practically screamed.
?Yep. Someone stole Gensokyo?s colour, so Yuka and I went to get it back.? I explained.
Mima nodded. ?I see. Who was behind it??
?Ah, no one you?d know.? I shrugged, clicking my fingers and cancelling the spell I?d cast.
Mima hummed. ?I see. That?s a shame, I was won-? Her sudden pause broadcasted that she?d just seen the two newcomers.
?My, oh my.? Mima mused. ?I wasn?t expecting to see you two here so early.
?Neither did we, but what?s done is done.? Yumemi commented.
The scientists and Mima exchanged some small talk briefly before Mima spoke up again. ?However much I?d really love to talk, I have a better idea. Reimu is coming to pick me up any minute now to go back to wherever we are on holiday, so drop by the shrine when we get back and we?ll have a huge party to celebrate, okay??
?That sounds awesome!? Chiyuri yelled.
?Well then, sounds like a plan. I?ll see you then.? Mima laughed as she flew off towards the shrine.
Not long afterwards the sunflower field was well in sight prompting Elly to speak out. ?Well, here we are! Home sweet home!?
As we landed in the border of the field, I held out my arm to command the scientists to stop. ?Let me warn you now. Whatever you do, do not damage the flowers. If you do? well, even I won?t be able to save you.?
Yumemi and Chiyuri exchanged nervous looks. ?All the flowers?? One of them asked.
?Any of them.? I spoke back, trying to sound as serious as possible.
??Understood. I think I?ll fly into the field from now on.? Chiyuri muttered.
Elly laughed. ?It?s not too bad! Miss Yuka?s flowers are top quality! They?re practically indestructible!?
?They are? That sounds unlikely.?Yumemi probed.
?Sure! Watch this!? Elly yelled as she spun her scythe into action and threw it, promptly decapitating a number of flowers.
All I could do to stop myself from laughing was sigh. ?How do you want your funeral, Elly??
Elly was completely pale. ?Please don?t tell her! Please!?
?I bet she already knows.? I commented. It wasn?t encouraging but it was the truth.
Elly looked around nervously. ?I think? I? I think I left something back at Yumemi?s cave! I?m going to go back and look for it! I?ll be back later!? In a nervous wreck, Elly quickly took to the sky and flew away as fast as she could.
An awkward minute went by before Chiyuri broke the silence again. ?So, where do we live in this sunflower field? I coulda sworn Yuka said we would have a house but I sure can?t see one.?
?Good question.? I quickly took them to the portal which was, as ever, camouflaged in plain sight. ?It?s in here.?
?Ooo. A magic portal!? Yumemi?s eyes filled with interest. ?We must get readings for this!?
Her assistant jumped forward, equally as enthusiastically. ?Sure thing, boss!?
?Can this wait until later? You have all the time in the world, you know? Plus I bet Yuka is waiting for us.? I sighed.
Yumemi nodded. ?Of course. Wouldn?t want to make someone like her wait for longer than necessary, would we??
?Alright, just go through the portal into Mugenkan, I?ll be with you in a second.? I grinned.
Yumemi nodded and walked through, followed by Chiyuri. Once I was sure they were both in, I turned around and cancelled the light manipulation I had cast on the flowers that Elly had attacked earlier leaving them in their true state; perfectly unharmed. Laughing to myself, I entered the portal myself to catch up with the scientists.
Yeah, Rinnosuke, I think you were right. She has influenced me, not that that is a bad thing?.
In the few seconds it took for me to cancel my spell and enter the portal, Yuka had already approached the scientific duo and began conversing with them.
Upon noticing me approach, Yuka spoke up. ?Ah, there you are. I wonder where you?d gone to.?
?I was just checking something.? I grinned.
Yuka sneered. ?If you say so.? She looked back to the scientists before motioning towards the new structure that I noticed was sitting close to Mugenkan?s portal. ?This will be your new home. I expect you?ll find it suitable, I?ve designed it with certain? themes in mind.?
I can only wonder what themes she?s talking about?
?Well then? let?s go and have a look shall we?? Yuka grinned.
?Sure thing!? Chiyuri shouted as she ran for the door.
I honestly wondered what I was going to see behind the door but was quite surprised to see that it was quite ordinary, not quite as formal as the Kazami mansion but certainly well-kept, something along the lines of an upper-class human house.
?This is really nice, Miss Kazami.? Yumemi bowed. ?I can?t thank you enough for this, it?s wonderful.?
?Yeah, thanks.? Chiyuri added.
Yuka chuckled enigmatically. ?This isn?t the best bit. I assure you.?
Oh god. What is?
Yuka led us through the house until we reached a strange metal cupboard. Effortlessly the green haired youkai opened it and I realized what it actually was.
A lift? Seriously? Please say she didn?t.
Ushering us in, Yuka made the lift go down to wherever the destination was. One thing I did note is that her previous anxiety of lifts from years ago was gone. I couldn?t make my mind up if it was because she was a youkai now or if it?s because she made the lift, but hey, trying to figure out what is going on in Yuka?s head is an impossible task in itself.
The lift made a little tune signalling our arrival and the sight I saw was nothing less than impressive, even if it was ridiculous.
What Yuka had created underground was literally a secret lab, her ?themes? were without a doubt old spy flicks that we had watched through the years. All that the place needed was nameless people in brightly coloured uniforms and it would have been identical.
?I figured you?d want a laboratory of some sort, so I thought I?d make it a little more? fun.? Yuka grinned.
Chiyuri squealed and ran off down one of the corridors while Yumemi stood there in awe.
?I? I don?t know what to say, Yuka.? Yumemi managed. ?I can?t possibly repay you for this.?
Yuka shrugged. ?It?s nothing big. I?m repaying the help you gave us back in the human world.?
I was beginning to wonder where Chiyuri had disappeared to when Yuka spoke once more. ?Anyway, I think we had better leave these two to explore their new home. Feel free to come to the mansion later for dinner.?
?Okay, thank you.? The scientist thanked once more.
?Come on Haru, let?s go. Now you can fix that TV for me.? She grinned.
I sighed. ?I told you, that?s gone for good.?
?Fixing a TV is no problem. Just bring it here and we?ll sort it. Hell, we could probably even make a new one with this lab!? Yumemi boasted.
?Okay then, I might take you up on that offer.? Yuka turned around and re-entered the lift, shortly followed by myself. ?We?ll see you two later.?
The lift doors closed and Yuka turned around, her face smirking.
As she wrapped her arms around one of mine, I grinned back. ?I guess that means your plan worked.?
?You doubted that it wouldn?t?? The youkai asked.
?No, I didn?t actually. I just had to see it for myself.? I chuckled weakly.
The rest of the day went smoothly. Yumemi and Chiyuri came to the mansion and learnt about Mugenkan as well as general life in Gensokyo including me renting out a copy of the Gensokyo Chronicle much like I was lent one in the past.
Hours turned to days, days to weeks and weeks to months. Before long it felt like Yumemi and Chiyuri had been in Gensokyo for years; their place earned in Mugenkan multiple times by their works even topping the creations by the leading Kappa groups.
However, this wasn?t the only event to take place this year. It turned out that someone from another realm had other plans for us.
