Tourist Helpers, 9.48 PM, Day 2
?I see?.? The voice said.
?You again?? Mitaka groaned inwardly. ?I just kicked you out. Can?t you stay out??
?An overwhelming sense of inferiority?that is what you feel, isn?t it?? The voice continued.
??.shut up. I know that. And I don?t care. I?ll just do my best and?.? Mitaka said, dismissing the voice.
?Dear, oh dear, foolish hope.? The voice continued condescendingly. ?And while you fight on, ?doing your best? as you say, for the sake of the team and whatever other foolish ideals you may hold?.the rest of the team laugh. Yes, leave it to the cannon fodder. Let him do all the work, take all the hits, get beaten up and down by the yakuza. Nobody else cares about your plans and suggestions. Everyone simply nods politely, leaving all the hard work and planning to you, and laugh at your foolish faith and perseverance behind your back.?
?I don?t care. I believe more in my team than some voice. Especially some voice who fell to mere insults.?
?You drag the girls down. The once all-powerful Reimu?the once undefeatable Marisa?the once respected Alice?the once strongest-youkai Suika?now they?re all the lowest of the low, the source of all laughter, the butt of all the jokes. And it?s your fault, your weakness??
?Sounds like you?re desperate, if you think you can toy around with my mind.? Mitaka said defiantly, but it had begun gnawing at him, that horrible sinking feeling that the voice was right?
?Dear, oh dear?and you really think I?m just saying all this? The reason I can enter your mind now is because there are so many cracks, so many doubts, oh so many WEAKNESSES to exploit. You?re breaking down, Mitaka. The burden is too much for you and your mind. And it?s their fault?THEIR fault, for making you do everything on your own.?
?GET OUT!? Mitaka snapped. ?Ugh?? He felt the presence leave, but it had left something inside him, something writhing, pulsating. It was anger, frustration, one of proportions he was quite unaccustomed to. But what bothered him most was that the voice was right?.at least about himself. He was harbouring these doubts, these doubts against his own comrades?and it made him feel sick, disgusted with himself.
?Mitaka-san? Are you all right?? Ruukoto asked, concerned.
?I?m f-fine?? Mitaka muttered. ?I just need some water?? He said, hoping some water might drown and smother the twisted burning feeling in his heart.
"But I guess I'm down for the shrine once more. Although I'm quite awake right now since I just took a little nap in the forest behind the Opposite Mansion with Koishi and Satori." Mitaka heard Gpop say.
A nap?? A NAP?! A nap he says?! While the rest of the team was fighting tooth and nail to defend what little they had now against overwhelming odds?.they were taking a nap?! When his team was one of the strongest?! What happened to looking out for each other?! To preserving the memories they all held?! To restoring Gensokyo together?!
Anger rose through him like a blinding red mist, obscuring his senses, taking hold of his conscience like a blazing hot wrench, winding him up, twisting his steaming heart to breaking point.
Before he knew it, his mouth was already moving of its own accord, "What were you three doing there?" He asked, taking great care not to hide the acid in his voice "Bet you were have a nice or-"
"Shut up!" Gpop interrupted as he smacked Mitaka in the head. "And no we weren't doing anything unusual. Just playing around a bit and somehow slept under the trees. It was quite relaxing actually."
"Well since you're more awake then the rest of us I guess you could keep watch while we sleep." Reimu suggested, sharing a little bit of Mitaka?s sentiments towards the lack of teamwork.
"Nah, I can count sheep for some rest. Besides, I'm gonna get Patchouli to teach me some simple magic spells for self-defense tomorrow, so I'll need some rest. I can't rely of physical strength all the time." Then Gpop turned his head towards Koishi, "especially for Koishi's sake."
...for Koishi?s sake? Oh sure, right, and everyone else is fighting for themselves, weren?t they? We?re all selfish bastards, and you?re the only saint thinking about your girlfriend. Your ?magic? is more important than the safety of the entire team, yes, because it?s for the sake of your girlfriend! So now we, who?ve fought to defend you and your Koishi all day today, have to keep watch tonight as well while you get your beauty sleep in preparation for your great painstaking journey into the realms of magiccraft tomorrow. YES! That made perfect, beautiful sense!
The small voice inside him, screaming for common sense and calm, was slowly dying away in the back of his head. ?He?s your comrade! His team saved you back in that abandoned shrine! It wasn?t his fault he wasn?t in town today! He didn?t know! Don?t do this!? The voice fought, but it was simply drowned out by the tidalwave of anger that had overcome Mitaka.
He said something rude, really rude?he couldn?t remember what it was. It was just the rudest thing he could conjure up in his determination to let his anger out before it exploded inside.
Whatever it was, it earned him a punch on the face from Gpop.
"Now no more stupid comments from you!" Gpop shouted, waving a finger in his hurting nose, before turning away to leave.
?....? His feet took flight, propelled by his buoyant anger that rose through him like a million flying daggers, carrying him forwards towards his foe. He charged for Gpop, wanting to beat sense into him, to make him realize...to realize...what? ...to JUST realize...That?s it! He needs to realize!
But he was powerless. Every punch hit anything but Gpop. Gpop meanwhile mounted a proper retaliation, overpowering him easily before tackling him into the ground.
But before long the others had come in to break them apart. Marisa and Reimu tore him away forcefully while Owlbear and ThirtyFour wrestled Gpop out of reach of Mitaka?s continued wrath.
"Heh, you have little energy to support your partners, but enough energy for yourself to fight me?" Gpop smirked, shrugging off Owlbear and ThirtyFour?s holds before turning around. "I'm going out again. And this time don't try to attack from behind, or you won't be so fortunate." Mitaka cursed at his retreating back.
"Heh, whatever." Mitaka said aloud for others to hear. "I bet I can take him on once my mana increases and surpass him!" He laughed, a long, manic, drawn-out laugh. It rang empty and hollow in the room, as if mocking his stupidity.
?Taka-kun!? Reimu slapped him hard across his cheeks. ?Take hold of yourself! You?re a team leader! Team FUBAR?s leader! Start acting like one!?
?Let go of me!? Mitaka shouted. ?I?m going to beat that little wretch! Thinks he?s so high and mighty, does he?! Thinks that him ?studying magic? for his girlfriend?s sake makes him the biggest martyr in the world?! I?ll show him suffering! I?ll show him PAIN!?
?MITAKA!? Reimu slapped him again, harder this time. Both the slap and Reimu?s shouting him by his proper name shocked him back into a semblance of his senses.
Mitaka gazed blankly up at her, as if in confusion. But his expression softened quickly, horrified by how agonized Reimu looked, by how she was biting her lips, tears brimming at her eyes. ??.you?re not yourself, Taka-kun. You?re not the Taka-kun I know. What?s wrong with you??? She murmured.
?Reimu, I?.? Mitaka began.
?I?m going outside.? Reimu said, getting up. ?Don?t follow me. I won?t go far. But when I come back, I expect you to be yourself.? She said, before stalking out. Everyone quickly made way for her, sensing the sensitivity of the matter.
??.ugh?? Mitaka groaned. ?Ok, how much of a bastard was I?? He asked the general audience.
?A big one.? Owlbear conceded, realizing that the boy didn?t want comfort, he wanted criticism. ?You were an utter ⑨ .?
?Yeah, perfect math class, genius.? ThirtyFour nodded. ?But good for you that not everyone was watching here.?
?I?m sorry?? Mitaka muttered. ?I know that?s not going to cut it. I realize that now, when teamwork is so important?I shouldn?t have acted that immaturely.? He sighed, before taking a deep breath. ??I?ll apologize to Gpop?that was unbecoming of a man.?
?Hah! That?s the spirits ze!? Marisa suddenly laughed, slapping Mitaka on the back. ?Spoken like a true mans daze! You need the courage of a thousand men to make one apology!?
?You?re making too big a deal of it. I owe it to him, and to the team.? Mitaka muttered to himself as ThirtyFour helped him onto his feet. ?Ugh?anyone got any aspirin? My head?s still wringing. Dunno if it was Gpop?s punches or Reimu?s slaps, but??
?It was Reimu?s slaps.? Owlbear said. ?Nothing hurts more than an upset woman.?
====outside the store====
Reimu slumped against a wall outside as she fought to compose herself, wiping what few stray tears had managed to leak out with her sleeves. She was a leader. She couldn?t afford to show weakness. Not like this. But Taka-kun?.
?Don?t get?too involved with the boy.? Yukari warned from where she sat on a window sill. ?He?s an outsider. You?re a shrine maiden of the Hakurei, charged with protecting Gensokyo. Remember your place.?
Reimu gave Yukari a long, calculating look as she blinked away the last remaining tears, before finally asking, ??.I?ve been meaning to ask you, Yukari?.the sudden influx of outsiders into Gensokyo over the past few months?that was no coincidence, was it?? She took great care not to disguise the ice in her voice.
?You know the barrier had begun weakening around then. The influx of outsiders was just an unfortunate side-effect.? Yukari said simply.
?Yukari, you think too much of yourself and your youkai trickery if you believe that was enough to deceive me.? Reimu said. ?You brought them into Gensokyo. You chose them. That?s why most of them weren?t even normal outsiders?they were all superhumans or at least humans with higher than average potential.?
??.? Yukari was smiling idly, taking great care not to meet Reimu?s interrogative stare.
?You plan on treating them as batteries, aren?t you?? Reimu asked. ?Is that it?! Is that what humans are to you?! Something for youkai to feed off, whether it be for food or mana supplies?! I thought you had changed, Yukari. I thought you really cared.?
?I care for Gensokyo.? Yukari said, simply. ?As is my duty. You should remember that it is yours as well, first and foremost.?
?Shut up.? Reimu muttered through her teeth, her fists tightening perceptibly. ??If I had any powers?.?
?Exorcise me? Exterminate me?? Yukari asked. ?Haha, you forget, Reimu, I?m no more a youkai now than you are. I?m practically human.? Yukari gestured at herself.
??though, I?m a little curious as to why you chose Taka-kun.? Reimu added. ?He seems to be the only one that doesn?t fit your scheme.?
?He?s a good boy.? Yukari said. ?Does what he?s told. Simple, smart in his own right, but quite oblivious to grand schemes and big pictures. Just, caring, persevering, and unerring. All the qualities of a perfectly predictable and easy to manipulate pawn.? Yukari said. ?Is that what you wanted to hear?? She asked, raising an eyebrow. ?That I chose him specifically to be your benefactor? That I taught him that ludicrous contract vow to manipulate him further??
??.it still doesn?t fit. He would be too much of a gamble, even for the likes of you. His powers are far weaker than the others you chose. I?m too important to your plan to risk linking me to a weak ?battery?.? Reimu said. ?If you really did plan this??
??perhaps I didn?t?? Yukari said. ?Isn?t Mitaka a good argument against your entire hypothesis??
?I?m not convinced.? Reimu said. ?There?s something fishy. Maybe Mitaka was a wrench in your gearbox from the very start. Maybe that?s why you taught him that vow when you could?ve taught him other possible vows?you hoped he would kill himself providing mana to us.?
?Reimu, your paranoia never ceases to amaze me.? Yukari said, her tone taking on a more dangerous timbre. ?But I don?t have to sit here listening to your accusations. Perhaps it was mere chance? Perhaps it?s just Darwinian selection, that the stronger superhumans survived the hellhole that is Gensokyo, while the weak simply became youkai snacks? Perhaps Mitaka?s survival was a fluke?? She straightened herself up to her full height, towering slightly above Reimu. ?I warn you once more, do not get too involved with the boy. Use other methods to improve your synchronization. The less attached you are with him, the better it will be for you, for Gensokyo, and for him.?
?Shut up!? Reimu slammed a fist into the wall. ??you planned this?.you got them all involved?.? She said, her usually calm and collected voice now shaking with a fiery vibrato. ?Tonight, Taka-kun wasn?t himself?if that has anything to do with?with?with THIS...I will crush you as I should have years ago?? She stalked back into the store.
?Lashed out her anger at you, did she?? Satori asked, detaching herself from the shadows.
?I thought you?d be gone by now.? Yukari said. ?Still feeling nosy??
?Gpop wanted to talk to someone about the Prismrivers.? Satori said. ?More importantly, Reimu suspects.?
?Suspects what?? Yukari asked with a saintly smile.
?I knew this would happen?but for it to happen so soon?? Satori sighed. ?So you haven?t told any of them?? She asked.
?Told them what?? Yukari asked, innocently. But no deception gets past the mind-reader youkai.
?You can be so cruel and heartless at times, Yukari.? Satori said, disapprovingly.
?You?re already reading my mind. You know the answer. You are a leader yourself.? Yukari said. ?You must know as well as I do that sacrifices must often be made for the greater good.?
?Mitaka has already shown the first signs.? Satori said. ?And the poor boy is clueless over what just happened.?
?It?s too late now.? Yukari said. ?Do you think telling them will make a difference now? It will only scare them, discourage them, drive them into committing something rash. The sooner we restore Gensokyo, the sooner we can dispose of these irksome contracts.?
?But the damage may already be done by then.? Satori said. ?How are you going to explain it to Reimu, Marisa, Alice, Ruukoto and Suika when they find out the price for Gensokyo?s restoration? Mitaka has already started exhibiting symptoms. That?s just to be expected, him being the weakest. I?m not sure how resistant the others would be.?
?I already warned Reimu.? Yukari said, not being able to meet Satori?s gaze.
??warned?? Satori scoffed. ?You told her not to get too attached to him! You call that a warning?! Hah, but you don?t care, do you? As long as your little paradise is restored, it doesn?t matter how many people are hurt.?
?And why do you care?!? Yukari suddenly burst out. ?Do you think it was easy?! Choosing who will bear this burden?! Do you think it was easy?.looking into his eyes?lying to his face?? Yukari faltered. ??I didn?t want to?.I really didn?t want to?but it?s not about Gensokyo anymore.? She looked up at Satori, cruel, lonely determination burning in her dark eyes once more. ?There?s more at stake than some secluded little paradise.?
?So you do care.? Satori said. ?That?s all I wanted to know. I know we didn?t have much of a choice. I myself don?t want my younger sister to suffer anymore than she already has. But if you were seriously intending on taking advantage of his kindness and that of the others, I would have struck you down, personally.? She said, a hint of menace in her voice.
?The fact that I?m still standing probably means you think I have a heart.? Yukari chuckled grimly.
?I don?t need to think. I can see it.? Satori said as she turned to leave. ?We?ll see this to the end?together. I?m not losing anyone. Not this time.?
?I?ll hold you to those words.? Yukari said.
======Back inside the store=========
?Reimu, a moment, if you please.? Satori shouted after Reimu.
?What do you want?? Reimu sighed. ?Look, my team leader will apologize, ok??
?No, no, it?s not that.? Satori said. ?More importantly, I want you to do something very important tonight.?
??what is it?? Reimu said. ?If it?s the watch, team FUBAR will do it. We owe that much, at least.?
?No, silly?? Satori said. ?You can?t do the watch tonight. In fact, I need you to sleep.?
??what?? Reimu asked, a little confused. ?Say again??
?You see, tonight?.? Satori leaned in and whispered conspiringly in Reimu?s ear. ??psst psst with Mitaka psst psst in bed psst psst?.?
====Later on, on the store?s second floor====
??.a dive, you say?? Alice asked as Amarillo trooped down the stairs behind them after securing Taihou. She cast a curious glance towards the female members of Team FUBAR but decided to leave them to their secret little meeting. ?...tonight?? Alice sighed.
??sounds like fun.? Suika said, simply.
??.Suika-san?everything sounds like fun to you?? Ruukoto said, nervously.
?It?s something done in bed, right?? Suika said. ?Off course it?s gonna be fun, like a pillow fight!?
??.right, so we?re going to dive into his mind?? Alice asked. ?I think that?s what that Satori girl was trying to say.?
?More or less. It?ll reveal to us the reason behind his strange turn tonight.? Reimu said.
?He?s just nutty.? Alice shrugged. ?Aren?t all men hotblooded, violent and short-tempered??
?Not Taka-kun.? Reimu said. ?I?ve known him for almost half-a-year now. He?s not the sort.?
?Yeah, Taka Taka?s a nice guys ze.? Marisa said, nodding sagely. ?He even gives away stuffs willingly, daze. I never has to steals from him.?
??.ok, ok?I take it that I have no choice in the matter anyway?? Alice sighed, mourning the end of her restful nights. ?So we just go to sleep, right??
?Right.? Reimu nodded.
??.? They all looked at each other expectantly.
??well??? Marisa finally asked.
??well what?? Suika raised an eyebrow.
??when do we sleep?? Alice asked, irritably. ?Let?s get this over with.?
??.I will lay out the futons in an undamaged unused room and turn on the heating.? Ruukoto said.
?Thank you, Ruukoto-chan.? Reimu nodded with gratitude at the little maid.
?I?ll gets snacks ze.? Marisa said.
?I?ll get sake!? Suika declared.
??.bed time story books?? Alice suggested.
Reimu?s palm met her face. Where was her gohei stick when she needed it??
Skipping the DIVE session, and going straight to morning of Day 3
Hot Springs, Saniwa Inn, 7.00 AM, Day 3
?I now officially declare the official opening of this official Gensokyo Restoration Unity meeting.? Sho said, doing his best to look authoritative despite being naked and submerged waist-deep in soothing hot water.
??.how official can it be when you hold it in the hot springs?? Alex asked, blowing bubbles idly in the water. ?Mitaka! 100 more!? He shouted over at Mitaka who was doing push-ups in a corner for morning training as part of his new training regime.
?Isn?t that just because the girls wanted a soak too?? Gpop sighed. ?We have to be close?and why do I have to come all the way to this dilapidated shrine this early in the morning??
?And I thought we had agreed on team GAR?? Jeremy asked.
?No, Motherland Deliverance Association.? Owlbear said, patting a hot towel on his head comfortably.
?Never mind.? Sho said, irritably. ?The important part is, we?ve agreed to go hunting for that keystone, right??
?Now where would you hide the keystone if you were Tenshi??? ThirtyFour mused.
?Or just a Hinanai, for that matter. You know they?re a quirky bunch.? Taihou said.
Silence fell, broken only by the ?Ka-Thunk? of the hollow bamboo water fountain.
??you thinking what I?m thinking?? Kojiro asked, a bemused expression on his face.
??noo?.? Yoh shook his head. ?No, that can?t be??
??how much do you want to bet that it?s?.? Zei began.
All the men looked around at the bamboo divider wall that stood between them and the girls?.
??.heh, sounds like Tenshi all right?.? Gpop said.
