>Go back to the SDM and read a good book.
>It's time to go home. You part from Marisa, feeling rather good from those last few moments, and return to your nice warm library as it is getting nippy out here.
>Returning without incident, you tear into a book certain specifics of water magic, portrayed as a philosophical conversation between a thaumaturge and a water entity. It is enlightening, but soon you feel too weary to properly concentrate on the pages. You decide to retire for the evening, and fall asleep moments after your head hits the pillows.
>You awaken the next day, feeling quite a great deal better for the rest. Curiously enough, you can still breath as easily as ever. Perhaps Kanako is especially pleased with some of your work? Looking out the window, you see that the grounds are buried under a couple inches of snow. Making your way toward the library, you are pleased to see that the maids have gotten the fire lit and tea on the table. It does not take long to find out why; you soon hear Remilia shouting orders from down the hall. It seems she'll be filling in for Sakuya for now. This aside, things are pleasantly peaceful and restful. You hear Flandre playing with her new puppy in the halls all throughout the day. Every so often, you look outside and get a glimpse of Meiling making snowmen outside, while keeping an eye on the gates.
>If Remilia remembers the conversation from yesterday at all, she shows no indication of it. Whether she has simply forgotten it, which is is apt to do with undesirable things or simply stored it away for a later guilting, you do not know. But you quickly forget it all yourself.
>Around midafternoon, you nearly have a heart attack when Yuka strides into the library.
>Thankfully, she has only come for tea, as is custom after an incident. She doesn't seem to hold much of a grudge for yesterday's events, though she is a little disappointed that your spellcards were destroyed, thus preventing her from claiming the ones she overwhelmed. This aside, conversation is rather pleasant, if decidedly botanical. You try to prod the secret of the mirrored flowers from her, but she only annoying hints that they were a breed she had been working on for some time. You decide not to mention the flowers you sold to Rinnosuke.
>Later that evening, Marisa arrives with another armload of books. After shelving them away; and you are surprised to see that only a few of them are yours; the two of you spend some time together working on a new formula to replace your lost Non-Directional Laser. It is a pleasant evening indeed, to say the least.
>The next day, Sakuya finally awakens; you are the first to find her when you see her staggering down the stairs as you make a trip to the kitchen. You help her to the kitdhen, and a meal is quickly prepared for her as you explain some of the things than happened since she she collapsed. Sakuya seems rather mortified her efforts weren't enough to advance things to sunset directly, and is surprisingly thankful that you were able to hold things down with her. She is also caught quite off guard when the basset hound puppy enters the kitchen and woofs at her. Then she scoops it up in her arms and cuddles it with display of affection that you honestly didn't suspect she was capable of. Who knew that Sakuya had a weakness for dogs?
>Things between the two of you are definitely less frosty as the day goes on. She even brings you some coffee with lunch later that day.
>Marisa comes again, then time bearing a letter for you. Opening it, you find two letters, both written in florid script. You start to read one.
>Dear Patchouli,
>I hope this message finds you well! Things have been quite peaceful since we parted ways. I was afraid there might have been some lingering effects from that battle, but it seems that everything is okay. Although, I don't mind saying I got some very frank stares when I passed through the village on my way home! Such is the way of things. I have enclosed a little something that I think will interest you greatly.
>Yours, Yuyuko Saigyouji
>P.S. Youmu is still absolutely furious after that trick you played on her. I think it's rather cute, myself.
>You check the other letter. Though written in Yuyuko's handwritten, you quickly come to suspect she only recorded it
>Hey Patchy! Everything worked out, and it's all thanks to you! The Yama had a hell of a time figuring out what to do with me. I had done all sorts of bad things and good things, but none of them ever happened! I almost made her start cursing in frustration when her mirror would would at all. In the end, it was decided since I didn't actually do anything, I couldn't really be damned; apparently what I went through was close enough. But since I had all these thoughts and sorta-karma, I couldn't really just reincarnate. So she sent me to Hakugyokurou to dry out for awhile until I'm ready. And I really lucked out, since Yuyuko apparently made it a mission to find me and make sure everything's okay. I think she's actually breaking some laws writing all this down for you. Anyways, I'm good. And I owe you like twenty. Thanks a lot, I mean it. I told the Yama she better give you all kinds of extra credit for that.
>Jeff.
>That certainly left you with some warm fuzzies.
>The next day, you recieve an official-looking letter. Opening it up, you find a dryly-letter with an official-looking seal, thanking you for apprehending Aya. Included with it is 500☼. After some debate, you decide to split the reward with Marisa and Remilia. Remilia refuses her share, as well you'd expect, but you know she'd be furious if you didn't offer.
>A couple weeks later, Koakuma returns! She is suspiciously tan. Upon inquiry, it seems she spent her vacation on the banks of the Sanzu River, enjoying the sun, until the heat broke. Then she spent most of it loafing around on in the Ancient City.
>Your library is dry as a bone, Marisa visits you every day now. Sakuya and you seem to have buried the hatchet. You have the quiet knowledge that you managed to save the day, and save a poor sap who got in over his head. Flandre's as happy you've seen her; and Remilia has a new toy to cackle over on top of that. It's also kinda sweet to have the dog, whom Flandre has still not named, shuffle into the library and lie down on your feet. Life in the mansion is good. At one point, you send a letter to Satori, asking about the Prismrivers. Soon you get a reply, learning that she has put them to work cleaning up some of the more neglected parts of the Palace of the Earth Spirits. She also gives you a few pages worth of suggestions for raising a dog. Apparently they really like to have their meals served on a plate. In short,
life is good.>
>You have gotten a Happy End!
>
>Credits:
>Original Inspiration: TranceHime
>Programming, Music, Graphic Design, Typos, Database Errors: Purvis Hobotech
>Story: All of us!
>See you next quest!
