RPG - Waking Up From the Dream (Story Archive - Day 1 and Morning of Day 2)

[Gappy]

Hakurei Shrine, Day 1, 2.23 PM, 3 hours until the collapse of the Great Hakurei Barrier

"Uwaaaah!" A large pile of china flew and crashed into the tatami, followed by the young miko carrying said pile as yet another tremor shook the hill and the shrine. Thankfully, the miko didn't join the ceramic shards on the floor as she was caught by the waist from behind just in time. "...m-my favourite cup....my rice bowl..." She murmured sadly as she hung limply over the remains of her cup and bowl.

"You can't seriously be thinking of bringing those with you, right?" Mitaka sighed, still holding the miko by her waist. He couldn't help but feel a pang of sympathy for the poor miko, previously his saviour, currently benefactor and friend.

"But...but..." Hakurei Reimu, the miko in question, faltered. But it didn't have to be said. Mitaka understood. Reimu is a shrine maiden of a shrine that could hardly qualify as one, lacking the worshipers necessary for a shrine's continued existence. As a result, the donation box was always as empty as Yuyuko's stomach. Poverty had, for a long while, been her only companion. Thus why every little possession she had, no matter how trivial, meant the world to her. Mitaka knew for a fact that the cup that now lay in pieces on the floor was a gift she got from the Chuu road.

"It's all right..." Mitaka said, soothingly, as he raised the trembling miko to her feet. This shrine maiden, who had always so defiantly stood up to any challenge, no matter how great, how ridiculously impossible, how terrifyingly daunting, for the sake of complete strangers, was now shaking like a leaf in grief and despair in his arms. "It's all right..."

"It's not all right!" Reimu snapped in a sudden burst of anger, pushing Mitaka's arm away and walking away into a corner. "It's not all right..." she repeated, a little more quietly.

Mitaka remained silent. There wasn't much time left, but if he tried to argue now, there'd be no end to it. Listening to her worries may be a better choice for now.

"...this is my home...." She began. "...I was born here....brought up here....I'm a Shrine Maiden of the Hakurei Shrine...." She said, as if trying to hold onto something that was rapidly slipping away. It was, in fact, slipping away. Being the miko of this shrine is her identity, who she is...without it she'd be lost, stripped of her identity. "...It's the duty of the Hakurei shrine maiden to resolve disasters....to protect Gensokyo and everyone in it....but this...this..." She fell to her knees, shuddering violently.

"...." Mitaka sat down behind her, held her close, and whispered in her ear "You can let it out. You can cry. It's all right."

As if an invincible, insurmountable dam broke asunder, tears burst out of the miko's eyes, exploding into sobs as she buried her face in his shoulder. Mitaka held her tight, as if she was a fragile piece of china that would break if he ever let go.

"You are protecting Gensokyo." Mitaka finally said as firmly as he can. "Gensokyo has hope for restoration as long as you and the others escape. But if you stay here, all hope will be lost."

"So be strong and hold your head high. You're doing your duty. And you're doing great. It takes courage to go through with this, and you've already gone beyond what any Hakurei shrine maiden has ever done." Mitaka said, encouragingly, as he gazed into the teary chestnut brown eyes of the miko in his arms. "Now, put on your usual determined look. The others will be here soon and you have to inspire confidence! If you don't, who will? You're not expecting Suika or Ruukoto to look courageous and defiant, are you?"

Reimu suddenly chuckled. "I can count on Suika to look drunk." She blurted, choking back tears. "Yes, you're right, I have to get my act together."

"Good girl." Mitaka nodded approvingly, ruffling the miko's hair, earning him a look of mock-disapproval.

"Ruukoto! Prepare to pack up the donation box!" Reimu called out as she got up.

".....you're not serious, are you...?" Mitaka facepalmed. "Now..." He sighed, looking out at the stormy sky outside. "I hope the others are doing better..."


Hakugyokorou, Day 1, ? PM, 3 hours until the collapse of the Great Hakurei Barrier[/b]

"Yuyuko, I know you're used to having Youmu around, but frankly, we don't have time to wait for her." Sho shouted exasperatedly at his wife.

"But I'm hungryyyyy. And she has all the food packed." Yuyuko whined.

Sho rolled his eyes in irritation. "Look, I have some stuff stashed away, IF we really need it. But you aren't getting ANY right now. I know perfectly well that you don't actually need it. I can deal with your appetite under normal circumstances. In fact, I even find it amusing. But right now, our first concern is getting out of here as quickly as possible. There's no time for games. I want you to take this seriously. Please. For both our sakes."

The whine dropped from Yuyuko's voice "Alright, I realize that was foolish. But I haven't had to take anything seriously in a long time. It's almost like a completely new experience..."

Sho smiled. "If you need encouragement, just remember, it's probably easier for you than it is for Yukari. And don't worry. That statement tells me you're already doing fine. Now lets get out of here before things get any worse."


SDM, Day 1, ? PM, 3 hours until the collapse of the Great Hakurei Barrier


Zei stared out of the window out of boredom, seeing if there was anything interesting going to happen. "..this day sucks.", he said to himself.

Flandre didn't seem to care, but noticed part of the Hakurei Border falling apart, and saw a crying Miko from a nearby shrine.

She then instantly ran out of the basement and walked up to me. Zei noticed her and asked, "..something wrong? Hungry again?", he jokingly asked.

"No, it's not that.", she said and pointed towards the window.

Zei took a look at the window, "..there's nothing to worry ab-- HOLY SHIT. The border's falling apart?!", he asked. "Damnit, we need to get the hell out of here as quickly as possible.", he said.

Flandre agreed with him and went down towards the basement to gather her stuff. "BY THE WAY, don't take all of your "toys(somehow, Flan destroys stuff A LOT.)" with you. They're gonna be burnt TWICE MORE than going to Former Hell.", Zei warned her.

She sighed and only took her lavatein with her. She asked him, "..that's good enough right? What about the memories?"

Zei reassured her while petting her head, "..Memories? Eh...just take the memories you make in the past and present. Those memories are as much of importance than what will happen in the future."

Flandre didn't say anything and went to check on everyone else. Zei walked away and stood by the front door, leading towards outside of SDM. "..if you're ready to go to the Hakurei Border, talk to me. I'll be waiting.", he said.



Hakurei Shrine, Day 1, 3.01 PM, Roughly 2.5 hours until the collapse of the Great Hakurei Barrier

"No, no, we can't bring that with us!" Mitaka flailed his arms wildly at Suika who was trying to uproot the Shrine's gateway.

"It won't budges anyways." Suika sighed. "I'm out of shape."

"Ruukoto! I already said this before, we're not bringing the....." Mikata suddenly faltered. "Ok, ok, we can bring that donation box....just help me pry Reimu off the box and we can try and put it on a wagon."

"How does it look, Mima-san? Yukari sent out the message hours ago. Where is everyone?" Mitaka walked over to the top of the shrine steps. The lack of any incoming flying silhouettes was worrying him. Then again, the sky was too overcast to see anything.

"We'll leave, with or without them." Mima said, rather coldly, without taking her gaze off the cold skies. "It doesn't matter...as long as even one of us survives, we can still restore Gensokyo with those memories."

"We still dont' know the cause of the disaster." Mitaka said. "There's no guarantee we'll be able to do much once we reach the outside world. The more people we get out there, the better our chances."

"Still, there's a limited number of you outsiders to support us who venture out there." Mima said.

"Yeah, we can't save everyone." Mitaka gritted his teeth. "....if only we were stronger, we'd be able to support more of you..."

"That's ok." Mima said. "For now, just take care of her." She nodded over at Reimu, who was holding onto the donation box as if it were her life, despite Ruukoto's earnest protests. "If you can do that, it's more than enough. She will have a lot to learn about the outside world...but we can depend on her....I surely hope we can depend on you."

"...that's almost angelic, coming from you." Mitaka said with a look of mock surprise.

"It's all about survival, after all." Mima shrugged. "Now, hurry up and get all that junk and that sad miko to the border."


SDM, Day 1, ? PM, Roughly 2.5 hours until the collapse of the Great Hakurei Barrier

Taihou was cleaning up at the front balcony facing towards the garden. He saw Flandre and Zei holding hands and rushing towards the front gates of the mansion yard.

"Where are they going in such a hurry" he said to himself.

Before he could shout and ask where they were going, they already dissapeared trough the gates. Taihou kept staring at the horizon in front of him noticing a strange distortion in the sky. The air looked like it was twisting, bending the trees beyond it and aswell as the clouds and the sky.

Sakuya entered the balcony, dressed in her usual maid outfit but with extra ribbons around the skirt.

"Where is lady Flandre and Zei-san?" she asked.

Taihou didn't reply. Sakuya folded her arms putting up an annoyed face.

"Hey Taihou, I asked you something. Are you.."

Taihou interrupted her: "Sakuya, what is that strange distortion in the sky?"

"What distortion?"

He pointed towards the weird bending sky. Sakuya stepped a bit closer.

"I have no idea. What is it?" she said: "Maybe the Mistress knows more. Lets ask her."

They both left the front balcony walking quickly towards the mainhall where Mistress Remilia Scarlet is located. She is the Queen of the Night and head of the Scarlet Devil Mansion.

. . . .

SDM, Day 1, ? PM, Roughly 2.5 hours until the collapse of the Great Hakurei Barrier

Zei noticed Sakuya calling out after both him and Flandre.

"..shouldn't we stop and head  back towards SDM?", he asked.

Flandre didn't notice and kept on running. "...I said, shouldn't we HEAD BACK?", he forced Flandre to stop and started to run back towards the Mansion.

Flandre whined and said, "..but something bad will happen!". Zei didn't notice and walked back into the mainhall.

"Sorry guys, didn't hear you. What do you need?", he asked.

Scarlet Devil Mansion, Day 1, 3.10 PM, Roughly 2.5 hours until the collapse of the Great Hakurei Barrier

Just as Taihou and Sakuya reached the mainhall, a tremor ran through the entire mansion, shaking everything from the foundation up. The stained-glass windows cracked under the strain, before giving in and exploding inwards, showering the mansion's head maid and butler with glass.

"...another invasion?" Sakuya murmured.

As if in answer, the stone floor cracked before the two before giving away into a gaping chasm. The two fought hard to stay upright as the mansion shuddered violently. A chandelier above swung like a deadly pendulum before crashing into the ground and disappearing into the chasm, clattering noisily in its descent before disappearing into the abyss.

Meanwhile, just a short distance away, Zei and Flandre had just cleared the mainhall's doors before the east wing of the mansion crumbled and imploded just ahead of them, as if sucked into the ground. The rest of the mansion still stood in courageous defiance of the earthquake, but it didn't seem as if they would for long.

"....it wasn't me..." Flandre said. "...you saw me, Zei-niisan, it wasn't me, right?"
SDM, Day 1, ? PM, Roughly 2.5 hours until the collapse of the Great Hakurei Barrier

"Of course it wasn't you. That could be Aya's fault but she's not here yet.", Zei said.

He noticed the tremor and casted a spellcard that returned it towards the orignal point.

"..yeah, another invasion.", he said to Sakuya. "We need to get everything we need and meet at the Hakurei Border.", he told everyone that he saw in the mainhall.

Flandre agreed and said, "..Zei-niisan is right. We need to get out of here before..", she sniffled, "...before we all die."

"DON'T THINK LIKE THAT.", Zei said to her and held her close to him, "..it's going to be ok. No one will be hurt.", he reassured her.

[Gappy]

Scarlet Devil Mansion, Day 1, 3.10 PM, Roughly 2.5 hours until the collapse of the Great Hakurei Barrier


Due to the sudden event we quickly stepped back. Half of the mansion was gone while only few thin walls were standing.

Sakuyas eyes turned small as she started shouting: "The mistress! Where is the Mistress!? She was still inside!"

She tried to dash towards the rubble and derbri when Taihou quickly helt her arm.

"Let go of me Taihou!" violently she tried to break lose.

"Sakuya! Get a grip of yourself! You can't just go near the imploded Mansion."

Tears filled her eyes when she realised nothing can be done. She dropped her self on her knees punching the ground and screaming. Her hands started bleeding. Taihou held both her hands and pressed her against him.

"We can't stay here Sakuya. It seems the Border is in danger. We have to get out of here!"

"Not without the Mistress. We can't just leave her here!" Tears just flow from her eyes.

Taihou carefully looked at Zei-san: "Zei-san, what do we do?"


Scarlet Devil Mansion, Day 1, 3.10 PM, Roughly 2.5 hours until the collapse of the Great Hakurei Barrier

Zei walked ahead of Taihou and Sakuya and look at the imploded mansion, Clear Sign "Return of Past Time"

All parts of debris disappeared into thin air, leaving only a small part of the imploded Mansion and the Mistress herself.

"...get her and leave. And by the way..", Zei coughed up a bit of blood, "...your welcome.", he fell down onto the ground.

Flandre caught him at the last second. She looked at the passed-out Zei then looked back at both Taihou and Sakuya.

Tears filled her eyes, she couldn't ask any questions at all.

Hakurei Shrine, Day 1, 3.17 PM, Roughly 2.5 hours until the collapse of the Great Hakurei Barrier

"Good, one rucksack a person, that's the way." Mitaka nodded with approval at Suika and Ruukoto's preparations for their departure.

"Reimu?" Mitaka looked around....and couldn't help but sigh in despair at the sight of the poor miko attempting to uproot the donation box once more. Their attempts at attaching wheels to it had ended in utter failure, mostly due to one simple fact that everyone overlooked....it was part of the shrine and was permanently fixed to the floor. "Look, there are plenty of donation boxes in the outside world. You hardly have to aim. And they're all emptier than yours, if that's even possible. Yes, the outside world is THAT good with donation boxes."

"But this is MY donation box! HNNNNGH!!!" Reimu heaved, before falling backwards in exhaustion. "....I'm not leaving..." She suddenly said.

"....Reimu...." Mitaka began. "Move!"

"No, I said, I'm not leaving!" Reimu said stubbornly.

"No, I mean, MOVE!" Mitaka began running forwards.

"NO! NEVER!" Reimu anchored herself onto the donation box once more for dear life.

"REIMU!" Mitaka leapt forwards and tackled the stubborn miko around the waist. They rolled across the porch and into the courtyard. Just then, the shrine exploded outwards as a tornado funnel descended right on top of it, dropping the air pressure around it to near zero. Mitaka gasped for air as debris rained around them before grabbing Reimu bodily and leaping into a convenient water well for cover.

The roar was deafening, even more so in the well thanks to its accoustics. But as soon as they landed in the water, all sound was dampened to a dull roar.

After what felt like an eternity, the two broke the surface of the water. The roar sounded comfortingly distant now. It seemed like the tornado had passed. "RUUKOTO!" Mitaka shouted.

"Umm...yes...?" Ruukoto hesitantly popped her head over the rim of the well. "Are you both ok, Mitaka-san? Lady Reimu?"

"Yeah, but we'll be even better once you help us out."

Before long the group was standing together in the courtyard, facing the remains of what was once the great Hakurei Shrine. It was just a pile of debris now...at least a pile of whatever the freak tornado had left behind.

Reimu was shellshocked. She had witnessed her shrine destroyed 4 times before, at the very least, but never to this extent. Mitaka could only hold her steady in silence, not sure that anything he can say could bring the trembling miko any degree of comfort. All he could do was be there for her to lean on.

He looked around behind him. The rest of Gensokyo wasn't fairing any better. The Misty Lake was bubbling violently, letting off velvet-thick steam. The Youkai Mountain was spewing out a thick column of smoke, threatening an imminent explosion of Biblical proportions. The tornado that had descended on their hill was now ripping through the Forest of Magic....or whatever was left of it in the wake of that earthquake. And the Bamboo forest was....on fire? The thick wall of smoke rising from it was a good clue. It won't be long before it spreads to the Forest of Magic.

"....let's hope the others will get out safely..." Mitaka said. The others nodded silently in agreement, speechless at the scene of utter chaos before them. There was nothing they could do but pray and wait for the others...

Somewhere in Gensokyo, Day 1, ? PM, Roughly 2.5 hours until the collapse of the Great Hakurei Barrier

Sumire strained her eyes at the horizon. Even from this far up Youkai Mountain, it was impossible to see what Aya saw. Biting her lip, she turned back to her.

"Sorry," Sumire mumbled sheepishly. "I don't see anything."

Aya sighed impatiently, and jumped down from her tree branch to where Sumire stood. "Humans. I keep forgetting you can only see so far. Well, Scarlet Devil Mansion has collapsed, it seems. Not surprising, really. It was pretty old."

Sumire looked at Aya in disbelief. "How can you be so nonchalant about it? Someone down there could be hurt!"

Aya chuckled. "You're new around here alright. Trust me, the residents of Scarlet Devil Mansion have been through worse than this. They're fine, I'm sure." Aya paused, gazing out towards the horizon. Sumire recognized that expression on her face at once - that look of a story brewing. "Still ... it might be a good idea to go and check. There's no telling what-"

Her words were cut off by a sudden violent rumbling beneath them. Sumire was caught off balance, and fell. Trees began to tilt in their soil, rocks tumbling down the hill. Aya quickly took Sumire up in her arms, and flew over the tree tops.

"Must be an earthquake," yelled Aya over the din, and then smiled "This is shaping up to be an eventful day! The next issue's going to be one exciting read, that's for sure."

Sumire couldn't help but smile herself. Typical Aya, even in a dangerous earthquake, she thinks of what's best for her paper. Yet what bothered Sumire was that this earthquake didn't seem to be subsiding - the rumbling continued as trees fell over, large swaths of earthen debris slid down the side of the mountain like water. If anything, the quake was getting louder. Sumire looked up at Aya, her dark red eyes flashing, taking in the scene. Her hands full of Sumire, she couldn't take pictures or notes, and Sumire realized that must be frustrating for a journalist.

"Say, Aya. Why don't we head to the bottom of the mountain so you can take some photos, eh?"

But it was then that a deafening boom threw them both through the air. Tumbling end over end, Sumire could no longer feel hands on her. Sky and earth spun around her in an incoherent blur, and she felt herself beginning to fall. It was as if time had slowed down. So this is what it's like to die, thought Sumire. These will be my last moments. Not panic, but utter calm filled her as the realization of her fate appeared before her in the form of the valley floor, rushing up to meet her with great speed. Sumire closed her eyes.

She felt something strike her from the side with great force, knocking the wind out of her, as she slowly began to rise. Sumire opened her eyes and saw the back of Aya's legs as they flew up quickly. It took her a second or two to realize she was slung over Aya's shoulder like a sack of flour. She almost wanted to weep with relief.

Aya took a slow, spiral descent to the valley floor, setting Sumire down on her back. Sumire looked up at Aya, the shock of what had almost happened only now dawning on her. She looked up at Aya's face smiling down at her, those large red eyes, vibrant, full of life and humor. Right now it was the most beautiful thing she'd ever seen.

"I'm alright," Sumire managed. "Thank you for-"

Aya looked up and gasped audibly. Her face paled for an instant. Shaking hands fumbled for her camera, as she zipped up in the air. Sumire rolled over slowly, her ribs aching from Aya's impact, and saw it: an enormous plume of black smoke rose from the top of Youkai Mountain, blotting out a swath of the sky. Turning her head, she saw the distant figure of Aya, zipping from one angle to the next, snapping photos. Sumire wished she had that kind of resolve, because the only thing she was feeling now was a deep, instinctual fear. One she could not attribute solely to the discovery that Youkai Mountain was actually a volcano, nor to the dread she felt when she wondered what had become of the goddess who called the mountain top her home.

Something else was at work here. Every instinct screamed it.

Aya dropped back down to Sumire, as she unsteadily got herself onto her feet. They looked at each other for a moment, then back up at the smokey plume.

"What do you think?" asked Sumire.

"I think we'd better get to Scarlet Devil Mansion," said Aya with uncharacteristic seriousness. "And fast."

SDM, Day 1, ? PM, Roughly 2.5 hours until the collapse of the Great Hakurei Barrier

Zei woke up with a confused look, seeing part of the SDM destroyed.

He got up and looked towards the front gate, "...goddammit. If we don't get out of here, we're all gonna fall into a never ending abyss. Taihou, make sure the Mistress is safe and get her to a safe area, but not near the Hakurei Border. Anywhere is fine, as long as its near the Hakurei Shrine."

He then look at Flandre with a questioned look, "Flan-chan, if you said it wasn't you, then do you know who causing this disaster?", he asked.

Flandre looked as if she had a hard time comprehending one of Cirno's questions, "...I don't know. We just found out today.", she sadly said, lowering her head.

"..aw come on, Flan. Don't be like that.", Zei lifted her head up and reassured her, "Every thing's going to be ok as long as we get everything and everyone that we know across the  border before the barrier falls apart."

Karuisuwa, Outside World, Day 1, ? PM, Roughly 2.5 hours until the collapse of the Great Hakurei Barrier

Renko stopped on the sidewalk, with a serious look on her face. It was a normal, albeit busy, day in town, and people were rushing to get home and relax for the weekend.

"What's wrong?" Sanasan asked.

Renko looked at him. "...Do you ever have that feeling?" She asked. "You know, that feeling that today just isn't going to be a good day?"

"You mean like when you wake up from the best nap you've ever had and you realize you have an exam you haven't studied for in an hour?" Sanasan smirked.

Renko smiled. "Sort of. The feeling I'm talking about is a bit more serious than worrying about a test though. I mean the feeling like....something's going to go wrong with the subway train, or a plane you're about to board is going to crash."

Sanasan pondered for a moment. "Well....I understand what you mean, but that seems a little paranoid, doesn't it? I mean, stuff like that almost never happens to most people."

"....You know, you're right. I'm probably just worrying too much."

"Don't worry about it," Sanasan reassured her. "I'm sure today is going to be an ordinary day, just like every other day."

SDM, Day 1, ? PM, Roughly 2.5 hours until the collapse of the Great Hakurei Barrier

Kojiro was running towards the SDM master room to fetch his friend Remilia, passing many of his friends from before and telling them where to go to meet up once they are ready to depart from this world he reaches her room to see that she is peeking out of the window.


Remi: *turns to him* ah your here finally....The Border is failing miserably. It will soon collapse and all of us inhabitants will perish with it.
Koji: Yeah i know but that's if we stay here. We better get goin Remi come on *calm*. It may be hard but I'd like to share a link with you.
Remi: !! what?! do you realize the strain it'll be on you if we share a link? I'll be like a parasite on your soul! I don't want to be dependant on a human!
Koji: yeah i know Remilia however if you stay here you WILL die along with the border and this world. I'll take the risk of the strain if it helps keep you alive. Even Flandre is going with my buddy Zei, Flandre may take a lot mroe energy but she's at least willin to give it a try.
Remi:.........
Koji: Even if it breaks me-well i won't know until i try it but i won't fail you, there are many outsiders that came in to help take as many residents with them to the outside world, some will have to be sacrificed....for now, until we get all the collective memories back together and restore Gensokyo.

*giant tremor*

Both: gahh!! *falls to floor*
Koji: This is bad we have to escape now! *scoops up Remilia in his arms*
Remi: no! let me go-
Koji: we're going to live through this dammit! I never thought the Scarlet Devil was such a cowardly child!
Remi:....ugh....*stops resisting*
*using some psychic abilities to carry her clothes above and behind him*
Koji:..............*runs back out to meet everyone else*....I won't let it end for you Remi. i want you to live too even if your the Queen of the Night. You too deserve a good life like everyone else.

[Gappy]

SDM, Day 1, ? PM, Roughly 2.5 hours until the collapse of the Great Hakurei Barrier


When the debris and rubble was lifted and dissapeared we saw the Mistress and Kojiros holding eachother tight. Kojiros was injured both on his head and body. He was shielding the Mistress with his entire life.

"Kojiros! Are you allright?" Taihou shouted.

Sakuya was totally shocked from the incidents because she held both her hands in front of her mouth. Kojiros slowly looked up. A small stream of blood was flowing from his head down his cheeks on his cloths. He tried to get up slowly holding the Mistress. They could see his legs shaking but with all his might he stood up.

"I..I a-am allright"

Taihou quickly looked at Zei who was being held in Flandre's arms. He kept coughing little bits of blood which was not a good sign. The spell he used was too much of a strain on his body.

At that moment a blast occured creating an opening in the middle of the collapsed mansion. Rock, earth and pieces of debris exploded and dissapeared.

"Geez, you lots are really a pain in the bottom" said a calm but chilly voice from the center of the explosion. "I was in the middle of reading a book you know? Didn't I told you not to make such ruckus?"

Everybody was shocked and stunned. It was Patchouli Knowledge and her helper Koakuma. They were totally unharmed and healthy.

"Patchouli-sama, the library is totally secured"
"Good work Koakuma, Marisa is already a pain for my dissapearing books."

Patchouli started analysing the situation by looking at the injured people.

"I see, I see. This is an annoyin situation" she mumbled.

Taihou was shocked to see her unharmed and couldn't resist to ask ofcourse: "Patchouli-san, how did you managed to survive this unharmed?"

Patchouli folded her arms "Do you think I am stupid or something, Taihou? That is kind of rude."

"No no, not at all my lady, I am just curious. My apologies."

She walked over to Kojiros starting to release a strange light from her hands. They lighted up in blue and green mixed colours. Then she placed her hands on Kojiros injuries. It seems it was a healing spell. The wounds started healing and the bleeding stopped.

"I sensed already a disturbance" she continued. "The strange bending and twisting air you see is coming from the Hakurei Shrine."

"Hakurei shrine?" Taihou asked.

"Yes, the border is collapsing."

Everbody's eyes widened and they all said together: "WHAT?!"

"When I sensed the disturbance I quickly casted a spell on my library to protect it from any damage. Koakuma started collecting a few important books I might need if I didn't manage to save the library."

Patchouli stood up and walked towards Zei who was still coughing and now started shivering. Again her hands lighted up and placed them on Zei's lungs.

"So it wasn't Flandre at all?" Taihou asked.

"Ofcourse not you silly. Else even my spell couldn't save the library"

Flandre put up a grumphy face: "See I told you!"

Patchouli focussed her eyes on Sakuya who was still frozen like a statue staring at the mansion.

"Sakuya! Snap out of it!" The shouting of Patchouli obviously helped. Sakuya's eyes turned back to normal. Because of the intense events she barely could stand on her feet. Taihou put his arms around her to comfort.

"Sakuya, everything is allright. The Mistress is safe and everybody else aswell."

"T-the mansion. . " she stuttered.

"The mansion is not the only place that will be lost" said Patchouli "Eientei, Hakugyoukuro, Kourindou, Moriya, Makai... All this places are in chaos. The disturbance in the border has a wide effect. And if the border falls, so will Gensokyo along with all locations."

"What is causing it? And how can we fix it?" Taihou asked.

She raised her hands: "I don't know. All we have to do now is get to the Hakurei Shrine."

"But Zei said, the Mistress should be kept away from the shrine."

Patchouli started thinking deep. "Yes, bringing the currently injured and exhausted Remilia would be bad idea. Also because it is day time. We will have to hang out near the shrine untill the sun goes down. After that Remilia will rapidly recover."

"Let's go then"

Taihou took Sakuya's hand, Kojiros was relatively recovered and took the Mistress on his back. Zei was still a bit weakened but enough to stand on his feets. Putting his arm around Flandre for support we started walking towards the Hakurei Shrine. A true disastrious scenario this was.

Human Village, Day 1, ? PM, Roughly 2.5 hours until the collapse of the Great Hakurei Barrier

Life in Gensokyo was awesome.

Kappatech free wireless and electricity at the human village was incredible. Visiting, let alone living in, a fantasy world of your dreams was inconceivable. Learning basic utility magic for making food, and heading towards further hygiene and comfort spells, was enough to make you need to sit down if you weren't already.

Was.

The wireless went out two days ago. Irritating, but it happens sometimes. Decent excuse to actually do some magic studies and do something about covering rent. It wasn't back the next day, and the electricity died in the afternoon.

God DAMNIT.

And after that, there was a small earthquake. Another. Worrisome. This definitely seemed like an Incident in the making; the villagers didn't find it normal, either. Everyone was nervous.

I tried to keep calm. This seemed to be a little more actively intrusive than the other Incidents I've heard of, but if they're any indication, Reimu and Marisa would be on it soon enough. Just gotta endure it a bit... right?

Lacking anything worth doing, I slept early that night. Tremors woke me up several times. I wondered if Keine was doing anything about it.

I got up in the actual morning, for once, and went outside after having breakfast and checking the electricity again. (No dice, obviously.)

The sky looked... wrong. I'm not entirely sure how to describe it - there was an overcast haze, which wasn't TOO unusual, but the Great Hakurei Barrier behind it... didn't look right. Had it been too long since I looked at it last? Did something big change that I hadn't noticed?

A larger earthquake left my face in the dirt.

And where the FUCK is Armpits?!

Screw it. This is getting out of hand, and it's pissing me off.

I put together a "backpack" and packed up my necessities - laptop, associated electronics, bundled in a change of clothes... make that two, earthquakes are being a bitch - some snacks, and the meager bit of cash I had handy. Maybe she was holding out for donations, come to think of it. Crazy bitch... no, she wouldn't for something this severe. There had to be a better reason.

There'd BETTER be.

I left for the Hakurei Shrine.

-----

The trip there was less eventful than I expected. I had anticipated having to deal with a few fairies (tricky, but not too difficult), but not many actually showed up. Most seemed to be too busy panicking in general to pester that one guy wandering through, even as I approached the bottom of the stairs to the shrine.

That just worried me more. Incidents were supposed to mean fairies acting up and attacking people MORE than usual, right? So why...

My worries were interrupted by a horrible cracking sound from behind me. I turned to see the familiar silhouette of the Scarlet Devil Mansion split in half, with a trail of 'smoke' from the rubble rising into the sky.

... my heart is beating incredibly fast... I must be experiencing absolute terror...

I ran up the stairs, two at a time.

-----

I had to catch my breath twice. It probably would have been more, but I was spurred on rather effectively by seeing Youkai Mountain become Youkai Volcano, and watching a large collection of ceiling tiles fly over the stairs I was climbing - from the direction of a freak tornado on top of the Hakurei Shrine.

Maybe I'm not as out of shape as I thought.

I climbed the last of the stairs to the shrine entrance and leaned on the entry arch, panting heavily. Reimu was sobbing on the shrine grounds, alongside that guy I'd heard she'd married. Didn't know anything about him. The rest of the usual shrine crew was around, looking very distraught.

Jeremy Nezu took a deep breath, and stood up straight. "Okay," he nearly yelled, "Would anyone like to explain what the HELL is going on here?!"

Hakurei Shrine, Day 1, 3.27 PM, Roughly 2 hours until the collapse of the Great Hakurei Barrier

(OOC: Hope I manage to keep you in-character, E-mouse)

"Would anyone like to explain what the HELL is going on here?!"

The Hakurei crew...or at least those who weren't grieving over the loss of their home, turned around to face the new stranger who had appeared at the top of the stairs asked. He radiated an intense, calculating calm, which contrasted heavily with the torn world behind him. Mitaka recognized him to be one of the outsiders who had moved into Gensokyo lately. He decided that this stranger may prove helpful in the outside world.

"Got it in one." Mitaka replied, with as much composure as he could manage. "HELL is going on. But what sort of Hell, we don't have a clue. Yukari said that the best bet is to get the heck out of Dodge and hope we can restore Gensokyo later from the outside."

"Ok, Armpits, how much to save the world?" The stranger asked.

"In case you haven't notice, the shrine isn't exactly in business at the moment." Mitaka replied, a little snappily. "No donation box, you see."

"Hasn't stopped her in the past." The stranger shrugged. "Or should I go trek back down to the Forest of Magic and tell Marisa there's a rare bit of treasure in it for her this time?"

"No need." A voice said from behind.

The stranger turned around just in time to see a winged figure touch down lightly on the cracked stone walkway, the strong beating of its wings kicking up the dust on the ground. Another figure detached itself from the first. The smoke from the downdraft cleared to reveal the two as Aya and an outsider girl who had been hanging out with Aya lately.

"...no need?" The first stranger repeated. "What do you mean?"

"Well, I wanted to keep this for my article but....oh, all right, that black-white witch's house was decimated in that earthquake. I doubt you'll find her there." Aya said. "If anything, she's probably either salvaging her stuff and taking it somewhere safe or off looting."

"Aya, I thought we were going to the SDM?" The girl who had arrived with Aya asked.

"Quick detour. I think there's a better scoop waiting here." Aya explained. "I wanted to get the Hakurei Shrine Maiden's comment on this disaster. Ah, there you are, Reimu!" She strode up towards the miko. Reimu had made a valiant attempt at making herself seem more presentable at the sudden arrival of newcomers. Even those who knew she had been shedding tears a mere second ago wouldn't be able to believe it was the same girl who was now standing there, radiating a reasurring calm.

"Aya, hasn't Yukari told you yet?" Reimu began.

"What? What has that gap youkai have to do with all this?" Aya's eyes suddenly lit up. "Oooh....is this her doing?! Tell me more!" a notebook and a pen had magically appeared in her hands and was already in mid-scribble.

"....you haven't heard from her?" Reimu looked thoughtful for a moment. "That means something has gone wrong. Yukari would have gone to you first. You're the fastest, you'd have been able to spread the news further.....that means something happened to Yukari."

"...you mean..." The girl who had arrived with Aya began. "...Yukari had gone out to warn everyone about this?"

"Yes. Hours ago." Mima nodded. "The fact that nobody has turned up....it all makes sense now."

"Tch..." Reimu gritted her teeth. "Mitaka, take everyone to the border's limits. Aya, you're coming with me."

"We have barely 2 hours left, my Lady!" Ruukoto protested.

"Look, won't anyone explain what's happening?!" The male stranger shouted in frustration at having been ignored.

"....it would be nice to spare a few moments for an explanation..." The stranger girl also added.

"Ok, err...." Mitaka began, looking between the two.

"Jeremy." The male stranger supplied impatiently.

"Sumire." The girl said.

"Ok, I'm Mitaka. Proper introductions later. For now, know this, we're leaving Gensokyo for the outside world."

"You're abandoning Gensokyo?!" Sumire gasped, before a flurry of wings grabbed her immediate attention. "A-Aya!" She gasped as her companion was preparing to take off with the miko.

"Reimu? I never said I agreed to the plan!" Mitaka shouted after the shrine maiden.

"Don't leave me here!" Sumire protested, not liking the prospect of being left behind with complete strangers.

"Oh, fine..." Aya nodded, grabbing her by the waist as she ascended. "But hold onto your head...." She grinned brightly as she began preparations for supersonic flight.

"I'll be back in time for the departure!" Reimu shouted back. "Just get as many people as you can to the border!" Reimu shouted back at Mitaka. "Remember, you always said, 'we need to do what we can!'. This is what I can do now, Taka-kun! You should do what you can as well! Ok, first stop, Hakugyokorou!"

And with that, the two figures zoomed off into the darkening sky, leaving behind a protesting Mitaka, an irritated Jeremy, and a bunch of other worried faces.

Mitaka swore quietly to himself as he kicked away a piece of debris.

"So, what's the plan now....in case you're feeling like sharing?" Jeremy asked.

"....we head to the border." Mitaka sighed. "Yukari already tore an opening and Reimu has left protective charms to keep the path open. The moment the barrier collapses, the opening will connect to the outside world. Then we'll have our chance..."

"And where is that?" Jeremy asked.

"The hill behind the shrine." Mitaka said. "A bit of a climb, but we'll make it within 10 minutes."

"....books..." Jeremy murmured.

"What?" Mitaka asked, a little irritated at the random reply.

"...books..." Jeremy repeated.

Mitaka followed his gaze....and his jaw dropped at what he saw.

...up there, in the sky, was a swarm of books, all flapping in unison, trailing across the sky like a paper-mache snake. And atop it was....

"Land ahoy!" Meirin called out.

"....you're too loud..." Patchouli muttered from behind a bright magical circle. "This takes a lot of concentration, you know."

"Look, Zei-niisan, I didn't set anything on fire, did I? Have I been a good girl?" Flandre tugged on Zei's sleeves for his approval.

"Yes, yes, you're a good girl, Flandre." Zei, whose injuries seemed to have recovered completely, ruffled her her hair, earning him a happy little giggle from the girl.

Meanwhile, Remilia, who was sitting just behind them, wasn't looking anywhere as happy as her little sister. In fact, she seemed downright despondent at owing her life to some human. "....h-how is he doing...?" She murmured under her breath, as if not wanting anyone to know that she was showing concern.

"He's recovering. The spell seemed to have worked, my lady." Koakuma said. "He and Taihou-san will be up and about again within minutes. But they shouldn't strain themselves for a while."

"...." Remilia nodded in acknowledgedment, and said no more as they reached the shrine grounds.

The books all flew off and piled themselves neatly on the ground after the SDM crew aliighted. Ruukoto and Mitaka ran down to help Taihou and Kojiros down.

"G-get R-Remilia...out of the sun..." Kojiros breathed, grabbing Mitaka's sleeve. "That's...more...important...."

"Well, there isn't much sun to speak of." Mitaka said, reassuringly, impressed with the man's show of chivalry. "But if it'll make you feel better, we'll get her to the treeline."

Higan, Day 1, ? PM, Roughly 2.5 hours until the collapse of the Great Hakurei Barrier

Higan wasn't any more spared than the rest of gensokyo the Sanzu no Kawa had burst it banks in what seemed like a bibical flood.


Alex hated losing his training grounds for the last 2 months out of the 6 he's been in gensokyo since he arrived after falling asleep one day after years of wandering has a vagabond martial artist who style was a mix of all kinds of arts seemly both real world ones and styles that wouldn't exist in the world we live in.

He didn't just do physcial training but mental and Spirit training as well if it wasn't for the last two he wouldn't had last has he still does what he liked to do for has long has he could remember that was being a free wandering soul people without some kind of power tend to eather be suck in the human villages of gensokyo or Snacks for the few youkai who still indulge in eating a human when they can get away with it.


Of course getting Keine to let him wander by himself took quite a while and Keine was persistant to the point of deloying her famous head butt which caught him off guard.

Eventually she let him go seeing how he would eventually skip town anyways but not before teaching him the basics of Gensokyo such has the spell card duel system and of course the staple of anyone who can do it basic self defense Danmaku which was a intresting addtion to his martial art stile.

Gensokyos non human majority was fair more intresting and more fun of a challange.

He settled long the the banks of the Sanzu no Kawa because it was a nice quiet place perfect for meditation and all that and of course its cute shinigami and the various fairys but the main object was a certain fairy bigger than all the rest with cute carrot shade long hair and a lovey smile and a nice personality she called herself Lily Black She claims she a twin of Lily White A fairy who became a embodment of spring because she didn't want the job so her twin was picked instead.

Alex and her slowly became friends over danmaku sparing matchs she won quite few because Alex wasn't quite used to really dense clouds but evenually he got her pattern down enough to sly give her smootch on the cheek.

Eventually one thing led to another and they started serious dating and *ahem* a month ago.

Kinda awkward since Lily Black while cleary a adult woman in figure and is Big and Tall for fairy kind is shorter than most 13 year old girls. a few gave them looks when seeing them make out but quickly passed it off as ok when the relized what lily is

However days before the Sanzu no Kawa flood funky things started happening namely the Yama and her shinigami started appearing less and less and they even saw souls leaving the river.

When it burst its banks they fled the area and soon found about the other disasters.


"Man whats going on in this land it like hell is opening up"

Alex lamemts on these events

"I don't know but its scary.." Lily Black meekly says

Alex holds Lily black tightly and smiles.

"don't worry what ever happens i will never leave your side as long has i can move i will be there."

"thank you dear say maybe we sould head to the one of the shrines" Lily says suggestively

Alex nods "probably a good idea chances are people are gathering there to pray for hope for explations for these dire events."

With that they take off in direct of the Hakurei shrine along the way the see the destruction across gensokyo.

Alex and lily gasp a the destruction across gensokyo and make haste to the hakurei shrine apon arrival. Alex asks "Does anyone Have a Clue Whats going on like Why has the Sanzu no Kawa burst its banks in what was a flood of bibical portions?, hell we weren't even bothered getting here its like even the lowest youkai know that something is making shit hit the fan here."

Alex looks Round and sees a bunch of people gathered there asides from the usual hakurei shrine crowd and notices the sky doesn't even look right anymore.

[Gappy]

Subteranean Cave, Bridge into the world below, Day 1, ? PM, Roughly 2.5 hours until the collapse of the Great Hakurei Barrier

Rocks and dust pelted the subterranean land as Gensokyo was rocked by another tremor, all of it an effect of the boundary's instability. There were only a few hours until the Hakurei boundary became too unstable and collapsed, taking all the residents of the realm with it.

Hiroko panted as she ran to the bridge where she knew Parsee would be at. She had been aboveground until the first earthquake hit, and concerned for her waifu's safety, she went back to the underground. Never mind the fact that the place could cave in at any moment, there's no use for common sense in Gensokyo.[1]

Avoiding more falling debris, she saw the bridge, and Parsee in the middle of it. Stones fell, hitting her, but the bridge princess made no attempt to dodge them.

"Hey! Whatcha standing there for?" she bellowed. Parsee turned around.

"Hiroko?! Why're you still around? It's dangerous!"

"I should be the one saying that. You were just standing around getting hit!"

"Well, that..." she bit her lip. "That's because I have to stay and watch over the bridge. That's what I am, and what I'm supposed to do."

"Even at the cost of your life? Look, it's only a matter of time before this place starts caving in, and it's quite a distance from the aboveground. If we want to be safe, we better start going NOW!"

"I-I don't know..." Parsee mumbled. "To be concerned for me that much...I'm jealous."

Just then, a hell raven flew past them, dropping a letter. Hiroko caught it, and saw that it was addressed to Parsee by the Palace of Earth Spirits. She opened it, and the two of them read it together:

CHIREIDEN
Palace of Earth Spirits, Underground City, Gensokyo

Dear Ms Parsee Mizuhashi,

As the governing body of the subterranean, the Palace of Earth Spirits has a responsibility to its citizens. As you may or may not know, the Hakurei boundary has become unstable, and the condition of the boundary deteriorates with each second. It may be a matter of time before it collapses.

Henceforth, the Palace of Earth Spirits releases all that are in its employment, and grants all permission to move freely from the underground to the aboveground and vice versa.

Ms Mizuhashi, that means you, too, are free to move from your bridge. I know that you have someone special to you, and I await seeing you again at the Hakurei shrine.

Yours sincerely,
SATORI KOMEIJI
LADY OF THE PALACE OF EARTH SPIRITS

"Where's the Hakurei shrine?" Parsee looked up, confused.

"Don't worry, I know the way. Let's go already!" Hiroko tugged on Parsee's arm.

And went they did.


Path leading to the Great Hakurei Border, Day 1, 3.47 PM, Roughly 1.5 hours until the collapse of the Great Hakurei Barrier

"So....let me get this straight...." Alex murmured. "Gensokyo's border is about to collapse and there's no hope of saving anyone...other than the few that us outsiders can support?"

"Essentially." Mitaka nodded. To the casual observer, the party that was now making its way towards the border's limit was odd to say the least. There were a group of girls in frilly dresses, two maids, with a few men, two of whom were on floating stretches, with a flock of flapping books coming up the rear.

"So now we're leaving Gensokyo..." Alex said. "....Lily, are you sure your sister didn't overdo the spring greetings?"

"...I'm sure earthquakes and floods aren't part of her repertoire, if that's what you're asking." Lily Black raised an eyebrow.

"The path's damaged." Jeremy observed as they came upon an expanse of path that had obviously been disturbed quite a bit. The upturned trees surrouding the path were a good clue.

"So? Not like some avalanche has cut us off, right?" Mitaka said, walking on.

"No, I mean, if the path's damaged like that then the ground might be...." Jeremy began, but too late....Mitaka had stepped out into the open path. There was a soft crunch as his foot made contact with a loose bit of earth before....

...BOOM...

Where Mitaka was, there was now a gushing geyser....

"It wasn't me, Zei-niisan." Flandre said innocently. "I didn't make the funny man go boom."

"Yes, yes, good girl, Flandre." Zei said approvingly.

"Sakuya. Meirin." Remilia snapped a finger.

"Yes, my lady." Sakuya said, opening an umbrella over Remilia to shield her from the running boiling water. Meirin, however, was a step late. Zei had shielded Flandre with the top he had been wearing.

Meanwhile, behind them, Patchouli and Koakuma had set up a defensive barrier to protect their books.

"R-Remi..." Kojiros moaned from his make-shift stretcher.

"Shhh, be quiet." Remilia hushed him. "Hurry up and recover. We might need that stretcher for that idiot when he returns." She said, looking up at the small dot that was Mitaka who was now silhouetted against the cracked sky.

"Meirin, run across to clear a path for us." Remilia ordered.

"Wh-what?!" Meirin gasped. "I-I'll die!"

"Would you rather die here?" Sakuya asked sweetly, brandishing a set of knives.

"HIIIEEEEEE!" Meirin ran.

And she ran.

And she ran some more....

Geysers exploded in her wake, creating many pillars of boiling water that only missed her by inches.

"Hey, that particular geyser sent something up." Taihou observed.

"...other than water, you mean?" Sakuya asked.

"Looks like a...." Koakuma began.

"A bird!" Flandre shouted, judging by the fact that the silhouettes had their arms extended.

"A....helicopter?" Patchouli murmured, judging by the fact that said silhouettes were spinning.

"No, it's a jealous bridge princess and her outsider companion." Alex said with precision.

"Eh?"

Parsee did a mid-air twirl before landing lightly on the ground. She reached out, grabbed the falling Hiroko in her arms, and set her down gracefully. "...I'm jealous. I want to be the one caught in someone else's arms...." Parsee sighed.

BANG!

A human-shaped crater had appeared just a short distance away from them. Smoke rose from it. The others took great care not to get too close, in case the idiocy was contagious.

"....I'm jealous too. I wish there was someone to catch ME!" A voice came from inside the crater.

"He's alive. Nothing to see here folks." Jeremy said, waving them on across the safe path that Meirin's sacrifice had provided.

Path leading to the Great Hakurei Border, Day 1, 3.52 PM, Roughly 1.5 hours until the collapse of the Great Hakurei Barrier

"That was...strange, to say the least, coming up from a geyser." Hiroko said, gaining her bearings. She looked down into the crater. It looked pretty deep. "Are you alright?" she called down.

"...I just fell a few hundred metres from the sky. Do you think I'm alright?!" the man snapped. "Give me a hand, it's hard enough getting out when your body is not broken to bits or something."

Hiroko knelt beside the crater and pulled him up. He looked significantly worse for the wear, but he could at least walk.

"Well? What's the plan?" Parsee asked.

"We will be leaving Gensokyo through an opening in the Hakurei boundary." Patchouli answered. "With the boundary weak as it is, it should be easy."

"Aren't you going to do anything about Gensokyo?" demanded Hiroko.

"We don't have the luxury of the time. I estimate that the boundary will fully collapse in a hour and a half, and we do not know the cause of this crisis. The best way would be to retreat to the outside world, and plan our actions accordingly from there."

Faced with Patchouli's reply, Hiroko couldn't come up with a suitable response. "I see..." was the only thing she could say.

The party then resumed their voyage towards the Boundary.

Path leading to the Great Hakurei Border, Day 1, 3.47 PM, Roughly 1.5 hours until the collapse of the Great Hakurei Barrier

"...the FUCK was that about?!", Zei said, pissed off with what just happened.

"New people had walked in, there was a gusher that was originally where Mitaka was that just came out of nowhere and "tried" to kill him, SDM's falling apart, Hakurei Barrier falling apart, Parsee and her partner falling down RIGHT out of the blue, a crater where a Human was, and you know what I don't get?", he said with an annoyed look, "It may be off-topic but it has been bothering me for quite a while but..", he shot a look a Flandre, "I don't get that she keep calling me "Zei-niisan" instead of some other name that I see the unfortunate humans being called before they meet their doom by her.", he finished.

Everyone didn't seem to care except for Flandre, which was surprised by his rant, and Mitaka, which was leading the group towards the Boundary.

Zei sighed and looked away, "...guess I overdid the rant a bit.", he said to himself.

Flandre was still looking at him, "..gomenasai..", was all she could say at the time.

He then looked back at Flandre's apology, "...sorry for? Saying that it wasn't you? Of course it wasn't. Neither you, nor Yukari, NOR EVEN MEIMU, could cause this castatophe without some point of origin or some unknown Spellcard.", he explained, "...but I guess I could accept it.", he then holds her hand in response, "BUT, you should stay with me and the group at all times until this crisis is OVER for good.", he ended.

Flandre didn't seem to care, she just smiled and continued towards the pathway to the Boundary.


Moriya Shrine, Day 1, ? PM, Roughly 1.5 hours until the collapse of the Great Hakurei Barrier

'' Myon-sama, Myon-sama! The borders! They are..''

'' Breaking down, I know. ''

'' Well, what are we going to do.. '', Suwako asked.

'' We wait, why would we have to do anything~ Just let Reimu handle this >_> '', Myon muttered.

'' Kerooo... ''


Path leading to the Great Hakurei Border, Day 1, 3:47 PM, Roughly 1.2 hours until the collapse of the Great Hakurei Barrier


Koji: .....you idiot *talking to Zei* she looks up to you. not often a human comes by and likes her of all people. *climbs out of stretcher*......ugh....d-dammit....was not prepared for that
Sakuya: sir! you shouldn't get up until you fully recover!

Kojiro: no worries...my head took a lot of damage back there so it was hard to recover myself but thanks to Patchy that was sped up and i used my own mana to finish up the recovery

Remilia:...........

Kojiro: glad to see everyone is safe *sighs distraught* *helps Mitaka out of the crater* We're gonna have to be extra careful man, in a mere few hours all will end here.

Continuing to walk over geysers and evading a landslide the border was finally in site, the outsiders were talking about the outside world and how different it was from Gensokyo and how they hope to restore the realm ASAP. Remilia was still not happy about havin her existance going to be bound to a human. Even if he's a friend, she listened carefully though but showed no happiness in it whatsoever.
Kojiro:........

Koji noticed her as they walked but kept silent. It must be hard to be able to "tell the future" but don't have any power or enough power to change fate in a favorable position. No matter what she did there was no way she could save her mansion, much less Gensokyo's state. This pained him a little but her moreso.
He placed his hand on her shoulder as they walked and said nothing. She merely glanced at him and said nothing in return. 
Kojiro: this is gonna be rough at first i know...but we will make it out safely, I promise it. I haven't broken a promise to you yet Remilia....and i don't intend to start now

Remilia: *looks at him and then looks at his chest which and arm which just 30-40 minutes ago protected her from being crushed to nothing*.........*turns away to hide her facial expression which showed guilt and empathy*

Pandemonium, Makai, Day 1, ? PM, Roughly 1.5 hours until the collapse of the Great Hakurei Barrier

"Erm, what should I do?..." Came the perplexed voice of one Demonlord, his arms crossed over his chest in thought. There was something big going on in Gensokyo, and at first it he told himself 'Ah it wouldn't effect us, we're in another world, we'll be fine~' In fact he was so sure of himself he even went with is partner Shinki, ruler of Makai to tell the various paniced demons that everything was going to be okay.

It's a shame that it wasn't,everything in Gensokyo was going to hell, so to speak, that included Makai as well...Irony is only funny if it didn't come back to bite YOU in the ass. Which it most certainly did to Mr. Demonlord. Then again he had a nasty habit of jinxing things...

"Hmhm, for one you should finish packing before leaving."

Pichu glanced from his shoulder to see the figure of Shinki entering the room. He then looked to his suitcase which was pretty much harboured the same empty space it had a while ago. "Oh, yeah right..." Pichu said his mind pretty much a mess from over-thinking things. He rose from his seat and began tossing in what he deemed 'essentials'. "So you all packed up and ready to move out?" He asked to the goddess that still stood in the room's doorway.

"That I have, I also made sure to have Yumeko make and pack enough food for the trip." Shinki commented.

"Ara~ Yumeko-chan always makes the best of snacks doesn't she?" Pichu mused to Shinki who nodded in agreement as she smiled.

There was then a silence that followed close after, and the both of them knew why. There was a reason they were leaving Makai, Gensokyo's borders were crumbling Makai at first would not have been affected but it would seem that was not the case. Soon everything in Makai, a world forged from the hands of Shinki herself, will be destroyed.

"...S'hard to believe Makai's going down along with Gensokyo isn't it? Just the other day, we told everyone not to worry..." Pichu said as he tied down his bag and made sure he had everything. That computer would have to stay...Shinki told him to leave behind anyhow.

"Yes, seeing as to how I too believed that it would be safe," Shinki replied looking from out of the window. "Having the things you make destroyed is never an easy thing to put out of mind, especially if one of said things happens to be living creatures..."

Pichu remained silent having nothing to really add at that point. He always knew he and Shinki had their differences in each other, for one he was still a human (although he had theorized he would become a demon in time) and Shinki was a goddess and the 'mother' of Makai all beings in this realm having been born from herself. Even if Makai wasn't her creation it would still be a tough decision to just up and leave everyone behind...

"What do you think will happen to those who can not leave Makai in time?..." Shinki suddenly asked breaking the silence that was between them, her face still looking out of the window as she spoke.

"I don't know, I suppose they'll just...disappear...I try not to think about it, to be honest." Pichu answered his voice drenched in uncertainty. "We probably shouldn't dwell on that, I'm sure everyone will make it out of her just fine."

"Yes, I...probably should have more faith in the well being of my subjects." Shinki chuckled nervoursly and forcing a smile. "Let us go, we can leave through border space and perhaps maybe then we can find a means of escape from this dreadful situation." Shinki concluded and proceeded to take her leave

"Right behind you~" Pichu said as he followed behind Shinki before glancing at his computer.

"Leave that dreadful thing where it is..." Shinki said a hint of animosity in her voice.

"You still mad about that-"

"Yes. Now leave it."

"Okay, okay..."


Path leading to the Great Hakurei Border, Day 1, ? PM, Roughly 1.5 hours until the collapse of the Great Hakurei Barrier

Zei snapped a look a Koji, "...well. You think I'm an idiot huh? I tried to return the damn tremor to it's original point but it was no good and ended up injuring me as well.", he explained, "First time being at SDM was few wees ago, and the day after was when I first met Flandre, but that doesn't matter. Not only I care about her, but I care about every, single, living Human/Youkai/Vamp/etc. that I know as of this time. Just worry about your sake and I'll worry about my sake.", he sighed and mumbled, "...having a vamp being bound to you is not that easy. 'specially if she's either the Scarlet Devil or Crimson Devil.."

Zei stopped and casted a barrier that surrounded everyone that's here. "Should last us the whole time we're in Gensokyo and part of the outside world. At least 3 hours.", he said.

Zei looked at Remilia, not sure if she's ok or not, "...something wrong, Mistress? Caught guilty of something you didn't do? Do you not want him to protect you at all costs? Do you ACTUALLY want to die alone?", he asked then continued walking.

On the other hand, Flandre tugged on his sleeves in disapproval, "Zei-niisan... that wasn't nice.", she sadly said.

"..I know. I was just asking.", Zei said, feeling a bit of guilt towards what he said.

Path leading to the Great Hakurei Border, Day 1, ? PM, Roughly 1.5 hours until the collapse of the Great Hakurei Barrier

Taihou slowly opened his eyes and seem to have regain senses. When he tried to get up he looked aroud noticing he was floating on some kind of stretcher. Sakuya noticed Taihou waking up, because she was walking right behind the Mistress and next to the stretcher.

"How are you feeling my dear?" she asked while she placed her hand on Taihou's cheek.

"S-Sakuya." he paused for a moment. "I was sleeping?"

"Yes, ever since you collapsed when we left the mansion. You were acting very strange back there Taihou."

Taihou couldn't quite understand it, he raised his eyebrows "Strange? What do you mean?"

Sakuya looked at her Mistress who gestured a 'yes' with her head.

"Well, you suddenly started screaming and dropping yourself on the floor making weird movements. As you were in pain. Kojiros and Zei tried to refrain you because you started violently throwing random danmaku. Eventually the Patchouli used a small weak spell to knock you out." 

Taihou couldn't understand it all and kept looking suprised at Sakuya. "Did I. . "

"You didn't seriously injured anyone, but it was troublesome, Taihou" Patchouli interrupted. "You should rest. Sakuya was nursing you the whole time you know. Don't act stupid by getting up like Zei and Kojiro did."

Zei and Kojiro felt insulted and starting making angry gestures: "Be quiet you bookworm!"

"Yea! Patchouli-san, you are to harsh!" Zei added. "You bookworm!"

A spark occured from Patchouli's eyes. Suddenly a small series of fireballs emerged from her fingers and assaulted the bottoms of Kojiro and Zei.

"ITA ITA ITA ITA, hot hot hot" they both were running in circles because their rears were on fire. "Water! Water!"

Remilia and Koakuma had to secretly laugh a bit at the look of Kojiro and Zei. Afterall it was quite amusing.

"Oh, you want water?" Patchouli asked sarcasticly.

"No wai. .! " a sudden mini waterfall flushed from the top of their heads soaking them entirely wet. Their rears were no longer on fire but the water was quite cold as they started shivering.

Taihou couldn't quite enjoy the situation because seemed to be in pain. He lay back down on the stretcher staring at the sky which was no longer blue as usual but turned dark with a red glow.

"Patchouli-sama"

"What is it Taihou."

"How long untill we transfer towards the real world?"

"I don't know. We heared from others who are at the shrine that the passage way is being created. It seems Reimu is performing some magic to stabilise it. The Hakurei border though is running more and more instable. I think about one hour untill whole Gensokyo falls apart. What more troublesome is how our powers will react in the real world.

Path leading to the Great Hakurei Border, Day 1, ? PM, Roughly 1.5 hours until the collapse of the Great Hakurei Barrier

Alex pondered on why Gensokyo is for the most part seemly literal falling apart at the seams has he stares now almost blood red skys of gensokyo but he just can't shake a feeling.

"Something powerful is at work here....Something on Par with Yukari's Power to be able to basicly cause Gensokyo barrier to fail but we know that Yukari isn't behind it."

"How so" says anyone in ear shot.

"This Feeling i'm getting is diffrent From Yukari's it feels like it only has ill intent where Yukari only does things for her amusement worse of all is the feeling i think in fact that it's just taunting us by giving us just time to vacate gensokyo without being able to save everyone."

[Gappy]

Hakugyokorou, Day 1, ? PM, Roughly 1.5 hours until the collapse of the Great Hakurei Barrier

Before Yuyuko and Sho headed out of Hakugyokurou towards the nearest method of escaping Gensokyo's imminant fate, Sho stopped to talk to Youmu.

"Youmu, I expect to meet up with you on the other side of the border. It's alright if you don't. But if I find out you've died, I'll consider you as having failed in your duty to my wife. And that means I will hunt down whatever is left of you, bring you back and have you apologize. Do you understand?"

Youmu shivered. "Y-yes..."

Sho smiled. "Relax, I'm sure you'll survive. Just finish packing quickly and hurry. We'll meet you later. Now I'd better go."

Path to the Border, Day 1, ? PM, Roughly 1.5 hours until the collapse of the Great Hakurei Barrier

Lily Black look worryed "sis hope you get out..."

Alex had a hearty laugh "relax i'm sure she'll do so she may be bit less serious than you but i'm sure she will be"

Alex then said under his breath "I hope so..."

Alex then ponders about the fates of those who can't escape gensokyo like outsiders at various human villages who will not be able to make it to a way out of gensokyo before the border gives out for good and Keine who would unless seriously convinced would stick with them too the bitter end.

Then his thoughts turn towards the Yama and her Shinigami underling he hopes that they will make it out as well Yama may be annoying but she really cares for people and dispite her shinigami being Lazyer than some of the outsiders he knew before being put in gensokyo she was a nice person.

"hurry people SS Gensokyo doesn't have much time left before she goes under" he mutters under his breath.

"Say aside from here is there any other way out of Gensokyo?" Alex questions mostly in the hope that as the great hakurei barrier goes it will weaken enough to allow some of the ones who don't have time to come here to get out.


The border, Day 1, 4.26 PM, Roughly 1 hour until the collapse of the Great Hakurei Barrier

"Say aside from here is there any other way out of Gensokyo?" Alex asked as the party finally reached the border limits. Zei and Kojiro were still nursing their burnt backsides. Thankfully, a change of pants was available amongst the myriad of supplies they had brought along.

"I'm not sure." Mitaka answered. "To be honest, there's so little that we do know." An uncomfortable silence fell. Nobody wanted to ask the question, dreading the answer. Only the roar of the destruction of Gensokyo and the crackle of the collapsing barrier filled the air. Everyone stood silent, bathed in the unearthly glow of the crackling barrier. A huge gaping crack lie in the middle of it, kept open by a myriad of paper charms. It was to be their gateway to freedom.

"What about everyone else? Everyone who....can't escape?" Lily Black finally asked the question everyone had dreaded.

"I wish there was a way." Mitaka sighed. "But we can only bring out those who we can support with mana. The others....they won't die, I think. Once we restore Gensokyo from the outside, they'll be restored with it."

"...." Alex nodded in silent understanding. It was a sad prospect, but there was slight glimmer of hope.

"Lady Patchouli, it's 1 hour until the border reaches its critical point." Koakuma reported.

"The gate still looks too unstable to pass. We'll have to wait a bit more." Patchouli sighed.

"We can destroy the barrier ourselves, can't we?" Mima asked, suddenly appearing behind them. "That way, the gate will open of its own accord."

"And destroy Gensokyo and everyone else who may be making their way here as we speak?!" Hiroko gasped. "How can you suggest such a thing?!"

"All I'm saying that, if push comes to shove, survival should be our highest priority." Mima said. "Even if we must sacrifice everyone in Gensokyo, even ourselves, we must get at least one survivor across the border. As long as even a sliver of Gensokyo's memories lives on, Gensokyo has hope."

"....." Everyone fell silent. It was true, in a practical sense. But nobody could swallow it, not without killing off their humanity.

"....we can wait, right? We're in no hurry, and this spot looks safe enough to wait." Kojiros finally said, breaking the uncomfortable silence.

"Yeah, we don't have to destroy the barrier ourselves. We'll just wait until it gives away on its own. More people might turn up in the mean time." Hiroko nodded in agreement.

"So we should set about securing the area then." Taihou said, getting up from his stretcher.

"D-dear!" Sakuya gasped. "You shouldn't be getting up yet!"

But before Taihou could reply, a voice boomed across the clearing. "I'm pleased...." It said. There was a certain vicious tone to the voice, one brimming with sadistic pleasure.

"Huh?" The party all looked around the clearing, looking for the source of the disembodied voice.

"You all actually came, like rats trying to escape a sinking ship, with hope that you might actually find refuge outside..." The voice continued, seemingly enjoying their confusion.

"Who are you?! Answer!" Remilia demanded.

"I love it....I love that false hope...it was worth not crushing you all in one instant..." The voice went on, ignoring Remilia's demand. "Ah, hope...how fascinating...with it you all build your own racks and turn the wheels of your own volition, drawing out your deaths further with each futile cycle...."

"You're toying with us?! With Gensokyo?!" Alex demanded.

"Do you know how many people will die today?! How many people have to lie in fear, having no hope for survival?!" Hiroko shouted.

"Yes, despair! Watch your bright, shining hope turn into infinitely dark despair!" The voice laughed with merciless mirth.

"....ok, let us play a game then." The voice echoed with malicious glee. A strange glowing miasma began to seep out of the ground around them. They hovered in mid-air for a moment before slowly gathering together to form what looked like small, child-sized humanoid silhouettes. There were at least hundreds, if not thousands, extending far into the depths of the forest around them, swaying unsteadily, as if ready to pounce at the slightest notice. "If you can defend the gate until it stabilizes then you may do as you wish and escape....but if even one of these children reach the gate...you will all perish here, in this prison of your own making..."

"You seriously think these....these cretins might stop us?!" Remilia suddenly burst out laughing. "As long as we're in Gensokyo, such rabble is nothing to us! Sakuya!"

"Yes, my lady. THE WORLD!" Sakuya roared, extending her arms.

....there was a slight bluish white spark of energy...and then nothing...

"Wh-what?" Sakuya gasped, looking down at the palm of her hands in surprise.

"...tch...SPEAR THE GUNGNIR!" Remilia roared, rearing one arm back. Yet again, another feeble reddish pink spark, which merely died away into nothingness.

"ROYAL FLARE!" Patchouli called out, desperately...to no avail.

In turn everyone in the clearing tested their respective powers, but with little to no effect.

"....this can't be...." Parsee gazed in shock at her shaking palms. "We're...."

"Without Gensokyo's spring of mana, you're all mere fragile existences, nothing, even less than humans! Who is the rabble now, Queen of the Night?! I now have full control over the spring....and, really, the destruction of Gensokyo is just an unfortunate by-product of my plans. Your demise is just a small, insignificant consequence of a scheme that will alter all existence! Still, you have amused me greatly...if it's any consolation, consider that your life's achievement!" The voice's laughter echoed, before dying away in the air.

"No....we're doomed...." Koakuma fell to her knees, shaking in despair. As if on cue, the demonic apparitions slowly approached, swaying madly as they did so.

"...is this is...?" Parsee murmured.

"We should've destroyed the barrier while we had the chance!" Mima gritted her teeth.

"It isn't over yet!" Alex roared, taking on a martial arts stance. "We still have our fists! We'll fight!"

"....that's right. We decided to wait!" Taihou shouted. "And wait we shall! For the ones left behind, we will not fall!"

"....As long as we stand here and not let a single one of them through, there is still hope for survival, even for those who are still trying to get here!" Kojiros rooted his feet into the ground before the oncoming hordes.

"Parsee, we're not dying! Not here!" Hiroko encouraged her companion. "Too much lies on our shoulders."

"Yeah....we carry more than our own lives. We carry the memories of Gensokyo! So we can't fail here!" Zei roared. "You hear me, whoever you are?! We're not despairing! Not yet! It'll take more than a a lot of smoke and mirrors to take us down!

"Even if Gensokyo is dead... even if it no longer exists... on my back, and in my heart, it will continue to live on! Ore wa ore da! What the hell do you think I am?!" Jeremy shouted.

"Here." Mitaka threw a dozen or so sharpened blades and metal rods onto the ground around them. "Save your fists for last. Remember! We're fighting to survive! Dying is not an option here! Many of you are strangers to me, but I swear that I will fight as if each and every one of you are my brethren! Watch out for each other....and we may survive this!"

And then all hell broke loose....

Meanwhile, a little way off the in the forest, about 10 minutes later...

"...ouch, ouch..." Reimu muttered, rubbing a sore spot on her back where she had struck a rather inconveniently-placed log. Thankfully, the rest of her landed on some soft brambles and bracken.

"Who's not dead?!" Aya's voice rang out from a nearby bush. "Sound off!"

"I'm....not...I think...." Sumire called out.

"Wait a sec, let me check!" Pichu called out from atop a high branch. "Yep, I'm not missing any limbs!" He and Shinki had bumped into Reimu, Sumire and Aya's party just as they left Hakugyokorou with Sho and Yuyuko. "And Shinki's in the tree next to me!"

"A little help won't go amiss..." Shinki sighed, squriming helplessly as she hung by a torn piece of her dress.

"Goddesses don't die!" Suwako shouted indignantly from a human-shaped crater on the forest floor.

"...that's because they land on unfortunate humans...." Myon muttered from underneath her. Myon and Suwako had joined the party when they stopped by the Youkai Mountain to alert the inhabitants about the barrier's collapse. Sanae and Kanako had decided to alert the rest of the mountain but told them to go on and get the message to the rest of Gensokyo.

After making a whirlwind tour of Gensokyo, the party finally found themselves flying at high speed towards the barrier's limits.....

....before finding themselves flying towards the ground at an even higher speed....

"....what happened?" Sumire asked as the party slowly picked itself out of the surrounding greenery and gathered together.

"Our flying abilities sort of....gave out, at the same time..." Pichu said.

"No really, Sherlock." Sho sighed. "Well, I suppose we now walk."

"...no, we run. We have little time left." Reimu said. "Come."

"I really hope the others make it...." Sumire said as they began jogging after the shrine maiden, dodging low-hanging branches and leaping over low-lying bushes. "But what if it wasn't just us who lost our flying skills?"

".....that means everyone else will have to run for the barrier limits...." Pichu said, grimly. "Not good...."

"...if only Yukari had succeeded..." Yuyuko sighed.

"She must have her own problems." Sho said. "We're alive now. That's what matters."

"Wh-what's that?!" Suwako suddenly gasped as they came upon the clearing surrounding the gateway. Hordes upon hordes of small, glowing silhouettes were throwing themselves at a small party that was now barely holding up.

"That's Taka-kun!" Reimu gasped. "We have to help them!"

"They must be after the gateway." Shinki noted darkly. "We'll have to remove them. Who knows what they plan to do to our gateway."

"Homing Amulet!" Reimu shouted, throwing a wad of paper charms....

....which merely flapped and blew away in the wind....

"..." Reimu looked down at the palm of her hand in bewilderment.

"Phantasmal Butterflies!" Yuyuko called out to her butterflies of death....only to have the coarse wind howl in reply.

In panic, everyone else tested out their powers, but to no avail.

"....wow, now I know what it feels like to be 6 inches high...." Aya murmured.

"...what'll we do?" Yuyuko asked, uncertain.

"....we fight." Pichu said, matter-of-factly.

"With what?" Suwako gasped at the seemingly ludicrous idea.

"With whatever you can find." Sho said. "Heck, use your fists."

"Toss one of those little critters at another if you have to. Just do as much damage as you can." Myon said.

"....you're right. If we don't try, we won't get anywhere at all. We must try and get to the gate with everyone else."

"Everyone, ready? LET'S RUMBLE! BANZAAAAI!!!" Pichu roared. And the small party charged out into the fray.

The border, Day 1, 4.26 PM, Roughly 1 hour until the collapse of the Great Hakurei Barrier

-Jeremy Nezu-

I was silent for a long time, as we walked to the exit of the Border. The thought... almost guarantee of its destruction was utterly shocking, despite all the evidence. And... and if Reimu and Yukari had given up on it, then that would have been deadly on its own...

I had to focus just on putting one foot in front of the other, head down, silent. I noticed I was starving, and conjured up a small snack - I guess that explained why I was being such an asshole earlier. I'll have to apologize to Reimu if... when I get the chance.

Some freak events dug up a few more major players in Gensokyo, and their... significant others. I was still too stunned to care at that point.

But... I had to do something. There were... problems. Questions. Solutions. Alternatives.

Loopholes.

I needed... some way to organize it. I had ideas... I just needed to make note of them. I thought of firing up Word on my laptop, but the battery sucks and we were moving and there's no electricity anyway. So how would I...

"Paper. I need paper."

I tried to ignore the argument that sprung up among the SDM members, and faced Patchouli.

"Patchouli. I need a pencil and paper. ... no, make that a small notebook."

She blinked once, slowly. "Why?"

"To take notes on better ways to save Gensokyo."

-----

HOW DID THIS HAPPEN?

How does this mana sharing in the outside world work?
Does it have to be people that have been in Gensokyo? Would recruiting new ones after arrival help at all? New friends? MULTIPLE friends? Would we be able to make new links after leaving, if we take anyone out that doesn't have one?

What the hell is going to happen to everyone left in Gensokyo? Is there any way to get them back? Damnit...

Should Aya be inciting chaos to get as many people as possible here? How can we alert her to do so?

Where the fuck is Yukari?

Who would be most helpful in the outer world for restoring Gensokyo? The key is memory, right? Or is it ability to recreate it? Is it only for the outsider supporting, or the Gensokyo resident as well? Wouldn't a knowledgeable insider be more helpful with keeping or improving these memories either way?
If ability, bring Reimu and Yukari - the most powerful, and the ones that know the Boundary.
If memory, bring those that have been around a lot, or are highly informed about Gensokyo... Marisa? Keine? Akyu? Satori?

What outer world are we going to, anyway? I'm not sure if Maribel exists in mine, but it's most referred to by ZUN. If people there believe in Gensokyo, or come to believe in Gens

I noticed that everyone else had stopped walking, and looked up from my constant scribbling. Seems like we'd arrived at the border exit. I think I missed a bit of the conversation just after arriving.

Lily Black brought up one of my major concerns, all on her own.

"What about everyone else? Everyone who....can't escape?"

"I wish there was a way." Mitaka sighed. "But we can only bring out those who we can support with mana. The others....they won't die, I think. Once we restore Gensokyo from the outside, they'll be restored with it."

"That's a relief." I muttered, and scribbled over that question.

After a little bit, Mima suggested breaking the barrier right now and getting while the getting was good. No one seemed to be eager to follow. Even I wasn't, brutally practical as I am - risking 30 minutes in a decaying world with manageable natural disasters was well worth bringing probably an extra half-dozen residents of Gensokyo out with us.
Probably.

A booming, cruel voice from... nowhere rang out. "I'm pleased...."

I looked up. Around. Didn't think I'd end up hearing a faceless evil voice like this...

"You all actually came, like rats trying to escape a sinking ship, with hope that you might actually find refuge outside..."

A rather typical one, at that. But even if I could guess what it was going to say, we had no way to know what it was, or how to deal with it...

I clenched a hand on my makeshift backpack... and realized that, if my theories held any weight, my laptop could be as important to the restoration of Gensokyo as me.

"I love it....I love that false hope...it was worth not crushing you all in one instant..." The voice went on, over an objection by Remilia, "Ah, hope...how fascinating...with it you all build your own racks and turn the wheels of your own volition, drawing out your deaths further with each futile cycle...."

"Spirals do not only go downwards." I growled, under my breath. I knew where this was going. I needed to drop my backpack somewhere... by the border exit. Easier for someone else to get it out intact. I walked over to it, shaking slightly with indignation at the voice. Kefka, Anti-spiral, Odio... I couldn't decide which it was most like. I put the backpack down by the border.

"... okay, let us play a game, then!" the voice boomed. I turned to see a cloud of dark purple miasma surrounding the area, condensing into small, loosely humanoid figures.

"Ah, Heartless then." I quipped.

"If you can defend the gate until it stabilizes then you may do as you wish and escape....but if even one of these children reach the gate...you will all perish here, in this prison of your own making..."

So, a defensive fight... I wasn't so useful for that, the only combat-useful magic I'd come up with was best for causing confusion or running away... but I pulled a few blades of grass out of my pocket anyway.

Remilia laughed. I remembered that the most powerful players of Gensokyo were here alongside me... what was I so worried about?

Then Sakuya's time stop failed.

Now would be an appropriate time to panic, I realized. I tossed some grass at the ground, trying to transform it into a decoy... but it just bounced off the ground slightly.

Not good.

The bodiless voice cackled, as everyone went through with the panicking.

"Without Gensokyo's spring of mana, you're all mere fragile existences, nothing, even less than humans! Who is the rabble now, Queen of the Night?! I now have full control over the spring....and, really, the destruction of Gensokyo is just an unfortunate by-product of my plans."

Ah, that's another question answered.

"Your demise is just a small, insignificant consequence of a scheme that will alter all existence! Still, you have amused me greatly...if it's any consolation, consider that your life's achievement!"

So, this was a multidimensional affair...

Koakuma collapsed, shaking. The miasma critters started to shamble forward. We all cringed away from them, intimidated by the numbers, if nothing else.

Lily Black's boytoy, Alex or something, stepped forward defiantly. "It isn't over yet!" he roared, sliding into a martial arts stance, "We still have our fists! We'll fight!!"

In turn, the others recovered, each with their own short speech. I cracked a grin. So corny, and yet, my own came to mind so easily...

Reimu's beloved husband dumped a bunch of metal weapons onto the ground. I walked forward just enough to grab one - a long metal rod, though I wasn't certain how he'd managed to carry it all this way.

I stepped back towards the gate. It was what we needed to defend, after all, and someone needed to play goalkeeper. But on the way, I couldn't resist, grinning like the madman I am...

"Even if Gensokyo is dead... even if it no longer exists... on my back, and in my heart, it will continue to live on! Ore wa ore da! What the hell do you think I am?!"

The creatures rushed forward, faster than I would have expected. Everyone else leapt into the fray, beating and slicing them back with excellent skill and strength. I don't think I could manage that... oh Parsee, you card.

-----

I soon realized that there was a flaw in my plan. Namely, that while I was serving as an appropriate failsafe, I was also an idle pair of hands as long as everyone else was keeping the swarm under control. They were doing a good

job of it, and I hadn't even touched one yet. At least I'd chosen an appropriate weapon with good reach...

... I couldn't move too far, or it'd defeat the purpose of acting as a last line of defense. I'd have to find some way to be useful from where I was standing. That meant some sort of ranged attack. Without anything designed for it,

that would be... throwing stuff. There were still plenty of spare weapons left over in the abandoned pile, but they were a bit far away and rather heavy. Only the smaller knives would make decent throwing weapons, anyway. So I should find a closer source that...

Oh. Of course.

I bent over, grabbed a fair-sized rock off the ground, and flung it in a high arc over the frontlines of the battle. A splattery thud and twisted squeak made me grin.

I grabbed another rock, and shouted, "Don't forget you have more than your fists and weapons!"

-----

I made myself particularly useful managing to stop and throw back a handful of the shadow critters that snuck through the defense lines. Luckily, they were easy to knock down, and much lighter than their size would suggest (though, given their composition, that made sense).

Then a few managed to get close in quick succession. I got worried.

Thankfully, then the cavalry arrived, in the form of a kappa on an airship, her psychotic witch buddy, and Madame Tsundere.

Machine guns were alarmingly effective against our little opponents. This is not surprising, but very true.

I pumped a finger into the air. "SCIENCE!"

What was left of the battle was cut short by Sakuya's husband going more than slightly insane, somehow still pulling out a supernatural attack, and the disembodied voice giving up with surprising ease. Everyone's magic seemed to return.

... What the hell?

How did that even work?

Did he draw on some other power source? Do something to overcome it? Was there some sort of power siphon he managed to circumvent? That last one actually makes some sense, but the voice left too, maybe that was doing it instead...?

I shook my head, slowly. Well worth looking into, but not the immediate priority. I made a mental note to... try and make a drill during any pause in the action before we left Gensokyo...

"Hey, Nitori! Thanks for the save!" I called up at her contraption. She grinned, and waved back down.

I glanced at the others nearby. "... now, how much more time do we have, and does anyone have any idea where we could find Yukari?"

"... and... hang on." I retrieved the notes I'd taken from beneath my backpack, looked them over again. Looks like the only one that's still relevant would be the mana sharing mechanics.

So I asked about them. "Anyone know exactly how this 'mana sharing' we're going to be relying on works? Does it have to be people that have been in Gensokyo from outside, or would other outsiders help too?"

I mostly directed the question towards Reimu, as she'd probably know best. Or her husband, maybe, but I never got to ask along the way...

The border, Day 1, 4.26 PM, Roughly 1 hour until the collapse of the Great Hakurei Barrier

*draws his nodachi Monohoshizao, a very long katana from his back*

Koji:*talks to self* i'm glad my wounds healed up for this....was not expecting a mastermind to be behind this.....well koji...time to live up to that promise now!  *charges into battle staying nearby Remilia and the other girls to help ensure safety*......."Someone must really have some serious balls to want to take out Gensokyo even if its a side-effect to whatever the hell they are doing....They must be....some sort of god or something...tired of fighting gods for magots sake!... *continues to fight while thinking and protecting*

The border's limits, Day 1, 4.56 PM, Roughly 30 minutes until the collapse of the Great Hakurei Barrier

(OOC: This occured during the battle, right before Taihou finished it)

"BANZAAAAAIIII!" Something soared through the sky towards the fray before crashing into the ground, sending up a huge wave of dust and dirt into the air as it skid across the battlefield.

"EAT LEAAD!" Bullets ripped through the enemy ranks from a heavy machine gun mounted atop what looked like an airship that was now cruising through the hordes, trampling them deep into the ground under its pointed bow. Behind it was a very happy-looking kappa, laughing manically over the roar of the machine gun.

Some of the shadows tried to board the ship as it cruised on towards the gateway...but their attempts proved futile as well-aimed broom swipes blasted them off into the air like the bits of rubbish they were.

"ORA ORA ORAAAA!" A black white witch cackled as she swung the broom madly around her.

"No! Keep off!" Behind her, a girl in blue, white, and red bashed random shadows that the witch had missed with a heavy-looking leather-bound book.

"Taka-kun, out of the way!" Reimu shouted. Mitaka turned just in time to come face to face with the bow of the ship....just as it stopped an inch away from his nose. He blinked....before falling backwards on his backside, gibbering like a fool.

"Nice of you to join us." Reimu shouted up at Marisa, Alice, and Nitori. "You're late!"

"Nice of you to leave some for us ze. What? Didn't have enough of an appetite ze?" Marisa laughed back.

Just then, Taihou let out his burst of energy.

"...whoah...." Marisa murmured. "....does he take apprentices?" She asked around.

[Gappy]

Forest of Magic, Amarillo's Hut, 4:57 PM, Roughly 1 hour until the collapse of the Great Hakurei Barrier

(This happened when the fighting at the border is ongoing)

Amarillo Viridian, the gentle ESPer came from the Outer World for hiding, is very worried.

She can feel that the nature of Gensokyo is having some strange changes that may lead to something disastrous. However, she was really surprised to see that Rainbow Spark, as a Force Spirit suddenly appeared before her.

"Can you hear me? Amarillo Viridian?"

"Don't tell me you are abusing your dark side of the force again...." Amarillo just finished her sentence and realized that something is not right.

No one can have their projections across time and space.

Even not a Force Spirit.

"Now it's not the time to scold me!!" The chrono Agent shouts. "Listen, the border of Gensokyo is about to collapse! That's why I can commute to you using that form!"

"Eh?" Amarillo can't believe her ears "I just moved in and settled in there for one month and it leads to a destruction?! You can fix that, don't you?"

"No, I'm sorry about that, that incident is not created by NOD or FARGO, nor any party we known of in our timeline. Actually, that's the part you really want to take attention to." replied the blueish-projection.

"Ok, seems that I'm thrown into some bad luck after all! And you know I hate that! Why cannot people--" she coudn't finish her sentence since the Force Spirit suddenly rose his voice.

"FIRST!!! FIND LILY WHITE AND MERGE WITH HER AS YOU FINISHED LISTENING TO MY MESSAGE!!"
"But--"
"NO BUTS!! THIS IS A CRITICAL MOMENT!! YOU CAN TRY CALLING HER NOW, AS SOON AS YOU TWO BOTH GET OUT YOU CAN GET YOUR REST!!"
"Then what about the other yousei? I mean there are still others ---"
"Others will take care of them, Lily Black seems safe, and now she's with her partner fighting at the border--- AND DON'T EVER THINK ABOUT JOINING THE FIGHT! YOU'LL BE KILLED!" Seems that Spark suddenly have the ability to read other's mind (Actually, NO.)
Seeing that Amarillo close her eyes and start to call her partner using Extra Sense, Spark continues.
"I'll sent you to the time/space line which you all will be going into, the time is 2009, the space is "Karuisuwa,Japan" the situlation won't as bad as we got in 21XX since there is no wars. And there is enough nature for you to utilize and recover yourself. However, you'll be weakened....."

As the force spirit is speaking, the Fairy of Spring - Lily White had appeared in the hut, and she seems to know what had happened since the commution of the mind is the fastest way of every methods.

"You won't see me again when you arrived there. However, there are other Outer World people as well, they have the bond to residents of Gensokyo and you will have to work with them! Be careful of your condition! Stay close to nature and try to help us find out who caused all this so we can interfere!!!"

"We are all ready, Mr.Spark." Amarillo opened her eyes, and grabbed the fish rod and the straw hat beside her.

"Good, I hate that but I can only report the following to you as Missions. Your Missions are: Work with others, try to find the problem source and STAY ALIVE so you can with others rebuilt the world of Gensokyo. Left the rest to us, you are not suited to fighting at all so the rest is not related to you. Even you can only manage to STAY ALIVE that you have completed this mission."

"So.... I know what I have to do." Amarillo replied sadly as she took the hat and wear it, covering her ponytail and makes she looks more like a 14-year-old boy.

"Good, now is exactly 5PM, I'll transfer you directly to Karuisuwa. My hints had ended, good luck with you and your friends."

As Spark finished his speech, Amarillo extends her hand out and grabbed Lily White's hand. The two bodies started to grow and merge. The Merged form looks more like Amarillo herself but with wings on her back.

"Goodbye, Gensokyo." Amarillo muttered the words as her vision started to dim........
***5:08 PM, ROUGHLY 20 MIN UNTIL THE COLLAPSE OF THE BARRIER, AMARILLO VIRIDIAN & LILY WHITE IS TELEPORTED OUT FROM THE COLLAPSING GENSOKYO INTO KARUISUWA, WHERE THE OTHERS WILL MET AGAIN TO START THE STORY ***
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Amarillo Route, Pt 1, END.


The border, Day 1, 4.38 PM, Roughly 1 hour until the collapse of the Great Hakurei Barrier

Sho grinned. Finally, combat on an equal footing with his wife. The difference in power between them had been an annoyance, though it would have been nice to have access to it now. Still, his reflex's had been trained by danmaku. This was nothing. Letting his emotions drain out to be replaced by calm, he muttered "Ryusui Seikuken". As a multitude of enemy attacks neared him, he dodged them with ease. "Kyuu Geki Issatsu" He erupted into a flurry of motion, raining a flurry of attacks on the nearest foe, to devastating effect. As one larger opponent swung at him, he redirected the force of it's blow back at it and sent it flying into it's compatriots, yielding a nice crunch.

He looked over to see his wife holding her own with a set of fans he hadn't seen before. While her previous ones had been quite effective as weapons, these had clearly been designed for that purpose, made from metal and with sharpened edges.

As if from nowhere, something zoomed into the crowd of enemies nearest them. Youmu, while not, perhaps, as fast as she had been before her powers had been weakened, was still capable of moving fast enough to register as only a blur, and her swords were certainly still sharp and deadly.

Sho's grin intensified. This was going to be fun.

The border, Day 1, 4.40 PM, Roughly 1 hour until the collapse of the Great Hakurei Barrier

"Damn it..." Hiroko grit her teeth as she swung the metal rod in a wide arc. She had recently learned how to danmaku, but if everyone else, who were vastly more experienced than her, couldn't use their spellcards, what chance was there for her?

Another of the creatures rushed at her, spitting and hissing horribly. She bat it away, but it didn't go as far as before. She was tiring, and she was sure that the others were, too.

Psi.

The thought suddenly appeared in her head, and she looked up in confusion. What was that about?

Use your abilities. The amount of mana present in this world does not matter. Use it.

I've no idea what you're talking about! How do I use it?

You will know.

Then, suddenly, she felt...energized. All the fatigue holding her was gone. With renewed spirits, she rejoined the fray.
--
Parsee had always relied on danmaku. When she found out that she couldn't use her spellcards, she felt weak. Vulnerable.

Right now, she was doing the best she could with a blade. She stabbed into another creature - how many had that made it? She couldn't remember. Her status as a youkai gave her greater stamina and strength, but the waves of the creatures seemed endless. Things looked bleak.

Then, she saw Hiroko fight harder than she had ever before. The human was determinedly cutting through the creatures steadily. Her morale raised, Parsee continued to fight...

...and with the roar of guns and Taihou had slashed through a building behind the shrine, which had been pulverised by a gust of wind.

The two relaxed visibly. The immediate danger was finally over.

A caf? in Karuisuwa, ? PM, Day 1

Sanasan and Renko are sitting in a booth, sipping their drinks.

"....Something's wrong with the other side." Renko said, with a serious face.

"What makes you say that?" Sanasan asked.

"Well.....when we just tried to get through the border, didn't something seem strange to you?"

"Not really...I don't remember anything really happening."

"That's just it. Nothing happened. Usually, we'd get at least some sort of reaction from the barrier. But this time, absolutely nothing happened. It's like.....the other side just stopped existing between yesterday and today."

"Hm..."Sanasan thought to himself. "Maybe....the entry point changed?"

"The point changed huh? Well, I suppose that could be possible....Since we have been using that shrine as the entry point the entire time."

"Exactly. Sounds like we need another shrine."

"Luckily, I know just the place. I really didn't want it to come to this, but...there's another shrine just out of town, and it's much larger than the one we usually go to."

"How come you never go there then? Being just out of town, wouldn't it be much more convenient?"

"Well, um....I heard rumours that it was haunted...." Renko turned away, with her face red.

"Wait. So you're telling me that....you're afraid of ghosts?"

Renko nodded sheepishly.

Sanasan laughed. "Wow, I never would've thought that! I thought I was the only one who never grew out of that! Don't worry about it, ghosts freak me out too. That's why I never watch horror movies."

Renko smiled broadly. "Well, that settles it then! Tonight, we'll face our fears and check out that old shrine! And just maybe....we'll get to the other side of that barrier!"

Early morning, Day two, outskirts of town.
Sanasan and Renko were both standing on a path with a burnt sign saying "Abandoned building ahead. Do not enter." Both were gripping their flashlights tightly, hands shaking.

"Ready?" Renko asked nervously.

"Whenever you are." Sanasan said, gripping his flashlight like he would never let go.

Together, the two made their way to the old shrine.

Palace of Earth Spirits, Day 1, ? PM, Roughly 1 hour until the collapse of the Great Hakurei Barrier

"I think we really should be going..." Gpop said to Koishi.

"Hmm...? Is something the matter? You seem frightened and worried." Koishi replied.

"Well, I haven't seen Parsee today, and I heard some distant shouting from above...the surface it seems. I recognized Remilia's voice and all that. I think we should check it out."

"Well if you feel that way I guess we could surface once again. I'm bored anyways~"

Gpop and Koishi lift themselves up from their bed in their room located in Koishi's Palace. They open the front door and they head towards the main gate. On their way they find Satori, Koishi's sister, watching over her pets, Utsuho and Orin, as well as others in their animal forms. She notices them on their way to the front gate.

"Hmm? You're leaving? Why?" asks Satori. She turns to Gpop and tries to read his heart. "Hmm...because you heard distant shouting...from the surface...and you two want to check it out? Ah okay then. Just please don't let anything happen to my sister. I love her dearly, and I trust that you'll take care of her, despite your lack of magic."

"Oh I will. I won't let anything happen to my dear Koishi," replied Gpop. And he glances at Koishi and she glances back, smiling.

They turn around and continue towards the front gate. They open the front gate and started their way towards the front entrance.

The border, Day 1, 4.40 PM, Roughly 1 hour until the collapse of the Great Hakurei Barrier

To Alex this was more than a battle of bodly protection it was a battle to save a land from permanant non existance dispite the loss of outside boosting that gensokyo normally gave he still had enough Inner spiritial power left to make his melee blows fair more destructive than what pure muscle power can give
destructive enough to tear asunder the creatures that came towards him and lily black.

"I WILL NOT KEEL OVER AND DIE HERE" has he kicks a shadow creature into a tree causing it to burst apart while giving a punch that sent one flying beyond human eye sight.

Lily Black wasn't too happy about about losing a fairys main (and normally only) defense method but wasn't exactly the easy prey the shadow creatures were wanting since Alex had be teaching her bits of his style as well has more basic self defense you name it she was doing it biting scratching kicking.

Still they knew that eventually they would be swamped over because those who still had left over magic ki or anykind of non physcial power will use it up and those who are physcially fighting will eventually get tired and make a fatal combat mistake or make a moment to slow without something awesome taking place in their favor they would lose and gensokyo would be doomed as well has perhaps the other Realms inhabitants and maybe even the outside world itself.

Then suddenly Taihou's sudden outburst tips the scales in ther favor

Alex mutters "what the... this spirit and power doesn't feel humanly based...its almost scary"

After watching him take out the creatures and apparently drive off their leader who curses him..and then calls him a half demon.

Alex then says "doesn't matter he's saved us and thats what matters right now we need to finish up getting out of here before we can't."

The border, Day 1, 5.05 PM, Roughly 1 hour until the collapse of the Great Hakurei Barrier

Everybody was battling with anything they got. Fists, weapons or left over spirit power. The strange creatures trying to invade Gensokyo kept on swarming little by little.

"Koakuma! shouted Patchouli "Let us try to combine our powers. I am not going to lose my books to these idiots"

"Sure my lady" they hold eachothers hands and Patchouli tried one more time to create a spell. A magical circle appeared below their feet.
"It seems to be working. Now then . . . what?!"

The magical circle below Patchouli's feet became instable and exploded violently throwing Patchouli and Koakuma away.

"Patchouli! Koakuma!"  Reimu shouted. "Darn it. What is going on here."

"Reimu! Look out" Suika alerted. The creature jumped on Reimu's back started to bite her arm. Without any hesitation Suika grabbed her gourd and smashed it into the creature. It let go and started crawling on the floor. It was total chaos at the shrine. The creatures kept on coming and coming. No matter how many there were cut, punched, smashed, they kept coming.
Youmu and Kojiro were trying to protect the majority with their swords. Even though Youmu cannot use her hyper speed powers she still has the ability to swing a sword.

"You think they are edible" Yuyuko asked while Youmu slashed a few of those humanoid creatures.
"Lady Yuyuko, this is not the time for joking around! I am trying to be serious here."
"Look out!"

Kojiros quickly jumped in and slashed two creatures who took Youmu off guard. "Damn cowards!" he said. "Attacking a lady when she is showing her back."

Lucky Alex, Meiling, Zei and Mitaka are somehow handy with their physical strenght. Since the Mistress, Flandre, Patchouli and Koakuma are powerless aswell as all the others who rely on their spiritual strenght, they have to use melee combat or other melee weapons.

A sudden shout and scream was hearable from the frontline. Sakuya saw Suika and Reimu getting hit and falling to the ground. Youmu, Kojiros, Zei and Meiling charged in to shield them.

"Quick, get them out of there! Reimu cannot be knocked out else the passage will fail!" Kojiros shouted while slashing more creatures.

"I'll do it" said Mitaka.

He quickly took them to safety being guided by Pichu and Shinki. But the creatures started surrounding the whole party. It was becoming too much. The melee fighters were starting to get exhausted and kept on receiving one injury after another.

"Blasted things. If I only had my spiritual power." said Youmu.
"Then I would revoke instant death on every one of them!" added Yuyuko
"That's right Lady Yuyuko!"
"For making me this hungry!"
Youmu sighed

Flandre clamped herself against her sister "Sister, I am scared. These creatures are evil. They have no hearts. I can see it but not destroy it."

Remilia has never seen her little sister like this. She started thinking:  "what would be the possible cause this? There must be some sort of source, there must be. Every magic has a source of power. So the user must be nearby hiding.

"Sakuya" she called
Sakuya was sitting close to Taihou "Yes my lady?"
"Try to use your scanning powers to sense any different spirtual source than ours and those of the creatures."
"I'll try. . "

She closed her eyes and tried to use her scanning powers but with no effect.

"My apologies my lady, it seems it is useless."

At that moment Suwako carried Youmu aswell to the group. She was heavy injured. Remilia saw how Kojiros struggling to protect her and everyone else. Her thoughts were constantly about him: "Please becareful Kojiros"

Almost every Gensokyo girl is powerless at this moment. They all are praying for Reimu to keep the passage way intact. However she was weiring weaker and weaker.

"We are going to die all here" Aya said.
"Have faith!" Kanako said. "Have faith in the ones who try to protect us at this moment. For that they have been worshipping us. Now we will have to worship them for the moment."

At that moment Taihou felt a bit of dizzy while using his own dagger skills to cut creatures. Sakuya noticed Taihou holding his hand against his head.

"Taihou dear, are you ok?"

Taihou didn't react. He dropped his dagger and fell on the ground on his knees staring at the sky. 

"Taihou! Wake up! Wake up! There is a creature aproaching!"

A pair of creatures rushed towards him with their sharp nails sticking out, ready to cut and slice.

"Shit!" I can't help Kojiro said. He was too busy trying to cut the creatures. Especially cause Youmu was knocked out.

"Come on Taihou! WAKE UP!" those words echoed around the whole shrine

A mini earthquake occured. The whole shrine ground started shaking.

"An earthquake? Is the border collapsing?" Yuyuko asked.

"No" awnsered Patchouli: "This is something else."

The ground around Taihou cracked and a dust of wind rapidly whirled around his body starting from his feet up his knees to his upper torso. The wind stretched along his arms to his hands causing more swirls.

The creatures got blown away from the gust of wind being released.

Sakuya saw how Taihou's eyes turned from brown to bright green. "Taihou?"

He didn't react but stood up by picking up his dagger. He walked towards the frontline where all the creatures were still battling the defenders.

"Woah Taihou, are you all. . . What the hell happened to your body and eyes?"

Taihou still didn't awnser but stepped right in front of the frontline.

"What are you doing?! Stay behind us you fool!"

All the creatures turned there attention towards him and rushed. Taihou started roaring with his voice. It was so intense that everybody could feel the roar deep inside their bodies. He lifted up his dagger and started spinning it. With each spin a crackling sound was noticeable.

Meiling took a few step back "We have to protect the masters. Quickly, guard them with your body."

They all rapidly retreated and made a circle around the vurnible group.

Taihou stopped the spin and aimed his dagger to the front as if holding a gun and stroke it down to the floor beneith him. The entire floor splitted up into several pieces causing massive explosions. All the creates in the area got instantly destroyed.
With his green eyes he stared at the location behind the Hakurei shrine building.
Another swing with his dagger released a gust of wind moving at high speed towards the building. The building litterally got split into two pieces as pieces of wood started flying around.

"Curse you human. Or should I say half demon?" echoed a voice again.

"It's the same voice again as before." said Patchouli.

"I didn't expect few puny human souls would be able to stop my army of creatures but I also didn't expect one human soul to destroy my familiar. This is not over yet. This is just the beginning."

The voice dissapeared in echo. Slowly all the creautres began to turn into dust and dissolve in air.

Taihou's eyes dimmed and turned back to brown. He lost concesnious and fell on the ground.

Sakuya rushed towards her husband: "Taihou! Taihou!"

"I can feel a bit of my powers returning." said Reimu.

Patchouli noticed her powers returning aswell. She could summon basic spells again.

"It seems that familiar was blocking our entire spiritual source in a wide radius. We all suddenly lost our powers close to the shrine. But it is not at full strenght. The weakning of the border is also affecting it."

Koakuma reported the final state of the border once more: "Patchouli-sama, The border has aprox 20 minutes life time left. We must make final preperations for passing."

"Keep your guard up all" Patchouli commanded. "Whoever that was he is still watching us probably. We broke his spell, which was quite powerful so it cannot use another one in such a short time."

She looked at the fainted Taihou who was showing strange behaviour ever since the scarlet mansion. "I wonder"

Underground Passage to the Border, Day 1, 5.05 PM, Roughly 1 hour until the collapse of the Great Hakurei Barrier

"Hey Koishi, she told me to keep you safe. Why is she telling me this now and not before? I mean, we went to the surface many times before." Gpop was puzzled by Satori's words.

"I dunno. Maybe she knows something that we don't?" replied Koishi.

"If she does, maybe she didn't want us to panic? She's keeping something from us, and we're going to find out what on the surface!" Gpop yelled.

They pass by the bridge and Gpop noticed that Parsee is still gone, along with that other girl that's always with her.

She must on the surface as well, Gpop thought to himself. Since they're much closer to the surface and all, they probably were affected by this.

Then they noticed a light at the end of the tunnel. That must be the entrance! thought Gpop.

The Hakurei Shrine, Yatsugatake National Park, Outside World, Day 1, 5.05 PM, Roughly 1 hour until the collapse of the Great Hakurei Barrier

".....So tell me why we're here again?"

Sanasan and Renko were standing in front of an old shrine. The place was barren, looking like nobody had cleaned it in ages.

"...I just wanted to see it again. I remember I was always trying to get past the border to the other side. But every time I tried, I'd always get a glimpse before the opening would close again. I just thought that maybe it would work this time." Renko sighed. "I guess I'm just disappointed that I never got past the border."

"Don't worry, you'll get there someday. I mean, it's not like the other world is going anywhere right? You've got plenty of time to get there." He said. "But if it makes you feel any better, why don't we try it again today? We've got lots of time right now."

Renko's expression brightened. "Why not? Another try wouldn't hurt. Maybe we'll actually get more than a glimpse this time."

[Gappy]

The border, Day 1, 5.21 PM, Less than 1 hour until the collapse of the Great Hakurei Barrier

Since all the enemies have disintergrated at last, Kojiro finally lowered his sword, and stood awkwardly still but was exhausted. He turns behind him to see Remilia holding her frightened little sister. The site was both relaxing but very displeasing. he was happy they were safe but he was very troubled that they were so powerless, They look no different than ordinary children afraid of the dark or of a giant storm outside their homes.
Koji: I'm glad....we protected them.... Hey Zei?
Zei: *stands up grugdingly* ....y-yeah? what?
Koji: good...job you...idiot...hehe..heheh
and with that he finally loses all his strength and collapses backwards with a medium thud. Remilia watched as he fell back and scurried to his side ASAP. Half surprised that he collapsed and half surprised she got up to him so fast.

Zei: I-idiot? You're the one who passed out you cirno.

Remilia gave him a quick scowl and looked over her injured friend frantic.

Koji: ugh....d-dam...one too many blows. i guess i over did it....!! H-how's Youmu?
Remilia: The frog carried her to safety, she's recovering with her group.
Koji: *sits up a bit*.....i see... *picks up his katana from the ground and stands up slowly*
Remilia: *helps him up*

after getting everyone recovered Sakuya and Taihou are talking together about his half demon side that she didn't know about, while the others are with mima discussing possible outcomes and whatnot.

Kojiro and Zei contemplate what to do once they get to the outside world once and for all assuming this "Mysterious Voice" sucker doesn't attack them again

Zei: how many did you kill?
Koji: i lost count around 300 hundred but this isn't a game you know....even if we are reincarnating immortals
Zei: i know but its so fucking tense right now i don't knwo what to think.
Koji:........can't argue there.....*holds his chest*....dam....i think my heart took too much pressure just now
Zei: lol
Koji: don't lol me. what about you eh?!

By now Youmu is completely healed and functional again. She was helping other recover from the battle and whatnot

Zei: Hey guys i think the sky is cracking apart!

The sky was indeed wearing off first. literally cracks in the sky was being made and through it showed absolutely nothing but a void in and of itself. The dimension was on its deathbed breathign its last few breaths.
Everyone looked in horror and amazement at teh site of the crumbling sky.

Patchouli: I don't think the boundary will last another 30 minutes

Koakuma: R-really? this is....the end of our world...

Koji:....indeed it is but despair only comes from a lack of hope, i don't know what that voiced being is tryin to accomplish but once i find out and find it i'll pulverize it into oblivion.

Remilia: Are you okay? you was nearly pulverized yourself! I was really-*puts her head down*....worried

Koji:......I'm sorry Remilia....i know, sorry to say, but i'm used to fighting by myself. Fightin along side people forces me to hold back a lot. and even more since my
Monohoshizao is rather longer than normal too.

Remi: excuses excuses! next time fight so that i....won't worry. you'd better promise me that or i'll skewer you myself!

Koji: *sweatdrops* Yes Remilia i promise it ._.;

with that she suddenly hugged him and in surprise he hugged her in return as well.

Mima called everyone over along with Reimu and they made final preparations for the border jump.  Everyone headed over as they listened to what Reimu and Mima were saying regarding the jump to the outside world but Remilia was fidgeting restlessly

Koji: what's wrong?
Remi: Are you really going to start a spiritual link with me when we get to the outside?
Koji: yes i am I said and agreed that i would Remilia.
Remi: ......personally i don't want to go back there...
Koji:  yeah...i know its because of Flandre that you moved the Mansion to this magical world right?
Remi: Indeed...I don't know how reliable that human friend of yours is and it worries me that i'm leaving my sister to supply her with the tremendous energy that she needs

Koji: lay your concerns to rest, Zei and I have already discussed an idea to help Flandre stay alive. Any other human would probably shrivel up and die very quickly if they set up a link with Flandre, Zei has somethign in him called "The Midnight Lost Child". With that he is virtually an infinite well of mana that restores itself every 24 hours. As long as a being's mana isn't drained completely it will sustain its existance and live. I'm sure Flandre will be fine with him.

Remilia:....I hope so...Flan...was a tool to our father ever since she was born.
Koji: what did ya say? i didn't hear you Remi.

It was then that Sir Mouse asked Reimu and Mima his question on the mana sharing and everyone wasn't quite sure on how to explain it.

Koji: ah you don't know then? well we don't have much time but i'll explain this to you briefly.
not realizing he was holding Remilia's hand he walks to the front and she follows him but she lets go as she follows

Koji: Mitaka, Taihou help Reimu speed up the transfer process alright?

With that they comply and give the 2 girls their support
Koji:....well you see as we know Gensokyo is over a mana spring and its been relinquished. We are jumping into the world that originally spawned Gensokyo, the reason why we outsiders are needed and us specifically, is because we have been....uhhh..."baptised" by the essence that is Gensokyo, we can feel its energy and manipulate it to somewhat. Even in the outside world there are small traces of mana that we can tap into, mana can't be taken away from any thing, live or living and we are able to set up a mana sharing link with someone. No normal person in the outside world will be able to help since they are totally unaware of this reality.

Zei interuppted suddenly

Zei: we could if we wanted to create multiple links with other beings as well but the more links taken the more mana one would have to allocate to the other-BASICALLY its like having a shikigami and you supply it with power constantly. The only problem is distance. Its a link and dependin on how strong it is between the 2 or how much mana the "master" supplies to the "shikigami", the recipient of the mana is restricted to how far it can move from its power source.

Koji: and there you have it. *crosses arms* I've had shikigami before but not often i share a spirit link with another person, I only used to do it if the other was on the brink of death and i used my mana to keep him alive at that time.

E-mouse: but how do you strengthen the spirit link?

Patchouli: that depends on the party involved but its all about synchronization of feelings. its a natural thing. You are better off with someone you trust than with someone you don't am I correct?

E-Mouse: fair enough....so trust is the key?

Patchouli: most of the time its trust, there are some links very strong simply because people hate each other or have rivalries with each other, the persons involved must have some common ground that they both can stand on with each other, whatever is that connection they have with each other will be the strongest link they have with that person. sometimes it could be nothing though, simply a master supplying enough power to MAKE the link strong. That's why Yukari and Ran can be so far apart while she sleeps all day, however i think that trust is still the most important factor in any link.

Reimu: We're almost finished with preparations!

And with that everyone started to think carefully about their partners and consider how or what is their strongest bond with that person.
Remilia pondered if she would be okay, she admitted to herself that she did like Koji as a friend but since she's so headstrong she wondered how it would work out....Trust? Friendship? Power? what was it that will be the stronest binding force that they would share?
Everyone pondered similar questions....but dared not to say anything. Some knew flatly what was their binding link, it was simply Trust and Care,

Zei: well now that the metaphysics is out of the way lets get ready to go? I'm tired as fricking hell!
Flandre: Zei-kun....

Koji: *stands with eyes focused on the barrier*
Remi: "Even now...he stands there like he knows he can handle everything...But...i have no choice now....i have to trust him. He was right when he said he never broken a promise to me yet....i'm sure...i can take that at his word.

Zei:..........by the way Koji?
Koji: yeah?
Zei: i had over 9000 kills 
Koji: ...SONOFA-SHUT UP!! YOU CIRNOASS! *punches his shoulder*
Zei: oww!


The border, Day 1, 5.26 PM, Less than 1 hour until the collapse of the Great Hakurei Barrier

Koishi and Gpop emerged from the underground. They find themselves near the Hakurei Shrine, and from a distance they saw a lot of people near the Border.

"Huh? What's going on?" Gpop asked to no one specifically.

Then he looked closely at the border. He noticed that it's on verge of collapsing. Koishi noticed this as well.

"I think that group will tell us what's going on! I see the red-white there!" Koishi exclaimed, "so let's ask them what's going on."

"Good idea." Gpop replied.

They head towards the group and find them near the exit of the border. They seemed ready to leave in fact. Koishi and Gpop was confused by this.

"Hey guys, what's going on? What'd we miss?" Both Gpop and Koishi asked.

The border, Day 1, 5.08 PM, Less than 1 hour until the collapse of the Great Hakurei Barrier

Alex went into a medtation state waiting for the OK to tranverse to the outside as well has to unwind as much as could be done after the battle with the battle with the fiends familiars.

both had several minor cuts and bruises but other than that were phsycially unharmed

Lily Black was at his side behind him for the fact her outfit clearly looked like it seen much better days it was in tatter in serveral spots and the back side was gone exposing her undergarment there she was blushing.

"man you know how hard it for fairys to get clothing we fairys may have technincal immortality but our clothing isn't part of our bodys you know." her face goes even more red

Alex chuckled while maintaining his state "Relax i'm sure we can get you something dear."

Alex mused to himself in his mind "well glad to see most of gensokyo can at  least still do decent fist cuffing when the need arises"

" this place won't last another 30 minutes " says patchouli

Lily Black then says with hints of sadness "i can't belive our world..our home is being destroyed for someone/something's grand scheme"

Alex then gets out of his meditation and notes some other people coming out of the ground to the shrine

"more people coming with us?" alex then ingored them noticing the crap at best state of his dear lily's clothing "say anyone got something Lily Can cover up with?, that fight did a number on her outfit."

The border, Day 1, 5.08 PM, Less than 1 hour until the collapse of the Great Hakurei Barrier

I sat down, cross-legged, and watched Remilia's husband closely as he explained the spirit link.

"....well, you see as we know,"

Now. I thought, but remained silent.

"Gensokyo is over a mana spring, and its been relinquished. We are jumping into the world that originally spawned Gensokyo. The reason we outsiders are needed, and us specifically, is because we have been....uhhh..."baptized" by the essence that is Gensokyo, we can feel its energy and manipulate it too, somewhat. Even in the outside world there are small traces of mana that we can tap into. Mana can't be taken away from any thing, live or living and we are able to set up a mana sharing link with someone. No normal person in the outside world will be able to help since they are totally unaware of this reality."

I raised an eyebrow. Because they're unaware, huh?

Flandre's husband... caretaker? cut in to add some more to this:

"We could, if we wanted to, create multiple links with other beings as well, but the more links taken, the more mana one would have to allocate to the other - BASICALLY its like having a shikigami, and you supply it with power constantly. The only problem is distance. Its a link and depending on how strong it is between the 2 or how much mana the "master" supplies to the "shikigami", the recipient of the mana is restricted to how far it can move from its power source."

I nodded. "And how do you 'strengthen' a spirit link?"

Patchouli spoke up. "That depends on the party involved, but it's all about synchronization of feelings. Its a natural thing. You are better off with someone you trust than with someone you don't, am I correct?"

I smirked. The usual, as usual. "Fair enough. So, the issue is trust or closeness, then?"

"Most of the time it is," Patchouli replied, "but there are some links which are very strong simply because people hate each other or have rivalries with each other. The persons involved must have some common ground that they both can stand on with each other. The spirit connection they have with each other will be the strongest link they have with that person. Sometimes it could be nothing though, simply a master supplying enough power to MAKE the link strong. That's why Yukari and Ran can be so far apart while she sleeps all day. However, I think that trust is still the most important factor in any link."

I nodded again. "So, more closeness."

"We're almost finished with preparations!" Reimu called out. I glanced over my shoulder for a moment. Should stand up again soon, but there's still more I want to ask...

The vampire hubbies walked off to be with their partners. Doesn't matter - I could just ask Patchouli. I looked at her again, rather intensely.

"So, he said that other outsiders can't help with mana provision since they're unaware of its existence or functioning, right?"

She nodded.

"What if we MAKE them aware?"

"I'm... not sure that's possible."

I grinned. "Then we'll have to find out, won't we?"

My madness was interrupted by a pair of new voices.

"Hey guys, what's going on? What'd we miss?"

They sounded serious.

What. The. Fuck.

I looked up to see Koishi and probably-her-husband standing near the edge of the clearing, looking puzzled.

No excuse.

I dramatically turned and swung an arm over towards the devastated expanses of Gensokyo, and called out, "You've been missing the fucking end of Gensokyo. Would you like to make it to the outside world before the whole place goes up in flames?"


The border, Day 1, 5.08 PM, Less than 1 hour until the collapse of the Great Hakurei Barrier

Alex started to said "have you been livi.."

then relized these must be people from underground and may not be fully aware of whats going on.

"in cause you HAVEN'T noticed Gensokyo is fucked basicly someone or something powerful snagged the very source of the hakurei barrier's power as well much of what makes gensokyo stay working as such Gensokyo is not only having a hissy fit causing various disasters across it, it will also cease to exist in less than a half hour now."

Lily Black appears with a new change of cloths leftovers from little belongings what they could pack and get out before the Sanzu no Kawa flood that caused their hut to be washed away.

"basicly our home land will cease to exist and its up to those who can get out to find out how to stop it and then rebuild it." lily says

The border's limits, Day 1, 5.10 PM, Roughly 10 minutes until the collapse of the Great Hakurei Barrier


It was Pathouli who couldn't resist and inmediately wanted to know some awnsers.

"Taihou, what did you just do while ago? Tell me right now. Because I sensed the same flow of feeling when you snapped at the SDM. Except this time it was amplified. Also you were very careless using that strange spell. You could have hurt Reimu or the border! Do you want to kill us all? Huh!"

"Patchouli-sama, please he is very weakened." said Sakuya who held her hand on Taihou's back.

"Silence Sakuya." Patchouli's face was never this serious.

A great silence ocurred. As if the wind, the sound of the border and everything around had silenced their voices. Taihou struggled slowly on his knees. Sweat was dropping from his head, dripping slowly on the stones of the shrine. He was breathing heavy.

"I- . . . I-I don't know. There . . w-was this noise. . . in my head."

Patchouli's raised her eyebrows being slightly suprised: "Noise?"

"I can't remember it. It almost felt like someone. . tried. .  to pos. . " With those last words Taihou's eyes slowly closed.

A slight panic appeared among the group. Sakuya quickly checked his pulse. "He is alive but unconcious again."

"There is no way he could draw such power out of nowhere. Even with my magnificant magic combined with Koakuma it was not enough."

The border's limits, Day 1, 5.15 PM, Roughly 10 minutes until the collapse of the Great Hakurei Barrier

"How are things?" Reimu asked as Mitaka came up to where she was standing, her arms outstretched towards the gateway. Final preparations were underway and all they could do was try and reinforce the gateway for the final breakout.

The sky was a fiery orange and red. Gensokyo's final sunset was making a desperate fight to shine through the withering weather, creating a blotchy, violently-coloured sky criss-crossed by lightning.

"...terrible. The fight left everyone exhausted to the bone." Mitaka sighed, shaking his head. "They're all resting and recovering now. The thing is, we have a bit of a trek once we get outside...and I don't know what the situation's like either. For all we know, that....thing..." He shuddered mentally at the memory of the disembodied voice, "....is waiting for us on the other side."

"I hate to have to do this...." Reimu sighed. "But we have to get everyone up and moving. The barrier will collapse completely any time now. We have to be ready to make a dash for it."

"All right, I'll round everyone up." Mitaka said. "More people arrived, by the way."

"....how are we going to support them all?" Reimu gasped, looking aghast.

".....we'll have to stretch ourselves, I think." Mitaka said, scratching his chin.

"Taka-kun! When you arrived you were an utter weakling, far below the average for even a human child in Gensokyo! Even after a few months here....you're still barely up to par with your average Gensokyo adult! And you're saying you'll be able to support more than one?!"

"I'm saying I'll try it." Mitaka said. "....I mean, now that they're here, we can't turn them away, can we? Tell them that the lifeboats are full? We have to try, Reimu....I know I have to."

"You said it." Kojiro said, coming up to them and slapping Mitaka on the back. "Said like a man! Yeah, Reimu-chan, don't worry, leave it to us outsiders!"

"Yes, your people have shown us great kindness in welcoming us strangers to Gensokyo." Sumire said. "Allow us to repay the favour."

"...I...it isn't your fight...." Reimu murmured. "It's already selfish enough for me to ask Taka-kun to supply me with mana while I try and restore Gensokyo....but to save everyone else...."

"Hey, it's not like it's a chore." Zei said. "We love everyone here."

"We do it because we want to." Hiroko nodded in agreement.

"I hate to rain in on your empathy parade..." Jeremy said as he strode up to them. "But we really must get the group up and ready. We can't afford to slack off now. Those things could strike again at any time. From what I know of people like that disembodied voice, that wasn't the last we'll hear from her."

"You're right." Alex said. "This isn't the time to be resting."

"We've just been filled in on the situation by Patchouli." Gpop said as he, Pichu, Myon, and Sho came up to the others.

"The Youkai mountain group has arrived and is fully accounted for." Myon reported.

"The Makai contingent has arrived. Shinki's briefing them on what we're about to do." Pichu said.

"I just spoke with the fairies and youkai of the forest and lake. They're a little fatigued from the journey here, but they're ready for the dash." Sho said.

"And the people from the ancient city and the palace of earth spirits have also arrived." Gpop added. "...that leaves Yukari."

"....where on earth is she?!" Jeremy muttered.

"5 minutes." Patchouli said, coming up to them. "Reimu?"

Reimu nodded a silent response. Above them, the sky continued to rumble painfully, as if it was finally giving away under the strain. Stress and shatter marks criss-crossed across the border, threatening to give in at any time now.

"Reimu?" Nitori sauntered up and handed her a megaphone. "The honours?"

"...thanks, Nitori." Reimu said, taking the megaphone. "...shouldn't Yukari be doing this?"

"She's not here so go ahead." Mitaka said. The group cleared a path for her as she strode up into full view of the entire clearing. Everyone's weary, fearful eyes turned to look at her, the symbol of hope for all Gensokyo.

She raised the megaphone to her mouth, hesitated for a moment, before handing it back to a confused Nitori and facing the crowd once more.

She cleared her throat before shouting "Clean out your ears and listen up! You're all idiots, you know that?!"

The others behind her gave each other bewildered looks. It wasn't exactly the most orthodox way of beginning a speech.

"You're all idiots for fighting your way up here, hanging onto what is an inconceivably small hope of survival! But so are we! So am I! I'm hanging onto that hope even now, like the idiot I am. But you know, it takes great courage, great strength, and great foolishness to hang onto such small slivers of hope! And we all have them! Because we're here! And we're alive! I see fear and uncertainty in every one of you! You have to be an utter fool to not give into such overwhelming fear! Such deep despair! But we're not! We're here because we overcame that fear! We overcame it with foolish hope! And that's why we're still alive!"

"Tonight this realm will end! It will be destroyed!" Reimu shouted, tears brimming in her eyes. "But I tell you this, Gensokyo won't die! It'll live on! We are Gensokyo! And we will survive! As long as even one of us survives, Gensokyo lives on! And there'll be hope to one day restore our home!"

"I have fought every one of you at least once before, and I know your strength, your courage, your spirit....it isn't one to bend and fall, even in the face of this disaster! The outside world isn't an easy place for us. That's why we came here to Gensokyo centuries ago. But now we must return to where we came from. But we aren't alone outside. There are people here, outsiders, complete strangers to us, who have offered to risk their lives to help us. There is hope! There is..."

"....foolishness...." The voice boomed across the clearing. "And so the rats gather in the drains, ready to jump ship."

"You again!" Kojiro shouted up at the sky. "Show yourself, if you're man enough!"

"I seem to have underestimated you all. You're all as stubborn as cockroaches. I like it. It's just a pity that I don't plan on letting any of you out."

"The gateway!" Koishi gasped. Everyone turned around to see the gateway they had worked so hard to create and defend buckle and bend under some strange new force.

"You have all entertained me greatly. Now, goodbye. Oh...and Reimu....isn't revenge...sweet?"

"What?! What was that?! You know her?!" Jeremy shouted up at the voice before turning to Reimu. "Reimu...?"

But Reimu was already running towards the gateway. She clapped her hands together before slamming them into the substance of the barrier. A violent hissing sound filled the air as her hands began to give off smoke.

"Reimu!" Mitaka shouted.

"Taka-kun! Everyone in the gateway! NOW!"

"It's not stabilized enough! We won't..." Patchouli began.

"It's now or never! MOVE!" Zei shouted, pushing Patchouli through. "EVERYONE! THIS WAY!"

"Tch...looks like we're not done yet...." Sho smiled grimly as more purple miasma curled into the air before them.

"What?! Again?!" Pichu gritted his teeth.

"Wait, it's bigger this time!" Sumire shouted as she gestured for the smaller fairies and youkai to go through. Sure enough, the miasma gathered together into something colossal this time.

"....friend of yours?" Suwako asked Kanako.

"Hell no, none of my friends are THAT ugly..." Kanako muttered, nodding at the giant snake-like thing that was now tearing through the clearing. Screams and cries broke out as it tore through the helpless refugees.

The border, Day 1, 5.15 PM, Less than 10 minutes until the collapse of the Great Hakurei Barrier

Turns out Reimu wasn't quite as ready as she'd said. I wasn't expecting that voice-thing to give up, but I expected we'd have at least a few minutes of downtime. I intended to make use of them, and pinned Patchouli for interrogation.

I also multitasked and chipped away at a pointed rock to try and make it resemble a drill while we talked.

"Okay," chip, chip, "I'm still looking for loopholes. Assuming it's possible, would it help at all to recruit new outsiders to help with the mana sharing once we get out there?"

"It... would, in theory, but..."

Chip. "But?"

"I believe that those from Gensokyo would be unable to last more than a few hours in the outside world, without a sharing link."

... chip. "Too short to be worth trying, then."

"Very."

I looked up, and noticed a swarm of panicked fairies wander into the clearing, huddling together in fright.

"... even the fairies are showing up, now? Maybe we won't need to worry so much about people being left behind..."

Patchouli shook her head. "Kojiro-san already mentioned that it's more draining the more you try to provide for."

Chip. "... and if you try to provide too much?" I could guess the answer, but...

"Death." she replied, bluntly.

"A bit of all-or-nothing, I suppose..."

Chip, chip. "... can multiple people provide mana for the same recipiant?"

"Wh..."

"The contract isn't exclusive the other way, is it?"

Chip, chip.

"... that... might work."

"Only after we're out, though." Chip. "And assuming people can avoid being jealous to the point of fighting instead."

We both glanced over at Parsee, and turned away as soon as she noticed.

"... that would be difficult."

"Delicious monogamy." Chip.

Sakuya's apparently-half-demon husband stirred just then, and Patchouli silently... excused herself to yell at him for being dangerous. I guess that was enough answers for now, anyway.

I regarded the rock I'd be chipping at critically. It didn't look a thing like a drill. It was barely conical.

Oh, what the hell. God Needs Faith Badly.

I got up and climbed into Nitori's fallen airship.

-----

I found the captain quickly enough. "Hey."

Nitori looked me over, slightly puzzled. "Uh, hello. I was going to..."

"Can I just do something stupid real quick?"

"... what?"

"Could you show me a spot on the control console that wouldn't be disasterous if it got punctured?"

She stared at the 'drill' in my hand for a moment, then shook her head. "You DID say it was stupid."

"Pointless, even. In both senses of the word."

Nitori rolled her eyes, and motioned for me to follow. She led me to a piloting station and patted a seemingly arbitrary spot on the controls casing.

"Knock yourself out."

She headed elsewhere in the airship, leaving me to embarass myself alone.

Stabbing at the console with my 'drill' didn't even leave a dent. I hesitated, and tried turning it like a key regardless.

Nothing happened.

So much for getting my hopes up.

I sighed, grabbed the rock-drill again, and headed back out. I think we've had enough of a break, now...

-----

I headed over to pester Reimu, and walked in on a short display of heartfelt concerns and comforting over the prospect of future mana sharing. Charming. Appropriate for what'll need to be done, I suppose, but...

I stepped into the conversation. "I hate to rain in on the empathy parade... but we really need to get ready to leave. That voice or whatever has cut us plenty of slack after that first attack - she's going to be back sooner or later, and that first match was troublesome enough."

Alex seemed to agree. Good to have a dedicated warrior around for emergencies...

Several 'hitched' outsiders walked up and reported about who'd made it to the border. I was surprised - it seemed like almost everyone, all the major regions were accounted for...

"... except Yukari." Koishi's boyfriend pointed out.

I grimaced. "Damnit. Where on Earth is she..."

"Five minutes." Patchouli noted, grimly. "Reimu?"

"Five minutes?!" I hissed. If Yukari's powers had been weakened, then how could she possibly get here in that sort of time? No - she could still be within sprinting distance. Or empowered, but hiding. But the importance she held to the restoration of Gensokyo...

I decided that I'd try to wait until the last second to find her, and bring her through alive. It was too important not to...

Reimu cleared her throat, loudly. I looked up, along with... apparently the rest of Gensokyo, if the size of the crowd was any indication.

"Clean out your ears and listen up! You're all idiots, you know that?!"

I blinked.

"You're all idiots for fighting your way up here, hanging onto what is an inconceivably small hope of survival! But so are we! So am I! I'm hanging onto that hope even now, like the idiot I am. But you know, it takes great courage, great strength, and great foolishness to hang onto such small slivers of hope! And we all have them! Because we're here! And we're alive!"

I couldn't help but laugh. Beautiful. Well played, Reimu. Well played.

"I see fear and uncertainty in every one of you! You have to be an utter fool to not give into such overwhelming fear! Such deep despair! But we're not! We're here because we overcame that fear! We overcame it with foolish hope! And that's why we're still alive!"

"The border between a fool and a hero is narrow indeed..." I mused, and attempted to pick out Cirno in the crowd. My eyesight failed me thoroughly.

"Tonight this realm will end! It will be destroyed!" Reimu shouted, tears brimming in her eyes. "But I tell you this, Gensokyo won't die! It'll live on! We are Gensokyo! And we will survive! As long as even one of us survives, Gensokyo lives on! And there'll be hope to one day restore our home!"

Seems like I'd been on the right track, eh? But... but these tears of joy won't listen...

"I have fought every one of you at least once before, and I know your strength, your courage, your spirit....it isn't one to bend and fall, even in the face of this disaster! The outside world isn't an easy place for us. That's why we came here to Gensokyo centuries ago. But now we must return to where we came from. But we aren't alone outside. There are people here, outsiders, complete strangers to us, who have offered to risk their lives to help us. There is hope! There is--"

"....foolishness...." that goddamned voice spoke up again, "And so the rats gather in the drains, ready to jump ship."

"Fuck you too, lady." I yelled at the sky. She ignored me, probably in favor of the challenge Remilia's husband had drowned me out with.

"I seem to have underestimated you all. You're all as stubborn as cockroaches. I like it. It's just a pity that I don't plan on letting any of you out."

I opened my mouth to quip back - like hell another shadow-thing attack would slow us down with Nitori's airship on standby - but then Koishi pointed out that the border exit was under attack instead, through forces unknown.

I should have switched to complaining about villians developing brains, but any thought of doing so was drowned out by blind panic.

"You have all entertained me greatly," the disembodied voice said, cheerfully, "Now, goodbye."

"Oh...and Reimu....isn't revenge...sweet?"

I could feel my eyes bulge. "WHAT?! What was that?!" I turned to glare at Reimu, "You KNOW her?! What..."

The miko was currently preoccupied trying to save all our lives by stabilizing the exit. I decided to leave it for later.

But who could it be? Someone with such a harsh grudge against Reimu that they'd destroy Gensokyo? Someone with the power to do so? I should have SOME way to try and explain this, I just can't think of...

Screams from the crowds stopped my train of thought, and I looked up to see a giant, shadowy snake attacking the hapless fairies nearby.

Damnit, if it isn't one thing, it's another...

"Nitori! Do you have any ammo left?!" I cried. Thought again. "Damnit, no, that's too much collateral damage!"

I frowned. Actually, did she remember to seal our magic again? Meh, I wouldn't have useful surprise value.

... time was getting short. I had two main options, and one crazy one that's important but probably impossible. Get the hell out of here now, to make sure there's another outsider for whoever gets out, help fend off the snake so others could do so... or look for Yukari.

... can't come back from the first one. Second is my best bet. Now I needed a weapon...

I realized that I was still carrying the rock-drill. Useless. ... well, I'd give it one last try. I stabbed it into the dirt, and turned.

Nothing seemed to happen. I wasn't surprised, but I still sighed.

"... So. Any suggestions on how I can be useful against that thing?"

The border, Day 1, 5.18 PM, Less than 10 minutes until the collapse of the Great Hakurei Barrier

Zei noticed a large weapon dug deep into the ground. He took out the large weapon, which turned out to be a scythe, and flung it at the mysterious creature.

He then casted a spellcard right onto it, "Death Sign 'Twin Scythe'". The scythe broke into two, endlessly slashing at the mysterious creature. "...if you think you're trying to stop us, then try to. We will never give up until we restore Gensokyo. There is nothing you can do to stop us.", Zei said.

Flandre added in, "Zei-kun is right. Nothing you can do to stop us from our goal." She then try and attack the mysterious creature before Zei grabber her arm.

"NO. You will not attack him. You're already powerless and so are the others. I'll try and stop it, you just go on and wait.", Zei said.

"But. ." Zei interrupted, "I SAID MOVE IT, FLAN.", he shouted at her.

Flandre looked at him but walked at least 30 ft. before advancing.

"To think you...attack us at the very last moment... haha. Try and see if you can defeat me.", Zei said, then pulled out Lunar Scythe and charged at the mysterious creature, not knowing if it'll affect it, or whatever the fuck it is.

The border, Day 1, 5.18 PM, Less than 10 minutes until the collapse of the Great Hakurei Barrier

"I've really starting to get pissed off now" Alex said with bitterness towards the voice

at that moment Alex's shirt seems to explode off his body he then starts walking towards the shadow snake creature

"I won't forgive you for causing us so much pain and trouble." Alex says


"THE SPIRIT OF GENSOKYO WILL NOT BOW DOWN TO YOU" he adds


"HEAVENLY BODY DEFENSIVE STANCE" Alex shouts while getting into a stance


"EVIL SHADOW CUTTING WAVE" Alex says unleashing a surge of ki at the creature the voice summoned he's using killing arts here because the time for spellcard rules are over if all of them want to get out of gensokyo in time.

Lily Black is hanging back she may have been able to defend herself from the voices shadow mooks but chances are this thing will be too much to deal with her greatly reduced power.

"Alex..." she says softly "please help us win this and..be careful...."

The border's limits, Day 1, 5.20 PM, collapse of the Great Hakurei Barrier

The border's limits, Day 1, 5.20 PM, a little bit before the collapse of the Great Hakurei Barrier
Koji: reimu you must hurry!  we'll use what abilities we have now to hold them off! We can destroy this thing in 3 minutes i'm sure. YOUMU!
Youmu: Hai!
Koji: you remember the move i taught you?
Youmu: Of course!
Koji: well now's a great time to use it so lets go we need to cut down as much time as we can!
Youmu: Affirmative!
they both raise their swords sideways and concentrates their minds and bodys





Koji and Youmu: Sword Sign[Tsubame Gaeshi]!!


Their sword skill is unmatched and in 1 strike 3 slashes are simultaneous. Their unison attack continues  for as long as they can sustain it.

[Gappy]

The border's limits, Day 1, 5.23 PM, collapse of the Great Hakurei Barrier

"Keep that line moving!" Pichu roared over the commotion of the mad scramble for the exit. Only a mere handful had made it into the gateway....to what fate, nobody yet knew but themselves. But it was better than sitting here waiting for imminent destruction.

"Sanae!" Reimu gasped, noticing her fellow miko next to her, sharing half the burden of keeping the gateway open. "You should be marshalling the Youkai Mountain group!"

"I can depend on Lady Kanako and Lady Suwako, at least in times like these!" Sanae shouted over the din. "Eyes forward, Reimu! We'll get through this!"

"Kojiro! Take Remilia and flank it from behind! Youmu! Momiji! Cover Taihou and Sakuya's retreat! Mitaka, keep throwing rocks at it! Yes!" Alex shouted as he ran towards the beast with Lily Black in tow. "I'll provide a distraction!"

"...with what?!" Lily Black shouted incredulously. "Your evil shadow cutting wave was just swallowed whole by that thing!"

"....fast food." Alex said simply, before picking up speed and running right under the monster's nose. He succesfully enticed it to dive after him, its snout crashing into the ground violently, missing him by inches. He managed to draw its attention away from the Eientei crew who were now running at full dash towards the gate.

"Mitaka! Myon! Stop being silly and help us!" Gpop shouted at his new comrades who were tossing stones rather uselessly at the maddened serpent.

"What on earth....?!" Mitaka stopped for a moment to look back, just in time to hear...

"TIMBEEEEEEEER!" Myon and Mitaka leapt out of the way at Sho's shout as a huge piece of timber crashed before them.

"....I see...." Myon nodded in understanding as he picked up a conveniently placed sword.

"I'm a lumberjack and I'm OK!" Mitaka sang as he too picked up a huge heavy-handled saw.

"Sumire!" Hiroko shouted, tossing one end of a long rope to her newfound comrade.

"Got it!" Sumire shouted back, as, together with Aya, she pulled the rope towards the edge of the woods.

"....even in the face of such despair, these people still hold onto foolish hope...hah, just as Reimu said." Jeremy chuckled to himself, tossing the small drill bit up and down in one hand.

"Oooh! Is that what I think it is?!" Kaguya gasped, seeing the drill bit catch a glint of the fiery sunset.

"....what? This?" Jeremy asked. It was a bit unreal. Just behind them, a giant snake was rampaging through the forest after a crazy martial artist with a fairy sidekick in tow. Two outsider girls were pulling a rope across the clearing, perhaps to set up some sort of trap with those now crazed lumberjacks who were singing the lumberjack song as they brought deforestation to a whole new madman level. And all around them, the little secluded world they were in was about to collapse! And here he was, wondering what to do, chatting idly with the local NEET. Well, there wasn't much to do. The gateway was a little crowded. The snake was occupied by the elusive martial artist, a vampire, and a...samurai? And everyone else seemed preoccupied with a sudden woodpecker obsession.

"...nah, just an imitation." Jeremy shrugged as the snake cruised past, this time after another madman with a lunar scythe and a crazed little vampire with multicoloured crystals dangling from her wings. "Doesn't work, you know. I tried." He added.

"Really? You really tried it?" Kaguya's grin widened, making Jeremy feel a little silly for having said that. "Here, you're just missing this." Kaguya said, tossing him a bolt. "You know, for a base."

"Eh?" Jeremy caught the bolt and gave it a quick inspection. "...what?"

"Believe in the me who believes in you!" Kaguya added, pointing at him with a look of mock determination.

"Princess! Why are you back there!" Eirin shouted from the queue.

"Oh, sorry, Eirin!" Kaguya shouted back. "GATTAI!" She shouted to Jeremy, rather randomly, before running off to join her servant.

"I see...." Jeremy blinked. "Heh, not like there's much I can do while I wait for the queue to thin..." He climbed the airship once more, noted the lack of ammunition in the machine gun, shrugged, and sauntered up to the console once more. "...hmm, believe in the me who believes in you, eh?" He slammed the new drill into the hole he had made before and turned it.

There was silence as the snake cruised back across the clearing, this time chasing a ghost, a tengu, and a horde of lumberjacks.

"You can't be serious!" Nitori gasped, totting a machine gun as she ran past.

"Well, I thought...." Jeremy began....but he never got to finish the sentence....

....meanwhile....

"Everyone, Pull!" The lumberjacks skid to a halt by the ropes strewn across the clearing, ready to spring their trap....

....but decided not to in the face of a snout with a full set of serpentine teeth and fangs, big sharp fangs....

"Everyone, RUN!" The order was given, and the lumberjacks scattered as the snake ran through their unsprung trap.

"We'll have to wait until it makes another pass!" Sho shouted.

"Gpop, you're the bait!" Pichu shouted.

"Why me?!"

"Because your name sounds like candy!" Pichu replied.

"What sort of messed up reasoning is that?! And Pichu sounds like something you buy out of a vending machine!" Gpop retorted.

"I and Aya'll be the bait!" Sumire shouted back at the group. "Just be ready this....huh?!"

The snake was rushing towards something.....

....and that something was rushing towards the snake....

.....at breakneck speed....

"It's a bird!" Cirno cried.

"A plane!" Tewi lied with glee.

"Actually, it's a...." Eirin began, before she was bowled over by an over-excited NEET.

"No, it's a giant airship powered up by SPIRAL energy that is in mid-transformation!" Kaguya shouted, completing the sequence.

"UWWWWWWOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" Jeremy roared as his airship cruised across the clearing, leaving a huge wave of upturned earth in its wake as it sped towards the snake. "WHO THE HELL DO YOU THINK I...."

The snake opened its snout wide....chomped down....and gulped....

"...." Everyone in the clearing gaped with jaws wide open. Even the people crossing the gate stopped to turn and watch. For an instant, the entire clearing was frozen in utter disbelief.

"....he was eaten...." Mitaka finally managed.

"....he was eaten...wasn't he?" Zei repeated.

"...WHAT THE HELL DID HE COME HERE TO DO THEN?! JUST GET EATEN?!" Pichu shouted in utter exasperation.

"WHAT THE HELL WAS ALL THE DRAMATICS FOR THEN?!" Sho roared alongside him, sharing in his exasperation.

"...that looked yummy..." Yuyuko said.

"It's not time for those sort of comments, Yuyuko-sama!" Youmu protested.

"....wait...." Mitaka added. "EVERYONE! SPRING THE TRAP!" He shouted abruptly.

An airship-shaped bulge was running along at high speed along the length of the snake before finally reaching the tip of its tail like a serious, serious case of painful-looking indigestion....but it didn't let the snake's backside stop it. It continued running across the clearing, dragging the snake's tail and the snake along with it from the inside towards the site of the trap.

The others pulled with all their might, causing a huge net with many upturned trees with sharpened ends intertwined in it to rise up from the ground, all the nasty sharp bits pointing straight at the incoming snake's buttocks...

"....AM!" Jeremy's roar filled the clearing once more as the snake struck the trap, causing Jeremy's airship to rip out of the snake and burst through between two bits of timber that was just wide enough to let the airship out but not the rest of the snake, much to its unfortunate pain. "If you become a wall that stands in my way, I'll tear open a hole and break through you every time! That's.. MY....DRILLLLLLLLLLLLL!" He roared passionately.

".....uh....Jeremy?" Everyone's eyes turned from the snake writhing painfully, impaled on the wooden spikes, to Jeremy's airship that had crashed straight through the stone face of the nearby mountain, leaving a....humanoid-shaped hole?

"ah, it transformed ze." Marisa said. "Did you build that in?" She asked an awestruck kappa. "Nitori? Nitori?" She waved her hand in front of the kappa, to no effect. ".....hmmm...."

The border's limits, Day 1, 5.28 PM, collapse of the Great Hakurei Barrier

Zei just stared at the humanoid-shaped hole.

"...ok. If the trap worked, why did a HUMAN get attacked instead of a snake?", he then turn his attention to Marisa, "..Marisa, know why it transformed?", he asked.

"ZE?! Actually, I don't.", she replied.

"I see.", he then turned his attention towards the rest of the group, "Anyone know what's the back-up plan incase the trap failed? I'm planning to kill this mother fucker."

Flandre covered her ears, not sure if she should learn anything new for quite a while, "...sorry. Didn't mean to hurt your ears.", Zei apologetically said.

The border's limits, Day 1, 5.26 PM, collapse of the Great Hakurei Barrier

Alex remembered the all the times he had in his stay of gensokyo from his sudden entry to being able to get keine to let him out of the human village to wander on himself and him finding a lovely partner in Lily black.

"these times just make me feel all the more willing to do what ever i can to restore this place to its former glory" he says.

For Lily Black it's like having to leave the one and only home you've had for your entire life.

"i'll miss this place for sure...but this needs to be done to help save it and those who can't we save directly"

Lily then turns her train of thought to about Alex and the enjoyment he's brought to her life he quirky at times but he's a really nice fun guy with good heart even the Yama thought they looked good has a couple.

"for my dear Alex i will also do my part to try my best to help save this place" she thinks

Alex notes Zei's question "who cares right now we need to get the heck out of her ASAP we'll worry about that once we get through"

Alex notices 4 other fairys one who everyone calls Daiyousei the other 3 were star sapphire luna child and sunny milk who collectivly were known for being 3 prank causing fairys who weren't particually good at pranks the were lagging behind so Alex scoops them up

"i'll give you guys a hand" alex says

they then proceed to exit gensokyo.

The border's limits, Day 1, 5.26 PM, collapse of the Great Hakurei Barrier

"ok lily we need to get going NOW!" Alex said

"but what about..." lily black started in protest

"they are giving the rest of us the time we need to get as many as us to get out we need to go now while we can we done all we can here..." alex stared at lily

"....fine..lets go" lily relented knowing that she must.

Alex and lily black get to the gateway to whatever awaits them on the outside

"Good luck Everyone regardless of what happens we will always keep you guys in our memorys." alex says

"Thank you all of you" lily adds

with a kiss and tightly held hands Alex and Lily Black take the plunge thru the gateway

A forest outside Karuisuwa, Day 1, 5.26 PM, collapse of the Great Hakurei Barrier

(So this is happened just as others are finishing the fight and crossing the border.)

"So we arrived safely, eh?" After the de-fuse had taken place, Amarillo asks Lily White, who is just appeared beside her.

"Guess so."

"Seems Mr.Spark did some effort to land us into a forest instead of landing us in the town itself." Amarillo looks across the forest to the not-so-small town. "And it's 2009, right? It feels kinda strange that I traveled from 21XX to Gensokyo and to 2009...... And especially that I'm not fond of that..."

"And my power of commuting to you have greatly weakened, isn't it? So try not use it often from now."

After telepathy ending her words, she sit down on the ground.

"So how we can start our new life there..." Asked the Fairy.

"First thing first is to make our steps into this town, and we'll got a map, and find a place to stay, and try to left others a message about us and this town. We are here early so we must take the corresponding actions..."

"Never thought you can be this cool." Claimed Lily White.

"Eh? M-Me?" Amarillo is a little stunned.

"From your reaction, I withdraw my words, you can continue..."

"Well... That's all we will do for now, but before we started..." Amarillo take off her coat and made Lily wear it, however because of the height difference it seems too awkward.

"What are you doing??"

"From my experience in 21XX there are few human who is used to see kids have wings. Before I can make you something better to hide that wing that's what I can only think up. If I'm really that cool like what you say then I should bring a cape there..."

"A Cape? I never see you wearing one of those things! I mean, Mr.Spark wears it because he said he is a...." Lily White seems can't remember what she is gonna say.

"Well, he thought he is a Sith Knight, so he wears that and using a double-edged lightsaber and doing crazy things like charges at Youmu even though he's wounded from her in a friendly duel."Amarillo lets out a sigh, "Too much old-timer films. "

"You haven't changed at all, we should worry about what we ARE Going to do. I'm not familiar with this place at all!"

"Oh, sorry. So Let's go, then. By the way isn't you that started the topic of coolness and capes?" Amarillo stood up.

"It's so strange that Gensokyo is collapsing and we are here talking random things. Or maybe it's just the way of overcoming the sadness that a beautiful place, our homeland,  had been lost..." She thought as she looks up to the big sign that has the word "WELCOME TO Karuisuwa" on it. And a big digital plate which have the numbers "0527" on it.

"What's these numbers mean?" As Lily White is following up she asked.

A:"That's a way to represent time. That kind of screens will be more and more popular as times go by, as in 21XX these screens are everywhere. Taken away the original job of books, paper and handwriting."

LW:"So there will be no libraries like those in the SDM?"

A:"There will be but it's only for a exhibition. "

LW:"So the numbers means..."

A:"Yeah, our friends are still fighting at the border, including your sis, they have about 3 minutes to end their fight and ends up here, exact place unknown."

LW:"I can sense Lily Black, though."

A:"It's lucky that you have your power working mostly, I cannot sense any other fairies than you now."

LW:"......"

So as they are randomly talking, avoiding the fact that Gensokyo is collapsed, Amarillo noticed a shop that's called "Tourist Helper".

"TOURIST HELPER, seems it's the place we need to go now." Amarillo smiles.

"Why?"

"Grabbing a PMiSS."

"W-What do you mean???"

Since she can't fly right now, she can only runs after Amarillo, who suddenly starts to run towards that shop.

"We must be quick before our friends become confused!"

"Wait!! I said Wait for meeeeeeee------"

Tourist Helpers Store, Karuisuwa, Outside World, Day 1, 5.28 PM, collapse of the Great Hakurei Barrier

Amarillo opens the door and a ring rang. A old man slowly walks out from the inner room of the shop.

"Woah, you are the first costumer of this week!" the old man exclaimed happily. "How may I help you?"

"We are the tourists who comes here for a special social activity." Said Amarillo.

"As full of energy as ever heh, you junior school students..." The old man slowly walks to the counter and hands her a book.

"So they still use books here!" Lily White finally bumped into the shop.

"You don't remember what I just said, I said that in 21XX that books are disappeared." Amarillo waves her hands at Lily, singals her to come beside.

"Your partner?" The old man asked, "You can't go any school activity without a partner these days. isn't it?"

Amarillo took the book, it is called "The Complete Guide & Map Book to Karuisuwa", seems like the usual type of a compilations of Maps and short descriptions of the popular spots.

"However, I have some news for you and it's not a good one:" The old man looks at them. "There are two places to stay here, a hotel and an Inn. However, they are all out of rooms."

"Eh?"

"Somebody who wears a big cape went here last night, and spoke with the managers of both place, it seems 80% of the rooms are ordered  by this guy."

"What?"

"So we get nowhere to stay?" exclaimed Lily White.

"Well, that's your problem. And I have a problem now," the old man sighed. "There is no people coming to my shop even though this shop is the best of them. Being an old and big-mouthed old man didn't help much with the image of the shop."

"The tourists are only caring about the surface, what they see is most important." Replied Amarillo.

"In my opinion if you got this place a little prettier seems lots of people will come." Lily White said.

"Correct. So I prove you with a chance. If you can help me with my problem, I can offer you the shop for you to live in, thus solving your problem. As far as I know the school activities may take months and god knows when there will be rooms again."

"Wow." Lily White smiled for the first time.

"Excuse me, why do you offer us this chance?" Asked Amarillo, "We are just met."

"Because you reminds me of my grand-daughter, now she is in high school abroad so I live here alone, since I'm alone so there is no people visiting the shop now. Look," he points to a picture on a shelf behind him. "That's her."

The photo showed a girl with a ponytail riding a horse, she have almost-white hair and looks like 15-year-old.

LW:"Hey, Amarillo..."

A: "Yeah, I know, but this is merely a coincidence." Then she said:

"Maybe your feelings are correct." As she speak she removes her straw hat and reveals that she has a ponytail and her face shape are very much like the girl in the photo. Except that her hair color and skin color are much deeper than her.

"So it must be fate then." The old man smiled "You can call me Jason. And Do you accept your chance?"

(Don't ask me why an old man appearing in a Japanese Tourist Shop have an English name, I don't know.)

"Well, if it's fate that do we have another option?" Amarillo smiles.

"Basically what you do is help look after the shop for me, and as your partner said, make this place as pretty as it can. As my thanks the room of my Granddaughter and her computer with Internet are free for you to use, your job starts now. I'll be inside the room and if you have any thing to ask just ask. Or do you want to rest for a while first?"

"Guess I'll first put down my things in the room then, thank you. Jason."
Quote
SYSTEM MESSAGE:
AMARILLO AND PARTY GOT ITEM : MAPBOOK!
AMARILLO AND PARTY NOW IS AN EMPLOYEE OF THE SHOP TOURIST HELPERS!

"Now got away with that System Message, it blurs my view."

"Who are you trying to telepath to?" Lily White seems confused.

"Nothing, maybe i'm having visions."

"You really need to have some rest, partner. Leave the decoration to me."

Looking at the excited fairy, Amarillo left out a sigh."Now we are ready, let's hope others and Gensokyo good luck."

END OF Amarillo Route Pt2

The border's limits, Day 1, 5.28 PM, collapse of the Great Hakurei Barrier

"It's still moving!" Mitaka shouted. "Everyone! Hold onto the ropes and keep pulling! Keep it down until the evacuation completes!"

"It's no use!" Sho shouted back as his feet slipped under the snakes' monstrous pull on the trap's ropes.

"RUN!" A pulse of energy exploded from the snake, sending all the sharpened timber flying out at the surrounding defenders. Kojiro, Zei, Youmu, and Komachi slashed straight through the ones that came their way, while the others just scattered as sharp bits of timber crashed into the ground around them, threatening to impale them.

"We just need about 2 more minutes!" Suwako shouted from the gate. "We've almost got everyone through!"

"That's a 2 minutes I'm afraid we don't have!" Mitaka shouted as the snake thrashed, the ropes that had bound it now whipping through their ranks like an extension of its serpentine wrath.

As if in answer, the mountain behind them exploded as something burst out in a great stream of dust and debris. It landed violently in the remains of the trap, sending smoke billowing up everywhere, obscuring the entire clearing.

"GAAATTAIIIII!" A roar came from within the smoke.

"...wait, what?" Kojiros asked. "....why am I on this infernal thing?" He asked, crouching atop one of the trap's logs that had now somehow merged with what looked like an airship-turned-giant robot. The logs had become a giant set of wings spread across the robot's back, set around a circular wreath made of the discarded rope.

"....wait...why does it feel like this robot is mocking me....?" Kanako muttered from a safe place by Sanae.

"...." the snake coiled itself up and reared up high, noting that it was now up against a formidable foe...one that took up the form of the goddess of snakes....

"Eh, why not?" Pichu shrugged, from atop another log. "Even when trapped by karma's cycle...." He began.

"The dreams we left behind will open the door!" Sumire continued the chant from atop another log.

"Even if the Universe itself stands in our way," Hiroko added, getting caught up in the rhythm, from her position atop the robot's shoulder.

"Our seething blood will determine what will be!" Sho shouted, before he could stop himself, from the robot's other shoulder.

"We'll break through time and space!" Pichu shouted, not knowing where on earth that came from.

"...ummm...and cause you indigestion?" Mitaka suggested, feebly, from the region of the robot's chest.

"Whether impossible or laughable, we continue to walk the path of men!" Gpop roared from atop the mecha's head.

"When there's a wall in our way, we'll smash it down!" Aya shouted.

"If there isn't a path, we'll carve one ourselves!" Kojiros added, finally going with the flow.

"The magma of our soul burns with a shining flame!" Flandre and Remilia shouted.

"We embark on the winding spiral path! The paths of man and youkai intersect!" Youmu shouted, rather uncertainly.

"Nice, Youmu!" Yuyuko nodded with approval. "And devour all who would stop us to grab hold of our path!"

"Pierce tomorrow with yesterday's foe!" Koishi joined in.

"And carve that path with these two hands!" Shinki shouted.

"Together, the ultimate jealousy-inducing combination!" Parsee shouted.

"Unmatched in Heaven and Earth! One body, one soul, equal to the GODDESES!" Suwako cheered.

"Ultra Raijin HARTO!" Shinki shouted.

"....what?" Sho asked, looking around at Shinki.

"GREAT SAIYAMAN!" Koishi shouted cheerfully.

"...hey, I thought we're calling it SUPER GALAXY EXPRESS!" Aya shouted.

"....From Gensokyo with love!" Remilia suggested.

"ULTRA KABLOOIE!" Flandre danced up and down.

"No, no, you got it all wrong, it's...." Mitaka began.

"SHUT UP!" Jeremy shouted. "And stop ruining the moment, you ameteurs!"

"...."

"Ahem..." He coughed, clearing his throat. "We're gonna show you the power... of the GENSOKYO! ULTIMATE COMBINATION, GENSOKYO BURNING LOVEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!"

"WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAT?!"

And with that the mecha leapt forwards at breakneck speed.

"RAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!" Everyone raised their respective swords/laevatein/lunar scythes/sticks/rocks/drills/chewing gum and paperclip....

....ka-smash....

"....can this thing do anything other than kamikaze charges?" Mitaka asked as they sailed through the air, propelled forwards by the force of the crash.

"Oh well, at least we're not him." Gpop said, pointing at the giant robot that was now sailing over the edge of the Hakurei Hill towards Gensokyo with a raging snake coiled around its front.

They all landed in varying states of grace. Some landed with poise. Some landed with huge bumps on their heads. Some landed with their heads stuck in the sand.

And one didn't land at all.

"Where's Jeremy?" Mitaka asked.

"....still on the mecha...." Pichu noted.

"....."

The border's limits, Day 1, 5.12 PM, collapse of the Great Hakurei Barrier

After finishing the combo attack with Youmu they broke apart and let the diversion take care of the snake, The managed to sever parts of its body to slow it down which seemed to work well at least.

However, as they were moving back to the party they were struck by its large tail and sent flying into a tree.
Koji: augh!!
Youmu: mya!!

Before hitting the tree Koji held Youmu to avoid a head injury, instead he hit the tree with his back and youmu's body only added more injury to the insult. A loud crack was heard but those who watched couldn't tell if it was the tree cracking which it did or koji's body under the force of pressure from that blow.

Yuyuko: oh no Youmu!
Remilia: *wide-eyed and shock* N-No!

Youmu managed to get up slowly and rub her head but Koji  could only cough up blood.

Koji: *cough* o-ow....*stands up and holds stomach* that...hurt......
Remilia tackled him softly and he fell back down again from being a little weary
Remilia: *blushed*.......
Koji: I'm fine, i've hit my fair share of rocks in my lives.
Xan: dood are you okay? i couldn't tell if the tree cracked of if you broke every rib in your body!
Yuyuko:......ribs.....
Koji: heheh....*coughs* I-I'm fine no worries.
they watched quietly as the others were distracting the snake and as it ate the plane rather suddenly.

Koji: O_O
Xan: O_O
Reimu:O_O
Zei: O_O
Everyone down the list: O_O

Suddenly he found himself on top of the giant fail(?) trap turned robot.
Everyone started to do Sailor Moon-ish phrases and altough he found it corny...

Koji: "Oh what the hell"-If there isn't a path, we'll carve one ourselves!"
Remi and Flan: "The magma of our soul burns with a shining flame!"
surprised to see that they were up here to he jumped over to their location and squatted down.

After having the worst kamikaze run he ever seen and landed safely with Remilia in his arms he sighed horribly and tiredly
while no one was looking them Remilia took the time to quickly lick his cheek of the blood he had on his that was coming from his forehead and hugged him.
Koji:...wha?...that was...sudden
Remilia:.... I want to get out of here immidiately
Koji: *looks at Reimu and Sanae who are holding the barrier open*....Affrimative, we shall make our escape now.

Koji held Remilia in his arms and ran to Zei.

Koji: Dood if we are to get the hell out of here NOW is the time to do it.
Zei: eh?-yeah sure sure lets leave this rock.
Zei: *picks up and holds Flandre*

Youmu, Yuyuko and Xan where going to the gateway as well.

Koji: Youmu you did a fine job protecting everyone here. I'm sure your dad would be proud of you.
Youmu:....*slight blush* thanks senpai...

Remilia felt a tinge of jealousy at that point for the first time and when she realized that she was being jealous she blushed a bit herself and held on tighter to him. She could have helped out in teh battle since some of their powers were restored. But why didn't she? Was it because he told her to stay back as he did his best to protect her? How was that right? She's not used to being told what to do so why did she not do as she wished to ensure her and her sister's survival?  As they ran towards the boundary she felt an even stronger desire to leave so she could think straight.

Koji: go on ahead through the barrier and out of this world. *looks back* everyone hurry up! we don't have too much time left

First Xan, Yuyuko and Zei left out of the barrier
then Zei, Flan.

Koji: alright Remi...we're leaving. only to return later. I'm making too many promises here but i promise to restore your home.

Remi:........
All she could do was squeeze his shoulders in response with her eyes closed.

At last they jumped through the barrier.

[Gappy]

The border's limits, Day 1, 5.15 PM, collapse of the Great Hakurei Barrier , this takes place from the start of the snake battle until a few minutes after the battle ends

-Jeremy Nezu-

I watched, silently, as the husbands of the army flew into battle with the shadow snake. No one seemed to be handy to answer my question.

I chuckled, just a little. "....even in the face of such despair, these people still hold onto foolish hope...hah, just as Reimu said."

"Is that what I think it is?!" someone asked from behind me.

I turned to see Kaguya. Blinked. Noticed her looking at the 'drill' I'd spun into the ground.

I pulled it back out, and presented it. "... you mean this?"

She nodded eagerly. It struck me just how bizzarre it was to be idly talking with a fellow NEET about anime references while a massive battle for all of Gensokyo raged in the background, which somehow included lumberjack

songs.

I shook my head. Not like I could help much with that part anyway. "Nah... it's just an imitation. Failed one, at that - didn't work when I tried..."

Kaguya's grin widened. "Really? You really tried it?"

I wasn't sure if she was making fun of me or fangirling.

She pulled out a bolt from somewhere in her robes. "Here, you're just missing this." She tossed it at me. "You know, for a base."

I managed to catch it, and blinked at it a few times. "Eh... what?"

Kaguya shot a finger at me, grinning even more. "Believe in me, who believes in you!"

I stared. A shout came from the queue to leave Gensokyo. "Princess! Why are you back there?!"

Kaguya turned, and shouted back, "Oh, sorry, Eirin! I'll be right there!" She grinned at me again and clenched a fist. "GATTAI!"

I stared at her back as she ran off, bewildered. Looked down at the bolt and rock in my hands.

Smiled.

"Never expected Kaguya to pull a Kamina..." I muttered, working on making them into a more proper drill. And heading back to Nitori's airship.

-----

The kappa was rather exasperated with my repeat attempt.

"You can't be serious!"

I blinked at her. "Gotta try, right?"

I stabbed the drill at the ship's control console again.

This time it worked.

... and I... can't clearly remember what happened after that.

-----

Insanity. Mania. Drills. Drillsdrillsdrillsdrillsdrills

Ah... I'd forgotten how good it felt to go mad.

My memory of most of that first outburst is hazy. I remember acting like an incredibly cheesy idiot, drilling through two or three things, upgrading the airship-mech with... something, everyone else wasting the TTGL speech on a

scrub (and doing a poor job of it), and flying off with a giant snake wrapped around 'me.'

It got a little clearer there. At that point, the fight was basically mine - flying from the airship thrusters moved to the mech's feet, the injury to the snake's tail, and of course drills left it a bit of a one-sided fight at that point.

I tore the snake off of 'my' body - can't remember if it was still in one peice after that - tossed it into the air, and laughed madly as a properly-sized drill charge split it to shreds from end to end.

I pumped a fist at the sky. "You hear me, you spiteful bitch?! Deny us one source of strength, and we'll just make another! Whatever your needless revenge, whatever your purpose, whatever your power, YOU WILL NOT

DESTROY US!!"

I was answered with silence, and sat for a moment, panting.

It was about that point that I think I came back to my senses.

... oh god. What just happened? What did I just do? Where am...

I noticed I was sitting in the cockpit of some sort of machine, hands clenched on some sort of 3D motion sensors following my arms.

Did it... did it work?

I looked down at the control console. The back of the bolt Kaguya had given me greeted me, surrounded by a spiral-ridged monitor hovering at about half-lit with green.

"Hahah... hahah... AHAHAHAHAAH!!" I threw my head back and laughed, once again.

Finally, I had power! I don't know how, and I'm not sure I deserved it, but I had power! I guess the Spiral energy overflowed somehow, leaving us all acting like idiots for a bit. But it was stable now.

..... now what?

I looked up at the view to the outside. I could see the exit to the border, with people still evacuating.  I could see... all of the ruins of Gensokyo, spread all around me. I'd flown almost to the center of it.

But the place definitely wasn't healthy. The border was fading fast, and...

... and Yukari was still missing.

I had hoped to wait until the last second, trying to find her and get her out of here. Conveniently, now I had a way to actually track her down.

I needed some sort of searching engine. Heat scanner, magic tracer, anything that could show me where to look.

Obligingly, a new viewscreen popped up on one side of the mech's external view. A single blinking dot was on there, close to my current position.

Convenient.

I went there.

-----

And from above the ruined forest, I could see nothing.

Bullshit. I looked at the viewscreen again.

Oh, underground. Of course.

Getting down there was, naturally, trivial with a drill-based mech. I soon arrived in a decently large cave, though it had shrunken considerably from fallen rocks and other rubble from the endless earthquakes. The walls looked...

odd. I'm not sure if they were natural. I didn't have any reason to suspect it, either. Whatever.

More importantly, in the center of the room there was a rectancular box of the same sort of purple energy that had made up those shadow creatures we'd been fighting. Inside was a slightly battered-looking Yukari, curled up

asleep alongside a two-tailed black cat and a block of tails attached to a fox.

"Hey, Yukari! Time to go!" I called, though I didn't expect her to hear me, or even be able to reply. I reached for the box with the mech's hand, and tried to lift it up, or pry off the top, or something.

Didn't work. I glanced at the 'core drill' in front of me.

"It's like the universe is making these references for me," I muttered, and knelt the mech close to Yukari's box.

-----

I jumped out of the airship-mech's open mouth, and was greeted by some new shadow creature leaping out from the far side of the box.

The mech promptly punched it into paste.

"Gotta love auto-pilot." I muttered, running up to Yukari's little prison and jabbing at it with my imitation drill. The box hissed. Not in the "opening seal" sort of sense, but the "angry cat that's pissed at you" sense.

I twisted the drill, hard. There was a screech, and the box vanished. Yukari was rudely awakened by the floor.

"Ow!"

I grabbed her hand and pulled her to her feet. "Good morning, Yukari, I would love to chat, but we really need to get going before Gensokyo decides to collapse on itself."

She blinked at me. "We still have a few hours, I was..."

"Kidnapped somehow." I interrupted, gesturing at the cave walls.

She swore under her breath. Ran and Chen looked up at me curiously.

"I'm guessing your powers got sealed, too. Now come on, I don't think we even have a minute at this point."

"... what. How did I..."

I tugged at her hand, pulling her towards the mech. "Doesn't matter. We just need to get out of here alive."

She resisted my pull, and I looked back to see her scooping Ran up into her arms. I picked up Chen, and let her rest on my shoulder.

Yukari stared at the mech as we boarded. "What IS this thing?"

"The combined madness of me, Kaguya, Nitori, and Gainax." I replied, turning the drill-key.

-----

Me and Yukari had a few seconds to talk as we flew for the border. I glared at the screen, trying to will it to go faster. Almost everyone was evacuated at this point.

I wondered if the mech would fit through. And whether anyone had taken my laptop through yet - I couldn't see, at this distance.

"... so, has everyone made it?"

"Just about, it looks like. You were the only ones missing."

"Good. I wanted Ran and Chen to get through this, and see the outer world..."

I looked at her. "... while I admit I'm a bigger fan of your shikigamis, I was mostly looking for you."

She laughed, sadly. "Don't be silly."

"You're one of the most powerful in Gensokyo, and probably the biggest hope for restoring the Hakurei Barrier when the time comes. Why the hell would I leave you behind?"

"Because I'm pretty sure no human could keep up with the amount of mana I need." she replied.

I turned to look at the border exit for a moment. She could have a point. Taking her out would be risky, and she could always return when the border is restored.

... but she's also one of the best hopes of GETTING the border restored.

Could I possibly...

... well, gotta try, right?

I smirked, and turned to face her.

"What the hell do you think I am?"

The border's limits, Day 1, 5.30 PM, collapse of the Great Hakurei Barrier

Zei landed into the ground, head first.

"To be honest, that was a st--", he then felt a large bump on his head.

"OW. I mean, that was a very smart idea. Mitaka, you think Jeremy will be ok? I mean, it's a fuckin' LARGE  mecha against a snake. What are the odds, huh?", he asked.

He noticed a large rift in the sky and instantly looked up, "...if we're not in Gensokyo, why the fuckin' hell someone's trying to screw up something again?", Zei asked.

Flandre heard some of his language and kicked his head, then walked off. "! Flandre... I didn't mean to say that near you. I was on the ground the whole time and I didn't even yell. Give me a break..", he sighed and walked off after her.

The border's limits, Day 1, 5.31 PM, collapse of the Great Hakurei Barrier

Zei noticed about everyone before a portal(?), shows up.

"Ya know what. If we prepare for this damned event, then where the hell are we going right after we jumped through the barrier?", he asked.

Flandre, who was being held in his arms, fell asleep due to the fatigue. Everyone else down the list, was already preoccupied.

"Dammit, I just wanted to know a simple answ-", he then noticed something unknown.

"..? Again?", he asked.

The border's limits, Day 1, 5.32 PM, collapse of the Great Hakurei Barrier

Gpop, where's Satori!?" Koishi yelled.

"I don't know! But we don't have time to go back! This is our only chance! We have to go now!" Gpop yelled back at Koishi.

"But you're still worried about me it seems..." said a mysterious voice from behind Gpop.

Gpop noticed Koishi's face brightened up. Gpop then turned around to see Satori and her two pets, Utsuho and Orin.

"Wait, when did you get here!?" Gpop asked

"No time for questions other than the fact that we wanted to make sure that my sister is okay. I wanted to make sure that you kept my promise, and for that I'm glad," Satori replied calmly.

"Well now's not the time to thank me! The border is gonna collapse ANY SECOND NOW! We're going now!" Gpop exclaimed.

"All right," Satori said calmly, "we'll leave immediately."

Then Gpop, along with Koishi, holding her hand, as well as Satori, Utsuho, and Orin, proceeded towards the opening where Reimu and Sanae were holding the opening from closing. As they went through they suddenly felt limp, and became unconscious.


A dojo in the outside world, Day 1, 5.32 PM, collapse of the Great Hakurei Barrier

the trip to the outside world to alex and his fairy "troops" was more of psychodelic rush of colors eventually getting dumped off rather rough on the ground

"oof" Alex and co say in near unison.

Alex then goes "everyone here in once peice has he gets up and helps the fairy girls to their feets

"More or less goes...but were are we?" goes Lily Black

"yeah i thin... wait my wings are gone" says Daiyousei

"all of ares are gone as well" says the Star sapphire

Lily reachs behind herself and finds that her lovely set of angel wings have also vanished "mine too.."

Alex "maybe a side effect of being removed from Gensokyo's rich spritial presense perhaps?"

Alex checks them out more closey just to make sure nothing more majorly crtical is amiss but can't find anything else wrong
 
"but your bodys don't seem to have any real ill effect..so far infact if we need to contact more true outsider humans for supplys its probably a good thing your wings are gone so they won't freak out." he  says

"has to were are we stay here for a moment i'll look around who knows were we dumped off and if any one else was dumped off with us." he orders next

Alex notes that they appear to be in what looks like a courtyard of a castle complex or something that looked like it could have such a thing but by the looks of the structure itself it hasn't been used in some time but it still looks mostly intact has he looks around it becomes more clear to him what it is..a old large fighting dojo he can see marks in the ground were students for ages apon ages stomped in once place leaving a dents in the stone as well has abandon training equipment he heads back to the now wingless fairy girls.

"this appears to be the ruins of a old fighting dojo judging by the leftover equipment it hasn't been used at least a few years odd that the former users didn't take it the equipment with them"

Lily black suddenly senses something Alex notices her expresson change "what is it my dear?" he says

Lily black responds "i..i can sense sis lily white shes gotten out of gensokyo thank heavens." finishing it with a smile

Alex laughs "see i told you she get out and if she got out i'm sure the others will follow anyways we camp here for now since it appears no one watchs our entry and wait to see if anyone else will follow"

"Right" the fairys responded unpacking all the spare clothing and other provisions they could carry out from gensokyo

Alex grins at the amusment of the location of his party's drop off

"I'm gonna have a look around the complex to see if theres any thing here of use to us do what ever it takes to get my attention if you need me"

"ok" says lily Black

as alex looks around the complex he finds a probably the reason they bothered making a dojo this large a large spring of water..he stops by it and smells and does a taste and spit test of its water.

"tastes and smells ok enough to pass has drinkable so this isn't why this place is abandoned"

he then walks out side and sees where he's at he's at a large hill looking over a town and notices a old dusty looking "YOU ARE HERE" map on the enterace to the dojo reading it says its one of a few dojos in the area around the town of Karuisuwa. alex then knows were he is at apon hearing that name

"so were are in the area of a town called Karuisuwa heh so i'm back to my home town...this dojo was the one i start my quest at years go ..i wonder what happened while i was gone?"

alex heads back in to the girls tired they rest here after all they been thru a world shattering experince and need to rest.

when he gets back he notes they all changed into lovely looking but aged looking Kimonos "where you get those? i don't remember seeing it in any of our stuff"

Lily black responds "we also did some looking around and we found these and figured if we go into town sometime soon we'll at least look a bit more in place than our gensokyo attire"

Alex relented they were right sorta "well that will do for now but we'll need to get alot more fitting clothing later for now lets rest theres a fresh water spring a short walk north from here the exit from here is to the south and the town is a quant walk down the hill oh and welcome to the Heavenly Dragons Dojo" he says

"Heavenly Dragons Dojo?" the fairys say in near unison

"This Dojo was my home away from my hometown we are in the area called Karuisuwa the town i mentioned was my birthplace but this was my home for years until i left on my fighting style perfection quest that got me into gensokyo somehow anyways i'll explain more in the morning but i'm dead tired from all that lets get some rest and we'll go to town come morning"

"Ok" said the fairys

Lily black asks one of those annoying close to heart questions

"are you parents still alive?"

Alex looked at her and responded "no idea the masters of the dojo who raised me found me at their door step has a baby we can't take care of our baby because of tough times but don't want to just coldly abandon it please take care of it well  message to the cradle or what not stereotype and all"

Alex wondered if his old teachers who trained him are still alive because he finds it strange for the dojo to have apparenly fall into disuse so fast he also wonders if they would belive his storys of were he ended up.

"heh maybe my birth parents might have known more about my powers than even my masters did."

Alex goes into a flash back

"AGAIN" says a old looking bald foreheaded trainer of alex

A young Alex with slightly blood stained hands and forehead is seen doing training that causes the bones to have there full human potental you know the stuff like being able to headbutt a brick wall and not wind up killing or maiming yourself the process and breaking bricks and what not he doing the first until he knocks himself out from simply tiring himself out but not before causing the wall to shatter "uggh can't go...on sensei hurts...too much ..tired..ahh..* Alex collapses in a heap which worrys his sensei a bit at first because has anyone knows doing these kind of training wrong can kill a person at worse and cause other nasty things if it doesn't but relaxs when he checks him over "Heh Alex-san wore himself out again man of all the students i've trained none have trained this hard for this long before tiring out or calling it quits this boy has some serious potental to be something some day" alex's sensei cleans alex's hands and forehead and then puts him in a bed "yes that potental of yours is something special that hope you use well" he finishs

flashback ends with alex musing over that last two lines of his sensei "heh sensei you may be right on that my potental might just help save gensokyo and maybe even other realms and hell maybe even this world from the plot of that voice" he then heads back to the girls to turn in for the night because its now getting dark and they have much to do like getting more fitting clothing and trying to locate the other who left gensokyo.


The Hakurei Border Portal, Gensokyo, Day 1, 5.33 PM, collapse of the Great Hakurei Barrier


"hm... such bright colors. Am I still out?" McWallace murmured.

"Finally awake?" Eirin asked.

"That cured my headache, just wee bit of a side effect such as an insignificant case of exploding head."

"We have to leave Gensokyo. That portal's our way out."

McWallace gets up and surveys the area.

"Och, those critter's seem endless. Well, I've had oatakes harder than them"

"Not now, our proirity is to ensure that as many escape."

...

Near a graveyard, Outside World, Day 1, 5.43 PM

"Well, seeing borders is indeed a useful ability, let's see what make you tick"

Ghandi pulled on his gloves.

"Isaac, note that I begin with an electrograph reading and video. The subject has been prepared to be fully capable of sight without being able to move. I will turn the subject toward the graveyard and see what happens."

The machine silently records information. The videoshows only a graveyard.

"It appears that placing a camera in the subject's eyes does not allow us to record the borders. We will begin the operation to extract on of her eyes in one minute. Actually, the lab is already sterile isn't it, we'll do it now."

"Isaac, mark that subject 1 has had an eye removed. We'll take out the one without the camera."

Maribell Han could only sit there in horror. She had been going to meet her friends Renko and Sanasan when some government men accosted her. She lost consciousness and awoke in this strange lab.

The phone rings.

"How are the fairy injections coming? What? Oh dear. Hallucinations? Well are they using any magic? Remind them that they signed up for this and we'll ensure that their families are comfortable when the halluinations stop. Mutations? How bad? That's bad." sigh "well on with the operation."

[Gappy]

Abandoned Hakurei Shrine, Yatsugatake National Park, Outside World, Day 1, 5.39 PM, collapse of the Great Hakurei Barrier

"Hey you, wake up! There's no time to be sleeping, especially outside on the ground."

Gpop opened his eyes and saw Sanae just standing right beside him. He found himself on the ground, lying on his back. He had a good look up Sanae's skirt.

"...th...the colour of those...are..." Sanae smacked Gpop in the head before he had a chance to finish.

"Ow!" Gpop cried. He looked up at Sanae and saw that she was blushing from his response.

"Well anyways, no time to fool around!" Sanae exclaimed, "And you're 'friends' won't be of much help at the moment..." She pointed at the girls lying on the ground beside him, also facing up. Gpop quickly recognized them as Koishi, Satori, and her two pets.

"No! Koishi!" Gpop yelled. He quickly crawled towards Koishi. He tried to shake her and Satori, but none of them would even flinch. "What's happened to them?"

"Don't ask me. They're probably just unconscious like you were for a bit." Sanae replied, "I had to drag you and the others up the staircase to this place."

"Huh?" Gpop realized that he doesn't even know where he was at the moment, so he took the time to get up and scan his surroundings. He saw a shrine similar to Reimu's, except it seems empty and abandoned. Behind him was the torii, looking almost exactly the same as Reimu's, except in off-red, as in it's losing its colours from being abandoned for quite a while. He also noticed that the ground he's standing in is full of stone tiles, exactly like Reimu's. Beyond the torii was a long staircase. As looked around he noticed that they seem to be in high altitudes, as he found it somewhat difficult to breathe a bit.

"Is this Reimu's Old shrine or what?" Gpop asked, still located near the unconscious girls.

"I don't think so," Sanae responded, "but we landed below those steps. It's wasn't very fun, but luckily I still have my abilities here since I came from the outside world as well." She began to hover a bit to prove her point.

"That's a relief. So I guess we're going to sleep in the shrine for now?"

"Yeah, but hopefully those girls will wake up by then. Help me drag them in."

Gpop and Sanae started to drag the girls towards the mysterious shrine. As they went in, they noticed that it's completely empty and abandoned.

"Well, it seems that whoever the Shrine Maiden was must've been even worse than Reimu," scoffed Sanae, "It's hard to believe actually."

They proceeded to drag the girls and placed them in the middle of the empty room. After they finished Gpop said, "I guess we're done here. I think I should keep watch tonight. You seem tired after the previous events. Also, I'm quite awake after you woke me up."

"Well...ok sure. But if you spot anything, you alert me right away. You're still as powerless as a normal human, so you better let me handle it."

"Alright, sure," Gpop agreed. Then Sanae went back into the Shrine and lied on the floor as Gpop sat on the steps to the shrine and gazed the stars as he kept watch.

Abandoned Hakurei Shrine, Yatsugatake National Park, Outside World, Day 1, 5.39 PM, collapse of the Great Hakurei Barrier

Renko and Sanasan continued along the old path, using a flashlight and Renko's STAR GPS? to guide the way. Silently, the two walked on, until they eventually reached a set of stone stairs. The stairs were quite large, and seemed to go on all the way up the mountain, where a torii could be seen.

"Well.....here we are. Think we'll get in this time?" Sanasan asked.

"Of course we will! We almost got in last time, didn't we?" Renko said. "Although, it's strange.....Usually the border isn't that relaxed. It's almost like it was breaking..."

"Maybe the other world WANTS you to go there. You've spent so long trying to get in, after all. Maybe it's finally giving you a break.  Personally, I would never have been able to climb this huge set of stairs more than a few times."

"Well, that's awfully kind of it." Renko smiled.

The two then began to walk up the stairs.


In the Yatsugatake Forest, Yatsugatake National Park, Outside World, Day 1, 5.42 PM, collapse of the Great Hakurei Barrier

Sakuya's face was extremely worried. She kept looking from left to right.

"Where are we? Where is everybody else? Why did we got seperated?"

She knew it was bad to stay around on this open field. A small set of trees and bushes on her right was an excellent location to hide. Taihou was still unconscious, she had to drag him which was quite hard. Sakuya felt extremely weak and tired. It was unlike in Gensokyo.
With some struggling they managed to hide between the bushes and trees.
She folded her legs and put her head on her knees. Thinking what she should do. But Sakuya couldn't do anything. She has no idea where she is, where everybody else is. Without Taihou she is lost in this damned world. Her eyes shifted towards Taihou whos eyes were closed. His mouth still open, breathing. Occasionally she kept checking his pulse just in case. His heart was beating but relative slow, as a normal sleeping person would.

"Too many weird things going on. Some evil women sending out strange humanoid creatures and demons to attack us. Then Taihou's weird behaviour since the mansion.

**
"Taihou! Are you alright?"
"No. . stay. .  back. . Sakuya."
"What?"
"No! NEVER!"
"What is wrong? Are you in pain?"
"Leave me alone!"
"! ! !"
**

Her hand moved along his cheek whispering: "What happened to you Taihou?"

Slowly her eyes felt heavy aswell. She took him on her knees and leaned against a tree. With the birds chirping nearby she felt asleep.

. . . . .

A crack of a twitch made Sakuya instantly wake up. She quickly put Taihou down and stood up drawing a set of knives from her thighs. With no hesitation at all she threw them towards the bushes.
A voice shouted in pain.

"Who goes there?!" she quickly drew another set of knives.
"As usual, you are quite skilled Sakuya." said a girl with long silver hair, dressed in red what seems like a gardener pants.
"Mokou-san?"
"Oi, Keine. I found two of them." she pulled the knives off her body which stabbed her in the arm, lower belly and right leg.
"Mokou! You shouldn't wander off like that rapidly. You do know we are no longer in Gensokyo."
"Hmpf, so what. I'll beat anyone who tries to hurt us."
Keine raised her voice: "Ah! You are hurt! The bleeding! Quick, bandage. Bandage! We must apply bandage!"
"Keine, what the hell you think I am? Mortal?"
"Oh, that is right. I forgot. Sorry."

Sakuya put her knives back under her skirt. She was reliefed to see some known faces.

"Why is Taihou asleep" Mokou asked.
"I don't know." she walked over to Taihou and sit next to him. "He has been like this for half an hour. He has a pulse and he is breathing but he won't wake up.
"Maybe we should beat him back to senses."
"What?"

Mokou opened her palm of her hand. She stared at it when slowly a small flame appeared.
"Darn it. I guess my power is still weak for this. But it should do it."
"What are you planning, Mokou-san?"

She walked over to Taihou and turned him on his belly with his rear facing up. Then Mokou pressed her flaming palm against the bottom of Taihou. It didn't take a several seconds before Taihou rapidly opened his eyes noticing Mokou burning his rear.

Shouting a pain cry he roared: "WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING MOKOU?" He looked at his rear. "Put it off! Put it off!"

Mokou slapped as hard as she can at his bottom. Taihou got a bit catapulted flying over in the bushes.

"Ha ha ha ha ha, that was funny! I didn't expect that to work" she laughed.
Keine was not quite amused and put up a serious face "Mokou, would you please stop causing more damage to Taihou?"

While Mokou was laughing, Sakuya rushed towards Taihou: "Are you allright Taihou?"
"Yea, somehow. Blasted Mokou. She still has that inhuman strenght."

He stood up wiping off leaves and dirt of his cloths. Sakuya still kept looking worried. Taihou looked at her. Their eyes met. He could deffiniately see she was extremely worried. She felt unpleasent and looked away. But Taihou turned her head back towards him.
"Sakuya. . . "
For a moment Taihou didn't say anything. Mokou was still rolling on the floor laughing while Keine was standing near her lecturing.
"Thank you. I am sorry for making you worried."
"Tai.."
He interrupted her by placing his finger on her lips "No, please don't say anything."

In the mean while Mokou was done laughing and together with Keine they stared at Sakuya and Taihou.

"Isn't that nice" Mokou mumbled.
Keine raised her eyebrows "What do you mean?"
"She got someone to protect her."
"Ah. You mean that."
"I used to have someone like that aswell. But the pain I endure is the price for immortality."
Keine felt bit sad.
"Don't worry Keine! I haven't forgotten about you. I am glad you and me found eachother."

Mokou smiled at Keine making her blush a bit. Taihou and Sakuya walked over to Keine and Mokou.

"It seems we are in the real world" Taihou said. "So I will have to find us a place to hide. Lucky for me I know this place, there is a shrine nearby where we can stay. After that we can go to the nearby Town. But that is located a few miles away. Therefor it is currently  impossible to reach, night is falling and most of the humans are asleep."

"So? We wake them up?" Mokou replied.

"Impossible Mokou-san. This is not Gensokyo, night and day is extremely important for the humans. And generally during the night it is dangerous to wander around."

Mokou felt a bit annoyed and looked away sticking out her tongue "Boring."

Keine was taking it obviously more serious when she said: "Mokou, we can only rely on Taihou for now. He is much more knowledgable about the human world."

"Fine fine. But don't think you can just order me around."

"Mokou!"

Taihou gestured towards Keine: "No it's ok Keine-san. I am not going to order anyone around. I am just asking you co-operation and strenght. And I will give you mine."

"Yes" Sakuya added: "During Taihou's weakened state Reimu stated that everyone has to share a bond with a male. Thus in this case we are bound to Taihou"

Mokou rapidly turned her head "WHAT? Me? Bound to him?"

"Didn't you notice you couldn't use any powers Mokou?" Keine asked.

"Well. . . yea, somehow I could use it to burn Taihou's bottom." Mokou had to giggle again a bit. "So as long as we stay close to him we can use our powers."

"No" Sakuya corrected. "If you don't, you will die."

"I can't die. I am immortal"

"You can." Sakuya once more said. "Dying as in dissolving. Our entire spiritual forms are vurnible now. You can't die from getting stabbed or shot perhaps, but you can die from losing your spirit. Reimu stated all this clearly."

A moment of silence fell among the group. Keine was drawing some circles with a twig in the soil.

Taihou stared at Mokou. "Please Mokou-san. Trust me"

She stood up and started walking.

"Where are you going?" Keine asked worried.

"What do you think" she said while turning around. "To find shelter at the shrine. Now lead the frikken way Taihou, before I punch you."

Sakuya and Keine felt reliefed and a smile appeared on their faces. Taihou sighed: "A real tsundere indeed.
















Near Lake Suwa, Yatsugatake National Park Border, Day 1, 5.42 PM

After a period of time the three groups (Xan Zei and Koji plus the girls and others who jumped in with them) finally gotten to the outside world at last. He was still conscious and landed near a lake.

Koji: "odd....we should have been transferred at the other Hakurei Shrine.....tch i guess the distortion screwed up our landing point....where is this....a lake?.....good this is lake Suwa"

He looked at Remilia and noticed that her wings were gone.
Koji:...."I see a side effect of no magical existance in this world."

He started to talk to Remilia who was still concious during the time but she suddenly started to twitch and was in sudden pain

Remilia: !! aaa..*cough*.....i-i feel so dry! I'm so hot....my body...aches all over!
Koji: !? OH! I have to set up a link with you immediately *sets her body face-down and sits on his knees next to her*
Remilia: *cough* my body feels so weak...
Koji: don't worry it'll be all over soon....

He takes a dagger from his side and cuts his finger and starts to chant a spell
Koji: In the Name of Kojiro Celadon Hiragumi, i now thus bind this being, Remilia Scarlet to my Soul, ye shall be as me as I shall be as thee.
With that he releases a drop of blood onto her bare back and it spreads into an "X" shaped symbol.  Remilia's body is then lifted up and after a small flash is set back down.

The binding spell was complete

Remilia:......*gasp*..."Its...complete...I'm now bound to a human being...while bein no different than a useless human myself..."
Koji: there with that our link is now established.

he helps her up to her feet but she isn't very happy at all.  Soon after Youmu finds her way to him as well but she is barely able to walk.

Youmu:  Sen...pai? Where is...Yuyuko-sama...ahh.
she collapses.
Koji:  Youmu?! *rushes over to her and holds her a bit* come on Youmu get it together
Remi: *runs over* Is there a way to save her? There aren't any one else around here.
Koji:........ *takes his dagger again*
Remi: !! what your going to bind her to you too?!
Koji: yeah! without a link residents of Gensokyo won't even live too long  out here. I was hoping humans from Gensokyo would be fine still but i guess because Youmu is only half human she's not affected too much but she still won't last without a link
Remi: But can't we find someone else?
Koji: we could but i don't want to risk putting Youmu in anymore danger. At Max a being can hold up to 7 spritual links. I can handle at most 5 thanks to all my reincarnated lives.
He begins the spell again and places the "X" symbol on Youmu's left hand

After a while Youmu gains consciousness
Youmu:...uugh.....*covers her mouth*....I feel...terrible
Koji: I know Youmu don't worry your fine now *he stands up and helps her up too*  I know its sudden but we have to continue looking for the others.
*tries to contact Zei via Telepathy*
Koji:....Zei? are you alright?............I see good......where are you?......Forest?.....oh okay i see that's behind the other shrine right?.....alright we'll head there

*30 minutes pass*

They started to walk near the lake until they see Patchouli and Koakuma nearby
Remi: PATCHY!? *shocked*
Koji: where?!
Remi: over there near that tree

The 3 of them dash towards the tree
Patchouli:....it seems....like i can't move at all. I miscalculated one important detail...that i don't have a partner to link with...*cough*...so stupid
Koakuma who was reliant on Patchouli for energy was already borderline death. She was unconscious and her body was fading away to nothingness

Remi: K-koakuma! *hands up to her mouth with tears*
Patchouli: its nearly...over for us Remi...you look so different now...without your wings are red eyes....do your best to restore Gensokyo...kay? *pulls right hand out to hold Remi's
Remi: no! hand in there please!

They didn't realize it but Kojiro was already performing the Destiny Bond Spell. He drops some blood on her right hand and it spreads into the "X" and he does the same to Koakuma on the side of her neck.

Patchouli: !! What?! Did you just-
Remi: Yes he did...he set up a link with you and Koakuma just now. just as he did to me and Youmu.
Youmu: eh?! senpai you set up a link with me?

Koji: ughh...*holds head* dizzy. *falls to ground a bit and is supported by Youmu and Remilia* Sorry. I never set up so many links before is all I'm fine

Patchouli was getting Koakuma up as her body was being restored
Patchy: come on wake up Kuma

Koakuma:....ahh.....M-master? *sits up*...i...thought i was dead.

Patchy:...2 corrections...I'm no longer your master, Kojiro is and no your not dead and neither am I luckily.

Koakuma: what? why is that....!! You don't mean that-

Patchy: yes, if you understand than lets be off we have much to do *she stands up*

Koakuma: but what about your anemia master?

PAtchy: again...i'm not your master now. And in regards to the anemia....I'm fine. My body doesn't feel weak at all anymore.

Remilia: what really?!

Koji: yeah probably because of the link with me, anyone who links with me shares some of my bodily perks. Its a Destiny Bond afterall.
Lets move girls its nearly 8pm and I want to get to my mansion before long,

Remi: So you know where we are?

Koji: yes. *starts walking and everyone follows* This is lake Suwa of Karuisuwa *points to the lake nearby* that is the very lake Suwako is named after and this is the country she established eons ago, I have been going back and forth between Gensokyo and here because i live near here. i have an estate that i acquired over many years of reincarnations that we can use to stay in, i normally use it when i want to hold a big event but this is definitely a good enough reason to actually live in it

Remi: you never told me you had an estate on the outside, I can't wait to see it! *suddenly eager but composes herself again because of the reality of the situation*

Koji:....hehe

after 10 more minutes of walking into the forest they find someone nearby.

Koji: SHOW YOURSELF!! *hand on nadachi hilt on his back*

 : *cries*....h-help....h-help please?
To everyone's surprise Minoriko drags herself out from the brush.

Minoriko:my sister...my sister she's gone...she's gone and i can't find her...

Koji: Minory? *they all approach quickly*

Patchouli: the goddess of harvest and fertility. i didn't know you were here too

Koakuma: milady she's disappearing too. I can see her mana flowing quickly away from her

Minoriko: P-please...help me. I don't want to die here, not without onee-chan *cries*

Koji:.......*performs the spell yet again*

Remi: *doesn't say anything to protest* "He's sacrificing his own being to save us all...I've never seen such a selfless human..."

The spell is placed on Minoriko's cheek and the link is established.

Minoriko:...w-why...do i feel better?

Patchouli: Koji set up a link with you, do you understand what that means?

Minoriko: ! R-really? I-i heard the details of it when i was with Kanako but...sis and i didn't have anyone to survive with....we thought the best we could do is die together since we has few contacts.....*pouts*

Youmu: so how do you know senpai?

Minoriko: he stopped by us a few times before...oh! thank you for saving me! *hugs him gratefully*

Koji: so...dizzy.....@_@.....*shakes head*..yeah its no big issue...if your here i bet my friend Zei or Xan found your sister. But we have to continue going now. It gets really dark in the forest and my estate is only a a few stepping stones beyond the forest preserve.

After getting themselves up and ready they all comply to make haste and leave the forest.
the sooner they meet up with Zei the better. Rest was a highly desired experience for each and everyone of them.

Abandoned Hakurei Shrine, Yatsugatake National Park, Outside World, Day 1, 5.42 PM

Zei noticed Koji trying to talk to him telepathically, "Yeah. I'm alright. Head hurts a bit, but I'm ok. Flandre seems to be ok as well, since I already set a link with her 1st minute we're outside of the border.", he sended a message towards Koji, then he hears a knock on the door, "...shit, now I wonder who can that be?"

He then walked up to the door and opened it, "Hello?"

It was the same old man from the Tourist Shop, "...you again? What do you want?", Zei asked.

The old man asked him, "Sorry to bother. Know these 3 girls?", he pointed at them.

Zei rushed towards them, still listening to the old man, "Yeah, they..fell from the sky. wonder why..", the old man said.

"If you can shut up for a minute, maybe you can help me.", Zei said and started to carry the 1st person into the shrine, which happened to be Reisen.

The old man didn't hear, "...sorry. No can do.", he then walked off. "Maybe you should try asking your girlfriend/little sister/wife or whatever in the shrine. She thinks she's some help. god knows how she landed in the forest.."

Flandre heard the old man and rushed up towards him, causing him to fall back down the steps.

Zei, on the other hand, carried the 2nd person into the shrine, which happened to be Mystia.

"Oi. Sorry for that misunderstand, Flan. Now can you please help me carry the last person?", he asked her.

Flan didn't notice him, she just carried the last person into the shrine and closed the door.

"They...fell in the forest, right?", she asked Zei.

"Of course they did. How the hell would you think I found them anyways?", he said.

Flan shrugged and walked off, "OI! Flan, your face is a bit red.", Zei warned her, then try to set up links with the other 3 that seems to be unconscious.

"-sigh- Thank god I'm a Midnight Lost Child. Other than that, I'd already be dead. Ahaha.., he quietly laughed to himself, completing the 1st link with Shizuha.

Seems this will be a long day for him.

In an open clearing, Yatsugatake National Park, Outside World, Day 1, 5.49 PM,


Keine stared at the full moon during the walk. Mokou noticed the worried face.

"Keine, you cannot transform into your demon yokai form remember?"

"I am actually somehow happy I don't have to. It always scared the Gensokyo human villagers. This way I won't draw much attention"

"Ya, we are perfectly normal." Mokou grinned.

"Sure you are." Taihou said with a dull face. "Dressed in pants with straps. With weird amulets on them and in your hair. And a ribbon on top of your head. We should get you new cloths when we are either at the shrine or the town."

Mokou felt insulted. "Do you want me to punch you, Taihou?"

"Mokou-san, I have respect for you as the person who has the power of the phoenix. But if you continue to keep making threathful comments on Taihou, I will be forced to hurt you."

"Hoo? You want to fight Sakuya?"

Mokou stopped in her tracks facing towards Sakuya. She cracked her knuckles a few times. Sakuya slowly lifted her skirt on the side slowly reaching for her knives. From both their eyes electricity sparked. Any moment hell could break loss between those two.

It was Keine who grabbed Mokou from behind in some form of heimlich technique. "What are you doing Mokou! Cut it out"

"Let me go Keine!"

Taihou grabbed Sakuya's hand aswell who was about to throw a few knives.  "Calm down Sakuya."

Mokou was resisting heavy "Who the hell do you think you are threathening me."

"Mokou-san!" Taihou shouted. "Stop it. I don't care about you want to punch me or abuse me. As long as the rest doesn't has to suffer. So go ahead, punch or hurt me." He showed his cheek towards Mokou.

She closed her hand forming a fist. Her breathing was quite noticeable. But then she relaxed her hand. Keine was reliefed that Mokou calmed down.

"My apologies." Sakuya said.

"We are sorry too" Keine replied. "Aren't we, Mokou?"

"Yea yea, what ever." she mumbled and started walking again.

Suddenly three strange persons appeared in front of them holding sticks. They were dressed in black weiring weird helmets. Their faces could not be seen.

"Freeze, you are all under arrest" the first man said as he grabbed Keine by the arm.

The second on grabbed his walky: "We found four of them, over. We'll deliver them."

Mokou inmediately snapped by performing a flying kick at the man who was holding Keine. He got hit hard and fell down on the ground.

"You're coming with me lady." The third man said and started dragging Sakuya by her hair.

"Suspect turned hostile and violent" shouted the 2nd man again through the walkie. "Need ba. . . " a crack could be clearly heared as Mokou kicked the man in his back. He was instantly knocked out.

"Taihou! Help me!"
"Let her go." Taihou shouted And jumped on the man. They started struggling on the floor.

The first man got back up and started melee combatting Mokou.

"Inferior human, you think you can handle the eternal flames of the phoenix?"

She formed a fist which bursted in flames. The man froze as he saw a shiluette of a flaming bird behind her. He started to flee but Mokou's fist was too fast and smashed the man in his back. He got propelled atleast a few meters and landed against a tree.

The man who was struggling with Taihou took a knife and tried to cut Taihou's throat.

"Taihou! Here!" Sakuya threw a knife at Taihou who grabbed it mid air.

With his legs he pushed the man off him and spinned 360 around cutting the man's legs. He shouted in pain as he tried to swing his own knife. Taihou evaded it swiftly and made a counter attack cutting the man's legs once more. Mokou dealt the finishing blow from behind by kicking him in the head.

Both Taihou and Mokou were panting. Exhausted from the fight. But Taihou was sweating extremely and felt dizzy.

"Mokou-san *pant*  When you fight *pant*, please do not use your powers. Because we share spiritual force. It will strain us both"
"We kicked their asses didn't we?"
"Who were they." Keine asked. "And what did they mean with 'we found them'. It almost looks like they were looking for us"

Taihou recovered from his dizzyness and stood up again: "I don't know but it seems like something or somebody knew we were here. We should hurry to the shrine. I have a feeling more people from Gensokyo might have reached it. We will have to warn them for these strange persons dressed in black armours and helmets."

"I'll frikken kick their ass if they touch us again." Mokou said in anger.

The party swiftly moved towards the shrine leaving the injured man's behind.

"Did you kill anybody?" Taihou asked.

"Nah, just critically wounded or disabled them. I don't kill like that. Don't compare me to that bitch Kaguya."

Taihou was slightly shocked "Woah, easy Mokou-san. I never even mentioned her."

We are here at the shrine. Let us investigate the location first incase they are expecting us.

(( End of event PArt I next part occurs after MTG's post ))

They started checking the outside area of the shrine.

"Nothing here" Keine whispered.
"Let us check inside." Mokou softly said.

The door Taihou tried to open didn't barge in first. "Seems like this one is locked but looks like nobody's in here"

Just about when he tried to walk away the door flew open

"Taihou?" Zei gasped.
"Agh! Made it!" Taihou collapse in a heap at the shrine's doorway. "That...staircase...is infernal!"
"I feel you bro." Zei nodded in understanding.
"...you're all..." Renko came bounding into the room, pushing Taihou and Zei aside.
"Hey, who is she?!" Sho gasped, getting to his feet and rougly dislodging an annoyed Yuyuko.
"Sorry, sorry for barging in!" Sanasan apologized as she came up behind Renko. "She was too excited about coming in here."
"....you're all from across the border?!" Renko breathed. "Oh my...oh my...wait until Maribel hears this..."
"They led us here. Met them at the bottom of the stairs." Taihou explained, leaning against the door frame as Sakuya, Keine, and Mokou appeared behind him.

They all rounded up in the middle of the room looking extremely serious.

"Listen up all. We are not out of the woods yet. On our way here we got assaulted by strange men dressed in full black."
"Yea, those bastards started to assault Keine and Sakuya." Mokou added. "I had the full pleasure of kicking and punching them in the face. I just imagined them as Kaguya and BAM"
A sigh was noticeable from both Taihou and Keine. "Anyway." Taihou continued. "We were somehow expected by someone."


The border's limits, Day 1, 5.45 PM, complete collapse of the Great Hakurei Barrier

"....how longs do you intend to wait heres?" Marisa asked them. The clearing was now empty, save Marisa, Reimu, Ruukoto, Suika, and Mitaka. Everyone else had managed to leap through the gate. Sanae had offered to stay with them to keep the gate open but Reimu had refused, pushing her off roughly into the gate.

"...we'll wait until the last minute. Yukari might come at any moment." Reimu said. "And that outsider, Jeremy, as well..."

"Hmmm...." Marisa nods in understanding. "Then I'll waits too ze." She said, sitting down crosslegged on the ground.

"Marisa!" Alice groaned, not knowing what to do with her friend's whims.

"It's...difficult to imagine that this is Gensokyo..." Reimu murmured. Huge, jagged monoliths had burst out of Gensokyo, towering hundreds of meters into the collapsing heavens. The sky was a fiery red, blotched with angry black as the sun sank for the last time on Gensokyo. The ground was shaking, as if in fear of Gensokyo's impending demise. Nothing at all resembled the Gensokyo they once knew and loved.

"...it's difficult to say goodbye..." Reimu sighed.

"Reimu, take these with you." Suika said, passing her rucksack to Reimu. "You might as well."

"...Suika? But..." And then it dawned on Reimu what Suika was thinking. "....you can't be serious! You can't stay here!"

"But I can't go out there either." Suika shrugged, matter-of-factly. "I'll die without a source of mana...a slower, longer death. I might as well have a quick one here with my home." It surprised Mitaka how mature Suika really was inside.

"She's right, Reimu-sama." Ruukoto nodded in agreement as she offered Reimu her rucksack.

"So why on earth did you pack your rucksacks then?!" Reimu shouted at the two in exasperation. She didn't want to face it. She had glossed over the issue, convincing herself that everything will be fine when the time came to leave. But....it wasn't fine. It wasn't fine at all! Ruukoto and Suika never had any hope for survival. They are going to die. She wasn't only parting with Gensokyo...she was parting with her family, the one thing she had, to this point, taken for granted. Suddenly the shrine and everything that it had contained didn't matter anymore. Gensokyo didn't matter anymore. It was them, her family...the one thing she never wanted to lose, ever.

Suika and Ruukoto opened their rucksacks in answer and displayed the contents to Reimu. They were more of Reimu's prized possessions - the comb and bowl she had received from Mayohiga, her photo album, her collection of Bunbunmaru newspaper clippings, and her personal summarized copy of Perfect Memento, made for her by Akyu herself, among other things.

They had never planned on leaving at all....they had just come along to make sure Reimu made it to the gate...

Reimu fell to her knees, grabbed them both around their shoulders and pulled them into tight hugs. "WHY?!" She cried, tears running down her face in uncontrollable torrents.

"Because we know you won't forget us and Gensokyo. Because your memories of us will live on." Suika said, calmly, patting Reimu's back. "Because we know you'll restore Gensokyo one day and us along with it...so we can live together again, be a happy family again."

"We'll wait, Reimu-sama, no matter how long it takes." Ruukoto said fervently. "Suika-san said we should pack you everything that would remind you of your home."

"..." Mitaka turned away, cursing himself for his weakness. He wanted to help them. He really did. But he didn't have anywhere near enough mana, being a simple, scrawny little weakling of an outsider. If only he had powers like Taihou, Zei and Kojiros, or had trained himself hard like Alex, perhaps a demonlord like Pichu....if only he had worked harder in life...

If he tried....he could try, couldn't he? But then what? If he failed...not only would they die slow protracted deaths....he'll jeopardize Reimu's chances at survival too.

He suddenly turned towards Marisa and Alice. "...no...not you too...?!"

"Ooh, busted, daze..." Marisa's grin grew brighter. Alice looked away, unable to look at Marisa.

"....you two...were never planning on leaving either, were you?" Mitaka muttered, darkly.

"Well, I'm not as luckies as Reimu to have a good outsider friend like yous, ze." Marisa shrugged nonchalantly. "I and Alice are stayings."

"Not you two as well!" Reimu was sobbing. "Why?! WHY?!"

"Hey, Reimu." Marisa said, kneeling down beside her and placing a comforting hand on her shoulder. "It takes more courage to lives on, ze, especially for those who were lefts behinds."

"As long as you live on, we live on too." Alice said. "We have faith in you." However, as if giving into some inner struggle, they all fell on Reimu, hugging her close. They all swayed to and thro a bit, in complete silence, relishing this last moment of togetherness.

"...the gate's closing. The barrier's collapsing." Suika said, helping Reimu to her feet. "It's time to go."

"It's not goodbye, Reimu-sama! It's...till we meet again!" Ruukoto said, tears streaming down her cheeks as she forced a brave smile.

"Good lucks, ze." Marisa slapped Reimu on the back for luck. "And you, take care of my best friend for me!" She shouted, pointing at Mitaka. "If you make her cry, I'll hunt you down and haunt you, ze!"

"What are you, her father?" Suika laughed. "Hey, a toast! I still have a little bit of sake left in my gourd! Looks like the magic wore off but it left a bit behind."

"For Reimu and Mitaka!" They all called out, raising small cups of sake. "Kanpai!"

"....for Gensokyo..." Reimu proposed, wiping away her tears. "KANPAI!" Everyone joined in.

"OUT OF MY WAY!" Their little gathering was rather rudely interrupted by...

...an incoming speeding airship?

"WAAAH!"

...and everything went black....

A little way outside the Hakurei Shrine, Yatsugatake National Park, Nagano Province, Day 1, 5.52 PM,

"Ugh..." Mitaka groaned. His vision swam before him. As things slowly slid into focus, he realized he was in a forest. He checked himself for any injuries. None. Save perhaps this pounding headache, a hammering heart, and a weakness in his limbs. His vision wouldn't stabilize, despite him trying to focus on a distant tree. "Ah...the contract must have activated then..." He decided, realizing the reason for his weakness. He must already be expending mana at an inhuman rate....but at least that meant Reimu was alive...and that they were in the outside world.

He got up shakily and stumbled around a bit in the dark, before hitting what felt like a squishy sack. He fell over, barely managing to break his fall with his arms.

"Jeremy!" He gasped, noticing who it was he had tripped over. 

"....hey man...ugh...got the number of that speeding train?" Jeremy muttered. "Oy...someone turn on the lights?"

"Y-you can't see?" Mitaka looked around wildly...and found the reason why lying just a few inches away from him. "...y-you didn't...not Yukari..."

"...oh yeah....and Ran and sweet little Chen...." Jeremy mumbled, his eyes still wild and unseeing. Mitaka looked around and noticed the other two, lying in an unconscious heap by a bush.

"You're going to die!" Mitaka gasped. "No way an ordinary human can support a youkai like Yukari! Much less the entire Yakumo family! Ran's a powerful Kyuubi for heaven's sake!"

"Yeah....you're telling me...heh, take it from me....I know..." Jeremy slurred on. "H-hey...mind finding my drill...?"

"What?!"

"The drill man, the drill, the drill that pierces the heavens!" Jeremy said impatiently.

"....err, right...." Mitaka looked around, feeling a little silly for attending to a not-so-sober man's whims, but still, it looked urgent...

"Here it is...but the bit cracked." Mitaka said, finding the drill on the ground and handing it to him.

"Doesnt' matter...the bolt...that's what matters...." Jeremy muttered, flailing feebly for the bolt. "Uh....yeah, thanks..." He finally grasped it. "Yeah, don't mind me...I'll be up...in a bit...." He muttered, before falling silent.

"....ok, I leave that to you then..." Mitaka said, a little bemused, yet relieved to see that Jeremy's chest was still rising and falling, signifying life.

He stood up once more, wobbled, before setting off in search of Reimu. She must be out here. The contract was drawing power so she must be alive and nearby, at least within 3 meters. He was careful not to go too far in case he severed the link.

And then he found her.

...and it wasn't just her...

"Oh no..." Mitaka ran over to the group. Reimu seemed to be in dire pain, but it was nothing compared to what the others were going through. Ruukoto seemed to have fainted, though from the marks on the ground and how she clenched her apron, it must've been from pain. Marisa was gritting her teeth, biting down on whimpers of pain, as she lay curled up, holding onto Reimu and Alice's hands for support. Alice was twitching perceptibly, her mouth open, gasping, as if trying to scream but not being able to. And Suika seemed to have suffered the most. Her horns had disappeared. She seemed to be tearing at the hair where her horns had been, her eyes bloodshot and bulging, her mouth open in a silent scream.

"....I'm sorry...I'm sorry...." Mitaka fell to his knees, his eyes closed shut. "I can't help...I can't help....please...somebody...help them...help them!" He muttered to himself, over and over. "Why can't I take their pain? Why can't I help them?!"

....it was obvious. There was no other way. He would die. But at the very least they would have a bit more mana to survive on. Perhaps it would buy them more time, enough time for somebody else, maybe Sho, Pichu, Zei, Kojiros, or any of the others with greater power, to come save them.

"...I promised, Reimu, to protect you and your people...to restore Gensokyo together with you...but I won't be able to fulfill that promise...forgive me..." Mitaka whispered to Reimu, who didn't seem to hear him from all the pain. Perhaps it was for the best. He didn't even have enough mana for Reimu...how foolish was he to think he could have supported her. She would be better off in the hands of one of the others.

"This is my vow to thee, that binds my destinies to thine own. Let my life be thine, and your hearts mine. My heart in yours, your souls in mine..." He chanted a vow Yukari had taught him to form a forced mana-share. "Kirisame Marisa, Alice Margatroid, Hakurei Ruukoto, Ibuki Suika...may the heavens bear witness to this solemn vow, and make this contract binding eternal."

It was an eternally-binding contract, the only one he knew how to preform. But he felt it didn't matter. He would die now anyway, breaking the contract almost immediately. It wouldn't matter...it wouldn't...matter...

...a shock ran through his entire body. It felt like every part of him was being sucked out through his pores. But it was over in an instant....

Inside the Hakurei Shrine, Yatsugatake National Park, Nagano Province, Day 1, 6.10 PM,

"...are you alive...?" Mitaka blinked at the voice.

"...well, either that, or we're both dead." Mitaka muttered up into the innocently curious face of Flandre. "Though I have a feeling nothing in the universe could kill you, so I must be alive..." He gritted his teeth as pain flowed back into his mind. "AGH!"

"Oy, stop straining yourself." Zei said, coming up to him. "We're in enough trouble as it is, tending to the others. Don't add more to the heap."

"Ugh....why? ...not dead...alive?" Mitaka managed.

"Gpop found you while he was on watch." Zei said. "He and Pichu hoisted you in. They also found Reimu, Marisa, Alice, Ruukoto, and Suika...and judging by the fact that they haven't gone up in smoke, I suppose you made a contract with them, huh?"

"But...how...?"

"You showed great courage there, Mitaka." Yukari said, from where she sat up against a wall, seemingly weakened, but conscious. "That's a strength as well, you know. You developed more spiritually in the last half an hour than you ever did in your entire life."

"...ah...so they're...alive?" Mitaka sighed in relief. He didn't know how, but as long as they were alive...that was fine.

"Yes, but only barely." Yukari said. "Even the courage of a lion could only go so far. You'll have to train hard to be able to support all 5."

"Ah..." Mitaka nodded weakly, before realizing the full extent of the situation. "WAIT! That contract was eternally binding! If I don't die..."

"Yep, you're stuck with it. Congratu-ma-lations." Yukari said with a grin.

"But...but...that vow..."

"It wasn't the only vow I knew." Yukari shrugged.

"Y-you...you...demon!" Mitaka gasped.

"...yep, synonymous with 'youkai'." Yukari's grin grew brighter.

"So, are we all here?" Sho asked from a corner where he sat with Yuyuko sleeping on his shoulder.

"Most of us are...we're missing Taihou, Alex and Kojiro's teams, I think." Myon said from where he sat with a sleeping Suwako in his lap.

"That's to say, those of us who are outsiders are...the rest of the refugees...." Sumire's voice trailed away into nothingness. "...we all got separated...we should've kept an eye out for them....we left too late..."

"It wasn't your fault." Aya patted her comfortingly on the shoulder. "We were defending the gate, remember? We saved far more lives that way."

"...but...those who don't have partners...." Hiroko began.

"...." Sho punched the wall in frustration. "....we have to go look for them. Save them..."

"We're all too pooped to move." Jeremu pipped up from his corner where he sat beside Yukari and the Yakumo family. "So how do you propose we do that? Plus, we have no idea whether or not we've heard the last from that woman and her army of little wretches and the snake and...."

A sudden loud banging on the door caused them all to jump. They all remained vigilantly silent, ready for any intruders...

"...looks like nobody's here..." A voice came from outside.

"Taihou?" Zei gasped, throwing open the door upon recognizing the voice.

"Agh! Made it!" Taihou collapse in a heap at the shrine's doorway. "That...staircase...is infernal!"

"I feel you bro." Zei nodded in understanding.

"...you're all..." Renko came bounding into the room, pushing Taihou and Zei aside.

"Hey, who is she?!" Sho gasped, getting to his feet and rougly dislodging an annoyed Yuyuko.

"Sorry, sorry for barging in!" Sanasan apologized as she came up behind Renko. "She was too excited about coming in here."

"....you're all from across the border?!" Renko breathed. "Oh my...oh my...wait until Maribel hears this..."

"They led us here. Met them at the bottom of the stairs." Taihou explained, leaning against the door frame as Sakuya, Keine, and Mokou appeared behind him.

[Gappy]

Near the Abandoned Hakurei Shrine, Yatsugatake National Park, Outside World, Day 1, 5.57 PM,

"Ugh..." Hiroko groaned, rubbing her head. She had only remembered the shadow snake, the constant rumbling, and Parsee and her going into the boundary - she had probably lost consciousness after that. Taking a quick look around her revealed that Parsee was with her, as well as someone in a pink shirt with red ribbons on the end, and a long shawl was wrapped around her.

At least another survived. Hiroko thought, and shook the both of them gently.

"Hey, time to wake up, the both of you."

It took some time, but eventually Parsee and the other person awoke and they got to their feet. The both of them were naturally confused, and she explained that they were in the outside world already.

"So this is the outside world, huh? It's interesting..." Parsee trailed off softly. Hiroko presumed that it was her first time looking at the trees and the plants, as she had never gone far from her bridge before.

"I wonder how the Eldest Daughter is doing..." the woman with the shawl mused.

"Uh, sorry if I'm intruding on your thoughts or anything, but what's your name? I'm Hiroko." she asked.

"Ah, it's Iku Nagae. I used to be the envoy of the Dragon Palace in Gensokyo, but now..."

"...I understand. So, uh, do you have a partner? You won't last long in here without a source of mana."

"I don't. I went to the Hakurei boundary with the celestials, but mostly I've been by myself. You mentioned that I won't last in the outside world without a mana source. Care to elaborate furthur?" Iku asked.

"Well, basically everyone, even outsiders, produce mana, which is a kind of energy that sustains us, see. However, Gensokyo is saturated with mana, so through the generations, the inhabitants of Gensokyo have produced less mana as they simply use the surrounding mana. Someone screwed with the mana spring though, and that's how the boundary started failing, I guess."

"So living in Gensokyo have reduced our mana production, so now we cannot produce enough to sustain ourselves. Is that it?"

"That's the gist of things. Outsiders like ourselves can channel mana to you guys though, so the immediate danger of wasting away'll be avoided."

"How does this mana channeling work, then?" Iku queried, a bit impatiently.

"Through our relationships, I think. The stronger the bond, the more mana that we can channel."

"Well then. Pardon me for any rudeness, but please lend me your strength. Channel mana to me."

"E-eh?! Well, I..." Hiroko cast a careful eye to Parsee. The bridge princess' face betrayed no emotion.

"All the survivors have to stick together, yes? And this won't be a permanent thing, I think - just until Gensokyo is revived."

"W-well...if that's the case, then I guess it's okay." Hiroko then extended her hand out to Iku, who grasped it, and started chanting the spell that was the key to the ritual for mana sharing.

Energy crackled between the two, and as the ritual completed, Hiroko dropped to the floor, exhausted. She felt a deeper strain on herself, and as Parsee helped her up, she saw the other's mixed expression.

I just hope Parsee can understand the situation we're in, and overcome her jealousy...


Abandoned Hakurei Shrine, Yatsugatake National Park, Outside World, Day 1, 6.11 PM,

While the entire group were conversing with each other, Gpop was still too pre-occupied with the still unconscious Koishi and her sister.

"So...if I manipulate my mana to Koishi, she'll have enough energy to survive in here?" He asked himself, "But will I have enough to save her sister as well? I mean, I know I'm married to Koishi and all, and Satori is a close friend of mine as well..."

Gpop knew that the only way he would know for sure is to try it out himself. He extended his hand towards Koishi and concentrated his mind in releasing some of his mana to supply Koishi. He notices a soft blue wave was being exerted through his hand, yet he started to felt his mind somewhat being weighed down a bit, but not enough for him to complain at all.

Then he noticed Koishi's eye twitched. She later opened her eyes, and as soon as she did, Gpop discontinued his mana transfer. Koishi got up and said, "Gpop...you...helped me..."

"Yeah..." Gpop replied, and they both hugged each other in relief.

"I'm going to help out your sister as well Koishi. So I'm going to release my mana to her as well." And Gpop extended his hand towards Satori as well. The results were similar to Koishi. She opened her eyes and the first thing she saw were both Koishi and Gpop with his hand extended towards her. Gpop quickly stopped his mana transfer after that.

"...why...thank you...Gpop..." Satori said calmly, yet somewhat straining for a bit of energy.

"Do you need more mana? You don't seem so well." Gpop asked.

"No, no, I'm alright. I'm just usually like this when I wake up from a deep sleep," Satori replied. "But thank you anyways for saving my sister and I. Again, I knew I could count on you."

"It was...nothing...really." Gpop said, somewhat emberrased.

Gpop, Koishi, and Satori went outside of the shrine and sat on the steps quietly as the three of them gazed at the stars above.

"So...it's really gone, isn't it?" Koishi asked quietly.

"No...it's still in our hearts," Gpop replied optimistically, "we're not giving up just yet. Whoever that voice was, it has something against us. I don't know what, but I bet it ain't because we ate the last piece of cake from a party or something."

"Well I really hope we can get our home back" Satori added, "Although I managed to bring Utsuho and Orin here, I hope my other pets will return with Gensokyo."

"They will," Gpop replied. "Reimu mentioned that those who disappeared with Gensokyo can also be revived once we save Gensokyo ourselves. And besides, we..." Gpop started to hear some music from afar, but below them. Gpop went over to the long staircase and he could clearly recognize a trumpet, violen, and keyboard, playing some faint, but sad, depressing music.

"Is that..." Gpop recognized the only ensemble group to play music like that. Then he could see a group a three girls walking up the steps, and Gpop quickly recognized them.

"IT'S THE PRISMRIVERS! THE PRISMRIVERS MADE IT THROUGH AS WELL!"

Abandoned Hakurei Shrine, Yatsugatake National Park, Outside World, Day 1, 6.18 PM,


The Prismrivers finally made it to the top of the staircase where Gpop and the Underground Palace crew were awaiting them.

"I guess we're not the only ones who safely crossed the border then..." Lyrica said.

"Well I'm relieved that we've managed to stay together." Merlin added.

"...and the others are here too." Lunasa added as well.

"Well I'm glad that the three of you are here," Gpop said, "and all of us are inside the shrine."

"Huh? Did Reimu foolishly bring the shrine with her?" Lyrica asked, noticing some striking similarities between the two shrines.

"No, this is the shrine that's connected to hers, but not all of us managed to land here. I guess some of us are separated." Gpop replied.

"...and yes, you can stay there with us." Satori added. "...hmm, seems like you take a liking to Gpop it seems, eh Merlin...?"

"W...what? N...no!? It's not like I like him that way!" Merlin exclaimed emberrasingly.

"Well you can't have him anyways!" Koishi yelled. "He's mine! We're married and all!" And Koishi ran up to Gpop and hugged him tightly, as Gpop was being strangled as he was gasping for air.

"Well your thoughts don't matter anyways. Let's all go inside." Satori said calmly.

And all three of them walked towards the shrine as everyone inside were still conversing with each other and their plans.

Abandoned Hakurei Shrine, Yatsugatake National Park, Outside World, Day 1, 6.18 PM,

"...people in black armour and helmets...waiting for us?" The weight of this slowly sank into the group.

"I don't understand." Pichu said. "This means somebody in the outside world knew Gensokyo would collapse tonight?"

"...and that somebody is somebody with power too." Myon added. "Doesn't look good."

"This person knows we'd be trying to escape." Sumire said. "...could it have anything to do with that voice?"

"Looks like we've missed quite a bit while we were in Gensokyo." Jeremy muttered over his dying laptop. "I've got bad news and bad news."

"A connection? Here? But..." Gpop began.

"Satellite." Jeremy said impatiently, waving a satellite phone hooked up to his laptop. "Look at the new secretarial aide to the Prime Minister." He said, turning his laptop to face them. She was a tall woman with a calm, serene-looking expression, suggesting comfort and good will. She was dressed in a very smart office lady uniform with what looked like a rather oversized bronze pendant hanging around her neck.

"...." Everyone who could move leaned in for a good look.

"....do we know her?" Hiroko asked.

"....Kikuri...." Shinki muttered under her breath from Pichu's side. "...she's still alive..."

"Yep. Saaya Kikuri, it says here." Jeremy said, just as the laptop finally gave way from lack of battery power. "If anyone knows about Gensokyo, it'd be her."

"She's still bearing a grudge, is she...?" Reimu finally stirred, gritting her teeth. "I take it Taka-kun's still alive?"

"Yeah, barely." Jeremy nudged the lying Mitaka with a well-placed toe jab. "Hey, wake up."

"Yeah, yeah...." Mitaka was still digesting this slowly. "Hey, Taihou, where did you encounter those people?"

"Just down the hill..." Taihou began, then the realization dawned on him. "....this shrine! They'd...."

Just then, smoking canisters flew in through the windows, hissing and gushing thick, white smoke.

"....run..."


Abandoned Hakurei Shrine, Yatsugatake National Park, Outside World, Day 1, 6.22 PM,

"Mitaka !  Teargas!" Taihou shouted. "We must secure the ladies."

Mitaka quickly stood up tearing off bit of his cloths: "Quicky everybody, tear a bit of your cloth and keep it in front of your mouth. Do NOT inhale the smoke"

Glass shattering could be hearable. The door of the room got blasted and four men entered the room holding sticks and shields.

"They are in here!" One of them shouted.
"What is goin on" Marisa asked. "They are all weiring same colour as me."
"Marisa, this isn't the time for joking around." Reimu sighed.
Yuyuko stood up with a drooling face "Food Food. My dinner arrived."
"You too Yuyuko! Be quiet"

"We'll have to split up for the time being. This way they cannot follow us all." Taihou shouted while punching and kicking a few of the men trying to attack.

Mokou jumped over to Taihou: "I am going to use my powers for a bit. I know it is crazy but we need to do something."

Taihou hesitated for a moment but gestured a yes. "Allright. But you will need to take care of my body incase I collapse."

Mokou bursted once more in flames. Her entire body was glowing and small wings appeared on her back. The men paniced slightly, but one of them still charged.

With a single blast, Mokou created a fierce flaming wall which instantly drove the teargas away. The rest of the group could breath normally again.

"NOW Everybody, run for it!" she commanded.

"Where do we meet again. In the town?" Taihou asked Mitaka.

Abandoned Hakurei Shrine, Yatsugatake National Park, Outside World, Day 1, 6.24 PM,

"Huh?" Gpop heard a group of men that have arrived at the shrine.

As Mokou blew the tear gas away, Gpop asked Satori, "Hey, I know this might be a bit risky, but can you read their minds and what their strategy is and see if there is any openings to their attack?"

"I'll see what I can do." Satori replied calmly.

As everyone began to run out, Satori stood closely to the front door and began to read each of the men-in-black's mind.

"They're all attacking from the front. They're assuming that we won't break through the back." Satori informed calmly.

"Well then I guess that's our plan for now." Gpop yelled back. "Koishi destroy the back wall, and then place a subconsious barrier around us so we can't escape unnoticed!"

"Alright then!" Koishi replied. She used her magic and using heart-shaped bullets, she easily destroyed the back wall. Then she placed a subconsious barrier around everyone in the shrine. It's not easily noticed by the others, but Gpop could tell due to the fact that he could not hear himself stomping on the wooden floor.

"Alright everyone let's get out through the back! Once we're far enough we have to split up since they're going to continue following us after they noticed a huge hole through the back!" Gpop yelled at everyone.

And Gpop, Koishi, Satori, and her pets managed to make it through back and started running through the mysterious woods located at the back...

Abandoned Hakurei Shrine, Yatsugatake National Park, Outside World, Day 1, 6.26 PM,


"Shit-!" Pichu cursed bringing his sleeve up to his face to ward of the incoming gas. His eyes could not see two feet in front of him, but he sure as hell could hear the ones who caused this. "You guys wanna peice of us, you feelin' froggy then jump!" He taunted now ready to strike that is before an arm grasped his shoulder firmly holding him in place. It was Shinki.

"Pichu, don't be rash!" Shinki warned sternly. "We must retreat for now, I know you're one to rush in and fight but now's not the time."

"Gh...but..." Pichu hesitated for a moment, but he knew Shinki's words had some meaning behind them, if he went apeshit on the SWAT team now, their situation would only worsen. Now was the time to retreat and maybe regroup. "Alright, you heard the man, everyone escape through the back!" Pichu yelled back as he and Shinki fled the area, following through the wall in which Koishi had just destroyed.

====-Moments Later, after the escape-=====

"Are we at a safe distance?"

"It looks like it, they're not following us yet." Pichu replied as he took a moment or two to catch his breathe. "Geeze, I didn't think they'd sniff us out THIS fast, they're really determined about...whatever it is they wanna do with us."

"That said, we might have to split up from the main group for now, otherwise we may fall prey to the same method the humans used on us earlier." Shinki suggested as she looked around to see if anyone else had emerged from the structre they had come out of, so far no one else had came out yet. Which worried her to some extent...

"Don't worry they'll get out okay, we made it this far in one piece" Pichu commented as a way to reassure Shinki from her doubts.

"Perhaps..." The demon goddess replied her voice still not lifting from the uncertainty she had. "I still wonder whatever became of my subjects..."

"Oh, I wouldn't worry about them~"

Huh, that's strange, no one else was following them so who could that voice belong to? Shinki and Pichu turned their gaze to the source and found a sight the both of them never thought they would see on this side of the border "Yumeko, Yuki, Mai!"

"And Luize too~" the demon traveler chimed in cheerfully.

"Took us forever to find out where you all had went," Yuki chuckled as she placed her hands behind her head in a nonchalant gesture. "You wouldn't believe the amount of junk we had to go through to get here."

"That is only because you kept causing trouble." Yumeko pointed out a hint of annoyance in her steel tone. Mai also seemed to agree with Yumeko accusation with a silent nod of her head.

"H-how was I supposed to know things work differently in the Human World?" Yuki stammered trying to dismiss the blames that were pinned upon her. "But can you really blame me, if it wasn't for me we wouldn't have found Luize!"

"Speaking of which, Luize did you run into Sara or that other human she had with her?" Shinki asked to Luize who seemed to be the more talkitive of the three at this point. "You 4 are the only Makai residents we've met so far..."

"Hmm, well...let me put it this way; she came through with us, but they didn't land in the same spot as us. Something must have happened during the initial travel across Gensokyo to the Outside that seperated her and Mr.Muffin from us." Luize explained trying not to confuse anyone on the matter. "I would guess that they're located somewhere else around here, being the original coordinates were set for the outside however, I...just can't say where they landed exactly."

"Well, at least we know they're here, hopefully we'll be able to find them before our enemy does." Shinki stated as she turned forward. "As for right now; we need to concentrate on escape, we were attacked earlier on and staying here would only leave us open to the enemy again."

Pichu nods in agreement to Shinki's words. "Right, let's head off to the shrine I dunno if anyone else is there but it's the only safehouse I can think of right now."

====-Elsewhere-In an Alleyway filled with 'Bad People'====

"You seen the news lately? There sure is alot of shit going on now ever since those foreigners came here..."

"Why, is that a problem? You're not usually the one to give a damn about the community."

"Oh no, it's not that at all. Think about it, if we play our cards right...we may be able to finally turn this city into our playground..."

"Okay, I'm lost...what're you up to?"

"In due time I'll tell ya, but for now we'll just sit back and enjoy the show..."




An undisclosed valley, somewhere near Karuisuwa, Nagano Province, Japan, Outside World, Day 1, 6.28 PM,

A shiny river.

Just follow it downstream...

A tank sits near a wooden bridge crossing that river.

...

The hatch of the tank opens. A woman with a pure white shirt and a purple bow under it's collar appears. Long, brown hair escapes from the M1 helmet she is wearing.

Inside the tank's driver's compartment, the lights are flickering and the monitors are showing complete static. But that doesn't seem to disrupt the driver's deep sleep. Then, the hatch closes with a loud slam.

"Thirtyfour! Wake up! Thirtyfour!"

Thirtyfour doesn't want to open his eyes.

The woman descends from the commander's position and grabs her helmet, and starts bashing Thirtyfour's head.

"WAKE UP!", the woman shouts again.

Thirtyfour finally wakes up and accidentally, out of pure reaction, smashes the woman's face.

"Uhh... Rika?", Thirtyfour mutters, still half-sleep.

Rika stands up, helmet on her head.

"That helmet wasn't much of help...", Rika says.

"Well, a bullet in between eyes always deals the same amount of destruction, regardless of country, planet or any place.", Thirtyfour tells, while trying to get the monitors online.

"Could you, by any chance, check outside for any damages? The tank doesn't seem to respond very well.", Thirtyfour commands.

Rika opens the hatch again, jumping out of the tank. She pulls out her notepad and starts writing. The tank has been really hammered from all sides, but the main gun is completely smashed, having the insignia "CHALLENGER II" horribly distorted. Engine hasn't suffered damage at all. Tracks are fine. Rika gets back in the tank.

"Have a look", she hurries.

Thirtyfour reads the notepad carefully.

"Can you test the turret's movement?", Thirtyfour asks.

Rika goes back to commander's position, and starts moving the turret. It stutters alot, and the turret engine coughs a little while moving.

"This tank is FUBAR. Coaxial guns aren't enough to fend off large masses.", Rika considers.

"Countryside has tanks patrolling? Pray tell!", Thirtyfour speaks with a sarcastic tone.

"We are in an unknown place, you can never be sure if we are in a middle of a military base.", Rika answers.

"PTTTFFF."

Thirtyfour opens a small hatch for a better view, and sees a sign.

"Ka... Rui... Karuisuwa.", Thirtyfour stutters.

Backyard of ?Tourist Helpers? Store, Karuisuwa, Outside World, Day 1, 7.40 PM

Lily White and Amarillo Viridian had officially ended their 1st day of work when Jason announces that it's time for him to sleep and shut the shop.

With Jason gone they can finally manage to "make the place prettier "by using Lily White's Ability.

However, Amarillo thinks that before she does that, there is something more important, it is not important that the fairy understands all of them, but at least she must inform her what the worst condition will become.

"I want to let you know about how my ability works." Said Amarillo.

"Isn't it an "empathy-or-something" to nature that makes you talks to us fairies telepathically?"

"That's only the surface, I once thought it's that easy. However, It's not."

"But is that really that important that you choose not to sleep but talk to me about it now?"

"I'll make it really quick," Amarillo cleared her throat "Have you felt something strange when you come here?"

"Nothing, my appearance and power didn't change. Your speed of telepathy and your stamina seems dropped, though."

"That's why it's strange. If it's not because of my power you had already perished when you land there."

"W-what?"

"The others seems already gets there, but can you sense them?"

"I can pick up very weak readings."

"That's it, the reading are weak because they are bounded to humans like us. Probably via some spell, I'm not sure..."

"So what's your point?"

"Let's just say Gensokyo is a spring, the residents take water from the spring everyday so they can live."

"I'm okay with that."

"So today the spring gets polluted and the residents' water supply had been cut, for us humans, 3 days is the extreme to live without water."

"......"

"Seems you know what situation your friends have got into. Luckily, they found a place where have water underground, so they try to dig and get the water out so they can stay alive."

"Which means...."

"The most of other humans are not suitable for mana storage, however, they can forcely bind a link to other beings using a special spell. Thus making others live on."

"But you haven't do that to me, and I still keep my energy on."

"That's because..." Amarillo left out a sigh "...That I myself is a spring."

"......"

"......"

Long-Time Silence.

"Don't worry, As long as I'm ALIVE you can always get mana from me and nobody, even myself can stop you from doing so. However, you must be close. In Gensokyo it's proved that my radius is 3km, However, now I should take Another data: My original self, who is currently living in another dimension, have a max radius of 10 Meters. So don't get too far from me until I found some way that's safer than a living mana storage."

"So The reason that I'm here without the binding spell is that..."

"Now forget it. The only thing you should know is not getting too far from me, if something bad happened to me..."

"YOU WON'T!"

"Only if, if something happened to me, find somebody who can do the binding spell as soon as possible. "

"......"

"Sorry if this information makes you sad. Now let's get started shall we? If you want to know more I can load it from the EFA Database."

"?"

"If it confuses you then don't ask about it."

"Well, OK."

"So shell we get started?"

The fairy nods, and started to make the flowers bloom around the shop.

9pm, inside a room of "TOURIST HELPERS"

Amarillo opens the computer, and quickly browsed through some websites, namely, the organizations that may have linked to the incident.

There is no trace of The Brotherhood of NOD on the Internet now, it's only a fictional group.

The Evil Regional Organization FARGO exists, but is wiped out completely in 2004. The leader's last attempt of fight failed because her "Unseen Power" gets overloaded and she simply exploded.

The EFA (Earth Federation Army) exists but have already get separated. The Database is intact and she even managed to found her profile in the database, (The database is arranged by Chrono Agents so data from all timeline exists) However, Lily White claimed that she didn't understand any of them.

"If i can find Satori... Maybe I can face my original self again..."Amarillo thought.

In the past incident where she was taken to Gensokyo, thanks to Satori's mind-reading power, Amarillo mets her original-self, "Yellow-chan", in her own mind. Yellow claimed that in order to not let the tragedy happen again she had locked 50% of Amarillo's power. She will return the power only if Amarillo proves that there is a reason to do so. And Amarillo gave up since she only wants to live as a normal human girl.

But now the situation changed.

"No point worrying yourself now," Amarillo murmured, looking at the already-asleep fairy. "Wonder if my speech just now had any negative effect on her."

"The only thing that I can do is to do the work well, maybe I can met the others when working in this shop. So having a good sleep is the first priority!" thought so, she lie down on the bed, put her arm around the fairy, hugging her.

"Some Childish habit, can't fall asleep if not hugging something." that's Satori's remark.

Hoping not having a nightmare, Amarillo closed her eyes.

Day 1 Amarillo Route End


Forest near Lake Suwa, at the edge of the Yatsugatake National Park boundaries, 11.40 PM, Day 1

3 hours?.

They had been walking for 3 hours in the dark, blazing a wild trail through unmarked woodland?

After the incident at the shrine things have been a lot more quiet. Perhaps eerily so. They had come across a sweeping search net that was slowly encircling the hill but it had left many exploitable gaps that were easily predicted using Satori?s powers. One soldier had come dangerously close, but with the help of the newcomer highlander, McWallace and a strong pacifier from Eirin, the man had come down very quietly and was last seen sleeping in a deer?s cesspit. It had been a tense, heart-stopping affair, sneaking past the search net, but the great breath of relief and freedom that came after was rejuvenating.

Now they were muddy and dirty from crawling around, sweaty, and, above all, deathly exhausted.

Team FUBAR (as they had come to be referred to by the rest of the party) led by Mitaka was perhaps fairing the worst.

?C?mon, keep up! We?ve got to keep moving in case they widen the search net.? Sho called out impatiently at the team that was tagging along at the tail-end of the party.

?What on earth is wrong with them?? Gpop asked. ?It looks like they?ve had their very souls sucked out.?

?Quite literally.? Zei nodded. ?But Mitaka is just an average human. I suppose it only makes sense. He?s stretching his average human mana supply 6 ways between his team.?

?Gosh, that must suck?? Pichu nodded sympathetically.

??coming from the guy/superhuman monster supplying a team of 5.? Myon said, soldiering on.

?Team Drill isn?t doing that well either.? Hiroko noted.

?You mean team Suppatenko?? Aya said.

?Cut it out you people?.? Jeremy muttered, bringing up the rear, just in front of team FUBAR. ?If you?re going to name my team something call us?.?

?Team Soul Brothers?? Suwako suggested.

?Team Gattai!? Luize added.

??.I knew I shouldn?t have pulled a Simon?.? Jeremy sighed wearily.

?At least he still has energy to open his mouth.? Taihou said. ?Mitaka looks like he?s about to?.?

??he already did?? Sakuya sighed.

Sure enough, Team FUBAR had collapsed a little ways behind them in a puddle that was now threatening to drown them.

?Now what?! We have to carry them as well?? Sho sighed.

?Ah, mou!? Mystia complained. ?I can?t walk anymore!?

?Me neither?.? Minoriko sighed, falling back onto the bracken.

?H-hey, not now of all times!? Reisen called to the party who were, one by one, giving away to the immense fatigue.

?Y-you?ll have to g-go on without me?.Sanae?.? Suwako murmured. ?I-I?m??

?Suwako! Suwako!? Sanae gasped, grasping Suwako?s hands. ?Hang in there! Suwako!?

??.hungry?.? The little frog goddess finished, causing the wind priestess to fall backwards.

"People, we can't rest yet..." Hiroko sighed.

"We never know...those people could be trailing us..." Sumire said, coming up the rear. "I and Aya have done our best to clear our trail, but...."

??.what?s that?? Eirin pointed up at what looked like a tall domed silhouette that shone a little in the moonlight.

CLANK, CLANK, CLANK!

The party immediately copied team FUBAR and met the soggy ground at high speed.

??it?s metallic?? McWallace muttered.

?no shit, Sherlock.? Pichu hissed back.

?Any luck, Rika?? a male voice called out.

?Nope, the drive train?s jammed, ThirtyFour.? A female voice called back. ?It?ll take more than a few hammer smacks to get it unjammed. I told you the tank?s FUBAR!?

?It?s your tank!? The man, apparently named ThirtyFour, retorted.

?Well, it was your repairs!? Rika countered hotly.

??.Rika??? Shinki murmured.

?THAT Rika?? Jeremy facepalmed.

?Flower tank Rika?? Pichu asked.

?The very same?? Sho nodded. ?Oy! Rika!?

?..

A few minutes later?

?Just what did put in my tank?? Rika demanded.

??.Manliness.? Jeremy replied, and left it at that. The console now sported a spiral dial indicating a half-full Spiral Energy supply.

?Just make sure you don?t make it walk.? Yukari muttered from the backseat. ?And Chen, don?t touch the shells.? She added to the curious little kitten. ?Remember what curiosity did to your kind.?

?So, you guys survived too, eh?? ThirtyFour asked the people sitting atop the tank from his commander?s perch. Surprisingly, the tank?s top was quite spacious and afforded (crammed) space for the entire party.

?Barely.? Pichu replied.

?Hey, where are we going?? Taihou asked, wearily. ?We?re in the city now, aren?t we??

Sure enough, they had come off the beaten track and were now rolling across asphalt. What had been trees and grassland had given away to small homes and stores?a somber preview of the urban jungle ahead.

?Good thing it?s midnight.? Sho said.

?Yeah, it means midnight snack time.? Yuyuko said, eyeing Mystia.

?No! That?s not it! I mean, it means nobody would notice a tank lumbering past!? Sho said. ?And no, Yuyuko, she?ll give you indigestion!?

?Wait!? Koishi called out. The tank came to an abrupt halt, threatening to throw everyone off. ?Read that sign, lunar rabbit!?

Reisen was too tired to retort and just did as she was told. ?Abandoned building ahead. Do not enter.?

??.looks like a shrine to me.? ThirtyFour scanned the building set atop the hill with his nightvision binoculars. It was about three hundred yards away from where the sign was. The grounds of this shrine must be huge!

?Looks like a perfect place to lay low. It?s a good vantage point. It must have a good view of the entire valley.? Jeremy reasoned. ?Shall we??

Everyone else was too tired to suggest otherwise.

?What about the sign?? Rika asked.

BOOM?

?What sign?? Mokou asked, blowing her smoking finger.

?MOKOU!? Keine cried. ?Taihou won?t be able to take anymore!?

?Tch, kill joy.? Mokou muttered as the tank lumbered over the smouldering sign and up the driveway towards the shrine?


Atop the Challenger II tank, outside the abandoned Saniwa Shrine, Karuisuwa, Outside World, Day 2, 12.10 AM (Past midnight)

"Yuyuko..", Zei sighed. "You're not thinking about eating her, right?", he asked.

Yuyuko noticed Zei's glare and turned to him, "?! N-no I wasn't..", she said.

"You eyed her with that look. How could you?", Zei said, disappointed.

"Should I..tell Xan that you're trying to heh.. 'hook up' with Mystia?", he asked.

Yuyuko stood up, walked up to him and slapped him for the hell of it. "son of a bitch..", she then walked off.

"OI! I was trying to warn you. Don't be trying to eat her now.", Zei said.

[Gappy]

Forest near lake Suwa, Yatsugatake National Park, Border Outside World, Day 1, 11.30 PM,

After walking near the lake towards the abandoned shrine Kojiro kept a communitive link with Zei telling him where to NOT go since they were attacked.
Koji: This isn't good apparently there are others out to capture us now.

Remi: Capture? why is anyone trying to capture us?

Koji: No idea but whatever, if we get caught we can fight back still with no issue whatsoever.
He continues to walk with the same voided expressionless look but he was being very serious. Remilia knew it as well

Patchouli:....If someone is trying to capture us then is it possible someone knew that we would be here?
Koji stopped walking at this thought.

Koji:.....IF that's true then someone knew that the barrier and Gensokyo would collapse!

Koa: auu...so...someone knew?

Koji: tch...this isn't funny. If its someone related to Gensokyo that would be expected but if its someone outside then... grr.

Remi: lets hurry to the others. I'm worried about my sister and Sakuya.

Minoriko: Me too...I hope Shizu was saved...
After that they continued walking near the forest's edge to stay out of the clearing near the lake, being spotted was not an option seeing as how someone wants them captured.

After walking a bit more they finally came to rest under a tree for a bit.

Youmu: Senpai i think we should rest here for a bit.

Koji: yeah why not... Zei told me just now that he is in a tank with Rika and everyone else. I think we are the only group not with them now....!! Oh and He told me that he has Shizuha with him Minory

Minoriko: !! Oh thank heavens! my sister is safe?!

Koji: Indeed she is she and Flandre are safe with him and everyone else.
After that she pounced on him and hugged happily.

Minoriko: I'm so relieved. *sobbing* I thought she disappeared
Kojiro rubbed her head in comfort.

Koji: well i'm glad she's safe too. The more we have the better our chances,....we have to save Gensokyo AND make sure who or whatever is behind this incident isn't able to pull it off again.

Remilia felt that pinch in her chest again and was reminded of when Youmu  was complemented by him about her sword skill.

Remi: "!! this feeling again....am I seriously jealous now? This is ridiculous! Its just a hug right? But...i can't shake it I can't"

She was sitting next to him and suddenly wrapped her arms around his arms while Minoriko sobbed still.
Patchouli and Koakuma were sitting quietly and talking amongst themselves and Youmu was standing next to the tree they sat at attentive and alert like a loyal guard. After hearing that they were being searched after, she was in high alert mode.

Koji: what's wrong Remilia?

Minoriko lets go and looks too

Remilia: ...Nothing...Do not concern yourself with me

Kojiro: *rubs her head* but i do concern myself with you. Why else would i cared to share a link with you. If something is bothering you don't hesitate to mention it. Its gonna be rough for us all.

Remilia was blushed by that. She's not used to being told what to do much less being told from a Human. She used to despise humans and saw them only as a means of sustenance.
Used to.
Now she sees them as friends. Beings who can actually surpass her in ability and even history. She started to hold respect for them
Now....
She's starting to fall in love with them
But its natural to deny love at first when you come into contact with it right?

Her thoughts were interupted when Youmu spoke up

Youmu: senpai someone approaches *whispering*

The girls and Koji hushed themselves, lowered themselves listened and watched.

Some men in black were running near the lake headed alongside it.
They looked like the men that Zei described in his telepathic message.

Remi: who are they?
Koji: probably our pursuers...
Minoriko: *gasp*....*holds her breath*
Youmu:......should i attack if we are found senpai?
Koji: yes of course they don't sound friendly towards us at all. However lets try to not get ourselves noticed.
Koakuma: M'lady what should we do?
Patchy: stay low and attentive....

After watching them from the shrub the men continued along the lake. there was about 30 of them. They must have stopped there for a break as well or something. Then they heard one of the men conversing

Man1: I can't believe they managed to get away! Didn't i order to secure the back? How the hell could they knock out the back of the shrine without us knowing?!

Man2: Details are still unknown sir! The group was very crafty in their escape and evaded any traps we had set up along the path

Man1: DAMMIT! HOW CAN SUCH A LARGE GROUP ESCAPE FROM UNDER US SO EASILY! YOU'RE ALL A BUNCH OF SLACKERS!
Man2: *sweatdrops* b-but sir! we have little to no info on the group in question. Especially if they are supposed to be from another world.
Man1: another world my ass! if we can handle the Diclonious to some degree what makes a few aliens eh?!

Koji:....*laughs to himself*....Lucy...I wonder what she's up to now
Remi:....who's that?
Koji: an old friend of mine hehe.

After the men went back and forth, somethign about docked pay, and having wife and kids the men continued on route along lake

Koji: Lucky for us the other shrine is located elsewhere.....alright lets move i don't know where they are going nor do i want to know.
Remi: agreed
Patchy+Youmu: Affirmative.

They continued to walk up the path onto the shrine but they were more fatigued than they thought, as hunger soon caught up them.

Minoriko: ah....so hungry....
Koakuma:...yeah...very
Youmu: How much longer senpai?

He had to think for a second
Koji: maybe another 10 minutes if we ran but that's outta the question, can't make too much noise.
Patchy:...*sigh* what i wouldn't give for a cup of tea right now.
Koji: don't worry girls, i'll be sure to get you all something to eat soon. I just hope you don't mind having food from this world. I actually look forward to showing some of our delicacies myself hehe....In the mean time.... *adds more mana to each of them*

Remi: ? i feel...stronger now?
Minoriko: yeah what...happened?
Koji: i increased the flow of mana into you all, so you won't feel the hunger and have more strength for this last stretch
Remi: *surprised* are you okay? suppling us with this much mana must be tiring right?

They continue to walk the path

Koji: Nah its no big deal, I'm actually WAY stronger than i'm letting on to be honest. All the powers i showed up until now is but part of the 20% that i'm allowed to use. The other 80% of my powers are sealed away by yours truly.

Youmu: ara? why did you seal your own powers away senpai?

Koji: hehe that's....a story best suited for later, for now i'll say that I hate myself sometimes for being as powerful as i am.
The power is sealed away but i can still access the mana portion of it so I have a very very large natural well. Unlike Zei who has an artifact inside of him that gives him a very very large well of mana also.
Since he gave them more mana they were able to levitate and they did so for a while until Youmu started to walk again

Koji: what's wrong?
Youmu: I think it would be wisest of me to save my...err senpai's energy in case we are attacked. I can walk with you.

At this Remilia got another small pinch and started to walk as well

Remilia: Y-yes i suppose it would be best.

Koji: uh okay *stretches* dam I'm tired now *cracks neck* When we get to my place i'll have Pearl make us something really nice.

Remilia: Pearl? is that your sister? or Maid?

Koji: negative *pats her head* good guesses though but again its another story

Remilia, being the curious vampire that she is continued to ponder who this person was.
Remilia: "cousin? mother? .....is she his lover?....I hope not...but if she's not his sister or maid....who could she be?

After realizing that she was again envious of the thought that this person could possibly be his lover she blushed again and hid her face with her hat

Koji: ?? what's wron remi? *tries to take his hat*
Remi: *muffled voice* duting (nothing)
Koji: o_o uhh okay?

Minoriko who was also thinking about it just plain out asked

Minoriko: is this Pearl your girlfriend? *giggles*
Koji: negative yet again, hehe

Remilia sighed relief and slowly returned her hat to her head.

Youmu: Senpai i see a tank up ahead!

Koji: tch is it those guys agai-wait...o,o what the hell? that's Rika's Flower Tank! That's where Zei and everyone is!
*suddenly sees Mokou blow the sign away*

Group:.....

Koakuma:....is that the Fujiwara no Mokou?

Patchouli: i heard about her from Sakuya...she's immortal and has the power over fire.

Koji: hehe Mokou survived. Good

Youmu: she was a very difficult but worthy opponent, I enjoyed fightin her with Yuyuko-sama.

Remilia: it was a temptin idea to capture her and keep her as an infinite blood source for Flandre and I but blood tastes best when deep emotions are involved. *grins* Although i still would like to taste the blood of an immortal someday.

Koji: well lets get a move on we have to catch up with everyone else. And I'm REALLY in the mood for a nice long bath soon dammit *he runs up to the tank to get with everyone else*

the girls follow in suite.

Day 1 11:28 PM 6 hours after the exodus from the collapse of gensokyo At the old Heavenly Dragons Dojo were Alex grew up.

Alex had gotten a fire going for mostly to put the girls mind at ease they have gotten into some of the now vacent housing rooms and have turned in for the night  but Alex couldn't get to sleep quite yet his mind was still racing over the events earlyer in gensokyo...about fleeing from the higan because the river had gone wild to watch gensokyo be literally torn apart to learning that it was all because of some fiend with a plan and that gensokyo wasn't the only place that was effected by his/her/its plot to the fights with its shadow creatures and now after coming back to the outside world what happened to his old dojo and his masters and friends there.

"what on earth is going on and more importantly can we really stop this fiend's plan" he asks himself.

Alex Then goes to the highest point in the dojo were one can have a good view of the town well you you can still call it that in the time since he left at 18 to his current age at 23 its now more at the border of a really large town and the smallest class of citys there are now quite a few hi rising builds now were there were only like 3 or 2 when he left but other than that most of it was the same has he remembered when he left.

"good to see the place hasn't drasticly changed." he lamented under his breath.

Alex then focused his mind and spirit for a secret skill that was passed down from generation to generation of Heavenly Dragons fighters and masters a skill for locating other people by their spirital presense figuring that even with reduced powers most of the ones fleeing from gensokyo will stand out like a naked hooker in a full church session to the untrained and non-magical natives of the town.

sure enough he got some faint hits that mostly told there general direction and all of them were close to the area "so apparently the gateway out of gensokyo was aimed here...i wonder why" alex then unfocuses from the skill and heads back down to sleep.

Day 1 11:49 the old Heavenly Dragons Fighting Dojo on the foothills of Karuisuwa town

Alex heads into the room he and Lily Black will spending Daiyousei and the other fairys are staying in the room directly across from theirs on after checking up on daiyousei and the 3 fairys and sliding the doors shut.

Lily Black is waiting for him in a bed in a little (for her figure) black night gown "your still awake dear something is on your mind for sure"

Alex responds with " yes i was just outside using a skill i learned from my training while here years ago to locate others via spiritual means it worked...sorta"

Lily black responds with a bit of worry "sorta?"

"Its obvious that other fleeing from gensokyo have came to this area around this town but i can't pinpoint their locations eather their spiritual powers are already burning out at a alarming rate or something is effectively jamming me from pinpointing them."

Lily goes " i hope its more of the second than the first "

Alex responds with just a simple "me too"

Lily then asks "i wonder why we don't seem to be suffering much from being here other than losing our wings"

Alex thinks about this and responds "maybe its because you guys are so in tune with nature that you can manage to get by because your bodys are effective enough at keeping your mana from just bleeding out too fast but other that theory i have no clue and i will be checking on you guys to make sure your alright for now lets get some rest and unwind."

Lily black grins with a naughty look on her face then kisses Alex "well i agree with that dear maybe we can have a little fun before bed"

Alex "no objections here dear" replys

Alex grins his love may be small in hight but she always is quick to prove she that first looks can be deceptive he proceeds to get in bed while sliding a hand up her chest he puts out the fire that was lighting up the room and he and lily get into bed for their fun and afterwards sleep.

While in the act of love Alex thinks "boy i'd really would wonder what my old masters would say about my intresting choice of a girlfriend." at that point he could swear he could hear the voice of one of his old masters saying "Alex my boy if you truely love her then there will be no problems at least from us your teachers" Alex shakes the feeling off has something caused by the heat of the moment and proceeds after pleasuring each other to their desire Alex and Lily Black retire for the night after a replacement of the bed sheet after all they do have some respect for the place even if there isn't anyone looking after it anymore.



Atop the Challenger II tank, outside the abandoned Saniwa Shrine, Karuisuwa, Outside World, Day 2, 12.14 AM (Past midnight)

"Fuckin' stop this tank already", Zei said and got out, his group following after him.

He noticed the 2 unknown people talking about a Diclonius and send them a message, via Telepath. "...not gonna catch her. She's gonna kill you.", he said to them.

Then Flandre tugged his sleeves, "...Zei-niisan?", she asked.

"Hm? What is it?", Zei answered. "...who are they?", she pointed towards the group that was following the tank.

"I don-- ..is that? KOJI! Where the hell have you guys been?", he asked.

Zei knocked on the tank, "OI. Everyone, look who caught up with us at last!", he said.

He sighed and finished the attention and decided to walk into the shrine.

Flandre noticed Shizuha and Reisen were gone to meet Koji's group but didn't care and followed him in.

Abandoned Saniwa Shrine, Day 2, 12.10 AM (past midnight)

As everyone was preparing themselves for sleep, Gpop decided to go out to the edge of the small lake nearby. He sat down and gazed at the empty and calm lake.

"What are you doing here?" said a voice from behind.

"UWAAH!" Gpop jumped up and quickly turned around to see Koishi and Satori who were standing behind him. She must've used her subconscious barrier to sneak out unnoticed once again.

"Well I'm just haging out here...need to relax a bit after all that, and I don't plan on resting in that shrine with everyone else jammed in there." Gpop replied properly. "But it'll be nice to have some company here with you girls. Here, have a seat"

The two sisters sat beside Gpop, with him at the far right, Koishi sitting at the center close to Gpop, and Satori beside Koishi.

The three of the continued to mindlessly gaze at the lake. As they were doing so, Koishi decided to hug Gpop's arm as he leaned back.

Then Gpop remembered, "Hey, Satori, before we all left...why didn't you tell us anything before? The border was on the verge of collapsing, yet you still were acting so casually."

Then Satori sighed, "Well the thing is that I didn't want you two to get involved in such things. After that Suwako incident, I was worried that one day you and Koishi would do something just as reckless, which could lead to dire consequences. If you guys were to ever figure out what was going on, you two would immediately try to help out in whatever situation was up there. I wanted to keep you two safe, because if I ever mentioned the border, you two would just be eager to help out. I can't say no to Koishi, because she's my only sister. I want her to be the happiest girl out there. That's why I allowed her to marry you. I saw that you were the one for her.

"But when you two wanted to go up to the surface, I knew it was almost time, so I decided to let you two go that time. I figured that you two would find out sooner or later, but I wanted you two to remain oblivous to it until it was time to leave. Of course, as I thought, you managed to do so yourself, and still managed to get yourselves into the fight.

"Right now I'm going to apologize for my actions, but I hope you two understand." Satori finally finished.

"Well...I guess I could, and I'm sure Koishi is," And Gpop looks at Koishi and notices her smiling at Satori, so he can easily guess that she definitely accepted.

"I'm happy that you cared for us in the end though," Gpop added, "and I'm happy that Koishi's still here. I'm doing the best I can to manage you two with the mana I have on me. Right now this is definitely not holding me down. I still feel like I have as much energy as before, so you two don't have to worry about me, I guess." Then he faces Koishi once again. "And as long as I have you here, I'll can never, ever be mad over something like that."

Koishi blushes at his words. Gpop signaled for a kiss with Koishi, and Koishi easily read it. They then began to lean forwards towards each other to lock their lips, as Satori watched happily from aside.

But then Gpop notices a random trumpet sound. It was playing music to fit the mood, yet it didn't seem to fit theirs. Gpop turned around before their lips could even touch, and noticed that it was Merlin from afar.

"I'll go check it out myself." Satori said. But Gpop and Koishi lost their mood to kiss each other now, and continued to gaze at the lake while Satori got up and went to check on Merlin.

"Please...don't do anything stupid...and keep her safe..." Satori muttered to herself quietly while glancing back at the two.

Satori walked to Merlin and noticed her somewhat jealous of something while playing her trumpet solo.

"...and why are you here Merlin?" Satori asked.

Merlin quickly looked up and finally noticed Satori. She jumped up in shock. "Oh m...me? Nothing...nothing at all! I'm just trying to play my trumpet for some...entertainment...yeah, that's it!" She stuttered.

"Hmm..." Satori stared at her heart. "...you...seem to take a great liking into Gpop, don't you? And you're playing your trumpet to fit the mood, and hope that Gpop...would notice?"

"N...NO! IT'S NOT LIKE THAT! I'M JUST PLAYING MY TRUMPET! THAT'S ALL!" Merlin exclaimed.

"You can't lie to me or yourself. I can read your mind. Well...I actually read your heart, and all your heart desires is Gpop. It's the only thing I sense in your heart..." Satori explained.

"W...WHAT!?" Merlin yelled in shock, "O...OKAY! I do, in fact like Gpop, okay? But it's not like I'm going to win him anyways! He has that sister of yours, and I have no chance with him whatsoever..." Satori could see tears run down her cheeks as her voice trailed off.

"Well, to be honest I don't know how I would feel if Gpop cheated on my sister for you, but I'm pretty sure that if you tried to be friends with him, he'll gladly accept."

"R...really?" Merlin blushed a bit. "Well, I guess being friends are good enough. It's not that I have that big of a grudge against her."

"It's alright." Then Satori grabbed the trumpet, "but please, for the sake of everyone else, don't play this too much right now. We're trying to escape from those guys in black, and your trumpet will only attract more attention from them, and not the good kind."

"Al...alright I will." Then Satori returned the trumpet back to her. "I guess I'll go sleep now. I think you three should as well."

The two of them stared at Gpop and Koishi from a distance. Satori then said, "I guess they'll be fine there. Let them be."

Then the two of them walked back to the shrine.


Main Hall, Abandoned Saniwa Shrine, Day 2, 12.20 AM (past midnight)

Silence.

Everyone had collapsed onto the dusty tatami floor in the main hall of the shrine. Sheer exhaustion had finally taken its toll on the group. It had even overpowered their need to eat. Food and exploration would have to wait until tomorrow, unfortunately.

Mitaka felt like he was on the verge of death. The contracts were sickeningly draining. But sleep wouldn't come to him, even as he lay against a pile of rucksacks in the corner with the rest of team FUBAR nestled close to him to keep up the mana linkage. Perhaps it was the pain from the excessive mana drainage. Or perhaps it was just the raging thoughts in his head.

The other groups had clustered together in different corners of the room, gathered around their 'leaders' for mana support. The room was thankfully quite large. The ceiling was high up and vaulted with many crisscrossing ornate wooden beams, creating many dark shadowy corners. In the haze of his exhaustion Mitaka would continuously imagine he saw things moving within them.

"....can't sleep either, huh?" a whisper came out of the gloaming darkness. It was Kojiro.

"...no..." Mitaka replied. "You?"

"We forgot to post a sentry rota." Kojiro shrugged. "So I'm just sitting here, keeping my eyes and ears open."

"The tank's proximity sensors are active." Another voice came from within the gloom. It was ThirtyFour. "No need to worry about intruders."

"And yet you're still awake yourself." This time it was Pichu's voice. "The one who should be feeling the safest is also wide awake."

"....nah, just....that we're here....and..." ThirtyFour began. "I dunno...where do we go from here?"

"...." Mitaka could sense that a good few of the other outsiders were awake and were worrying the same thing. The Gensokyo refugees, still unnacustomed to the low mana environment, slept on from the sheer exhaustion.

Mitaka himself was more concerned with his mana supply. How could Reimu, Marisa, Alice, Suika, and Ruukoto continue functioning on such low mana reserves? They are at constant risk from dying at any moment should his supply fail completely. He would have to increase his own mana supply somehow. Perhaps....

Yes, he'll have to ask Kojiros, Zei, Taihou, Alex, and Pichu to help him train to overcome his weakness. Otherwise, he'll have to find some way to start training on his own. Somehow, he must become stronger, for them, and for himself.

"Perhaps we can start thinking about what we should do from here on out?" Sumire suggested.

"Obviously, we have to retake Gensokyo's mana supply from whoever stole it." Zei said.

"And where do we start?" Taihou asked. "It's good to keep that as a long term goal, but we don't have any leads."

"There's just Kikuri." Jeremy said.

"Great, someone high up in the government." Myon said. "Shall we go drop by her office tomorrow? You know, stroll in and say 'oh, hi, Kikuri, how are you today? By the way, could you please give us back our mana'?"

"We dont' even know if she IS our Kikuri. Even if she is, how do we know if she was the one who stole the mana supply?" Hiroko pointed out.

"She's beyond our reach." McWallace said, simply. "And if what happened tonight was any indication, they have an entire army of their own."

"And we have....?" Zei began.

"A tank." ThirtyFour shrugged. "And a large group of kids now weaker than your average human being."

"Wow, that's quite an arsenal, huh?" Gpop said. "Sure, we can just stroll into Mordor."

"We'll have to strenghthen ourselves first, I think. Stabilize our mana links and increase our own mana supplies." Mitaka said. "At least, for me, that'd be my first priority. Otherwise there's no way my team can survive."

"I suggest we lay low for a while." Hiroko said. "Recover and build up our strength."

"But where?" ThirtyFour asked. "You have a home nearby?"

"...." Silence fell again. The immediate problem rose up before them. Where would they go?

"We can stay here." Mitaka suggested. "It's an abandoned shrine. We can stay here before moving on..."

"....where?" Jeremy began. "Move on where?"

"...." Everyone sighed. The prospects looked bleak for the group, with nowhere to go, nowhere to turn, and their mission's goal seemingly too high to grasp.

"Rest will do us good for now." Mitaka finally sighed. "Let's sleep. Tomorrow we'll find ourselves something to eat and take time to recover. Then we'll think of a plan."

This, everyone agreed, looked like a plan. And with that everyone turned back to refocus their attention on catching elusive sleep.

Main Hall, Abandoned Saniwa Shrine, Day 2, 12.30 AM (past midnight)

Pretty much everyone had fallen asleep by now. Hiroko laid on the floor, thinking about what all of them should do next.

After resting, the most pressing matter would be of sustenance. The town they were in was pretty backwards by modern standards, but at least there were some shops open. She just wondered if there was a bank outlet or an ATM or something, there was still some money in her bank account, and she had no money on her person. She wanted to check the amount in her account, but Iku and Parsee had already fallen soundly asleep, and there was a risk the mana channel between her and the two would break.

Then there was mana. She was supporting only two, but she felt a constant burden. She shuddered to think how Mitaka must be feeling right now. Obviously, they needed to increase the amount of mana they produced and had, but how?

There was also the business about Kikuri and the masked men that had pursued them earlier in the day. There were many questions, such as why they were being chased and if this Kikuri had any relations to Gensokyo's Kikuri, but there were little answers. She supposed they would find out in time.

And that voice in her head back when she was fighting the swarm of creatures in Gensokyo. It appeared to be benign, and by now she had learnt to treat any unknown factor with caution. What's this psi the voice was talking about? Was it for psionic powers? Surely not, although she had gone through a large portion of her life with a strong sense of deja vu.

Argh! All this thinking isn't going to do anything! I'm better off going to sleep. Hiroko thought, infuriated, and she went to a fitful sleep.


Main Hall, Abandoned Saniwa Shrine, Day 2, 03.40 AM (past midnight)


Thirtyfour was fast asleep. His snoring sounded like winding up a sled engine that had got a little too much fuel from a primer.

A newspaper flew over the shrine gate along the gusty winds, ending up inside the shrine. The air flowing inside the corridor carries it to Thirtyfour's face.

Thirtyfour wakes up. His haymaker pounds empty air, ending up sinking through the floor few inches.

"YEEOOOWCHH!", he screams, still eyes closed.

Thirtyfour opens his eyes, pulls out his fist, covered in small, dusty wooden splinters and blood. He starts picking up some of the splinters, going "OW!" every time one splinter is pulled out of the skin.

Thirtyfour gets off his sleeping bag, and hopes that he didn't wake up anybody. He then walks out of the shrine, towards the tank glittering in moonlight near the shrine gate. IR sensors identify him, letting him inside the tank.

Thirtyfour treats his wounds, and then leans back in commander's position.

"Why can't I just sleep here? It's not like anybody is interested piloting this tank, even if, there's alarms...", he talks to himself.

Thirtyfour thinks again and grabs the reserved machine gun, if the coaxial one breaks. And straps two clips into his belt. He walks back to the corridor, hides the machine gun under a table, and goes back to sleep.

Day two 2:45 AM Heavenly Dragon's Dojo[/b]

Alex woke to the what he swore was his most liked sensei voice saying "watch out"

Alex leaps out of bed with lily black on his side to find someone smashing down on it a martial art skill which snaps it in two

"MOUNTAIN SPLITTING FISSURE WAVE FIST"

"i've know that move..." Alex thinks to himself after setting down Lily Black to face his aggressier

Lily black woke up to Alex suddenly yanking her to avoid sharing the fate of the bed they were sleeping on "Alex whats going on?"

"WHO ARE YOU WHY ARE YOU ATTACKING US" Alex Shouts toward him

"Now now Alex you vanish for years and this is how you treat your dear *brother* Yagi"

Alex suddenly remembered why the attack was familiar to him it was Yagi one his old training friends from ages ago who was trained along side him by the masters of the dojo

"Yagi what are you doing attacking me and my girlfriend"

"Sorry *brother* but my new master wants your new friends"

Alex didn't like what that ment but needed to see if he could get more out of him

"what happened here why is this dojo abandoned?" alex demanded while getting in a stance he hoped Yagi hasn't done anything to Daiyousei or 3 fairys under his care...especially anything worth killing him over potental enemy or not the fact remain he grew up with the man and isn't really wanting to kill him

"Our old senseis are dead...*I Have* killed them...and any one still loyal to them that didn't chicken out and ran away to prove that they were wrong to picked you over me for the next in line to get the the training to become a master of the dojo i've also stolen the Scrolls for doing so and they are now in the hands of my new master."

"WHAT" Shouted Alex staring back at his former friend

"WHY" shouted Lily Black

"I was always was jealous of why my old masters would pick someone who own birth parents who abandoned him over myself a person who decended from generations apon generations of martial artists someone who greatness sould by bloodright sould exceed all others oh and by the way don't worry i haven't touched your other friends or brought anyone else along when my master said that you were back in this world i told my master i would take care of it personally and that i had a clue were you'll end up my guess you would be here was right, my only bone to pick is with you fight me Alex let me prove that the senseis were wrong in there choice"

Alex didn't like this one of his old outside world best friends has clearly been corrupted by the forces that destroyed gensokyo and must had a hand in making him do this horrendous acts.

"Yagi i don't know what made you snap and help that person but that fiend seeks only to destory or enslave i can't let you help that person no more" Alex had a aura around him

"i don't care what happeneds to the realms my master the power to be gained is something awesome Power to right all the wrongs of the worlds now taste my fist enchanced by my new master." Yagi was also powering up and had a similar but darkish reddish black aura around him then launchs into attack "HELL RENDING KILLER KICK" Yagi shouts launching into the air flat heel first

Alex countered with a attack of his own shouting "HEAVENS SAVING RISING DRAGON KICK" doing a similar flat heel kick

"ALEX" Lily shouts and from the door Daiyousei and the 3 fairys were watching "don't lose to him" shouted Star Sappfire "go alex" cheered Luna child "we belive in you" chanted Sunny Milk "Go alex protect the honor of your old masters stop him." Daiyousei thought to herself

"THIS IS IT ALEX" shouted Yagi

"We see" retorted Alex has he and Yagi intersect with their kicks and then land feet first

a few moments pass then alex seems to bow down in pain "ugh" coughing up a little blood

"ALEX!!" says Lily black the other fairys just gasp Daiyousei and the 3 fairys are now behind lily Black

Yagi turns around "haha see i told..you uuuuuuuuuuugh ahhhhhhhhhh" suddenly a cut appears cross his chest that leaks blood and he goes down on his ass

"ha..no the senseis were right i was always the strongest now stop this before i have to kill you" Alex  said to his former friend while getting up gasping he has a like shaped but smaller sized cut on his own chest.

"Curse you...alex i'll retreat for now and leave you alone for now but next time the results WILL be diffrent this isn't over yet." Yagi retreats out of the room and the dojo

"Damn you Alex i'll get you yet this isn't over by a long shot i will get my revenge on you." he thinks while leaving the dojo

back in the dojo

"Alex... are you ok" Lily Black say looking for anything to tend his wound

Alex responds "yes..and so will he we both missed our vital spots he missed them by mistake i did so on purpose"

Daiyousei responds with "who was that guy and how does he know you?"

"Yeah tell us more" say the 3 fairys in unison

I too would like to know more about him" says lily black who returns with some Gauze and medical tape

Alex responds with "His name is Yagi he was a fellow student while i trained here at the Heavenly dragons dojo being adopted with no idea of what my real family is i though of him like a blood brother to me we trained together under our senseis mostly under the one who found and raised me like his son Master Ryen the one who would give me all the mental and spirit training but Yagi had problems has a student mostly in he thinks that any tactic is ok if it wins you a fight which bothered our senseis."

Alex goes into a flashback of his training days and to a training battle vs Yagi while Master Ryen was watching being the match for choosing who will later go into a tournyment against other dojos

"BEGIN" said Ryen

YAAAAAAAAAAH the young alex and Yagi launch toward each other and start battling when suddenly Yagi plays dirty and spits at Alex's face causing him to lower his guard while alex is momentarly down on his guard Yagi Lays into him but before he could do the mock finishing blow Ryen stops him

"YAGI you are disqualifyed for cheating for that i saw the whole thing we can't not have someone who stoops to such low tactics." the old master says

"Bullshit anyone knows that in a real fight anything goes some bastards from the start won't play fair i don't see any reason why i must *play fair*." the young Yagi snaps back

"That is exactly why i'm disqualifying you there is more to combat that just winning." Ryen replys

"bah whatever old man i hope you don't regret your choice." Yagi replys and then walks off

"Oh Alex i sometimes don't know what do to with him at times he almost has talented as you but can't seem to get the grasp of the true art of fighting any case are you ok my boy" Ryen says to Alex

Alex has gotten up from the beatdown and seems to be ok if a bit battered looking "yeah he would be such a contender if he would just get over that notion that you always have to win a fight master and yes master i'm fine"

Ryen then stares at the young Alex "be wary of him if he doesn't turn away from his current path then i fear he will cause you a great deal of pain one day"

as the flashback ends those last words of the flashback from his adoptive father and master begin to sink in

"Yagi what have you gotten yourself into why have you done this?" he thinks to himself

"Girls its not safe to be here anymore our enemy has gotten wind of our flight to this world we will leave this place come daybreak before they comeback with something i can't protect you all against,
we will spend the rest of the night here then will gather what we can and head into town as fast as we can."

"ok" says the fairys


meanwhile somewere else...

Yagi is seen bandaged across his chest bowing down to a figure sitting in a chair that looks more like a elaberate throne "i'm sorry my master Alex proved to be a bit more stronger of a adversary than i was expecting"

the voice says "Don't worry about it they all proven to be more harder to stamp out than i was expecting myself but i've already located some of the others from Gensokyo"

Yagi responds "shall i assist them in capturing them?"

the voice replys with a bit of a giggle "No need get your rest Yagi you've done enough of a job in helping locate more of the suvivors of gensokyo"

Yagi replys with "Very well then i shall take my leave then master"

Yagi leaves the room

the figure just giggles "i'll have so much fun stamping out your guys hope hahahahahahHAHAHAHAHAHA" the laugh echos across the abode of the fiend


Day 2, 4:00 AM, The inner room of the shop TOURIST HELPERS.[/b]

"I thought that I'm the only one who sense that," said Lily White.

"Don't forget I once have a link with Satori." Amarillo replied.

At around 30 minutes ago, they both sense that Satori, together with some other ex-Gensokyo resident and their human friends are in grave danger, it seems now that they have get out of it. However the fact that danger lingers from the ruins of destruction adds up the-- if in Rainbow Spark's words --"Difficulty of the mission".

"I have made preparations on that, however I didn't realize that I really need it." Amarillo reached for her fishing rod.

"I have told you about the lightspear of Fairy Phoenix's right?"

"It's a cool weapon, indeed."

"Well, she left that weapon to me, and I have Nitori to fuse the weapon into two lightsabers and hide in my Fishing Rod." Amarillo take off the top and bottom of the fishing rod and reveal two metal stick tied against each other, she undo the tie and held both stick in both hands.

"Now just get a little far away from me."

After the fairy moved to a safe distance, Amarillo poses and ignited the both lightsabers.

"Lightsaber Duel, Form I : The Determination form!" As she calls out the form name she pose both her hands forward, "There is nothing a brave heart cannot cut! (勇气为刃，无坚不摧！)"

"Then... Form II: The Contention Form!!", she reposes by rotating the lightsaber for a perfect circle turn, having the blade towards the ground, then she turned off the one on the left hand and place it on her belt. Lastly, she lower her body and ready to guard."The noble fighter's mind strengthen his blade!（儒德为刃，无招可断！）"

"Wait, isn't that enchanting be "her" instead of "his"?"

"Well, you see, these Forms are not produced by me, but merely a standard, it's safe to say the first people who dig this out is some guy."

"... By the way, what is Form II used for? You just started your attack with guarding?"

"Actually it's for sword to sword combat, or melee combat where you must aware of other's attack pattern. It is not very stable against attacks from afar, noticeably danmaku." Amarillo explained.

"So how many forms are there?"

"According to what Mr.Spark said, there are seven forms, plus a "Form Zero" which simply means escape and live for another day. Form Zero's enchantment is "As long as mountain stays there will always be trees to cut."（青山常在，何忧无柴） which clearly have a Chinese origin."

"However, "Amarillo continued ,"I can only utilize three of the seven forms, except Form One and Form Two, the remaining one is--"

"Form V: The Perseverance Form!!" she quickly draws the lightsaber back and round both lightsabers in a big circle before her, then have one of them rise above her head and another keeping in front of her. "Balance is the rule of nature!（自然之法，万物守衡！）"

Then she draw both lightsaber back and tied them back again. "That's all I got to defend myself."

"Wow, it's cool."

"Every people who had seen a lightsaber duel will say it is," Amarillo Smiled, "However, being cut by those things, if unlucky enough, means certain death. That's why I don't prefer using it. There are more forms, however I'm not one of these "Force-Sensitives" that can preform advanced telekinesis to do things like a saber throw or a sai -- which is a very high jump."

"Force-Sensitive?"

"Both the Jedi and Sith believe that there is a power called force exists in the nature, some special people have the ability to sense and control the force, that's all I know." She seals the lightsaber back to the fishing rod. "As far as I know, this weapon comes with a force system, when in a Force-Sensitive human's hand, one can activate its transforming mechanism and turn it into a cannon. Nitori says she keep the mechanism there because she don't know how to remove that."

"It seems it goes out of my understanding... But isn't we fairies gain power from nature so maybe I can --"

"If it's in Gensokyo I would let you try it, but not now. Since we don't know how much energy -- or mana -- will cost when actually attack using that method. What if we both out of energy and fainted? That would take much time to recover."

Some noise can be heard in the room beside, it seems old Jason have awake too.

"Girls, if you are able to remember today is a Sunday, you should keep quiet because everyone needs a rest in Sundays, even the shop itself." comes Jason's voice.

"Oh, sorry if we wake you up." Lily White replied.

"I wish I can see your results of decoration, but an old man needs his rest. So you can do whatever you wish today. By the way you have only worked for one day and you have a holiday, how luckily of you two."

After realizing that the old man is making fun of a simple fact, Amarillo and Lily burst into laughs.

"For an old man like him, that line sure needs some skill to perform."Amarillo concluded.

"Seems that he won't get up until noon." Lily White said, "will our sign work?"

By "sign", she means a big area in front of the shop, it is changed to a soil ground and flowers of red and white is growing, forming the shape of a Hakurei Yin-Yang Ball.

"Every single resident of Gensokyo should notice that. Great idea for a fairy like you."

"Fairies are clever!" claimed Lily White "Excluding THAT one."

"The stronger the power, the less intelligent one would most likely to be." Amarillo pauses "by the way, for THAT fairy, you didn't sense her do you?"

"Now that you have reminds me of it... NO."

"Where could Cirno be?"

"Well, let's hope she gets out but there is some special reason that we can't sense her."

"......"

Amarillo falls in silence again.

Then she slowly said :"I'm more concerned about the other people, let's have an investigation later, to the Shrine. They maybe already escaped so there should be no one there. If there are..."

"Then?"

"Form Zero is in effect. We don't want to fight every round, it's way too dangerous. A spring cannot defend itself from threats that easily."

"I except you to say "we fight it out"."said the fairy as she put up another coat to cover her wings, it seems better because that's from one of the old clothes of Jason's granddaughter.

"Sorry, I'm not that hot-blooded, however, I promise that we both can return to Gensokyo safely. Or We may fail the promise with the others, especially your Sis."

"Yeah."

"So I'll go and make some breakfast, it's 5 AM now, the perfect time for a schoolgirl to get up."

"WHAT? So that's the life in here?"

"The outside world is not a place as good as Gensokyo, keep that in mind."

"Seems so."

As Amarillo left the room, she starts to wonder that how soon will danger be fallen on them.

Rule Zero cannot last forever.

Day two 3:45  AMHeavenly Dragons dojo


Alex has had the fairys under go a mental and spirital linking with him just to ensure when they leave the place and are truely out in a mana low area nothing bad will happen to them

"I do this to ensure that as many of you will be intact enough to help restore Gensokyo"

"is it a permanent linking" asks Daiyousei

"yes and no it will last as long has one of two things: a) as long i let it exist or B) i die before i can cancel it in which case it will cancel by itself. trust me i'll do my damn hardest to make sure b doesn't happen." Alex responds to the question


"How nice of for you to be thoughtful my dear Alex." a old man's voice says

Alex turns around to see...a ghost...of his old main master and adoptive father

"MASTER.. Ryen?" Alex says

"Yes my boy it is me and i'm glad to see you've truely become the man i'd was expecting you to become i'm truely proud of you."

"Master.. so Yagi did..." Alex

"My boy don't be so disenchanted in seeing my spirit no amount of killer oppressive force to my human body would had stopped me from wishing to see you again." Ryen's spirit replys

"Such a sweet lovely lady you picked up intresting choice indeed but you truely love and care for her well and she is indeed what i would wish for you to find in a soulmate and i wish for you two to have more happy times together please my dear look after my dear boy." Ryen spirit says while looking at Lily Black.

"Old man Ryen i wish i could hug you for your generous approval thank you and i will." Lily black responds with a tear in her eyes

"has for these little ones i know its tough to deal with such a trama losing what you've been used to for as long has you can remember but hang tough and you will persist." he says looking at Daiyousei and the 3 fairys

"Mister can you tell us more about Yagi and his new evil master plan" star Sappfire questions

"i can give you some of the details because Yagi was bragging about some of them has he killed my physcal body this fiend seeks to use various sprital energys in a bid for some kind of domination plot has to what he/she/it's after exactly i don't know the fiend had found a way to steal the very sources of mana and spritial powers from places like you girls world and objects like the our sacred scrolls that are needed to help make the next generation of masters of our arts dear Alex-San and is already enchancing some of his forces with this stolen power like Yagi the only reason Yagi lost to you alex is because his was simply too sure that he would beat you with it that he missed your vital points with his strike" Ryen says with a stern look on his ghostly face

"I wonder if this master of his is the same who voice we heard in gensokyo while it was trying to prevent our escape from it" says Lily Black

"it was" replyed the ghost of alex's master "i felt a sinister energy entering a old abandoned shrine several times not to far from here not long ago and each time it left was stronger than when it entered i got the same energy feeling off of Yagi that matched the fiend's when Yagi fought and killed me his master is one and the same."

Alex then asked "master how long ago were you.."

"I was killed by Yagi about a year before your flight back he has gotten much worse than i had hope apparently the fiend must be using his pride and envy agaist you and my choice of having you become a new master of our arts against him and convinced him to join him/her/it for a devil's deal to get revenge."

everyone lowered there heads out of the sadness of the fact Yagi's corruption

"Also Alex there is something you need to know about yourself." Ryen spirit says

"Whats that master?" says alex with a tone of wonder in his voice

"While indeed i told you about the message your birth parents left with you when i found you with as a baby there was another part of it that i didn't reveal to you."

"and that would be?" Lily asked hoping Alex wasn't really some monster that could pose a threat to everyone

"Alex...is part of a line of people who hybridize with youkais and other such spiritial beings" Ryen says

"WHAT? How much so" Alex replys

"the amount of the youkai bloodline in you is just enough to make you have massive mana and spiritial reserves but not much else everything else about you is purely massively trained human"

"well that explains why danmaku wasn't too hard to do for me when i got into gensokyo and needed to learn it and probably why these girls didn't suffer from any notable ill effects when we got here" Alex replys

"So there are some effects from it the message did warn that the youkai bloodline powers don't always manfest stead and predictably or harmlessly and infact the message says that your parents were on the run because of it perhaps the fiend was targeting your parents because of their bloodline" Ryen responded

"Anyways Alex you must use your gifts both from our training and your true bloodline heritage to help stop this fiends plot."

"Yes Sensei i will do so for gensokyo myself my true parents and you." Alex proudly replys back

"My dear boy you's grown so much i only wish i could had seen you with my human eyes i must go now my boy my job is done almost done i give you this on last bit of help your friends are scattered all about this area and the enemy is already on the move looking for them has you experinced from Yagi's attack on you, you must find your friends soon and now with that my binding to this world are cut and i must go for good farwell my boy go and make me and both of mine and your ancestors proud...t..a..ke...ca..re.." with that Ryen fades away

"So sad." says daiyousei whos sniffling back tears

the 3 fairys are crying and Lily black is sobbing at the lost of such a gentle man

"I will do so master just you wait." Alex thinks to himself glints of tears are running down his face as well

"ok girls sun is coming up soon so dry up your tears we need to get going soon." he orders.

"hold on guys we are coming." Alex says to himself

Abandoned Saniwa Shrine, Karuisuwa, Nagano Provice, 6.32 AM, Day 2

Alex and his fairy companions leave the Heavenly Dragons dojo and proceed to a abandoned shrine not far from it the walk wasn't mostly uneventful other than having to slip by some of the same search net the others were avoiding they have entered the same stretch of outlining city the others have going to the abandoned shrine

"that was close i thought for sure they would get us man for as useless your powers were for getting away with pranks in gensokyo they sure are helpful for getting away from those men looking for us." Alex comments to the 3 fairys

"no sweat but we really need to find a place to crash soon its too dangerous to risk camping out in the open with those men about" says Star sappfire who appears to be the leader of the 3 fairys

"Alex look" Lily says pointing to a knocked over slightly fried "DO NOT ENTER abandon building" sign and some treadmarks

"i wonder say put girls just for a moment" Alex goes over to the building and focuses into the spirit and ki detecting skill he tryed earlyer at the dojo highest point this time however..

"hehehe i knew you guys would make it" Alex grins has he unfocuses

Alex singles to the fairys to follow and knocks on the side waiting for a reply hoping someone friendly would come out and when Koishi stuck her head out he knew for sure it was them and then they entered

"glad to see you all made it man i a story for you guys to tell"


Abandoned Saniwa Shrine, Karuisuwa, Nagano Provice, 6.45 AM, Day 2

Alex and his band of gensokyo escapees are informed of the true nature of the villain behind the acts including the destruction of gensokyo he also fills them in on what he's been through back at his old dojo.

"So let me get this straight your not fully human but have a small amount of youkai blood IN you" says Mokou.

Alex replys "yes and apparently i give off enough mana to stop my dear Lily Black and the 4 fairys under my care from suffering any ill effects other than losing their wings just by me being around them its probably also why i didn't have much of a hitch learning danmaku back in gensokyo."

"Still the news that she's now enchancing her forces with the very powers she's stealing is worrying" replys Keine

"indeed yeah yep" says the other male partners

"I'm pissed off she turned one of my former friends against me and had him kill my dojo's masters including my adoptive father just so he could get her mitts some our most sacred enchanted scrolls" Alex states out

the fairys under his cares are weeping from being reminded of Ryen's sad fate

"he was such a nice man who didn't deserve that" crys the 3 fairys they may be prank pulling fairy but they know when things go too far

Daiyousei also adds "his spirit was so sad that he couldn't live to see Alex has he is now while he was still living"

Lily Black then adds "apparently she been busy for a while apparently she was already after energys like gensokyo's long before she ended gensokyo she may already had been after Alex's birth parents because of their bloodline which made them abandon him at the dojo for his own safety not wanting him to have to live in total fear of having to run for their lives"

Alex wonders but says outloudly  "i wonder how she managed to root herself into the goverment here this makes me worry for the safety of not only the places she drained of ther mana pools but also of this world what is she planning that requires that much energy?"

Abandoned Saniwa Shrine, Karuisuwa, Nagano Provice, 6.55 AM, Day 2

Alex is still visibly upset about one of his best former outside world friends now being one of the enemy's minions

"God damn it" he cursed he then relaxed a bit knowing a cool calm collected mind is required now

"We need a plan on how to go into town without drawing too much unwanted attention" alex says

Lily Black replys with "well theres already a problem in that we can't be too far away from our partners or else.. but not all of us have what we can say is human looks or clothing like me i have a adult figure but a human child's stature thats sure to cause some eyebrows to be raised."

"And thats not even talking about those who have hair and eye colors no human are born with colors that no dye could mimic" daiyousei says pointing to her green hair and is mostly refering to Keine's silver and blue hair and the scarlet sisters red eyes.

"Some of the fairys and possablely flandre might be made passable has little children" Keine suggests

Alex says "the sortage of suitable mana support for most of the gensokyo natives has given us a rather bad lack of sortage of girls we could pass of as normal humans the only answers is the groups that have the least amount of non-passable for human girls must be the ones who get most of our needed supplys or we risk them having magic detection and apply disguse spells to our most un-passable for human girls for when we need to be out in the public eye"

"they most like are searching for people who don't look or act human enough to pass for normal" says Sakuya

Alex tenses up but relaxes when he feels presense but eases up when he can tell its some of the ones who fleed from the destruction of gensokyo and greets them "how are you guys any news to bring?" he askes the one ones coming mostly directed at Zei

[Gpop]

Ah...my part was supposed to be after the 12:20 AM, as I stated that it occurs somewhat during the time when everyone was preparing to sleep, and that I'm still outside on the lake edge with Koishi. Satori and Merlin went back with the others to catch some sleep.