Author's Notes: HI. HELLO.

Sup!

Good evening, ladies and gentlemen! This is the Etherdrone, the author of this tale and cookie eater extraordinaire! Welcome to Touhou Chronicles! A Chronicle of... things that happened in Touhou. ...Told by a guy. Or something. Yeah.

So! Welcome. This is a rather lengthy series, as you can see. I apologize if the length isn't something you are interested in. I realize people only have 24 hours a day each day, and you guys have stuff to do.

Regardless. If you are not intimidated and is wearing your "Come at me Bro" shirt, I bid you welcome to the cozy world of my own story, and I hope you have a wonderful merry time and stuff! This is the largest story I've ever written - and I hope you enjoy the shit out of it!

The format in this thing is a bit... different. Names of the one that is speaking are displayed in the front of a sentence in Italic. So if you see a name in front of a "word thing in quotes", that probably indicates that someone is speaking. Yes!

Leave a review, tell your friends and set fire to your nearby couch! Let's do this! ONWARDS, FOR GREAT JUSTICE!

Huzzah!

[Location: ?]

...I can't see anything.

My eyes are obscured by the blur of combat. It's dampening my mind. It's eating my thoughts away.

I am still conscious enough to realize I'm walking, but I don't know where I am. My head's pounding like a jackhammer... I'm not even sure if my arms are still attached to the rest of my body.

Rustle

Leaves.

My ears still work. I can listen to the sounds of a forest... My feet lands over leaves and branches, cracking them under my weight. I'm still walking properly, somehow – I'm not sure if this is a miracle, or just sheer dumb luck.

I'd say neither.

A wave of curiosity swamps over me. My feeling of time just died completely, moments that seemed like hours passed. I don't even know where I was supposed to be right now.

My body wavers. With each step I take, my body inclines forward so much I have to make extra effort to keep myself from falling. My nostrils are filled with the thickness of blood and its smell. I'm not even sure if this blood is mine. I'm not even sure if this is actually blood or not.

Rustle

I can't focus my vision. If I my eyes open, all I can see are bruises over my limbs. I can see my feet... I'm also staggering, swaying in incomprehensible angles on my own two feet. I'm not supposed to be standing.

I'm covered in the red of life.

...

My eyes close by themselves once more. Is it night? I can't tell anymore, all I can listen to is my suffocating breathing, breaking the cold air and the silence apart like a zombie. No other sounds echo around me at all, and honestly, I'm not surprised.

I am alone.

My limbs feel heavy. It feels like there are steel balls attached to my arms and feet...!

Thud

Urgh! As far... As far as I can go. This is it.

I continue to breathe as hard as I can. My ears are filled with the subtle sounds of the forest now. As my face is being caressed by the grass and leaves, I can finally let the wave of tiredness invade me completely.

I'm not even sure what is it I'm thinking right now. I'm so tired... I just want to go sleep...

...I feel really tired...

...

...

Rustle

...!

F-Footsteps?

Rustle rustle rustle

They are getting closer... Is this hope that instantly fills my chest? I want to say something... Anything! But I can't muster the strength to do it!

I can only hope this person finds me.

Find me...

Find me, please...

…

Rustle

? "Wah! What's this? It's a... It's a boy! Hey! Are you alive?"

The distinctive voice of a girl reaches my ears. I put all of my remaining strength into my eyes...

A small figure is crouching right beside me. I can only see a blur of her image... She looks like a child, yet...

"Hang on! Don't die on me! I'll bring you to a doctor right away!"

...My mind finally shuts itself dead.

[Interlude - Location: Cloud Ruler Mountains]

Oh, yes. I remember this place.

...Since when did I actually start coming to this place regularly?

I'm not sure I can specify anymore. As long as I can remember, I've been coming to this place quite often. And even after the first ten years passed, I could not forget what I even came here for in the first place.

There was no purpose. There was no reason. I simply did.

To spend a few days... Then leave. Nothing exceptional. The clouds and the scenery of the mountains called for me during these days; days spent there, just standing by the ravine.

The wind would whistle through the stone and cobble, creating a music of its own. I'd close my eyes and listen to the sounds the wind and mountains would make.

It was beautiful...

But even so, even if I loved that sound and beauty...

That was never the reason for me to go to those mountains.

[Interlude - Over]

[Location: ?]

…?

Ugh. Oh, man. M-My body does not feel numb anymore.

I can feel my limbs again. Light invades my closed eyelids, bringing the notice of life back to my body. My body is tingling... I can feel blood in my veins...!

Female Voice "Well, it seems everything is fine. Are you awake now? Can you stand?"

The voice of a woman reaches me, as I open my eyes. Or at least try to – my head's pounding so hard... I can't see anything properly yet...

Me "Groan... I-I think so..."

My head hurts so bad, but never mind that...! I bring my upper body up with a singular jerk from my hips.

Hm!

Me "Urgh!"

Argh! That hurts, damn it! ...This headache!

...Though now that I took a few seconds to breathe... I can finally get to see how badly injured I am. ...Or was.

W-What...? My body is completely ridden of its bruises, and I can move well again.

...

Except for the sharp pains in my head, but that's-

Female Voice "Well, aren't you feeling much better now!"

Oh! ...That's right, I'm not alone here at all!

T-There's a woman sitting on a chair right beside me, and she's got her arms crossed with a disappointed expression on her face, as if displaying her displeasure for reaching a goal not worth reaching. Almost as if she's been insulted, or maybe forced to undertake a task not worth her time. Or something like that, I can't tell.

Her long, braided silver hair shines in the light of the nearby window, reflecting the few lights of the sun almost like a mirror. And her red and blue dress looks more like a symbol of herself than anything else. I can also notice a few miscellaneous objects on the background and on the desk by the wall – even on the shelves. Mostly utility gadgets and... medicine.

It doesn't take a genius to recognize her as a doctor immediately.

Me "...Ah, yeah. What happened? I remember blacking out somewhere... I think it was a forest?"

Doctor "In the thicket, yes. This is aggravating... I'm not exactly sure if it was your luck that brought you here, but even if it was, you'd be fine by the end of the second day without any sort of aid. Your self-regeneration is really incredible, you know that?"

...She sounds really annoyed. And the reason is because I wasn't in any real danger?

Doctor "Still, your clothes do not share the same luck, do they? I had my assistant fix them up as well, however, so there shouldn't be a problem."

My clothes. This is the last thing I would bother thinking about right now, honestly.

I am grateful for them fixing them, though. They had no real reason to do that, at all.

Me "So I was safe... In the end, it didn't even matter how wounded I was? I-I was sure I was going to die in that... thicket, you said?"

Doctor "Yes."

Yeah, I expected her to respond with a sigh. Now that I think of it...

Me "Oh, I really should thank you for helping me and fixing my clothes, even if... If you claim it was a waste. Thank you, miss...?"

Eirin "Yagokoro Eirin. Isn't the rule for you to introduce yourself first, by the way?"

Shinki "Urgh, I'm sorry about that. I'm... Katsura Shinki. Thank you for healing me."

And she responds by furrowing her eyebrows and sighing at the same time.

Eirin "For speeding the process, you mean. Still, you shouldn't be thanking me - save it for the one that brought you here."

Oh yeah, there's that, isn't there? I finally pull my eyes off of Eirin-san and take a look around the place.

The neighboring room to this one is large enough to be considered a whole house for some people. I stand up from the bed I was in and walk out the small office-like room. She follows me with tired, stressed steps.

This Japanese-style room have a rather comfortable feeling about it. How do I put it? It's as if it'd welcome you warmly if you lived here. It is so clean and it looks so well taken care of, it brings an automatic smile to my face. The sun that's getting through the windows also add a reflection on the floor, as if it has been cleaned recently.

...? Is there someone hiding behind the door?

Sheepish Voice "Master? Master, so what about that? Is he fine, usa?"

Eirin "Speaking of the devil herself. Katsura-san?"

Oh! Indeed. This is her alright. I might have been near-death, but I remember the color of the dress... And the voice as well. Somehow, I get the feeling she is older than she looks.

Wait. Are those bunny ears attached to your head?

Rabbit Girl "Oh, he looks patched already! You really are amazing, usa!"

Eirin "He would have regenerated on his own. Some people have this power... Besides, vampirism also grants you a great boost in regeneration, doesn't it?"

…!

Rabbit Girl "V-Vampirism?"

...What a nice contrast! The Rabbit Girl looks rather shocked by it while Eirin's looking at me as if she's expecting something...

Hm. No idea if I should lie or say something else at this point. I'd think lying isn't a good idea.

Rabbit Girl "He... he's a vampire? Hahahahah! No... No way, master. He doesn't have fangs at all... Think I wouldn't notice if I carried a vampire on my back for half an hour? I can smell stuff like that!"

Eirin "Well, this is the problem... He does not have the fangs at all, but his organism clearly has vampiric traits. There is no mistake about that."

Well, it's true.

I am a vampire.

Still... I wonder how much about vampires they know, apart form probably a lot, seeing how the doctor just blurted it out without even thinking twice. Blood-sucking beasts, most of us are. But we are also not that spread... As in, 'making' vampires isn't as easy as most people think it is.

And also... I'm not...

Girl Behind the Door "He is a blue-blooded vampire. Isn't this right, Eirin?"

...!

W-Well! That girl on the back? She just said something unbelievable!

And the little rabbit just has a dumb-founded look on her face, as if she were sucker punched. Eirin-san doesn't seem to be that surprised.

Rabbit Girl "Ha... Hahaha! Not- What? Princess, are you joking again? I almost believed in your for a minute... Haha! Really, a magic-sucking vampire is something out of a legend! I mean, Really!"

And now she's saying that as if she just saw a tremendously bad commercial.

Eirin "Tewi..."

Tewi "Come on, master! This is impossible and you know it is! Listen to what she said for a second and try thinking about it!"

Shinki "So your name is Tewi? You're right to be that deep in denial about it, and I do not disagree with your point. But... It's all true."

Snap

Oh? I could hear something cracking inside her head!

Interesting. Let's see how her reaction to this is.

Tewi "USA! Prove it to me then! You don't have fangs! How is that possible?"

Well, they are usually hidden unless I make then pop out.

Shinki "Like this?"

So I open my mouth and do my thing. That is, I force my fangs to show. To grow.

Shinki "See?"

And there they are. Somehow, the horror in her face is just brilliantly fun to look at.

Tewi "It's..."

She's gasping on her words like she's drowning on her own saliva.

Tewi "It's inverted! The fangs are upside-down!"

...Yep.

My fangs do not grow on the upper row of my teeth, as most vampires are known for.

Mine grow on my lower teeth line instead. I'm not sure of all the biology, magic or what-not that comes from all of this, but it is said that it is like this because our teeth have their 'simbolic purpose'.

While the upper teeth suck from the body, taking away your blood to add to our own...

A lower teeth will suck from the spirit instead. Get it? Symbolism. Hurrah.

Eirin "So it IS true...! It's not my first time seeing this, but I'll say, it's always interesting when I do!"

Tewi "M-Master! This is... So it's true! You are a vampire for real, usa!"

Hum. If she talks more excitedly than this, it would probably be squealing, wouldn't it?

Shinki "And for all you might complain and yell at me for it, you saved this vampire's life. Willingly or not, knowingly or not... I'm not sure what you make of this yet, but..."

...Yeah. I would probably have another one of those really bad dreams. Those I don't want to have ever again.

Repeating that cursed scene over and over...

If I had been dreaming in the forest... It would definitely happen. I was saved in more ways than one, if only to withstand my own sanity.

Shinki "Thank you. I owe you a debt I can never repay."

I speak the truth. And I can't make heads or tails of her constant change of expressions. It's amusing to watch, really.

Eirin "Well then... I guess that's how it is? Though as indebted to us as you claim you are, If you want to start repaying such a debt, Shinki-san, you can start right now. How about you run me an errand?"

Well, it seems Eirin-san likes to talk business.

Eirin "I know you must still be tired, and that there is daylight outside, but your particular species are more resistant to sunlight than normal. You also healed quite effectively, despite the gravity of your wounds, and I'm also sending Tewi with you. There should be no problem."

Making me run an errand as soon as I wake up, walk and talk? I understand where she's coming from, but...

Sigh

Very well. I can't fault her for being this dismissive, considering her irritation.

Eirin "Despite me being in need of medical supplies right now... I had to use the few herbs and weeds I had in my disposal to heal your wounds. You can understand that I have very little to use on an actual patient, right?"

...Yeah. I thought so.

Eirin "This is not rocket science – all I would like you to do is to go to the bamboo thicket and help Tewi collect the herbs and weeds I need to resupply my stock. Can you do this for me?"

Picking flowers in the woods? Sounds more than just easy enough.

Shinki "Of course! I mean, you did use your supplies on someone you claim didn't need help at all. So the least this someone can do is repay for that kindness as well as he can."

Tewi "Well, and why are you sending me, too? What about Reisen?"

Eirin "YOU brought him here, Earth Rabbit. Resultant of indirect actions performed by your very own imply that said result is your own responsibility as well. Don't put Udonge in the middle of it."

Snap

Oh, there goes that sound again.

Tewi "Usa...! Fine, I'll go. Just don't put some weird medicine in my things while I'm gone! I'll bring enough for you. Is that OK?"

Eirin "Please do, Tewi. You know how much I need, don't you?"

Well, she just gave Eirin a sharp, annoyed look!

Tewi "Your name is Shinki-san, right? Come... You can get lost easily enough in the thicket if you don't know where you're going, usa."

I just hope it's not hard to find the herbs she need...

It seems tiredness does not follow the same healing rhythm as the body does.

[Location: Bamboo Thicket]

Well, I would like to remark a few things before I set my mind straight into what I'm doing right now.

First, this girl's ears are real. Even though they don't quite look like it.

Second, they are all youkai. Not only Tewi herself, but Eirin, and probably that black-haired girl that was hiding from me also is, so I most probably fell in a youkai-dominated bamboo thicket of some description. I wasn't aware there was a place like this in the Himalayas, but oh well.

Third, she wasn't kidding when she said one can get lost in here if you don't know your way. I feel like we've been walking in circles for awhile, but clearly it's not the case.

And fourth... It IS hard to find these herbs!

Shinki "Come on...! How hard is it to find these things?"

Tewi "Don't worry, you're only doing this one time, for the first time."

Ouch. I am sorry I said anything.

Tewi "Anyways, are you OK? I saw firsthand how badly hurt you were just last night, and now you're here doing this? It's almost noon now, you know."

Shinki "I'm tired, that's true. But after all that's happened, I don't care. So I'll just do what I can. And the sun doesn't really affect me like that. I'm just not as strong when I'm under its light."

She doesn't sound too convinced and I don't blame her at this point.

I'd rather keep my mind out of things for now... I really don't want to-

Tewi "Don't push yourself too hard. I don't want to drag you back to the Eientei so master can heal you again and then scold me for making her waste more herbs on you."

That's awfully realistic, I can tell.

Still, it'll take more hours than it should normally take if we cover so little ground like this. Seriously, this is beyond ridiculous.

Shinki "Say, shouldn't we spread out a little bit more? I already know what herbs I need to get, and in case I get lost I can still call for you, can't I?"

Tewi "Usa~... I don't want to do things that may cause great annoyance on me. But you are right... We can cover more ground that way."

I nod in agreement.

Tewi "Fine then. Go that way and remember not to go where it's too green. If you don't know where you are, just... Well... Scream?"

Shinki "Hahah! Of course."

I'll also not try to wander off too much. I don't feel like losing myself on the Himalayas, specially when it's a youkai-filled place. It makes me feel haunted and unsafe.

...Thinking about it, I haven't felt the presence of Goldie since I was healed... Maybe it's just my imagination?

Rustle

Rustle

Well, this is good news! I got a few more of those flowers. I guess covering more ground truly was worth it, or maybe Tewi was just unlucky? Perhaps she's got he rest we need?

Let's go back to where she is then. I guess I remember the way.

...I guess I remember the way, I said.

Well, this path is linear enough. The one I took, anyway. If I go this way...

Rustle

Hmm.

Wait, isn't this slightly different? I don't remember this patch of stalks...

...Oh, boy.

A-Are you serious? I don't even...

Rustle

Damn it! I'm totally lost!

Back where I was...! To the left, even to the right! It's all different! Even that girl wasn't there before!

...Wait, what?

There's a girl standing on the thicket right there, looking at the patches of grass and sprouts. She has rabbit ears, just like Tewi's. Except hers are longer, but less fluffy. I guess that's the word I'm looking for.

Her hair is shining to the light of the sun. It is a light color... Almost silver. It hardly looks like something earthen... But there's no point in even saying that, Youkai are usually something different anyway.

But this is quite unusual-looking, even for a youkai. Not that's saying a lot, but still.

Rabbit Girl "...! Ah!"

And she finally noticed me.

She jumped back, surprised. Well, I'd be, too, if I found a total stranger in these woods wandering aimlessly around. ...And it's also not like you shouldn't keep your eyes open when walking in a territory like this, I'd guess, but really, that's not the point.

She has red eyes. ...Big, round red eyes. Is this a rabbit thing? I never really understood that.

Thump

Uh. She doesn't have to look that weirded out by my presence. I mean, it's... not like I...

It's not like I'm here to...

...

What was I thinking again? Doing stuff? I forget. ...Well, if I forgot, I'm pretty sure it wasn't important.

Plus, those butterflies have tiger stripes on them.

I never saw butterflies with tiger stripes before. With sunglasses. Mohawk sunglasses...! Holy crap, that is awesome!

It's quite intriguing, isn't it? Usually, when donuts have jelly on them, your computer gets slower and the butter side of your bread will always land on the ground.

It's like they enjoy tormenting us with such trivia!

And you know what the funny part is? They said marshmallows can't be stashed this way! It's preposterous! It's just ridiculously overcomplicated for no damn reason! NO REASON!

And what was that? The monkeys are flipping me off! They flipped me the birdie! It's not ending this way, no sir it's not!

...Let me just take this burden off my back!

Thud

Don't run away from me, doggie! I swear to god, this isn't gonna hurt at all! I'm just giving you a massage worthy of a five-stars restaurant!

Just like Mario, but with less mushrooms!

As the earth call for you, you dodge the water below you!
Wait, what am I talking about...?

What follows your path is a stray array of light and shadow that does not correspond to your status quot!
This doesn't make any sense!

...!

Wait, what?

...

What the fuck just happened?

[Location: Forest]

W-Where am I? What happened? I was in the thicket just a second ago! Right? Right when I saw this rabbit girl...

...

Shinki "Rabbit girl...?"

Oh yeah! What was that all about, was I having an hallucination? I completely lost control! What the hell was that all about? I don't remember eating anything to cause this much insanity on me!

Unless... it was that girl that did it?

I saw it for a split second. Her eyes DID glow red.

...Is it possible she can make people go mad when they look into her eyes? Because that's exactly what happened to me, and now I'm... In another forest of some description.

Shinki "Great."

What do I do now?

It makes absolutely no sense in staying here. I have to find my way to the thicket and help Tewi with her job...

The job! Oh, no!

Shinki "Shit! The pack! Where is my herb-filled pack?"

I... I dropped it when I was going nuts? Oh, god damn it!

Shinki "This is bad... I have to find my way through..."

Through...

...

That's awkward. What the hell is this? This entire forest... what the hell is up with it? I have a feeling I'm inside someone's stomach. Is this entire place area youkai territory, after all?

I'd guess, considering I was in that youkai-infested mansion just a few moments ago. Plus, I feel the distinctive smell of magic in this air. Humans don't live in a place like this... they'd rather live in a place where they can keep an eye out for themselves. This isn't one of those places at all.

Shinki "Is this forest enchanted? Or is it protecting itself?"

...Perhaps both. I feel like I am not welcome here.

I need to move away from here. I need to go back to the mansion, and I need to do it now. I don't know why, but staying in a single place for too long in this forest does not sound exactly the best idea ever. At all.

Well, this is pointless.

I walk, and walk, and walk... I try to find my way back... And this place looks the same no matter where I go.

Maybe the enchantment of this forest is to make you lose your way on purpose? Or maybe you simply need magical endurance for the forest to guide you properly?

Well, I'm no mage. Would be rather useful if I were, but that's beside the point. In any case, this is greatly annoying. I'm not gonna stand for this crap, so I'm digging my way through.

...I'm sorry, little magic beings of the woods.

Shinki "Hum!"

I pop my fangs out. Now that I can use my vampiric abilities, I can start eating this magic.

My pores are open. My fangs are brimming... I can feel the magic in the air. I can feel it shaking around me.

I move mine around my own body and order it to burn.

Siphon all around me.

Implode!

Flash

...

Hm! It's working. My body is filled with power, now. Eating the magic around me and burning it.

I can feel that my presence is hurting the trees, now. I don't want to piss the youkai off, so I'll walk and dig my way through the woods.

…

…

Hey, this is new. The things around me are looking different for a change.

It's so good to have the feeling of accomplishment for once! Well, let's see if I can find my way to the thicket.

...To the mansion. To the backpack I was carrying, filled with herbs.

...

Which way was that again?

Shinki "...Urgh! Are you serious? I have no idea where I'm going after all!"

I always thought about it, but now I'm kind of certain of this... Am I stupid? This is the perfect moment to look at my soul and agree to the fact I'm a total dumbass!

...Whatever! I need to find my way around here, so I'll just stop draining magic from the air...

Female Voice "Well, I guess I saw everything I wanted to see... Time to make my presence known!"

WHOA!

By the unholy name of Seaking, where did she just come from?

Loudmouthed Girl "It seems you are quite lost in a troublesome place, Mr. rare breed vampire! My, I wonder what you are doing in a place like this."

Uuh... I'm not sure how to come across this, but a girl that's talking with a tone that makes her sound ultra-confident just popped out of the complete blue, landing before me with a gust of wind!

Loudmouthed Girl "Well, it seems I've reached the jackpot this time! Lucky, me!"

Shinki "...Yeah. Nice to meet you too, madam. I'm glad to see people like to pop out of nowhere in this place and not even tell you what is up before they do things to you."

Aya "Ahahah! Of course, of course. I didn't want to startle Gensokyo's newest addition, would I? Allow me to introduce myself: I am Shameimaru Aya, the head of the Bunbunmaru Newspaper! I know a little bit about you already, Mr. Katsura Shinki-san!"

...Gensokyo?

I never heard of a place called Gensokyo before.

Shinki "Right. And how would Shameimaru-san from Bunbunmaru know about my name if I never met her before?"

Aya "Nothing can stand between the ultimate reporter and her target! Not even the Eientei, filled with those pesky little rabbits. Excellent with stew, they go. Truth be told."

...Uh huh.

Why is her mere presence slightly annoying?

Actually... Annoying isn't the word I'm looking for.

Shinki "So you're saying you followed me here. You mentioned you run a newspaper? And now to interview me, or something?"

Aya "Well, I don't really run it. Who does it is Lord Tenma. We of Tengu mountain have pride in having a great leader and stuff, if you know what I mean."

Tengu mountain?

Aya "So, without further ado let's start with the interview! The last record of the Hakurei Border being ripped open, even for just a few seconds, was 60 years after its creation! So, its happening yesterday - it was your doing, wasn't it?"

...Border? Wait a second...

Shinki "Wait. This is confusing. What's going on? You mean I am in some sort of boundary?"

Aya "When the sky shook that hard, I thought the buildings on Tengu Village would fall apart! I saw a great flash of light, and then I could see the outside world, as the boundary was slashed in half... What have you to say about this?"

Outside world! Wait a minute, this isn't...

Shinki "What do you mean by outside? Where is this place?"

Aya "Yukarin didn't have much to say about it, since she claims the barrier itself suffered nigh negligible damage, even though it was ripped in half! Well, it DID last only for a couple minutes, so..."

Shinki "Answer my question! Boundary? Gensokyo? Did I just fall into a random lair in the middle of nowhere?"

Aya "Eirin claimed that you are a rare specimen of vampire! One that sucks magic instead of blood... Do you intend to use this for something? What is your plot?"

...Grah, what the hell! She isn't listening to me at all and she is saying whatever the hell she wants!

Suspicious! Yes, that's the word I was looking for!

I don't want to have anything to do with this person, I have no use talking to someone that won't listen to me!

Shinki "Sure, whatever you say. I don't have time for this, so I'll go somewhere else. I can't help you."

I give my back to the girl - who's still talking whatever she wants – and start walking somewhere. ANYWHERE. ...Never had too much luck with people like this.

Aya "Hey, you shouldn't give your back to people like that when they are talking to you!"

...

...! WHAT?

WHAT?

B-But...! She was back there just now!

I quickly turn my head and no, she is not back there indeed!

And now she's... gone? Wait, am I still seeing things, or...

Aya "Boo."

Shinki "WAH!"

Y-Y-You gotta be kidding me! There she is again, from behind!

Shinki "W-What... How can you...!"

Aya "Don't take me for some lowly Tengu reporter like Hatate. Behold, Shinki-san, as before you lies the fastest in all of Gensokyo, Shameimaru Aya!"

...

Aya "So I will pester you for a whole year if I must, without giving you a single break, until you spill all your beans! This is too big of a scoop! And I'm not letting you go at all! My questions! Answer them! For great news flash justice!"

...Crap.

Crap crap crap crap!

This is not fun! This is not fun, not fair, and definitely not good to my pressure! The last thing I need right now is someone as stressing as this person latched onto me like some sort of blood-fly, spreading nonsense like some sort of sickness!

Shinki "Tch!"

I'm gonna run for it! If this forest's truly enchanted, then we're gonna lose our way sooner or later! I don't want you near me, woman!

Dash

Aya "Tsc. What a troublesome person...!"

You can think whatever you want, I don't care!

Dash

Dash

Left, right, left again, straight ahead... ...Somehow I get the feeling I'm going where I want to go instead of being guided somewhere.

Is this forest not going to help me at all? COME ON!

Aya "Hey! It's no use running from the fastest in Gensokyo. Have you no brains in your head?"

Tch! She keeps taunting me! Leisurely flying by me without even paying attention to where she is going! This is ridiculous!

Dash

Something tells me I should improve my speed better if I make her go away somehow! I'm not going to last for too long if I just keep running, I'm still not in top shape!

Throb

Urgh! And my headache doesn't help me, either! Right... I can't keep on running like this. Or more like, I should, but in a completely different direction!

Let's play some mind games, Miss Tengu!

I kick the ground in front of me and make the fastest U-Turn I can...!

Kick

Aya "...Hey! You braked instantly! That's some amazing leg power you got there, Shinki-san!"

Another one!

Kick

Aya "Nice tricks, those are! But making sharp turns like these are not going to help you any!"

Damn it! Thank you for reminding me you claim to be the fastest!

Aya "Why you keep running away from me? Answer my questions!"

Shinki "*Pant* ...I don't want to be talked single-handedly by... Someone I don't even know!"

Aya "I'm a reporter! That's what I do!"

Grah, she is impossible to deal with!

Shinki "What do you do, exactly? You talk to people and they listen to your rambling?"

Aya "That's very rude! I just claim whatever seems to be most appropriate with the information that's given to me!"

More sharp turns...!

Kick

Shinki "Isn't this illegal, miss reporter?"

Aya "If it's the truth, then no it isn't! For the most part, at least!"

Shinki "Whatever you are claiming to be true at a time like this... *Pant* Clearly has no obvious connection to what I claim to be the truth!"

Aya "True enough, so answer my question so I'll be corrected!"

Shinki "No! You're just gonna distort everything I say! I don't know why, but I get the feeling you will! Go away!"

Aya "...You know, I'm getting irritated! I'm going to make you stop running from me if you don't stop on your own!"

...Damn it.

OK, this is a waste of time and effort. Plan B!

I stop running and face her. She's too fast to let me go like this, so this only gives me one option. First of all...

Breathe

Much better.

Aya "...Oh? What's this, you finally gonna speak up?"

Not really.

I pull my fists up.

...

Well. She clearly didn't expect this. She just let go an unbelievable sigh.

Aya "What a boring conclusion you came to. If this' how it's gonna be, then so be it."

...Not the best idea I had in what? Forever? It's daylight and I'm tired as hell, but I have to try anyway!

I give a small hop forwards towards her and...

Take this! Fake Punch!

Aya "Too slow...! ...Eh?"

Yes! This is my golden chance!

I'll take another sharp turn to the right... Now!

Eat this! Ultimate presence concealing move!

Shadow Dance – Distortion Wind!

Aya "...!"

...

Aya "Wha? What the hell? Where... W-What? Where is he?"

...

Aya "This... I can't believe this! I actually lost him!"

...

Aya "Oh, woe is me! My reputation as the fastest! At stake because I got too cocky! GRR...!"

...

Aya "He couldn't have gone far! I'm not going to lose like this! Where are you? Show yourself, don't you think I can't find you!"

VOOSH

...

Fuuh. I can breathe now, she went up.

I'm not staying here any longer than I need. She can fly, and she's scouting the area from above. As long as I keep myself in the branches, she's not going to find me.

I don't want to see this person again anytime soon, if I can help it, but still... She was kind enough to give me a few keywords.

Gensokyo.

Hakurei Border.

Outside World.

...You know. This just occurred to me, but maybe I am in massive trouble.

I don't know what I did or what is going on, but it certainly isn't good and a few people probably are not too pleased with me at this moment. Somehow, roosting myself in this branch and never leaving again sounds like the best plan I had in years. ...But I'm not going to do that.

I still have to see where I am...

If this really is inside a boundary, maybe there is a limit to its extent...? I wonder how big this place actually is, too.

Let's see. I need a viewpoint...

Rustle

Rustle

Well, this didn't even take too long. I don't know why, but this forest doesn't seem to make me get lost anymore.

Maybe...? Maybe I hurt the magic in this place too much, and now it hates me.

Cutting straight to the chase, then... Let's climb this big tree? The higher the branch is, the better...

Rustle

And...

...

My eyes are emblazoned with the most amazing view I have ever seen in my entire life.

And I wonder why...

The mountains in the distant are richly colored by the sunlight, followed by the prominent shadows of the clouds over them, creating a painting-like feeling to the image before my eyes.

The sea of trees that follow my horizon extent to a point where it is cut by a lake, where nearby a western-style mansion is elegantly positioned by with regal-like imposition by another mountain's foot.

At the very bottom of all this, a village followed by its own fields of plantation make its stand by a road, taking paths towards here, the lake and to the mountains to the east, where I can spot a lonely shrine ruling its top.

The entire landscape is shaped in a way that fits itself in the middle of an entire valley. I can't take a sharp look to the left where it won't have a mountain. It's as if the land itself is protecting this entire place from harm. From the outside.

...This is...

Incredibly beautiful...

I don't know for how long I have been looking at this scenery.

...

What was that girl's name again? Aya? I can't spot her anymore, did she give up on chasing me for today? If so, then thank god.

Now that I finally got a good look at this place, I can safely say this isn't anywhere close to being where I was before I ended up in this Gensokyo place.

Though, it is really something else, isn't it?

I won't accomplish anything by staying here. I see all those places... Where should I go to?

The village seems like the best option, really, but...

That shrine up there...

My feet start to guide me off the woods as if they had minds of their own.