AN: Apologies for this extremely short chapter (not to mention the several year-long delays, but that's another matter . . .) I'd stopped writing for some time, so I needed to get a feel back, especially for this particular story. On the bright side, this probably means I'm getting back on actually writing stuff!

Reimu and Marisa were in front of the latter's house in the Forest of Magic, with a large bag and several smaller ones' piled into one area. The shrine maiden appeared to be inspecting her friends' luggage down to the last detail, much to Marisa's dismay.

"Kami, Reimu I can pack my own stuff just fine! Jeez, you ain't my mom so stop with the fussin' already!" complained the golden haired witch. "And on that note, don't – hey, what the heck!?"

"I highly doubt that you can orderly pack your things, Marisa," stated Reimu, shoving a handful of mushrooms out of her friends' bag, "you can't even keep your own house in order."

"H-hey, if I know exactly where I put my things, then there ain't any need to fix 'em, da ze~!" complained Marisa. "And for the Yama's sake stop doing that!"

Ignoring her cries of protest, Reimu stood up straight and patted her hands together. "Well, I think this is good enough, what do you think, Marisa?"

"What do I think?! There's barely anything left of what I packed!"

"So it is good enough?"

"No! Of all the –"

"While I do enjoy seeing the two of you show your affection for each other so early in the morning, we do have a schedule, so please proceed towards the good-bye kiss and let us be on our way," deadpanned Ran Yakumo, who had gapped nearby while the two girls were arguing.

The two other girls turned towards her, unsurprised by her sudden appearance.

"Ran, help me out here, Reimu's messing up my packing! We'll be here for hours at this rate!"

The familiar raised a brow in confusion. "Messing up? From what I've seen, your luggage is relatively orderly, unless by luggage, you mean the various items strewn on the floor?"

"Yes!" cried Marisa once more, ignoring her friends' victorious smirk.

"Then I'm afraid that I will have to decline, not only is most of the items you speak of unnecessary, but there is also the fact that we do not have any space for them where we are sending you."

Reimu's smirk widened much to Marisa's annoyance.

"Argh! You can't be serious!

Ran nodded her head. "I'm afraid I am. In any case, I do wonder what Lady Reimu is doing here in the first place."

Reimu nodded. "I heard about Marisa leaving," she answered, "and well, I know her well; her way organizing things is terrible, so I couldn't leave her to do it by herself – she'd delay you for hours."

"Are we forgetting the fact that I am a full-grown woman and can do things on my own!?" screamed Marisa.

Ran, accepting the explanation, nodded and turned towards Marisa, again, ignoring her cries. "I find this a suitable explanation, and it is further backed-up by proof," said Ran.

Marisa stared at her incredulously. "What proof? I don't – oh . . ."

Ran was pointing a single slender finger towards the various junk scattered across the ground. Marisa slumped her shoulders in defeat. "I'm not winning this one, am I?"

"No you're not. Anyway, be sure to write regularly, all right Marisa? It's going to get lonely here."

Marisa looked away stubbornly, but was slightly red in the face. "Okay, whatever. Jeez, you're too fussy about this Reimu, it's embarrassing, ze."

The Shrine Maiden ignored her comment and nodded towards Ran, who was watching silently. The familiar nodded back and placed a hand on Marisa's shoulder.

"Miss Marisa, I believe it's time," she said, using her free hand to flick open a portal behind her.

". . . Okay, I guess." The blond witch turned towards her friend with a grin. "See ya in a year, Reimu!"

With a final wave, she hopped into the dark abyss. Ran gave a farewell bow and stepped in soon afterwards, leaving the shrine maiden alone.

Reimu sighed tiredly. "Be safe, you dumb witch."