Kapitel 2: The Incident 2/3

-The Hakurei Shrine-

As all eyes fell on Marisa, she couldn't help but take a step back out of the sudden attention.

Yukari continued speaking as she retracted her arm into the gap. "It's just a conjecture though, a hypothesis. That I personally hope to be correct."

Marisa's signature spellcard, Love Sign: Master Spark. As it's obviously stated, it's power is "love" supposedly. Marisa herself has said in the past, "Aim this at someone you hate and fire all your love towards em'."¹

"Well... if my Master Spark does work on em', then we'll have a solution right?" Marisa clears her throat and stands up straight, coming to a clear conclusion.

"That's if it does work." Sakuya bluntly replies with a straight face.

Reisen nodded and replied, "Well, we can go out to test i-" this got shot down by Yukari immediately.

"It wouldn't be so wise to confront anyone currently corrupted." The sudden cutoff startled Reisen, so Youmu asked for her, "Why not?"

"Because that black substance has not only corrupted them, but boosted their strength as well." This caused most of the group to frown.

Marisa then connected the dots. The reason why the blast that knocked her away was so strong wasn't because Alice put her all into it, it was because the 'attack' was naturally boosted. This got Marisa into deep thought, she did create a comprehensive study and guide for her different friend's attacks, she could come up with a solution.

When Marisa had gone into deep thought, the air around her changed. She wasn't exactly a Magician because of talent or a birthright, she worked hard to get to where she is now. Even having a mentor that she couldn't remember much of, for the life of her.

The others stared concerningly at Marisa, but Yukari couldn't help but let out a sly giggle. "Let her think, I'll need to get in touch with Rinnosuke. If he isn't corrupted, I'll ask him to prepare or even rush an upgrade for her. He did give Marisa her Mini-Hakkero, he should at least have something."

By this point, Marisa had been mumbling incoherent words to their ears. So all Yukari did was wish them luck before the gap closed.

Reimu sighed as she couldn't even get a word in. "Well, we'll just have to wait for an update from Yukari and hopefully more uncorrupted people." She began walking towards the Shrine once more and one by one, the others did as well.

This left only Marisa at the Tori gate, who was still in deep thought. Several theories and questions ran through her head. 'How did it get here? Who else is okay?' where some thoughts, but the main one is, 'Will my Master Spark really work?'

Marisa had doubts, who wouldn't? If you were suddenly told that you could do something to help, but wasn't 100% sure it would work, wouldn't you doubt yourself? Marisa may be a bundle of confidence and tomboyish joy, but she was still human.

But then she shook her head, getting out of her focus and smiling widely. 'No, I've gotta believe, cause it might be the only way.' She thought with her eyes closed while nodding. Then as she opened them, she looked around and noticed she was alone. She made an 'o' with her mouth before deciding to head back to the Shrine.

That is, until she was stopped by a hand through a gap.

The sudden touch made her jump in place, spin around and attempt to smack it with her broom. Only for the gap to close, and reappear as she missed. She stared at the hand wide-eyed and glared, "Could've at least said something!" She grumbled towards the gap Youkai.

Marisa received a mischievous laugh in response and folded her arms and pouted a bit. "Ara~, and here I was, going to tell you that Rinnosuke is making something to help increase your firepower."

Marisa, startled by the sudden information and upgrade, couldn't help but be embarrassed. "T-thanks I guess..." She said cutely while blocking her face with her hat.

"Fufufu~ you should be on your way to Kourindou now. Time is of the essence." After saying that Yukari left once again with no extra words.

Marisa rested a palm on the side of her head and just left the Hakurei Shrine with a sigh. Well, not before telling the others.

"I'm heading out to Kourindou!" She yelled towards the Shrine and quickly flew of with a mischievous smirk. As she flew away and out of the protective barrier surrounding the shrine, the yelling voice of a Shrine Maiden could be heard.

-Near The Forest of Magic: Kourindou-

Marisa had quickly arrived at the small shop... only to see that it had been covered in thick black goop. The only place that is completely clean is the front door. Which is surprising considering the entire building is covered in the stuff.

So Marisa, before landing or even attempting to enter the building, yelled out for the Half-Human Half-Youkai. "Rinnosuke!"

She did get a response, and luckily it was his absolutely clear voice. "Marisa?" She sighed and yelled back. "Rinnosuke, is it okay to enter? Your building is.. um, covered in the goop?"

A laugh was then heard followed by a calm answer. "Just enter through the doorway, I used a pretty powerful magic item that was laying in the storage so the doorway should be okay." Marisa could swear she could imagine him pushing up his glasses with the 'Let me explain' face.

She then cautiously landed down near the store and stiffly made her way to the door and entered. She immediately shut the door behind her.

She turned back to face Rinnosuke and he was his usual self. No dark goop on him, but he certainly had a look of exhaustion on his face.

Rinnosuke Morichika, a half human half youkai. He has short silver hair, golden eyes and glasses neatly placed atop his nose. He wore a simple black and blue kimono-garb, that accentuated his looks.

He has not changed a bit form when Marisa had first met him when she was a child. Rinnosuke made Marisa her Mini-Hakkero and several other magic items. Combined with his ability to perceive the purpose of any object he focus's upon, he is an excellent merchant, appraiser and crafter. Sadly, the location of his shop, Kourindou, is near the forest of magic. Not exactly an ideal place for customers.

"Welcome Marisa..." He said tiredly, holding his head up with a hand resting on his desk. Several items lay on the counter, but near the center in front of Rinnosuke was a small silver item in the shape of an octagon. On the small item, seemed to be a strange image of what seems to be her?

"Hi Rinnosuke!" Despite Gensokyo being in danger and her previous mood being serious, she hasn't exactly visited of what could be essentially her savior, in a long time. So she greeted the man quite joyfully.

She then continued speaking while the shop owner smiled, "Yukari told me to come here to grab something that'd help my firepower, and I'm glad your all good~" She put her hands behind the back of her head and smiled.

"Yes, I did manage to finish it. Although it did take a lot of energy out of me." He then pushed his glasses up, and with a shine in them, he began explaining.

"With my ability, I did manage to discern that this here item I managed to make would massively increase your firepower..." He paused and tapped the silver octagon with is finger making a slight 'tink' sound. "I'll need to quickly make a little slot at the back of your Mini-Hakkero to fit it."

Marisa then slowly walked towards his counter and laid her Mini-Hakkero onto the counter. He then swiftly grabbed a special chisel and carefully began carving an opening for the upgrade.

Seeing Rinnosuke's intense focus and not wanting to disturb him, she just sat on a nearby chair while glancing around at the many different objects littered around Kourindou.

-The Hakurei Shrine-

After Marisa had swiftly left, Reimu, Youmu, Reisen, and Sakuya discussed who would break the news of both of her goddesses being corrupted.

They were playing a game from the outside world called "Uno", last person to lose all their cards would break the news to her.¹

"Uno." Sakuya calmly said with a poker face as she held one card in her hand. The card she put down was a yellow +2.

Youmu had a smug expression as she put down another +2, stacking it and +4'ing Reisen.

The rabbit had an annoyed look and grumbled, "That's the fourth time..." while drawing 4 cards.

Reimu however, had 13 cards in her hand. How did this happen? House rules with draw till match. She then placed down a wild +4 while glancing at Sakuya.

Sakuya sighed and picked up 4 cards.

This game has been going on for 10 minutes now.

None of them noticed this, but Sanae had long since woken up and was now quietly watching them play. Every now and then she'd try to reach out to her goddesses but would receive no answer. This didn't make her powerless, per say.

She herself, had high divinity naturally, which would make her just below a god, but could reach that level. The people she'd give blessings to would even call her a god or even a divine child. So she already knew of the condition of her goddesses, leaving her even more saddened.

The four continued playing for another hour before a loser was decided.

-Near The Forest of Magic: Kourindou-

Marisa, despite all her earlier tension and vigilance, is currently napping.

"Mari...sa." Rinnosuke, who had just finished tinkering and applying the upgrade. Called out to the now napping Human Magician. He could only sigh and wake the girl up with something he's done every time she's come over.

He got up from behind his counter and slowly walked over. Then, he raised his hand and...

Bonk

Chopped her on the forehead.

"Ow..! Rinnosuke!" She held the hit spot with her hands and had a cute little pout face on. Rinnosuke couldn't help but smile at the silliness of this girl. Despite all these years, from when she first met him, received the Mini-Hakkero, and began solving incidents, she hasn't changed. Well, apart from when she was a crybaby.

He shook his head, reached over towards the counter and grabbed the upgraded Mini-Hakkero. "Here, I've finished the upgrade Marisa."

She swiftly took it from his hand with sparkles in her eyes. He sighed and continued, "Don't fire that off willy-nilly now, well, it'll probably be a new spellcard for you. So it should be fine." He sighed exhaustedly and returned to the back of his counter.

Marisa did some poses with the improved Mini-Hakkero and then she recomposed herself. "Well... thanks Rinnosuke, also I'm pretty sure I can take you to the Shrine. The more people we got the better."

She pointed a thumb towards herself and flashed her signature smile. As Rinnosuke saw this, he couldn't help but reminisce. It seems the best times of his life were around when this Human Magician was born. He then silently shook his head with a smile and made a reply that disheartened the girl greatly.

"I'm sorry Marisa, but I'm staying here. I'll only slow you down." The shopkeeper solemnly replied with a sad smile.

The girl was shocked, but thought it as if he was joking. "Are you joking Rinnosuke? Other than Aya, I'm the fastest in Gensokyo! You won't be slowin' me down." She laughed, but it was so obviously fake that it was sad.

"I'm not joking Marisa." The man said, sighing and shaking his head with a wry smile. "I'm essentially dead weight. I already used my ability and identified all I could about the black muck, and I don't fight, I only collect." He stated his reasons and facts, leaving the girl dumbstruck.

He continued speaking, not letting up. "Marisa, just go. I'm staying here because I know I've completed what I've needed to do. Plus, if I do get corrupted, I have faith that you'll succeed and cleanse Gensokyo." He held a calm smile that left Marisa silent. His words being coercive had not only lowered her confidence, but boosted it too. She had an inner turmoil, one that boiled on, but was replaced by how she had acted a long time ago.

With her head held low, she muttered in a voice just loud enough for him to hear. "Can.. I at least hug you before I go?" She had returned to that young girl who first met Rinnosuke. Timid and a crybaby.

Without speaking, the Moriya Shopkeeper stood up and opened his arms. Marisa slowly walked over and gave a silent hug. The man felt that his shirt was getting wet and only sighed.

After a minute or so, they let go. "Now go, my little Magician." Rinnosuke's inner dad was coming out. After taking care of a child for so long, it become second nature.

Marisa silently nodded and left the shop. Leaving a somber note upon her departure.

With a sigh, Rinnosuke removed a talisman from a window, disrupting an illusion. Showing that the entire backside of his shop was already covered in black muck. He removed another and saw that his storage room was already full of the same substance. ' A captain goes down with his ship.'¹

He could only sit down now and leave one last prayer before it all ends for him.

"Good luck Marisa."