章 2: Chapter 2: The Netherworld Realm.

Keine and Reisen returned from Eientei to heal Suika's terrible magical bullet wounds. Since the purple-haired bunny is the only lunarian respected by the teacher's wife even with her resentfulness against Princess Kaguya, Mokou had no problem with counting on her. In the end, she sees the hard-working doctor apprentice as a poor slave from Eientei. After the intervention, Keine, Mokou, Orin, Reisen and the Zombie Fairies were gathered around the bed. The good bunny shows relieved.

Reisen: She will fully recover after some minutes. Onis are very strong and Suika is not exception. Her body has a great regeneration power.

The Phoenix girl shows a playful grin.

Mokou: I can see in your eyes that you don't do it for the money. I'm sure about the fact of that pissing that spioled brat off, hahahaha...

Reisen: Of course not! They complain when I'm bringing less of their required amount of yen but medicine is to save lives, not just to get rich.

Mokou: If you are tired of them, just go out of there when you think you are ready. Keep beeing like you are, I count on you.

The teacher giggles.

Keine: You enjoy seeing Kaguya burn, right?

Mokou: Yes, and I like everyone who despites her. Plus, she did save Suika without asking us to pay a monstruosity.

Keine: What are you going to do now, Rin?

Asks the History Beast to the Necromancer humanoid cat. The Zombi Fairies, after the worries were a bit calmed, started to play some shogi. Their moves were very dramatical like if their game was a matter of life and death. It was hilarious to see their intimidation look crossing and how one of them did exaggeratedly faint after losing, showing a paper sign with herself drawn in a chibi style, inflating cheeks. The boss spirit with the construction helmet was acting as referee of the match and the rest were eating pop corn as they watch.

Orin: I'm not sure, nyahaha... at least this is a happy ending. There's enough corpses for today in the cart I guess. The only thing left for me would be returning home to deliver them. But if you need me, I'll be happy to help, meow~. Reimu is very important for us. I won't allow anyone to hurt her. And I'm sure that many Youkai feel in that way.

The silver-haired teacher gives the cat a more serious look.

Keine: I suggest you something then. Tell your Master and Utsuho what's happening in the surface. I want to ask every possible faction for their support. And you, underground youkai are really powerful, a fearsome force to be reckoned with.

For some seconds, the cat girl faintly blushes and plays with some of her red locks.

Orin: Thank you for the praising, meow. Even Miss Reimu had a very hard time against me and Okuu-Chan in the past. We won't go easy on the enemy, professor.

The fire avian girl was distracted observing the undead fairies for a moment.

Mokou: Maybe you should think on opening a comedy café or something with them. They are very good!

The doctor apprentice was clapping with much focusing on the display as well.

Reisen: How did you teach them?

For one moment the feline close her eyes with a solemn expression, taking both hands to her chest.

Orin: It wasn't a big deal. They have developed hobbies with the time and a more chaotic behaviour. And I want to see them happy in afterlife. When a spirit comes with me, it becomes a new fairy. Some of them had a terrible life and they won't be alone anymore in death.

The three women in front of her react showing a softened smiling expression.

Reisen: People should try to know you some more. I don't think you are so creepy as some say.

Keine: Is very sweet of you to concern about dying people before fulfilling your duty. You would pass the test with S+.

Mokou: Well, the worst thing about people is that they take looks seriously like Lunarians so many times. And both are deceiving.

Orin: Do you know? Even if Master Satori doesn't take this too seriously you'll count on me and Okuu-Chan, meow. I won't ignore your kindness. Now... I'll be going before Eiki-Sama comes to scold us for parking the cart in an illegal area! You'll se us again eventually!

Keine: I'm counting on it. And if you need to be guided, call for me. In this form I'm far more powerful than in my disguise. I'll be able to provide you advice like I do with my students on class. We must avoid fate somehow.

With that said, Orin departs with her undead minions. Some minutes after, the little oni opens her eyes and stills drunk. Instinctively stretches without moving from the futon.

Suika: Hmmm.... *hiccup* Where... Reimu?... Reimu?!

Mokou: Relax, Suika. You are safe with us.

Suika: Where's my sis?! *hiccup*

The doctor apprentice doesn't know how to give her the bad news.

Reisen: Reimu is...

Keine: She's trapped inside the temple. Suika, do you remember what did occur inside? Just calm down and try to tell us.

Suika: I was playing as usual, waiting for Reimu... when I got back inside the Shrine I found her sealed! *hiccup* She was in some sort of enormous Fantasy Seal not conjured by her... was then when Yukari-Sama appeared with Miss Ran and Chen and told me to run! To find Past Incident Culprits! I-I'm one of them *hiccup* The next thing I remember was a shadow going behind me... we did fight but I couldn't win. Before fainting... the Temple got entirely separated from reality. Reimu is sealed... *hiccup* and Yukari-Sama is fighting inside! I never saw her so serious!

For some moments, everyone looks gloomy. Yukari Yakumo was always joking and making pranks even to her opponents due to her not taking anything seriously given in consideration how terribly powerful the Gap Sage was. They know how serious the situation is when one of the most powerful beings in Gensokyo by far is troubled... even the Hakurei Shrine Maiden wasn't match for her mentor going seriously yet.

Reisen: Miss Keine, Miss Mokou... I'm afraid that this time it depends on us.

Mokou: Heh, I have never felt like this. But we musn't get afraid. I won't give our enemy that satisfaction. My dear... we should think on our next step carefully.

Keine: I know. Let me see my scroll again.

The oni tries to move from her place but her entire body is still hurting.

Suika: I can help you! *hiccup* Ow ow ow!

Reisen: Suika, your recovering rate is amazing but you have suffered something that no one with that could have survived. You need to rest.

Mokou: Plus, she's an Incident Culprit. We can't risk her. And now that I think... for what are them in specific? Didn't Miss Yukari explained further?

The copper-haired oni shakes her head with spiral-shaped eyes.

Suika: Nope, the situation was too much and we didn't have time. Everything happended too fast!

Keine: For now we'll have to work around that. Miss Yukari must know something we don't and the scroll seems to react possitively to this moment. Our best card is to reunite every Incident Culprit we can within the given time. And I have a payment for Reisen. A promise. Since Mokou can't stand Princess Kaguya and I also think she's a bad individual who deserves something further than just scolding for what she did... we could try to enter the Netherworld, where ghosts go in afterlife. Lady Youmu is very reasonable and a fine woman, we could try finding her first.

For some moments, the moon rabbit reacts with some nervousness and blushing. Her heart is beating a bit faster.

Reisen: Thanks for not forgetting about it. If we'll probably die... I would like to see at least if she loves me. She's not just reasonable, she's beautiful, strong, hard-working and is always concerned about how you are.

Mokou: Why not help her... after all she deserves it. Who knows if they end like us.

Beast and Phoenix hold hands together for a moment looking at their wedding rings.

Keine: I'll protect you. You did me a mark in the back in our wedding night after our private session. I belong to you.

Mokou: Me too. Anyone who lay a finger on you will suffer the consequences of angering an inmortal creature.

Before parting, they take some seconds to kiss each other in the lips. The purple-haired bunny looks away with some shame imagining herself like that with Youmu.

Once they are ready, the girls don't lose any second to go to high into the sky, where the Netherworld door remains closed. For some reason it starts to snow from nowhere.

Reisen: Wait a moment, it is still winter? It's also getting really cold.

The phoenix woman raises an eyebrow as she looks into the sky.

Mokou: No, it's spring from one month ago. This is very suspicious.

The Hakutaku reads her scroll again, trying to extract information from it what says.

Keine: Something unknown is repeating the Cherry Blossom incident, and is not Yuyuko-Sama! So the new culprit must be at the Netherworld. Is like it's reverting facts from Past directly... like if It has the same power as my rewinding spells. We have to hurry, I can't wait to give whoever it was a proper deadly lecture!

During the flight some sort of magical beings start appearing in front of them. They had the shape of creepy killer snowmen made with some sort of black snow, with carrot nose and a bloodstained scarf but apparently they were alive thanks to the possesion of some spirit.

Reisen: I've never seen beings like this!

Keine: Prepare for battle, our enemy has arranged us some welcoming fun.

Mokou: Heh, they are still snow. Is not very smart of them to play with fire.

The horde of snowmen open their mouth shooting magical ice beams that produce icicles as they advance to their victims. The blazing woman is enveloped in flames, preparing a spell in response.

Mokou: Prepare to burn in absolute suffering. "Inmortal Fire Bird: Flying Phoenix"!

A gigantic firebird made with magic that burns with extreme violence comes out from the white-haired girl melting everything at its path exploding after some seconds in an enormous area. It destroys all of the snowmen converting them in just black steam. The spirits possesing those vessels become free.

Reisen: We should follow them! This can be our chance to pass the door between this world and the Dead Realm.

Not much later, they see an enormous door in the middle of the sky, which is fully open. Many spirits are gathering and passing to Afterlife after Mokou's spell.

Keine: It's very strange to not see the three Primsriver Sisters since they tend to guard the entrance. Something happened to them. They probably suffered an attack like Suika.

Mokou: Our enemy kidnapped some souls from inside, that's for sure.

Reisen: Yuyuko-Sama must not be too happy about it. I think we have arrived in time to do something.

Keine: Since she had a tragic end in life, worrying even Miss Yukari who is supposed to be her best friend, and she really cares about the ones who lost their life. Is not a story I would like to bring up right now.

As they pass through the big gate, a blue-eyed half ghost, half human silver blunt short-haired woman stops in front of them wearing a cute green dress wielding a razor long katana. She adopts a fighting stance but looks the unexpected visitors with a serene expression.

Youmu: In the Past I did commit mistakes misunderstanding people who just came by. So, I'll give you a chance of explaining yourselves. I would feel bad to cut down people who has nothing to do with this. But coming in this moment seems suspicious.

The phoenix girl giggles and shows her a grin.

Mokou: You have guts to come at us alone, I give you that. But you are questioning the wrong people.

Reisen: Youmu... they are good people. Do you remind me? From Mystia's Izakaya, several nights.

Keine: You should remember me as well. I also did help Misty to stop your master's hunger curse.

For some seconds, the ghost girl thinks on the past Incident solved by the Night Sparrow. After that tense silence moment she relaxes her pose and shows a faint smile that makes the lunar rabbit blush a bit.

Youmu: The Teacher from Human Village and Reisen...

With some nervousness, the bunny doctor starts answering with her index fingers together.

Reisen: I wanted to repay you for cheering me up to keep going every night even if life in Eientei is hell. That's why I'm here!

In response, Youmu goes flying at her side and looks at her directly with a serene expression.

Youmu: Thank you for coming. But I need you to be focused, Rei. The Enemy is here.

The purple-haired doctor puts an expresion of determination knowing that this wasn't the moment to think on telling Youmu how does she feel.

Reisen: When I make the culprit see hallucinations, you cut it in half.

Keine: Seems like the incident that your master caused in the past is back.

Youmu: Yuyuko-Sama is eating at this moment and she trusts that I'll be able to destroy the intruder. She doesn't intends to steal the spring anymore.

The phoenix girl reacts sighing with some disgust.

Mokou: Eating at a moment like this? Honestly... I think that you and Reisen work way too much. I don't look down on Yuyuko-Sama, she at least treats you kindly. I'm sick of that spoiled brat who is Kaguya. I just think that she probably should learn doing something by herself. I lived alone for centuries before marrying Keine and had to learn things like cooking.

Since Youmu faithfully serves her master, she doesn't say anything and lets the topic go away.

Youmu: ... that's not a matter to discuss here. Let's go to the Cherry Blossom tree. Is the main source of spring here and the place where Reimu and Yuyuko-Sama did fight that day.

During the flight, it could be seen how even inside of the Netherworld it was still winter. Not like last time, but now black snow was falling and everything looked even more depressing and creepy.

Youmu: Wait a moment... this shouldn't be happening if you steal spring.

Keine: Our enemy doesn't want to steal another thing that is not Gensokyo's existence. It doesn't care about seasons.

Mokou: What's on your scroll?

The Teacher opens it to check it out. She looked a bit tense after doing so.

Keine: Hmmm... I think that we are in a very narrow space between going foward and a dead end... something that will make us waste time, a bad decission that leads to a bad ending.

Reisen: What are our options? To be in the edge like this would make anyone insane.

Keine: Our choices are to go where the Cherry Blossom tree is and see if it's using it to steal energy, or... to go where Yuyuko-Sama is to avoid a catastrophe. Because the foe is powerful enough to destroy her and ending Gensokyo's factions play a role on its total destruction. Maybe the tree is just a bait for us not going in time. I would do that, fool my enemies and make them feel miserable before the inevitable fate. But I may be wrong because my scroll doesn't show everything since this has started...

The Humanoid Firebird looks at the half-ghost very seriously.

Mokou: Seems like your master needs protection, Youmu.

Youmu: Alright then, let's follow your course of action. The black snow indicates that you could be alright.

Reisen: I'll be prepared to shoot at them and attend your wounds if necessary!

The group quickly change their flying route to the Palace and when they arrive to the garden many black snowmen are freezing the place with magical ice beams.

Mokou: Indeed. Our enemy is a son of a wench. Okay, time to burn!

The Phoenix girl is going to prepare the same spell from before but Youmu and Reisen put a hand in front of her.

Reisen: You'll burn everything, including the palace!

Youmu: Leave it to us and keep going!

Keine: They are right. And if we don't split we won't be there in time! The scroll is emiting that black aura again!

Meanwhile inside the palace, a gorgeous pink-short-haired woman wearing a sakura blue kimono eats plenty of dishes delivered from Mystia Lorelei. Her physical figure was stunning and there was no explanation of why she doesn't put weight even if devouring so much food at that speed. She has a heartmelting kind voice and acts as a sweet woman.

Yuyuko: Hmmm~... That night sparrow is so good at cooking! I would love to have her in afterlife to make me some company with Youmu~.

She's going to get the following plate but everything remains empty.

Yuyuko: Ara ara... there's nothing left, so dissapointing. Everything was so delicious that time went short.

Suddenly everything in the place went dark. A menacing demonic voice could be heard all over the place.

?: Life is also short, specially when you shorten it, right? But you don't remember anything.

A shadowy silhouette manifests inside. Looks like a person with no identity that is changing forms constantly. It adopts the form of a Shadow clone of Keine and sits in front of the princess.

Keine?: Want me to refresh your memories, Yuyuko Saigyouji? Why is Yukari Yakumo so bad that she doesn't tell you the TRUTH? HAHAHAHAHA!

Without being very upset, she tilts her head.

Yuyuko: Huh? What are you talking about?

Keine?: Is better if you torture yourself seeing it!

Puts a shadowy version of Keine's scroll on the table and some images start displaying. The images of a young pink-haires princess playing with the souls and making them happy rapidly degenerates into countless images of she instantly killing anyone with just one single touch of her developed powers. The scenes were bloody and very crude. Yuyuko, barely reaching her adultood is overwhelmed by her powers and with horrible guilt feelings she gets a katana and before a blond-haired youkai comes from a gap, she cuts herself and falls before a tree. Yukari, who is her best friend seems devastated, crying her death.

Keine?: The woman buried there... the one you was curious about, it's you. YOU ARE A MURDERER. AND AFTER EVERYTHING YOU HAVE DONE INCLUDING THE PERFECT CHERRY BLOSSOM INCIDENT, REIMU HAKUREI, OUR MAIDEN FAILED HER TASK OF ENDING YOUR EXISTENCE ONCE FOR ALL. I'M HERE TO CORRECT HER MISTAKES! TO RESTORE THE NATURAL ORDER OF THINGS! TO RESET GENSOKYO!

The ghost princess now seems terrified after remembering everything and is not even able to start fighting. She just trembles on her place with tears on her eyes.

Yuyuko: I-I... Yukari, why didn't you say... anything? I'm sorry! I didn't want to kill them!

The shadow Keine takes the form of a monk with no face.

?: I'm an spirit from Hakurei Temple... PREPARE TO MEET YOUR DOOM, FOUL YOUKAI! Hakurei Sign: True Fantasy Seal!

A powerful spell causes that enormous shadowy orbs start orbiting around the dark silhouette and then they start chasing the ghost.

Keine: Reincarnation "Ichijou Returning Bridge"!

Keine and Mokou arrived just in time to save her. The Phoenix woman gets the pink-haired one to a safe spot and the mysteious man's figure's strange Fantasy Seal goes back in time but with the difference of striking it directly. A great rainbow explosion makes it go out of the palace.

Mokou: Rest here, milady. You shouldn't pay attention to its speech.

Yuyuko: But... is the truth!

Mokou: Listen, stubborn one. Are you going to cry about your past or are you going to use the future wisely to compensate your past mistakes? Don't be a fool, stop running away! Fight it! Youmu can't be doing every small thing, only YOU can do this. Understood?

She nods twice and in response, Mokou shows a faint smile drying her tears.

Mokou: Good to know that you aren't another trash like Kaguya. And I don't care about your royal status. Inviduals for me are worth the same as how much they do in life. Don't waste your second chance. And don't blame Yukari. I'm not agree with her hiding the truth but she only wanted to protect you.

Yuyuko: You tongue sure is sharp. Okay~. I'll help you two. Thank you, ehh... how was your name?

Mokou: Fujiwara No Mokou. Just a Bamboo Forest inhabitant. My past is not important.

Meanwhile, Keine was fighting the opposing entity who was transforming again into herself. It was like some sort of doppelganger.

Keine: Hah, I see who did manipulate every event. You have another scroll!

Keine?: That's true, mwahahaha! You don't even know even the half of what a Hakurei Spirit can do. Reimu was our agent and now is a traitor. And we MUST undo her treacheries.

An enormous fire phoenix comes flying to explode and burn the enemy. It narrowly misses since it dodged the spell.

Mokou: Traitor? Tch, Reimu is a woman with enough guts to give a second chance to a Youkai even if she plays the tough girl. She's better than you all, stupid garbage!

It was unusual to see the pink-haired ghost so angry like now. Her fringe was shadowy and her anger expression so creepy that anyone in front of her would start running away.

Yuyuko: Reimu really believed that we could change, that we are like the rest of species in that aspect! Don't you dare to insult her!

Now, their opponent adopts the form of Yuyuko and starts making a black cherry blossom tree of nowhere.

Yuyuko?: Your life was a lie, and your death too! "Dying Butterfly -1000% Redeath!"

It was an opposing version of Yuyuko's final spell. Everything got filled with black magical butterflies and an impossible to dodge torrent of white bullets started to come from everywhere forming masses that make vission impossible. They were coming at a great speed. Yuyuko has the Cherry Blossom Tree where her corpse is sealed just behind. It was the place where the fight with Reimu for the Spring occured years ago. Yuyuko starts chanelling her most poweful spell from the great tree.

Yuyuko: Girls... help me please~.

Mokou: With Pleasure!

Keine: We'll sincronize with your butterflies!

Since the unknown entity's spell was too powerfull, they were thinking on combining forces with one bigger spell.

The three girls: "Ultimate Border of Life -100% Reflowering, 100% Sacred Fire, 100% Going to the Future!"

The "Resurrection Butterfly -100% Reflowering" from Yuyuko created colorful magical but deadly purple butterflies with a torrent of bullets powered with Mokou's "Flaw of Forgiving Shrine", which created amulets burning with some sort of white purifying and violent flame. Keine's "Future: Next Story" was multiplying the bullets indifinitedly and adding it random patterns.

Both sides were forcing their power at the limit and the crushing bullets exploded in a terrible magic burst that destroyed everything at its path. Everyone ended with severe wounds. Mokou was going to sacrify one of her lives using "Possesed by Phoenix" to enter the bad spirit's body.

Mokou: Ugh... Even if I have to take myself with you, you won't escape!

Yuyuko: Heh, you are lucky to live one more day. But your luck will run out!

The shadowy figure teleports before Mokou could possess it. Heavily panting, the History Teacher gets up gnashing teeth

Keine: Damn it! We almost had it.

The ghost princess maintains her creepy face with a closed fist.

Yuyuko: Such a nuisance.~ What kind of incident did happen?

Keine: Well explain it to you... Is good to show will...

Mokou: But first you should rest, don't you think?

The Black Snowmen fled away. Youmu and Reisen were successful on their task to defend the palace against the opposing forces. Everything was returning to normal in the place. The black snow disappeared and the faint depressing light returned. Souls were getting to their eternal rest once again.

They reunited to recover energies and talk about the new incident. Keine explained everything as if she was giving a lesson at Human Village's School to inform Youmu and her master while sitting at the cozy living room sit around the table and eating some spicy rice cookies.

Yuyuko: I understand~. So they have sealed Reimu and Yukari is containing them... my best friend and her pupil are in danger.

Youmu: And also Miss Ran and Chen. And we have very short time.

Keine: My suggestion is... that we should split in order to cover more terrain. We are weaker in combat but if we go together, we'll be too slow.

Mokou: Rin Kaenbyou from the Underground is already telling them. Utsuho Reiuji is an Incident Culprit and she's very fond of the cat so we'll have another stop. And Miss Yuyuko is another one. Maybe the key is in your final spells.

Yuyuko: Yup~. We could beat that undesirable being, but without your help it wouldn't have been possible. Youmu will help you, and when everything is ready I'll be at Hakurei Temple.

Reisen: I would like to go with Youmu to search for Kanako Yasaka, the Moriya Snake Goddess at Youkai Mountain.

The half-ghost girl starts headpatting the bunny's head. She softly blushes with a goofy smile replicated by her beloved one who thinks that it's cute so see the rabbit enjoying the gesture.

Youmu: It's a solid plan. We two are very good understanding each other. And someone has to take care of the doctor.

Those words made Reisen's red eyes to sparkle. Her heart was melting.

Reisen: (If we only were alone... b-but I'll have time!)

Keine: It's decided then. Mokou, how about us going to Myouren Temple? Hijiri Byakuren is not just an incident culprit. She's also someone who saves Youkai and that's for sure not very nicely seen by those spirits. The enemy can do the same as me of seeing every event and is constantly changing facts.

Mokou: That's why we are on the edge everytime. But I'll be with you until the end and further if I can.

After that conversation and saving the Netherworld Realm from its inminent destruction the different groups departed to their next destination. They had another incident culprit up to fight for them. However, this was just the beginning.

There are thirteen days left for THE END. Would the shadowy entity strike again somewhere?

TO BE CONTINUED...