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[Reimu :: Hakurei Shrine]

Reimu shook her head. "If we're looking for Marisa, the best place to start is places Marisa frequents. That's just obvious. At the very least we could find a clue or something. Besides," she stood as she spoke this part, and moved to recover her exorcism tools from the cabinet in the back of the room where they were on a kind of display when not in use, "it just seems like the right place to start looking." Her tone of voice was final.

Reimu rummaged through the cabinet for a minute or so, equipping herself for combat, just in case. Principally, she took the Hakurei Ying-Yang Orb, but she also stocked herself with a roll of about a hundred exorcism slips and two dozen or so of her 'persuasion needles' - long throwing needles which had had exorcism slips tied to them, making them potent weapons against both youkai and humans, and more aerodynamic than normal exorcism slips.

Then, she turned back to her guests. She regarded Chiyo with indulgence. "Wanna come with us? We're looking for a friend of mine who's gone missing. You can stay here if you like, just don't drink all my tea when I'm gone or something."

[Alice :: Hakurei Shrine]

Alice nodded to Reimu, and grumbled a quick "You are correct..." She then looked down at the wolf and had an idea. "Hmmmm, Aren't wolves' noses pretty good?" She grabbed the mini-Hakkero, and practically shoved it into Chiyo's nose. "There should be a very distinct smell on this. Keep it in mind for when we get there." Alice was obviously unhappy having to take the new companion, but figured she might as well get some use out of her.



[Flandre :: SDM :: Basement]

Sakuya mentioned food, and Flandre almost shouted out in joy. Thankfully for Remilia, the younger sister managed to keep it under wraps for the game, and nodded at Sakuya emphatically. She ran over and held her hands out for whatever the maid had for her, a large smile on her face.

[Chiyo :: Hakurei Shrine]

The wolf yipped and shook her head vigorously as something was abruptly shoved underneath her nose. The scent was extremely strong, taking into consideration the vicinity. Chiyo stuck her tongue out as if it'd rid her nose of the smell as she jumped backwards, letting a low growl escape from her muzzle.


Who was this girl? Someone without manners apparently. Chiyo pawed at her nose uncomfortably as she eyed Alice warily before looking to Reimu with a look of you-hang-out-with-this-crazy-lady?

[Sakuya || Scarlet Devil Mansion || Basement]


The maid merely smiled as she set down her tray. She reached for a small plate that she brought with her, setting the cup of tea atop it. Fortunately for Flandre, Sakuya controlled time effortlessly, and had managed to brew the tea and allowed it to sit for the perfect amount of time, making the drink the perfect temperature. She then proceeded to place various biscuits along the plate, some sugar cookies maybe a couple macaroons as well.

"Here you go Flandre-Sama," Sakuya replied as she gingerly set the plate into Flandre's outstretched hands.

[Reimu :: Hakurei Shrine -> Path to the Forest of Magic]

Reimu flew out, following behind Alice. She had no problems with letting the magician take the lead. As she glided a foot or so above the ground (which seemed to be her equivalent of walking), she examined the Hakkero, turning it over again and again as if doing so might expose some hidden clue.

The Forest of Magic was quite aways away - on the other side of the village. As it was already midafternoon, it would probably be the early evening by the time the three got there, even with their accelerated pace compared to normal humans.

Other than the human village itself, the road to the Forest of Magic had the highest concentration of human population in Gensokyo. It was a good area - flat and temperate - and every here and there, not so often as to be common but often enough to be noticeable, you would find clusters of three or four houses occupied by humans or particularly human-like youkai.

The humans that lived outside the village had a precarious existence. Not protected by ancient truces, they had to rely on more traditional defensive measures for protection from youkai. The reasons families had for choosing a life like that were many: some had ancestors who lost out on an inheritance in the village and were forced elsewhere. Some simply valued their independence and loved the life that only living in the wild can bring. Others had access through their residence to a particularly valuable bit of farmland - valuable enough to justify the danger. And still others, like Marisa, were simply so much like youkai themselves that the youkai left them alone.

Reimu picked up her pace.

[Sukina: Scarlet Devil Mansion: Foyer]

"Hey. Hey ladies. You think this could be, you know, a hoax?"

The ivy youkai smiled, as per usual, as she pointed at the vases. "If those were really knocked over, they'd be broken. Not just set down there."

Pointing at the front door, the girl also added "The guard, China, she's a horrible actor. That's all that could have been. Horrible acting."

Sukina nodded, rubbing her chin. "Yeah, definitely a hoax for some reason." Now if only the youkai could figure out what....

[Momiji : Scarlet Devil Mansion : Foyer]

Momiji continued to sniff the air as she ran with the other three, she couldn't help but wonder about the whole situation.

"I can't help but have a bad feeling about this..." she mumbled, "My nose and ears are twitching..."

[Kyouko :: SDM :: Hallway -> Throne room]

Kyouko looked at the throne room doors, and without a moments further hesitation, kicked them open. She ran in, and looked around. THere was overturned tables, a few (slightly) ripped up drapes, and most importantly, blood apparently splattered near the throne...where a note sat.

Kyouko ran over and picked up the note, starting to read aloud. "Kyouko - I heard from Sakuya that you were coming to my mansion so I'm writing this in hopes that you'll find it. You were right. A shadowy, evil youkai is after the humans of Gensokyo, and now is storming my mansion to try to get to Sakuya. We're barricaded in the throne room right now, but we can only hold out so long. Please..." He paused before saying, "The handwriting changed...the new handwriting says... " She paused again, and continued. "KYOUKO:
IF IT IS THY DESIRE TO SEE THY FRIENDS OR THE HUMANS WHICH ALL I STOLE AWAY, MEET ME IN THAT DARK PLACE WHENCETO LONG AGO ABSCONDED THY KIND, O HORNED ONE. DESTINY AWAITS IN THE UNDERGROUND. I AM WATCHING."

She turned to Sukina immediately. "See?! It IS someone going after the humans in Gensokyo, and now we have to stop them!! REMILIA IS COUNTING ON US!! AND IT SAYS TO GO TO THE UNDERGROUND!! ONWARDS!!" And without even waiting for a response, she grabbed Sukina, and put the Ivy Youkai on her back, and ran top speed back out the doors of the throne room.


[Alice :: Hakurei Shrine :: Stairs -> Forest of Magic :: Outskirts]

Alice quickly flew down the stairs, and rushed into the forest of Magic. She wordlessly moved between the trees as they progressed, occasionally looking back to make sure Reimu and the wolf girl were following.