Chapter 31 - Epilogue: Hakurei Reimu, Izumi Konata, Kirisame Marisa

Reimu: Fantasy Seal
Reimu, Marisa, Cirno and Konata flew over the Antarctic snow and ice, the sun high in the sky. Despite Reimu's insistence that she could take care of her shrine without help, it was clear that Haruhi was still helping out. There was a breeze but there was no big wind, it was unnaturally warm but the snow and ice did not melt. It was for the best as none of them wore extra clothing, only Konata aware of how dangerously cold the Antarctic normally was. A red object could be seen over the horizon.

"There she is..." smiled Reimu, tears forming. As they approached it was clear that the Hakurei Shrine had collapsed on itself, the roof supports all collapsed, the roof itself in pieces on the shrine floor. Reimu slowly lowered herself onto the wooden platform entrance to the shrine. Once she stopped flying, the platform under her left leg gave way. Reimu screamed in pain as her leg fell through the hole, scratching against sharp wooden splinters. Her right knee struck an intact part of the platform with a painful strike.

"Reimu!" called Maria, on her broom, flying down to Reimu, "Take my hand." She extended a hand to Reimu.

Reimu was looking down, on her hands and one knee. She took a deep breath, not taking to Marisa's offer. "I'm fine... It's..." She strained her left leg with a groan, slowly pulling it out the hole, "It's... what I deserve for leaving her for so long..." Her left leg was bleeding from long cuts and her right knee was also bleeding heavily, preventing her from walking steadily. Marisa withdrew her hand, full of pity and concern. It was ironic that the thing that would cause the most physical damage to Reimu since Doomsday would be her own shrine. Reimu hobbled to a large box dutifully stood in front of the shrine and lifted the lid off with care. The donation box had nothing but a small amount of snow, the fenced anti-theft lid managing to keep most snow out. Reimu laughed weakly, "I never thought I'd be happy to be penniless."

"Reimu..." murmured Marisa, full of sorrow for her best friend. Reimu sat on the front step of the shrine, head in her hands.

"So where did you plan to move to?" asked Konata, hovering in the sky to prevent any more damage to the shrine, "Given Gensokyo's relative small size, it's possible to reassemble Gensokyo on existing land." Reimu, Marisa and Cirno were fully aware Konata was acting as Haruhi's messenger.

"Is there a real world equivalent to Gensokyo?" asked Marisa.

"The Yatsugatake Mountains in Japan is essentially Gensokyo's inspiration," explained Konata, "It would be possible to move all Gensokyo locations there. But it's in a national park. And you'll obviously need permission from the Japanese authorities."

There was a pause. "But don't natives hate us?" asked Reimu, "They'd never allow us to move there."

"Actually, as long as the residents of Gensokyo pledge to be the park's maintainers and cleaners, they are willing to allow Gensokyo to move there. They expect it would generate a lot of tourism income."

"What?" spoke Reimu, lifting her head to look at Konata, with a look of disgust, "Are natives going to consider us as objects? I don't want thousands of people flooding to see me all the time."

"Remilia and Yuuka do."

"They're a vampire and youkai. And they have mansions with tight security," argued Reimu, "Does it look like my shrine is immune to people just taking parts of it as souvenirs?"

"But where else can we go?" asked Cirno innocently.

"Couldn't Haruhi just send us to, like, another planet?" suggested Marisa, "Like a planet for newcomers?"

"Haruhi considered the option of creating a New Earth. But should Haruhi and Sasaki ever lose their powers, it could lead to catastrophic results such as changing the orbit of this Earth. We also need to keep an eye on the newcomers that want to stay with their creators. Even without Haruhi and Sasaki's help you and Miku managed to maintain The Unwritten Law in your kingdoms. Going away will cause turmoil."

"Speaking of Miku," continued Marisa, "What are Yamaha planning to do?"

"They're forming a settlement called New Yamaha in the Sahara."

"The what?"

"Sahara," repeated Konata, "You know that massive desert in Africa?"

"I know it," responded Reimu, "I had to fly over it to get to the... err..." Her voice faltered as she looked at Marisa's green eye. "The... fusion plant."

"Yeah," nodded Konata, "Yamaha had left a lot of storage and research in the Sahara. They're planning to clean up their mess while staying away from natives." She scratched her head out of concern. "They're not yet willing to live among natives."

Marisa looked at Reimu, aware of what she was thinking. "Could we move next to them?" inquired Reimu, "I... don't feel like meeting natives any time soon."

"It's possible. It would help with an economy between Gensokyo, New Yamaha, Gaia and Arcania City, which will also be in the area."

Pumped up, Cirno spoke up with joyous determination, "That would be awesome! Gaia's the country that Barton City's a part of, right?

Konata grinned at the ice fairy's reaction, "Yep. Gaia's smaller than Gensokyo size-wise but has the largest population out the four countries and would be key to a local infrastructure."

"Wow, Cirno... You've grown," brought up an impressed Marisa. Cirno had garnered a lot of respect from all parties as a member of the Anti-Nine. Her use of the Death Note went largely forgiven as if she did not use it, Yamaha would have not opened up borders with High Gensokyo before their fall, effectively causing a new standoff between Doom's Latveria and High Gensokyo. A standoff that would end as soon as Doom could obtain a Death Note, such as Cirno's, himself. By using it, Cirno essentially downplayed the impact the Death Note could have had.

Cirno put her hands on her chest with confusion, "I have?"

"... Not like that, Cirno," groaned Marisa, "Not like that..."

"But isn't the Sahara cold?" asked Reimu.

"During the night, like when you flew over it," corrected Konata, "During the day, it's normally very hot. You're unlikely to see rain or snow and sandstorms get troublesome. However, there does exist technology to change the climate that New Yamaha hope to be able to use to good effect."

Reimu sighed, facing back down, "What does the rest of Gensokyo think? What about the African authorities?"

"They'd prefer to stay near New Yamaha," answered Konata, "The ones that want to meet natives will learn to regret it. The African authorities are actually rather supportive of the three kingdoms. With our occupation of the continent, we contributed to Africa's economy, infrastructure and development. There's no food problems, shelter is now commonplace, inflation is down on par with developed countries. There's now clean water, reliable sources of mains power, good internet access and excellent transport links." She was aware these details were not going to register with the other three. "In short, everywhere else take their comfort for granted."

Reimu stood up, only to fall back down again due to pain in her knee. "Oww..." she moaned, "Well then, it's decided then. Gensokyo reforms in Africa." There was a sudden jolt as their surroundings suddenly changed. It was dawn again, the cold ice replaced by green grass and brown soil. Mountains and trees populated the distant view, a torii gate marking the entrance to the new Hakurei Shrine grounds. The Old Gensokyo was back. Reimu looked around in amazement, "Th-thanks." Marisa grinned, noting Reimu was not objecting to Haruhi's help. Reimu noticed Marisa's expression. She frowned with suspicion, "What?"

"You know, Reimu," began Marisa, "Before Doomsday, I would never have thought you as a leader but since Doomsday you've been taking responsibility for Gensokyo."

"That's because I caused The Bad Apple Incident."

"Okay, look, Reimu," Marisa's eyes twitching with annoyance. She readjusting her hat, "I'm not going to argue about that with you. That's not my point." She looked towards the mountains in the distance. "Gensokyo needs no leader now. Things can go back to how they used to be." Marisa turned back to Reimu with a grin, "You can go back to being the innocent, lazy, penniless miko we all know and love."

"Huh," smirked Reimu, with a laugh, "For once, I'm glad you're right." She turned round to look at the still collapsed shrine. "Well, I guess it's time to get to work," she decided, slowly getting to her feet.

"Uh huh," denied Marisa, picking up Reimu in a cradle hold before she could do anything, "You're injured. Let me take you to my house to get you cleaned up." Marisa flew off with Reimu northwards, clearly not giving her a choice, Cirno and Konata following behind.

"Marisa," flushed Reimu, with surprise, "You're holding me too tightly."

Marisa looked down at Reimu with a smile, "Is that a problem?"

Reimu blinked and paused, "I guess not..."

-

Konata: Loading_Konata_Speaking
"So what about you, Konata?" asked Reimu, with curiosity, as they flew over paths and trees, "Where are you going to live? What are you going to do?"

Konata paused, surprising unsure about how to answer, "Umm... My home would have been in Satte, Saitama, Japan."

"'Would have been'?" repeated Cirno, "Then did your home not come through on Doomsday?"

"Essentially," explained Konata, "But it's more that my home already existed here before Doomsday."

"Wow, how is that possible?"

"You see, my creator was born in Satte but moved out afterwards. The house he lived in was converted into a Lucky Star museum and it was refurbished to look exactly like my house in the anime. I gave it a visit and all my family's stuff was brought there by Doomsday."

"Well, that means you can move right in, right?" questioned Marisa.

"I can't just move in!" cried Konata, shaking her head in a rather humorous panic, "They founded a museum in honour of my source. I can't repay them by taking it away! At least I ought to buy the house from them but I have no money-ey-ey...!" she wailed. If there was something in common with all major groups of the three kingdoms, it would be that most members were penniless.

"But don't you sing?" pointed out Reimu, "Or was that Ritsu?"

"I can sing but I'd feel bad about it," panicked Konata. She began tugging at Reimu's skirt for her ideas, "Hirano Aya's my idol! I don't want her to think me as someone capitalising on her talents!"

"Who's Aya?"

"She's my voice actor, even for my songs!" Konata was whining even louder. Marisa landed in the newly relocated Forest of Magic next to a small house, jumping off the broom onto the dry dirt ground. Konata landed beside them.

Cirno decided to continue hovering above ground, "Ah, is that why she's your idol?" They entered the house, which was noticeably very messy. Books, paper and memorabilia littered the floor and corners of the rooms, with the odd piece of furniture every here and there. Two windows allowed dim light into the main room.

"That's a funny story actually," smiled Konata, with a sudden change in attitude, "She's my idol because she's Haruhi's voice actor. I'm not a Fourth-Waller, so I would never have guessed she was my voice actor. I'd love to have her autograph!" Marisa placed Reimu on a chair in the main room. As she was leaving the room, she took out her Hakkero from her hat, hooking it up in the centre to let it glow and light up the area.

"... Then why don't you?"

Konata immediately reverted back to her whiny phase, "Millions of people round the world want Aya's autograph. Is there a good reason I get priority?"

"You mentioned Aya's Haruhi's voice actor too," called Marisa from behind a wall in the bathroom. Running water could be heard. "What's Haruhi planning to do?"

"She's missed her third year of high school so she ought to be going into collage this year. But she wants the SOS Brigade and herself to remain as high school students. I don't think she could mentally handle the passing of time." Konata looked at Reimu rather seriously, her whiny phase over for a second time. "Something happened to her while Haruki was in her place. Something that hit home, real hard."

"... So she's not going to get a job?" inquired Reimu as Marisa walked back in with a bowl of warm water.

"She hasn't told me. Seeing how much she's doing for the world, I personally think she should be allowed not to have one."

"What about Ritsu then?" brought up Cirno, who was bobbing up and down in the air. Marisa placed the bowl at Reimu's feet and began taking off Reimu's shoes, which did not go without protest.

Konata sat down on the floor, "Back in North High, she and her band HTT performed for North High residents. Reaction was mostly positive but that was when there was no economy and their voice actors were not in the Colony." She sighed, "They want to continue on, even though four of them have missed their first year of college. To be honest, I've missed my first year of college... but I don't want to work..."

"Isn't that being lazy?" noted Marisa, taking off Reimu's blood-stained socks. She placed Reimu's feet in the bowl and readjusted the bowl's position for Reimu's comfort.

Konata glared at Marisa, "Look who's talking."

"Hey," casually spoke Marisa, standing up and heading back to the bathroom with Reimu's socks, "I'm not going to deny it."

With another sigh, Konata hugged her knees and looked down, "It pains me to think that I found conflict life comfortable."

"Until you got beaten up last night," called Marisa from the bathroom. Konata said nothing in response.

"Umm..." began Cirno, "I was talking to Alice Raymour about her plans for the future. She said she's missed applications to universities but wasn't too worried. Arcania University lets people take gap years, a year of rest between school and university. So as long as she continues her studies as normal, she said it should be fine. The main problem is finding somewhere to study. And a money source."

Marisa came back with a damp cloth, "Can't Haruhi fix all those problems?" She began wiping Reimu's legs tenderly.

Reimu instinctively shivered. She would protest again had Cirno not brought an important point up, "One thing she's definitely succeeding at is making us think twice about what we've been doing this past year," Reimu mumbled sadly. Marisa knew exactly what Reimu was thinking about as she washed the blood off her leg. Reimu had forced the gap year upon Alice.

"Alice has a point," realised Konata, lifting her head. She stood up, full of determination, "I'll study. I'll study. I'll make up for lost time."

"... And about that job?" reminded Marisa, cleaning off Reimu's knee.

"I'll find a job!" proposed Konata, "I'll find a job and..." she froze. "Ahh!" she cried out in realisation, scaring the other three.

"Whoa, calm down there, kid," urged Marisa.

"I'm not a kid," declared Konata, "I'm older than you. Nineteen years old. An adult!" Silence fell, as the three stared at her in honest shock. "Alright, I get it! I'm short!" she wailed.

"No offence," noted Reimu, "But you don't exactly act like an adult."

"Haha!" laughed Konata, puffing her chest out, "You've got to have a childish nature to have fun in life."

"Make your mind up...," Reimu mumbled, "Anyway, what were you saying about that job?" Cirno had caught sight of something out the window, immediately rushing out the building.

"Comiket!" announced Konata with huge excitement. The audience reaction was far less enthusiastic as the others waited in confusion for an explanation. Konata shook her head in disappointment, "It's like a book fair that opens twice a year and sells different things each time. The world's largest." She downplayed her usual vivid and expressive explanation, knowing that the residents of Gensokyo would have trouble understanding. "The last two Comikets were postponed due to our conflict. The next one ought to occur on the 28th, in six days. I really want to go but obviously I'll need money to buy stuff."

"Only six days?" repeated Marisa, turning to Konata, "For the world's biggest fair, surely it'll need weeks if not months to organise?" Reimu noted this rather unexpected piece of insight from Marisa.

Konata did not reply immediately, the truth setting in, "I.... I can miss one more..." she wept.

"Well, Haruhi's an anime fan too, right?" suggested Reimu, "She can revive it in time right?"

Konata shook her head, "She can but Comiket is an event held by all of us, sellers and buyers. Taking shortcuts would be undermining Comiket's spirit."

"Uh... huh..." slowly nodded Reimu, unconvinced, "So... about your job?" Marisa applied an adhesive patch on Reimu's knee.

"I'll find something!" It was clear that Konata was still having trouble deciding.

"Old Gensokyo is a self-sustaining country," comforted Reimu, "I'm sure New Yamaha will be too. If you need any help with anything just give us a visit."

Konata bowed to Reimu, "Thank you very much for your help." She then walked out the building.

-

Marisa: Master Spark
"... Marisa?"

"Yeah, Reimu?"

"How long are you going to be caressing my legs for?"

Marisa thought for a moment, not attempting to stop her hand movements up and down Reimu's right calf, "Hmm... Til you tell me to stop?" she smiled.

Reimu rose an eyebrow, humoured. She patted Marisa on the head with a smile, "Thank you, Marisa."

Marisa turned red, stopping her hand and frowning in confusion, "... For what?"

"For everything. I never realised the amount of work I gave to you. I never realised that you were covering my back. I'm sorry..."

Looking down, Marisa took a second to think, "I needed something to do... I was bored..."

"Hey, Marisa," commented Reimu, "I know you're a lazy person at heart. There was no reason for you to go out of your way."

Marisa sat on her feet in a kneeling position, hands on her knees, head lowered, "It pained me to see the condition you were in after The Bad Apple Incident," she admitted, "You were broken, shattered, a mess. Then after Doomsday, you just holed yourself up in Hawaii and kicked everyone else out in fear even though the rest of Gensokyo was still up in arms... I had to step in. To act as PR."

"PR?"

"Public Relations. Someone else had to act in your steed, to take the blame, to put out the flames, no matter who started the burning. I just felt it was natural for me to fill those shoes. I just wanted you to recover, to go back to what you used to be. I thought we were getting there yesterday. But then... to find you had planned The Fission Strategy..." Marisa tightened her grip on her skirt, tears landing on the back of her hands. Reimu gulped. "That was it for me. If the conflict continued, I would never get the real you back. Fighting would always be on our minds. What was needed to stop this vicious cycle?" Marisa looked up at Reimu, her green eye glowing, Reimu leaning back in fear. "I figured that what it would take was the breaking of The Unwritten Law. I was prepared to die to make you and Yamaha see that this conflict was going to cost lives!" Reimu just open and closed her mouth unable to come up with a reply. "Heh," sighed Marisa, "But Haruhi noticed too and broke into Gensokyo, stealing my thunder. Err... No pun intended," she disclaimed, referring to Haruhi's use of the SOS Thunder Children to break through the Hakurei Barrier. She looked out a window, "The world lives on, believing The Unwritten Law remains and will remain unbroken." Marisa turned to Reimu, her tears dripping off her chin, "North High School's flag will be at half mast today. The Unwritten Law was broken, right in front of our eyes, Reimu. Naluri and Sasaki paid the price for our mistakes." She paused. "Reimu. I want you to promise me something."

"A-anything," Reimu immediately replied, relieved to finally have something appropriate to say.

Marisa leaped at Reimu, embracing her round the waist, "Just stay at home!" she cried, "I don't want to lose you ever again!" Marisa sobbed away, letting out all her bottled emotions from the previous year.

Reimu stroked Marisa's hair, beginning to cry herself, all her memories fresh in her mind. She was now fully aware of the pain she had given her best friend, "I promise, Marisa." She took a deep breath, "In addition, I promise to fulfil Sasaki's Will, to learn from my past, and Naluri's Legacy, not to judge a person by their powers. I also promise to fulfil your Wish, Marisa, to stick to my word." There was a moment of silence as the two smiled at each other. Suddenly, a roar echoed outside, surprising the both of them.

Marisa ran up to a window and looked outside, her eyes widening, "... She actually brought it home?"

"Bought what home?" called Reimu as Marisa rushed past her, grabbing the Hakkero.

"Come see for yourself," coaxed Marisa at the front door with her broom, sliding Reimu shoes to her with her socks inside. The two of them flew outside and towards the relocated Scarlet Devil Mansion and it's also newly relocated lake. The object in question was clear in sight at the lake edge. Reimu and Marisa landed on the Mansion's outside back balcony where Remilia, Alice Margatroid and Patchouli were sat and Sakuya was standing.

"Yo, Reimu," greeted Remilia with a grin, "It would have been nice to have warned us about the scenery."

"I was surprised myself," Reimu admitted, putting back her socks on while hovering. She turned to the large out-of-place object by the balcony, "So... What's REX doing here?"

Metal Gear REX's mouth opened to reveal Nitori in the piloting seat, as expected. "Reimu, Marisa!" called Nitori, full of joy, "Otacon said I could keep him!" Cirno was sat on REX's head while Flandre was sat on the tip of the railgun.

"... Who?"

"Otacon," repeated Marisa, "Real name, Hal Emmerich. REX's programmer, essentially its creator. Erm... In the proper sense, not in the native-newcomer sense. As in, he's a newcomer too."

"Is it alright to keep it?" questioned Reimu, "Isn't it like a weapon of mass destruction?"

Nitori blinked innocently, "Your point?"

"That reminds me," began Marisa, turning to the others, "What going to happen to the other weap- Woah!" Marisa only just realised that Patchouli had been closely staring at her green eye. Far too closely.

"When did you get the green eye?" Patchouli asked, rather shocked, "Are you okay?" She brought a hand up to Marisa's cheek to allow her thumb to open Marisa's green eye a little wider.

"I-I'm fi-"

Alice suddenly pushed Patchouli out the way, "What? Oh dear, I can have that changed for you," she urged, taking hold of Marisa's hand.

Patchouli pushed back in, "It's more conventional to use magic to deal with something like this."

"Hey, hey, hey," interrupted Marisa, "It's my wish to keep it. I'm fine. It's all good." She cleared her throat and spoke again, "As I was saying, is it fine to leave all those weapons of mass destruction with the native countries they were in? At least during the last year, the three kingdoms had complete control of the weapons. But in native hands, they could be misused."

"You haven't noticed yet?" grinned Flandre. Marisa turned to her in confusion. Flandre flew over the lake and landed on something invisible. With a rather evil smile, she folded her arms and stamped. The air shimmered before turning grey.

Marisa walked up to the balcony edge, "Arsenal Gear?"

"I have an unexpected building in my back yard," informed Alice. Marisa turned to Alice for a moment as Reimu flew up into the air, Marisa following after. Flying higher this time, they looked over the Forest of Magic. True to Alice's word, there was a huge building near Alice's house.

"It's the Temple of Gaia," noted Reimu.

"I think Haruhi's letting us and New Yamaha keep the weapons instead of the natives," suggested Marisa, "I know most of us, including Haruhi, consider The Unwritten Law to include inanimate newcomer objects. But should an evil object be preserved?"

"We're probably not the right people to make that decision, being from a calm world. Though I'm pretty sure Raccoon City don't want their zombies back..." Reimu commented, shivering with disgust, "... But that reminds me... Haruhi can't move Area 51."

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