‹ Prequel: Gensokyo 20XX: Rise of Earth
Gensokyo 20XXIV: At Winter's Mercy and the World Without Sunshine
Part I
I wander about a devastated city with a large bundle on my back. Even in a devastated city, food is indeed scarce but I still persist, even scavenging through trash cans for a mere morsel to eat, something to stave off hunger. The trash cans really give nothing, so, I stopped looking through them. I've gotten lucky, catching a few rats here and there. Eventually, this took me Tokyo. As I wandered about, I couldn't help but to notice something scampering within blurry field of vision as I walked through an alleyway. I followed it until I noticed a little crawlspace. I decided to gap into it and to my surprise I discovered two little girls.
At first they were timid but their curiosity prompted them out of hiding. I wrapped my arms around them, saying, "Reimu will like some sisters." I opted to adopt them as my own and bring them back with me. In cradling them in my arms, I asked them what their names were to which they responded in little voices, "Maribel" and "Renko." I found myself fortunate to have met two little girls to survive such a catastophe. Of course, in meeting them, I decided to turn them into youkai so they'd live, even when I and Ran pass on. So far, these two children were the only two humans I have found and I cannot seem to wrap my head around how long they've been on their own with no one close by. Oh well, they had me now and I will not leave here without them. At least, either appeared to be healthy and somewhat well-fed, meaning they weren't too far away from a food source or the person that had provided for them had died recently. I lightly ran my fingers through their hair and found none was falling out. Of course, in doing so, I had elicited their curiousity even more. Maribel promptly reached up to pull my hair and Renko decided to touch my face. After doing so, they buried themselves deeply within my many shawls. "Don't worry, sweethearts, I'll keep you warm and safe." I said. Carrying them within my many shawls and bathrobe, which made me look....pregnant. Oh well, Reimu would like some sisters. I scoured through Tokyo finding food, anything in which I could throw into my bundle. Along with food, I found a first-aid kit and this stuff called milk substitute, also some shoes and several unfrozen jugs of water. Even if those run out, it wouldn't matter as the snow is water, too.
After awhile and while my bundle was extremely large, I started on home. They must be worried about me.
***
"I'm not feeling very well."
***
Sakuya seems to have grown fatigued and she hasn't been feeling very well. Reimu's mother hasn't been well either. From what I could see, it seems Sakuya isn't feeling very well. Of course, that was bound to be, after all she might have the radiation disease and she hasn't eaten in a while, so her feeling ill isn't out the eqaution. In thinking of her illness, I wondered how Reimu's mother is doing, after all, she seems to have gotten better. As she recovers, Sakuya seems to get worse. Hmm, it must be Reimu's mother is more desperate to live, whereas Sakuya is losing her will to.
Interesting sort, I noticed flowers peering out the snow. It's been some time since the war that I seem to have a vague memory of it. Of course, that was bound to be as nature so readily adapts to anything, nuclear holocaust included. However, society isn't like nature and it won't bounce back so easily. Like society, neither will we bounce back so quickly and it will take a long time for us to rebuild anew. Yes, that's it, it will indeed take quite a long time for us rebuild anew. Nature can rebuild quickly in the event of disaster and has done so many times in the past but society isn't like nature and cannot do so. However, even nature has limits and can only rebuild after so many times it has been destroyed. Humans can be destructive sometimes and it seems that humanity had ended their reign during that war amongst the fantasy lands. Of course, the "fantasy lands" were not a fantasy. Me and my daydreaming. Crumbs!
In sniffing these flowers, I wondered about Yukari. It has indeed been awhile since she had vanished without telling. Sometimes, I can hear her voice. That shaky but overall gentle voice she seemed to have. Sometimes, I hear her laughing or wandering around calling out for ducksie and clapping her hands as she does so. I couldn't help but to wonder if she thought ducksie was a lost pet or if she forgot where she was. Hmm, Yukari's gone a bit nuts so I'm not at all surprised if she thought either one. On the other hand, I cannot help to wonder if she died, after all, resources had run scarce and it is unlikely that she would even bother to stay if it meant she would be another mouth to feed. If she truly had left to die, then it would be one final sacrifice she would have made. I could really only hope she died peacefully and, as strange as it seems, happy, satisfied that she leaving this ravaged world.
***
She's returned to
us after a long abscense but she has brought
along some company
***
I knew I shouldn't have doubted Suika's words, after all, she usually doesn't lie but my heart was so shattered I chose not to believe her. I felt awful for doubting her words and I found myself to feel so sick when Yukari did return. When she returned, I was sitting in her room, barely whispering in response to her voice. Of all this time, I was surprised she didn't leave to die. Instead of dying, she went to find food for us and doing so took her a long time. My beloved had to lead me by the hand outside to see her. There she was, before my eyes, standing there with an extremely large bundle on her back and a rounded abdomen. She dropped the bundle from her back and held her arms outstretched, saying, "It is so good to see you again my little kitsune, sorry to have kept you waiting this long." It was a tearful reunion and she had introduced us to the newest members of our family, Maribel and Renko.
They were such little girls and were quite curious, eager to meet and greet anything new. Of course, Yukari wished to turn them into youkai children and I was not at all against her idea, after all, Yukari's border bending abilities can only be used so much and I will only live so long and both of them are very young children. She spent a couple of hours doing so, exhausting the remaining bits of her strength to do so, requiring a long rest afterwards. I'm surprised doing so didn't really kill her. She was fine and all was well. I was just glad she is home with us again. However, there is no real gaurentee that she could stay.
The next day, we found her cooking some of the food while watching the children interact and play. Reimu and Chen seemed to be happy and enjoyed Renko and Maribel's company. For once, Reimu said something and the first thing she's said was, "You come home!" That wasn't the only thing she's said, as she's called Maribel and Renko by their names, the only difference being that Renko she said more less correctly as "Reenko" and Maribel's name was mispronounced as, "Ma'ybel" or "Mariel". They didn't seem to mind her missaying their names, as both were close to her age and neither could really say their own names properly.
Being endlessly curious, they opted to chase Shimmy in attempt to catch her and cuddle her. Shimmy will take some time getting used to them, though.
***
Little wrecked house,
how do we rebuild you to make
you home again?
***
Huzi told me that we were to rebuild our house. Naturally, I wondered how, as doing so would take extremely long and both of our joints hurt when its cold. Also, where were we going to get the building materials? I was rather doubtful of Huzi's plan but, then again, I decided to go with it, after all, it is better this way and I would like a house. As we went on taking apart the furniture for materials, Huzi removed her mittens and placed them on my hands, taking my torn and ragged mittens from me, placing them on her hands. I couldn't understand why it was she would do that, giving me the things that kept her hands safe from the cold, the things she were so her joints wouldn't hurt. She was suffering, so I wouldn't have to. She wanted my joints to be protected from the cold and suffer the pain of her cold joints, rather than have me suffer pain from cold joints.
Rebuilding our house tired and took a toll on us to such an extent that Mokou's hands were red, bleeding, and swollen and I could hardly move. The sun we couldn't see was starting to go down and the snow was falling yet again. Being so exhausted, Huzi fell asleep. I draped the tarp over her like a blanket, saying, "Thank you for giving me your mittens, Huzi." Like when the bomb hit, I held onto her for dear life. For once, in a long time, Mokou felt warm.
***
"Sakuya dearest, are you alright?"
"Just waiting for the emercency services to arrive..."
***
As of late, I have designated myself as Sakuya's caregiver and she hasn't been in the best of mind and health. She's been sick a few times in the night and throughout the day. She spends most of her time in bed quite often, yes, and she never did seem to be able arise. She's wanted nothing more than something to live for and held out hope that the emergency services would arrive. Even though I knew it would be better to tell her the truth, I couldn't for fear of breaking her heart. She was close to death and we knew not how much long she has to live, so, in her final times, it would be best to allow her to die happy. Alas, she seemed to be unaware that she was nearing the end. She would stare out of the window-frame, with half opened and dimmed blue eyes, muttering something about the emergency services arriving. Everytime, I would visit her, I felt my heart shatter and I would just wish that she would just fall asleep and never awake, a peaceful death, just as she will have liked and nicer end to her suffering.
One day, I found her struggling to get into her clothes. I couldn't understand why it is she's even gotten out of bed at all, being so very ill. When I asked her if she was alright, she answered, "Just waiting for the emergency services to arrive..." She had promptly fainted, a faltering smile on her face. I checked for a pulse. There was one but I doubt she'd awake. I put her back into bed, my heart shattering into peices. I pulled a white sheet over her head, saying, "Sleep well, Sakuya dear." She wasn't dead yet but I doubt she would come out of her comatose state. A couple of days later, she awoke, to my surprise but she couldn't get out of bed. When she saw me, she told me she tasted something funny. I pointed out that gums were bleeding and that she might have severe gingivitis.
Still, she asked me if the emergency services were to arrive. Naturally, not wanting to crush her hopes, I replied, "Yes, they will come and they will take you to the dentist to have your gum diseased fixed." Over the next few weeks, she mentioned something of strange spots on her arms and legs, blood when she goes to the toilet, and an even more persistant headache, nausea, and fever.
After awhile, death started to take her bit by bit. As she was in her final hours, she looked at me and said, "They'll come when I'm asleep, will they?" I told her to sleep well and that she'll need all of her rest for when they come, taking her hand as I did so. After telling her that, I opted to tell her of all the happy things that she'd like and continued doing so, until, she said, "No more, Yuuka, no more, I'm too tired to hear any more." She closed her eyes and her hand started go limp. As a tear rolled down my face, I said, "Good night, Sakuya dear, say hello to Flandre, Remilia, Meiling, and Patchouli for me."
She never awoke
***
She's very talkative
Yes, she is indeed very talkative but what
will she say
now?
***
Reimu naturally is very talkative. She engages in various conversations with the others, even moreso, since we opted to share our house with the others and them helping rebuilding it so it could suit everyone living here. One by one, I've seen her engage in a conversation, speaking in no more than utterances. For someone who is still learning how to talk, she seems to be rather articulate. One such time, I noticed how she seems to engaging in some conversation Maribel. Maribel was giggling and Reimu was communicating as she normally did, saying utterances, like, "Sugar pretty!" and then saying sentences like, "I happy you here, Ma'ybel." She clapped her little hands afterward, showing she was very happy. It wasn't long before Maribel shared in her happiness and started to clap along with her.
It seems the bomb nor this winter faze her and she seemed to be oblivious to it all. It wasn't just her it didn't faze, it didn't seem to faze Maribel or Renko, two very small once human children. If it had, then they I see no symptoms of it and both behave like a very communicative Reimu, as well as cling to Yukari to whom they see as their mother. I was baffled by how three little children can bounce back from experiencing something that would be of great trauma, then again, Reimu could bounce back because she was asleep during the entire thing, though, how she managed to sleep through that is mystery to me. As for Maribel and Renko on the other hand, I cannot help but to be curious. They seem to be absolutely unfazed by everything, even the deaths of their parents (that reminds me, what the hell happened to their parents?!) and being alone for an undestined amount of time, something most children would go feral from or turn more or less into Reimu, who both Maribel and Renko, mostly Maribel, clearly speak more or less on the level of.
As I observed, I heard Maribel say, "Love you, too, Reimu." and then she clapped her hands even more. It was a unique sort of communication the two seemed to use. After a bit of talking, they started to touch each other's faces, then hair, and then faces again. Soon after, Renko joined them and they went through it again, talking, laughing, and clapping hands with each other, acting like children should. It seems they also like to share meals, for some reason, and Reimu is just as talkative with them as ever. Apparently, she just has lots to say.
***
"That reminds me, where on earth do we go the toilet? The house has no toilet."
"Apparently, we go outside, about a few feet off from the house."
"I suppose that's just alright, after all, there isn't any sort of plumbing, but where do we wash?"
"Outside."
"You don't mean outside in the snow?!"
"Yes, that's what fat ass has been doing the entire time."
"Yukari's not right in the head, so I will have expected as much, but the rest of us?!"
"Well, it's better than bathing where we eat and sleep."
***
Who on earth rebuilds a house without a toilet? Of course, Yukari's put the together the whole thing of rebuilding this house, so it is likely that we don't have enough material to build a bathroom, that and there is no plumbing. I can understand going outside, as that would indeed be the correct thing, but bathing outside is something I'll have hard time understanding. I expect this sort thing out of Yukari, who isn't right in the head, however, so that would be expected but of the rest of us? The children? They can't possibly bathe in the snow, it's much too cold! I wonder if Yukari has ever thought about that. I sure hope she had because I will not stand for such nonsense.
I remember when I proposed the thought of that to Ran, who promptly responds, "Yukari bathes them inside, by the fire. The children can bath inside but the rest of us will have to bathe outside." Fuff! I suppose I'll have to make do, no one said this was going to like a picnic in the park.
***
To want is
Something that cannot be attained
However, there is
Hope
At first they were timid but their curiosity prompted them out of hiding. I wrapped my arms around them, saying, "Reimu will like some sisters." I opted to adopt them as my own and bring them back with me. In cradling them in my arms, I asked them what their names were to which they responded in little voices, "Maribel" and "Renko." I found myself fortunate to have met two little girls to survive such a catastophe. Of course, in meeting them, I decided to turn them into youkai so they'd live, even when I and Ran pass on. So far, these two children were the only two humans I have found and I cannot seem to wrap my head around how long they've been on their own with no one close by. Oh well, they had me now and I will not leave here without them. At least, either appeared to be healthy and somewhat well-fed, meaning they weren't too far away from a food source or the person that had provided for them had died recently. I lightly ran my fingers through their hair and found none was falling out. Of course, in doing so, I had elicited their curiousity even more. Maribel promptly reached up to pull my hair and Renko decided to touch my face. After doing so, they buried themselves deeply within my many shawls. "Don't worry, sweethearts, I'll keep you warm and safe." I said. Carrying them within my many shawls and bathrobe, which made me look....pregnant. Oh well, Reimu would like some sisters. I scoured through Tokyo finding food, anything in which I could throw into my bundle. Along with food, I found a first-aid kit and this stuff called milk substitute, also some shoes and several unfrozen jugs of water. Even if those run out, it wouldn't matter as the snow is water, too.
After awhile and while my bundle was extremely large, I started on home. They must be worried about me.
***
"I'm not feeling very well."
***
Sakuya seems to have grown fatigued and she hasn't been feeling very well. Reimu's mother hasn't been well either. From what I could see, it seems Sakuya isn't feeling very well. Of course, that was bound to be, after all she might have the radiation disease and she hasn't eaten in a while, so her feeling ill isn't out the eqaution. In thinking of her illness, I wondered how Reimu's mother is doing, after all, she seems to have gotten better. As she recovers, Sakuya seems to get worse. Hmm, it must be Reimu's mother is more desperate to live, whereas Sakuya is losing her will to.
Interesting sort, I noticed flowers peering out the snow. It's been some time since the war that I seem to have a vague memory of it. Of course, that was bound to be as nature so readily adapts to anything, nuclear holocaust included. However, society isn't like nature and it won't bounce back so easily. Like society, neither will we bounce back so quickly and it will take a long time for us to rebuild anew. Yes, that's it, it will indeed take quite a long time for us rebuild anew. Nature can rebuild quickly in the event of disaster and has done so many times in the past but society isn't like nature and cannot do so. However, even nature has limits and can only rebuild after so many times it has been destroyed. Humans can be destructive sometimes and it seems that humanity had ended their reign during that war amongst the fantasy lands. Of course, the "fantasy lands" were not a fantasy. Me and my daydreaming. Crumbs!
In sniffing these flowers, I wondered about Yukari. It has indeed been awhile since she had vanished without telling. Sometimes, I can hear her voice. That shaky but overall gentle voice she seemed to have. Sometimes, I hear her laughing or wandering around calling out for ducksie and clapping her hands as she does so. I couldn't help but to wonder if she thought ducksie was a lost pet or if she forgot where she was. Hmm, Yukari's gone a bit nuts so I'm not at all surprised if she thought either one. On the other hand, I cannot help to wonder if she died, after all, resources had run scarce and it is unlikely that she would even bother to stay if it meant she would be another mouth to feed. If she truly had left to die, then it would be one final sacrifice she would have made. I could really only hope she died peacefully and, as strange as it seems, happy, satisfied that she leaving this ravaged world.
***
She's returned to
us after a long abscense but she has brought
along some company
***
I knew I shouldn't have doubted Suika's words, after all, she usually doesn't lie but my heart was so shattered I chose not to believe her. I felt awful for doubting her words and I found myself to feel so sick when Yukari did return. When she returned, I was sitting in her room, barely whispering in response to her voice. Of all this time, I was surprised she didn't leave to die. Instead of dying, she went to find food for us and doing so took her a long time. My beloved had to lead me by the hand outside to see her. There she was, before my eyes, standing there with an extremely large bundle on her back and a rounded abdomen. She dropped the bundle from her back and held her arms outstretched, saying, "It is so good to see you again my little kitsune, sorry to have kept you waiting this long." It was a tearful reunion and she had introduced us to the newest members of our family, Maribel and Renko.
They were such little girls and were quite curious, eager to meet and greet anything new. Of course, Yukari wished to turn them into youkai children and I was not at all against her idea, after all, Yukari's border bending abilities can only be used so much and I will only live so long and both of them are very young children. She spent a couple of hours doing so, exhausting the remaining bits of her strength to do so, requiring a long rest afterwards. I'm surprised doing so didn't really kill her. She was fine and all was well. I was just glad she is home with us again. However, there is no real gaurentee that she could stay.
The next day, we found her cooking some of the food while watching the children interact and play. Reimu and Chen seemed to be happy and enjoyed Renko and Maribel's company. For once, Reimu said something and the first thing she's said was, "You come home!" That wasn't the only thing she's said, as she's called Maribel and Renko by their names, the only difference being that Renko she said more less correctly as "Reenko" and Maribel's name was mispronounced as, "Ma'ybel" or "Mariel". They didn't seem to mind her missaying their names, as both were close to her age and neither could really say their own names properly.
Being endlessly curious, they opted to chase Shimmy in attempt to catch her and cuddle her. Shimmy will take some time getting used to them, though.
***
Little wrecked house,
how do we rebuild you to make
you home again?
***
Huzi told me that we were to rebuild our house. Naturally, I wondered how, as doing so would take extremely long and both of our joints hurt when its cold. Also, where were we going to get the building materials? I was rather doubtful of Huzi's plan but, then again, I decided to go with it, after all, it is better this way and I would like a house. As we went on taking apart the furniture for materials, Huzi removed her mittens and placed them on my hands, taking my torn and ragged mittens from me, placing them on her hands. I couldn't understand why it was she would do that, giving me the things that kept her hands safe from the cold, the things she were so her joints wouldn't hurt. She was suffering, so I wouldn't have to. She wanted my joints to be protected from the cold and suffer the pain of her cold joints, rather than have me suffer pain from cold joints.
Rebuilding our house tired and took a toll on us to such an extent that Mokou's hands were red, bleeding, and swollen and I could hardly move. The sun we couldn't see was starting to go down and the snow was falling yet again. Being so exhausted, Huzi fell asleep. I draped the tarp over her like a blanket, saying, "Thank you for giving me your mittens, Huzi." Like when the bomb hit, I held onto her for dear life. For once, in a long time, Mokou felt warm.
***
"Sakuya dearest, are you alright?"
"Just waiting for the emercency services to arrive..."
***
As of late, I have designated myself as Sakuya's caregiver and she hasn't been in the best of mind and health. She's been sick a few times in the night and throughout the day. She spends most of her time in bed quite often, yes, and she never did seem to be able arise. She's wanted nothing more than something to live for and held out hope that the emergency services would arrive. Even though I knew it would be better to tell her the truth, I couldn't for fear of breaking her heart. She was close to death and we knew not how much long she has to live, so, in her final times, it would be best to allow her to die happy. Alas, she seemed to be unaware that she was nearing the end. She would stare out of the window-frame, with half opened and dimmed blue eyes, muttering something about the emergency services arriving. Everytime, I would visit her, I felt my heart shatter and I would just wish that she would just fall asleep and never awake, a peaceful death, just as she will have liked and nicer end to her suffering.
One day, I found her struggling to get into her clothes. I couldn't understand why it is she's even gotten out of bed at all, being so very ill. When I asked her if she was alright, she answered, "Just waiting for the emergency services to arrive..." She had promptly fainted, a faltering smile on her face. I checked for a pulse. There was one but I doubt she'd awake. I put her back into bed, my heart shattering into peices. I pulled a white sheet over her head, saying, "Sleep well, Sakuya dear." She wasn't dead yet but I doubt she would come out of her comatose state. A couple of days later, she awoke, to my surprise but she couldn't get out of bed. When she saw me, she told me she tasted something funny. I pointed out that gums were bleeding and that she might have severe gingivitis.
Still, she asked me if the emergency services were to arrive. Naturally, not wanting to crush her hopes, I replied, "Yes, they will come and they will take you to the dentist to have your gum diseased fixed." Over the next few weeks, she mentioned something of strange spots on her arms and legs, blood when she goes to the toilet, and an even more persistant headache, nausea, and fever.
After awhile, death started to take her bit by bit. As she was in her final hours, she looked at me and said, "They'll come when I'm asleep, will they?" I told her to sleep well and that she'll need all of her rest for when they come, taking her hand as I did so. After telling her that, I opted to tell her of all the happy things that she'd like and continued doing so, until, she said, "No more, Yuuka, no more, I'm too tired to hear any more." She closed her eyes and her hand started go limp. As a tear rolled down my face, I said, "Good night, Sakuya dear, say hello to Flandre, Remilia, Meiling, and Patchouli for me."
She never awoke
***
She's very talkative
Yes, she is indeed very talkative but what
will she say
now?
***
Reimu naturally is very talkative. She engages in various conversations with the others, even moreso, since we opted to share our house with the others and them helping rebuilding it so it could suit everyone living here. One by one, I've seen her engage in a conversation, speaking in no more than utterances. For someone who is still learning how to talk, she seems to be rather articulate. One such time, I noticed how she seems to engaging in some conversation Maribel. Maribel was giggling and Reimu was communicating as she normally did, saying utterances, like, "Sugar pretty!" and then saying sentences like, "I happy you here, Ma'ybel." She clapped her little hands afterward, showing she was very happy. It wasn't long before Maribel shared in her happiness and started to clap along with her.
It seems the bomb nor this winter faze her and she seemed to be oblivious to it all. It wasn't just her it didn't faze, it didn't seem to faze Maribel or Renko, two very small once human children. If it had, then they I see no symptoms of it and both behave like a very communicative Reimu, as well as cling to Yukari to whom they see as their mother. I was baffled by how three little children can bounce back from experiencing something that would be of great trauma, then again, Reimu could bounce back because she was asleep during the entire thing, though, how she managed to sleep through that is mystery to me. As for Maribel and Renko on the other hand, I cannot help but to be curious. They seem to be absolutely unfazed by everything, even the deaths of their parents (that reminds me, what the hell happened to their parents?!) and being alone for an undestined amount of time, something most children would go feral from or turn more or less into Reimu, who both Maribel and Renko, mostly Maribel, clearly speak more or less on the level of.
As I observed, I heard Maribel say, "Love you, too, Reimu." and then she clapped her hands even more. It was a unique sort of communication the two seemed to use. After a bit of talking, they started to touch each other's faces, then hair, and then faces again. Soon after, Renko joined them and they went through it again, talking, laughing, and clapping hands with each other, acting like children should. It seems they also like to share meals, for some reason, and Reimu is just as talkative with them as ever. Apparently, she just has lots to say.
***
"That reminds me, where on earth do we go the toilet? The house has no toilet."
"Apparently, we go outside, about a few feet off from the house."
"I suppose that's just alright, after all, there isn't any sort of plumbing, but where do we wash?"
"Outside."
"You don't mean outside in the snow?!"
"Yes, that's what fat ass has been doing the entire time."
"Yukari's not right in the head, so I will have expected as much, but the rest of us?!"
"Well, it's better than bathing where we eat and sleep."
***
Who on earth rebuilds a house without a toilet? Of course, Yukari's put the together the whole thing of rebuilding this house, so it is likely that we don't have enough material to build a bathroom, that and there is no plumbing. I can understand going outside, as that would indeed be the correct thing, but bathing outside is something I'll have hard time understanding. I expect this sort thing out of Yukari, who isn't right in the head, however, so that would be expected but of the rest of us? The children? They can't possibly bathe in the snow, it's much too cold! I wonder if Yukari has ever thought about that. I sure hope she had because I will not stand for such nonsense.
I remember when I proposed the thought of that to Ran, who promptly responds, "Yukari bathes them inside, by the fire. The children can bath inside but the rest of us will have to bathe outside." Fuff! I suppose I'll have to make do, no one said this was going to like a picnic in the park.
***
To want is
Something that cannot be attained
However, there is
Hope