Loading User Commands:
[X] Change the subject. "So... what's for lunch? And I don't believe we've met before."

---

Vincent squeezes Youmu's hand in return before letting her go. While he certainly feels happy that Youmu is on his side, he can't let this misunderstanding get any more complicated. The best thing he can do now is to try to change the subject.

"A-anyway," he starts, raising both his hands toward the stranger in grey robes, "I don't believe we've met before."

"E-eh?" says the stranger. The guy looks startled. Perhaps he should introduce himself first.

"My name is Vincent," says Vincent. "I am a guest of Hakugyokurou. Nice to meet you."

The stranger nods politely, though he still looks worried about something.

"I am Grimnír. I'm an apprentice magician of sorts." returns the stranger. "Pleasure to make your acquaintance."

Vincent walks over the Grimnír, and they shake hands. The magician still seems a bit distracted, but he smiles at the gesture. He seems like a good guy; maybe they can talk more over lunch. Somehow, Vincent feels that the guy is in a similar type of mess, so he doesn't push the subject any further.

"So... what's for lunch?" says Vincent.

"Oh no!" cries Youmu. She hurries over to the counter where she was cooking earlier.

"I took care of it while you were... busy," Grimnír returns. "Don't worry about it."

"Thank you very much!" Youmu says, complete with a formal bow.

Grimnír carefully transfers his now cooked dish onto a plate and prepares to carry it out with a tray.

"I'll take these to the dining room," says the magician before heading out of the kitchen. He seems to be in a hurry for some reason.

"Hey Vincent," calls out Komachi. "Could you taste this and see if it's any good?"

"No! No! No!" cries Chen suddenly. "Big brother is going to taste this soup first!"

"Ara? Maybe we should let him decide for himself~" says Yuyuko.

Komachi frowns slightly at his hesitation; maybe she is worried about how her stir-fry tastes. Yuyuko doesn't look too bothered, but Chen looks like she will pout if he doesn't give her a little attention. Youmu seems to be busy catching up with her own cooking. Grimnír already left the kitchen; he must be heading toward the dining room.

[ ] Taste Komachi's stir-fry first. She seems worried about her cooking.
[ ] Have a sample of the soup Yuyuko and Chen made. Chen looks in need of attention.
[ ] Help Youmu with her cooking. She still hasn't finished the last two dishes.
[ ] Make up an excuse and see what Grimnír is up to. You need to get out of here.
[ ] Custom

Loading User Commands:
[X] "She is someone important to me."
[X] Hold her hand tightly.

---

"Ara?" says Yuyuko with a smile. "Then why are you still holding hands, I wonder~"

Youmu gasps, her cheeks a bright red in embarrassment. She opens her mouth to argue, but she only mumbles incoherently. Vincent can feel her hand shaking nervously. Once again, they have ended up in the middle of a misunderstanding.

"There is a perfectly good explanation for this," returns Vincent. Honestly, he has no idea how to best explain the situation without mentioning the seal.

Yuyuko's smile widens as she waits for him to continue. Komachi seems to be listening intently, though she seems to be in a slight shock. Chen is frowning at him, but says nothing. The guy wearing the grey robes seems to be fully focused on his cooking.

"T-that is, umm..."

Why is he still holding her hand? He only met Youmu yesterday, and they are definitely not in that kind of relationship. They are simply friends, perhaps fellow sword wielders, and there is no need for such close contact. Holding hands here is inappropriate, to say the least. There is absolutely no good reason for him to continue holding her delicate soft hand. His mind continues enumerating the different perfectly logical reasons why he should let go of her right now.

"Err..."

Yet he can't. He can't let go of her. His body refuses to let go of her hand. Just the thought of letting her go is unexplainably painful. He doesn't understand the reason or cause. His chest tightens as he thinks of her. Who is this person? What is she to him?. All he knows is that he has to stay close to this person. He must stay by her side, always. He needs to protect her, keep her safe from harm and regret. He would rather slice off his own arm than hurt her. She is...

"She is someone important to me," says Vincent.

Without any hesitation, he tightens his grip on Youmu's hand, as if to reassure her. Youmu's eyes widen, and her body doesn't stop shuddering, but she doesn't pull her hand away. She is clearly shocked, but thankfully, she doesn't seem angry.

Silence fills the room. Slowly, rational thinking starts to return to Vincent. What the hell was he thinking? Won't this make the situation even more complicated?

Yuyuko, Chen, and Komachi continue staring intently, waiting for him to finish. The guy in grey robes is still busy with his cooking, though he seems a bit distracted (Who was that guy anyway? He hasn't seen him here before). Youmu stays silent as well, glancing at Vincent from time to time. The half-ghost squeezes his hand ever so slightly, as if to affirm whatever he is about to say or do next.

[ ] Custom

Youmu doesn't say anything, but slowly she looks behind him. Vincent, following her gaze, becomes painfully aware that everyone in the room has stopped to watch them.

There are four different pairs of eyes staring at them: Komachi, Yuyuko, Chen, and some strange guy in grey robes. Perhaps he should try to be a bit more subtle with this task.

"I hid it inside my ghost half," whispers Youmu. She seems to be completely embarrassed. He really should have thought this through earlier, but he doesn't know if he will have another chance.

Vincent grabs Youmu's hand and quickly drags her behind one of the shelves at the back. This place looks good enough. Hidden behind the countless ingredients and boxes, he is sure that none of the others can see what they are going to do.

There isn't enough time to explain. Vincent quickly lays his hands on Youmu's ghost half and begins stroking its surface. Slowly, he chants the command word to reset the seal. Like before, he finds himself deep into the sealing trance. By the time he is finished, he almost collapses from exhaustion.

"A-are you alright?" cries Youmu.

"This should be enough for another two days," he mutters with a smile. "Anyway, we should go back before the others suspect something."

Together, the half-ghost and ghost hunter step out from the shelves. Surely, there is some kind of misunderstanding, but the issue of urgency has been resolved. With the seal reset, he can focus on other problems for a while.

"Sorry about that. I just needed to have an urgent talk with Youmu," Vincent says. "Strictly business," he adds.

Youmu nods in agreement, though her face is still quite red.

"Ara?" says Yuyuko with a smile. "Then why are you still holding hands, I wonder~ I wonder~"

Vincent argues...
[ ] Don't say anything, then leave the kitchen.
[ ] Mumble something, then try to change the subject.
[ ] "Youmu is just a friend."
[ ] "She is someone important to me."
[ ] "I-I-I love her!"
[ ] Custom

He is still holding Youmu...
[ ] Let go of her hands immediately.
[ ] Wait for Youmu to pull her hand away.
[ ] Hold her hand tightly.

Loading User Commands:
[X] Head over to the kitchen. He might find someone there.

---

Vincent takes a seat on one of the cushions as he tries to calm himself. Closing his eyes, he starts with some simple breathing exercise. After relaxing his heartbeat, he starts some image training to help himself focus. Slowly, his mind begins to clear, but somehow, he still doubts his senses. He needs to confirm that he has returned.

Someone. He needs to find someone. He has to talk to someone. He must find out if everything was an elaborate delusion. This must be some kind of waking nightmare.

Without further hesitation, he stands up and takes his things before leaving the room. He heads straight for the kitchen. They must still be preparing lunch. Perhaps he can offer to help out as well.

The walk toward the kitchen is uneventful. Vincent takes this time to make sure his weapons are ready, just in case. He rearranges his scabbard to make sure that he can draw his sword quickly. The crossbow is slung comfortably on his back; while heavy, the weapon has pretty good range and accuracy. He checks his Peacemaker, making sure that it isn't easily visible.

He nods to himself as he spots the door to the kitchen. No matter what happens, this time, he is prepared.

...

Vincent surveys the room as he enters. Seems like everyone is helping out with the cooking. Yuyuko and Chen are happily chatting as they prepare soup. Komachi seems to be serious with some kind of stir-fry dish. Youmu seems to be cooking two dishes while supervising another person he doesn't recognize.

Youmu? Vincent stares at the half-ghost, as if he hasn't seen her for years. He can't explain it, but something deep inside him feels so tight. This person is his friend, maybe moreso. He can't let anything happen to her.

Without a word, Vincent walks straight toward Youmu, who, in her diligence, didn't notice his approach until he was only a few steps beside her.

"Ah! V-Vincent?" cries Youmu.

There isn't enough time to waste. He has to reset the seal before anything else happens. Quickly, he moves closer to her ear to whisper.

"Where is the seal?" he asks quietly.

For a moment, Youmu stays silent, blushing furiously.

Extra: Lectured!

"Wake up!" cries a loud voice.

She slowly opens a single eye to see who was speaking. She recognizes the person immediately. Somehow, the scene seems strange. That can't possibly be right. Maybe she's just having another strange dream. She closes her eyes again to go back to sleep, but the person kicks her hard in the stomach.

"W-what the hell, Komachi?" she shouts.

"Wake up, you lazy bum! And don't even start with the excuses! Falling asleep on the job is unacceptable! Unacceptable, I tell you!"

"E-eh?" she mutters.

"Just open your eyes for a minute! Look at how many souls are lined up for judgment," Komachi cries, pointing at the line behind her.

There are ten, twenty, thirty? No, there are over fifty souls lined up before her desk. The souls shake and shudder impatiently as they wait in line. While they can't speak, she can sense that they are very much irritated.

"H-how did this happen?" asks Shiki.

"Don't tell me you don't know?" Komachi says, clearly exasperated. "I've been working hard the past few days ferrying souls! Unlike you, I have to work hard to retain my position as a Shikigami. Then suddenly, I hear a report that none of the souls I sent to you have received their judgment!"

"I-I don't understand! What's going on?" cries Shiki. She barely fights off the urge to weep.

"The souls! They need to be judged, and quickly! I heard that the higher ups are going to send an Inspector today!" says Komachi.

"An inspection? Today?" Shiki says. She can feel herself shuddering in panic.

"Yes! Today! And I heard that they are going to replace you if they aren't satisfied. The last time they visited, they caught you asleep on the job again. I was surprised that they didn't fire you right away, honestly."

"Again? No! This must be a mistake! I've always done my job properly!" says Shiki, almost in tears.

"Then why have I caught you drooling all over your desk? Geez, it must be nice to have such a cushy desk job where you can lazily nap all day. The rest of us have to work our asses off out on the field! I didn't get that commendation for nothing, you know!"

Komachi starts lecturing her on proper work ethic, but before she can finish, a towering presence comes into the Yama's office. She can hardly believe her eyes - the Judge of Judges has arrived for the inspection. Komachi greets the Judge cordially, and to Shiki's surprise, the Judge smiles at the Shikigami, complimenting her on her outstanding performance. Komachi blushes briefly before thanking the Judge for noticing her efforts.

Something isn't right. Shiki takes a glance at the long line of angry souls, then at the tall piles of unfinished paperwork on her desk. There are empty containers of cup noodles and beer cans laying all over the floor. A glance at her mirror tells her that her hair is a mess, and it seems like she hasn't taken a bath in days.

"No. No! NO! This can't be happening!" Shiki cries out.

And just then, she opens her eyes. She looks around and finds that she is back in her bedroom. She rushes out of bed and is half-way finished dressing herself before she realizes that today is her day off. Calming herself down, she buries her head into her pillow and let's out her tears freely.

After a few minutes, she finally gets up to make herself some breakfast.

"I need a vacation," she mutters.

Loading User Commands:
[X] Return to your room. You need weapons.
[X] Head to the dining room. Lunch should be ready soon.

---

Vincent has felt this sensation before, and it never meant anything good. He may be brave, but fighting alone and unarmed is just too foolish. He isn't going to die for nothing; not here, or at any other place. He moans in pain as he forces his legs to move. This isn't the time to lick his wounds and rest; he must flee. In moments, he breaks out into a run as he heads back into the safety of the mansion.

They can't follow him there. Not there. Why can't they follow him there? He doesn't remember, really. But it does sound like a good enough idea. He stays on course and heads back to the mansion.

Suddenly, the images flash in his head again. A field of spears. A severed leg. A young girl's doll. But he manages to stay on his feet. He isn't going to. He isn't going to die here. He isn't going to die here!

"Not here!" he mutters as he runs forth.

Weapons. He needs weapons. He isn't going down without a fight. Quickly, he makes his way back to his room to collect his favored instruments. A longsword, forged with blessed steel; he still thinks it looks expensive. After checking the blade's sharpness, he returns it to its scabbard and ties it to his waist. A crossbow armed with fifteen silver-tipped bolts; surely these will hurt when they hit. He slings this behind him, as it is quite bulky. A Colt Peacemaker, heavily modified by the Church and loaded with five specially made rounds; just what he needs for emergencies. The pistol he pockets in his coat, making sure that it is well hidden.

With renewed confidence, Vincent steps out of the room and waits for his opponents to arrive. Now that he is prepared, they can come at him. He will play their game as much as they like. And so he waits. And he waits. And he waits a little bit more.

"..."

His mind must be playing tricks on him. No one is there. However, he does feel much safer, now that he is armed. He steps calmly toward the dining room. For some reason, a warm cup of tea sounds really great right now. He arrives at his destination without fanfare or incident, but no one seems to be inside. However, he does notice that two of the sitting cushions around the table have been disturbed recently.

Vincent still feels a bit shaken.

[ ] Head over to the kitchen. He might find someone there.
[ ] Take a seat and wait patiently. You need to calm down.
[ ] Make yourself some tea. You can see a pot of hot water nearby.
[ ] Leave the crossbow beside your seat. It is bulky.
[ ] Custom

Loading User Commands:
[X] Follow the mysterious figure. Is that Youmu?
[X] Custom

---

Green and white clothing - is that Youmu? Maybe she is taking care of her gardening duty. She did seem to be very dedicated to her work. But even then, this is a bit strange. She said that she was heading to the kitchen to prepare lunch, didn't she?

"Hey!" Vincent calls out. However, the person simply walks deeper into the garden. How impolite.

He jogs after the stranger. He needs to find out who that person is. Somehow, he feels an odd sense of familiarity. He has seen this person before. He has spoken with this person before. But why is he feeling nervous all of a sudden? This isn't like him.

"Hey, you!" he cries out loudly. "Wait up!"

He can hear the stranger stop in his tracks. Upon closer inspection, he is sure that this person isn't Youmu. For one thing, the person seems to be a man. The stranger is wearing a long green and white set of clothing of Eastern design. He seems to be carrying a pair of long blades at his waist. If only he can see the man's face...

"Argh!"

That pain again - it is cleaving even deeper into his mind. Deeper and deeper it buries itself into his head. With each passing moment, he feels it wedge into his skull like a great axe. He crumples down on the ground. He can't even sit up. The pain is far too great. Why? Why must he feel such pain? Why must he feel such hatred? Why must he feel such sorrow? Why?

Suddenly, several images flash through his vision. There is no sound. There is no color. But he can see it all clearly. A field of spears shining in the sunset. A severed leg, discarded like an old piece of meat. A young girl's doll left forgotten on the ground. Again and again, the same images, as if he was watching an old silent film. But the pain. Why doesn't it stop? This pain is too much. Can't speak. Can't breathe. Can't think.

"..."

He doesn't remember how long he lay shaking on the ground. It felt like months, maybe years. Time has little meaning under that kind of anguish. He waits until he regains control of his muscles and nerves.

"What the hell?"

It feels cold. Get out of here. A chill wind blows as Vincent carefully stands up. Get out of here. Somehow, this sensation feels oddly familiar. Get out of here. It is as if he has felt this sensation many times before.

Vincent looks around. He doesn't see anyone nearby.

[ ] Continue walking leisurely. It must be your imagination.
[ ] Continue walking leisurely. This place is safe.
[ ] Head to the dining room. Lunch should be ready soon.
[ ] Head to the kitchen. Maybe you can help out.
[ ] Return to your room. You need weapons.
[ ] Return to your room. Search your things carefully.
[ ] Custom

Loading User Commands:
[X] Take a walk around the grounds.
[X] Custom

---

"I need to clear my head," Vincent mutters to himself.

While resting in his room may be the obvious option, he doesn't really feel tired. In fact, he feels pretty refreshed for some reason. Heading to the dining room might be good, but he won't have any time alone. While he feels like helping out at the kitchen, the atmosphere between Youmu and himself is just too awkward at the moment.

"Might as well take a walk."

Like yesterday, the walk around the mansion is uneventful. He finds some time to relax and think. Slowly, he recalls the recent events that transpired when he arrived here. Despite being a den of ghosts, Hakugyokurou seems to be a pretty safe place. He wonders idly about what would have happened if he didn't find this place.

"..."

Somehow, he feels like he is forgetting something, but what? He carefully backtracks the events in his mind as he walks. It can't be something too important, can it? Vincent checks his pockets absent-mindedly. Everything seems to be accounted for. Everything except...

"Oh shit!" he says aloud.

The black book - he can't find it! Thankfully, he still remembers the command word to reset the seal on Youmu's ghost core. However, without that book, he won't be able to remove the seal. He is sure that the book contains other useful rituals as well. Where could he have dropped it?

Suddenly, he hears some rustling in the bushes. He turns toward the sound. Someone seems to be walking deeper into the garden. The person seems to be wearing something green and white. That is strange. Isn't Youmu supposed to be cooking?

[ ] Follow the mysterious figure. Is that Youmu?
[ ] Head to the dining room. Lunch should be ready soon.
[ ] Return to your room. Search your things carefully.
[ ] Keep on walking. Stay calm and take it easy.
[ ] Custom

Loading User Commands:
[X] Pull away from her slowly.

---

His memories are vague, but the events of the past few days are coming back to him. He remembers the battle at the church, and the trek down the catacombs. After several days, he reached the end of a mysterious passageway into this strange world called Gensokyo. He found his way to the Hakugyokurou grounds, where he is currently staying as a guest.

He can't remember his original name, but he took on the alias of "Vincent Gray" when he arrived. He is a ghost hunter of some sort, but he can't remember much more. The details of his last assignment are especially foggy in his mind.

"Feeling better now?" Yuyuko asks.

Vincent slowly pulls himself away from the ghost princess. Everything is slowly coming back.

"S-sorry for the trouble," he manages.

Yuyuko smiles gently. Her cheeks are a light shade of pink.

"Don't worry about it too much. I just hope you enjoyed it as much as I did~"

"E-eh?"

"Anyway, if you have another nightmare, I'll be glad to bring you back again~"

Vincent realizes how close her face is. Her otherworldly beauty is entrancing; she really is something else. From this angle, he can see how shapely her curves fit her dress. At certain places, the kimono looks like it is about to come undone. He can feel himself blushing furiously.

"Why don't I prepare something for you? It will make you feel better."

"T-thank you very much!" he stammers as he turns away, thankful for the change of topic.

The ghost princess gives him an energetic nod before hopping toward the kitchen. She seems to be enjoying herself quite a bit. Just watching her makes him smile. For some reason, she acts so childlike, despite being quite mature in other ways. Perhaps she just appreciates the importance of taking it easy more than others.

Wait a minute. How did she know that he had a nightmare?

"Vincent? A-are you alright now?"

He turns around to see Youmu standing behind him. She looks worried.

"Yeah, I think I'm fine now," he says. "I think I was just a little confused earlier."

At the word "earlier", Youmu blushes bright red.

"I-I see," she says. "I thought it might have been something like that."

For a moment, the two of them stand in awkward silence. He can feel himself blushing as he recalls what he just did. He needs to apologize properly. He might have hurt her, or done something unforgivable. He may not have been in his right mind, but that situation was inappropriate all the same. However, Youmu recovers before he can speak.

"I need to head to the kitchen to prepare lunch," Youmu says with finality.

"A-alright then."

Before he can say anything more, Youmu heads toward the kitchen.

[ ] Return to your room and rest.
[ ] Wait patiently in the dining room.
[ ] See if you can help out at the kitchen.
[ ] Take a walk around the grounds.

Optional:
[ ] Get something from your room. (Specify)

Loading User Commands:
[X] "Who... What..."
[X] Make a break for the door.

---

The girl holds the blade closer to her chest. She relaxes her grip on the sword as he watches. She turns her head slightly to the side and looks away, as if embarrassed. Slowly, but deliberately, she closes her eyes in surrender. The girl shivers slightly, as if in anticipation.

"Who... w-what..." he mumbles.

This is wrong. What is wrong with him? What is he thinking? What the hell is he doing?

He needs to get away from this girl. Too dangerous. This is too dangerous for her. He doesn't know what he might do next if he stays even a moment longer. Hurt her. No matter what happens, he can't hurt this girl. He can't trust himself with her. Leave now. He must leave right now. He abrubtly pulls away from her and runs out toward the door.

In a few quick strides, he steps out of the room. He turns to the left and starts running at full speed. He isn't sure where he is going. His vision is blurred by something. Sweat? Blood? Tears? He can't tell as he continues rushing forward. It doesn't matter. He has to flee. But what is he fleeing from? Who is he afraid of? What is he running from?

"Youmu? Is it lunch time yet~"

Without warning, someone steps out of a room. He barely manages to stop in front of the figure. Dressed in a blue and white kimono and a strange cloth hat, this person seems familiar. She brushes at her short wavy hair as she looks at him, mildly surprised.

"Ara? Where are you going, Vincent?" she asks curiously.

Vincent. He has heard that name before. He opens his mouth, but there are too many questions. His headache gets worse as he tries to remember. But this time, he struggles. He has to remember. He crumples down on his knees as he feels like his head is splitting apart. No, not this time! He must remember. Remember. Remember who he is. This name - is it his name? No, he was called something else before. Something else. His vision continues blurring as the pain escalates. He will lose consciousness soon if this continues. He must fight it and remember. His name is...

Suddenly, he can feel someone embrace him. He can feel something deliciously soft press against his chest. He tries to pull away, but this person tightens her grip, unashamed. Flowers? He can smell flowers. Somehow, this scent is familiar. This makes him feels safe. He closes his eyes and slowly relaxes in this person's arms. He loses track of time as he lies there with her.

"It's alright now," she whispers softly.

Her sweet voice calms his mind and heart. Slowly, he feels like some heavy curse is being broken. The pain is subsiding. His vision is clearing. He is starting to remember...

"Yu -"

She holds him tighter. The pain has completely left him now. His mind is still in shambles, but he continues to struggle. He can almost...

"Yu-Yuyuko?" he manages.

[ ] Pull away from her immediately.
[ ] Pull away from her slowly.
[ ] Stay like this a little bit longer.
[ ] Custom

Loading User Commands:
[X] Pin the girl down on the ground.

---

This girl is dangerous. He can't stay idle.

"V-Vincent?" she asks uncertainly.

Her eyes look familiar. Has he met this girl somewhere before? He pauses as he tries to remember...

"Argh!"

He cringes in pain. Something sharp is cleaving deep into his mind. The more he tries to recall, the worse the pain gets. But he is sure now - he has met this person before. This person must be

"What's wrong?" she asks calmly. "Tell me where it hurts. I'm not a doctor, but -"

This person. He knows this person. Why can't he remember? He shakes violently as his suffering escalates. This person. She must be someone important. He needs to remember. Remember her. This girl. She is

"Komachi must have lied. She said that she held back her her punch..." she mutters.

She isn't human.

He feels his muscles tense up by instinct. Adrenalin quickly pumps through his veins. He needs to move right now. Right now. No time. Hesitation means death.

"Vincent? What are you -"

He jumps up quickly and readies his stance before she can react. In a single sweeping motion, he manages to kick her off balance. The girl falls helplessly on the futon. Without hesitation, he pushes her down and manages to pin her at a mounted position. He braces himself for the girl's counterattack. This girl should be knowledgeable in unarmed combat. She will probably try to hit him with her elbows or sweep him off completely. He steels his body to prepare for a grueling match.

"..."

He looks down at the girl. The top of her dress has come partially undone. Her short silver her is splayed carelessly on the futon. For some reason, her black ribbon hasn't come off. Somehow, she managed to hold on to one of her Eastern battle blades during the scuffle. She holds it tightly with both her hands, but she doesn't attempt to draw the weapon. She doesn't even try to raise her head up or twist her body away.

Something is wrong. Why isn't she fighting back? She is much stronger than this. He is sure of that. This girl has far more power than he can hope to defend against. Why isn't she fighting back? Is she toying with him? This doesn't feel right.

She looks at him with her deep blue eyes. Her tears glitter in the sunlight like sapphires as they flow down her flawless skin. Her cheeks are bright red, contrasting beautifully with her eyes. Her small mouth quivers nervously as he looks down at her.

For a moment, the two of them stay completely still.

This girl...
[ ] Knock her unconscious.
[ ] Push her arms down.
[ ] Cover her mouth.
[ ] Make a break for the door.
[ ] Do nothing.
[ ] Custom

Optional:
[ ] Say something to the girl. (Specify)

Loading User Commands:
[X] Youmu

---

The newcomer slides the door open. He takes a glance at her.

She is dressed plainly in white and green garments of Eastern design. A black ribbon is tied in her short silver hair. Her deep blue eyes are full of kindness and concern. Two long battle blades hang from their sheathes along her slender waist. From the way she is standing, she seems to be an experienced swordsman. This girl seems familiar somehow, but he can't remember very well.

He shudders slightly as he waits for the girl to speak. Something tells him that this girl is very dangerous. Even a single wrong move can mean death. While her style is incomplete, that does not make her swordsmanship any less threatening. He can feel her straightforward aura pierce coldly at his skin as it spreads across the room.

This doesn't look good. At best, this will end with one of them half-dead.

"W-what happened?" the girl cries out. "I thought I heard you cry out."

Debts. She has come to collect his debts. She has come to collect his hands. His hands. He feels himself shaking violently. He looks down at his hands, making sure that they are still attached. Still attached. He closes his eyes, praying that this is all some horrible dream. He will wake up soon. Wake. From this nightmare, he will wake.

Suddenly, he feels something lukewarm around his hands. The sensation is soft and comforting. He knows this feeling. He has felt this before, but he can't remember. Blurred images flash through his mind as he struggles with himself.

Vincent opens his eyes.

The girl is holding his shaking hands in hers. She looks at him anxiously.

"A-are you alright?" she asks.

His eyes dart across the room. He needs to find a weapon or a means to escape. This is too dangerous. Every part of his mind and body is telling him that this girl is dangerous. Too dangerous. His eyes pause for a moment - a weapon! The handle of the girl's shorter blade is hanging at a convenient angle. If he moves now, he can probably grab it and strike before she can react. His eyes continue darting across the room. Escape. There must be an escape route. He can't defeat this girl with only that. This is too dangerous. Too dangerous. His eyes pause - an escape route! She left the door open. In a few strides, he can get free. Other options. He needs other options...

"V-Vincent?" she asks uncertainly.

He pauses. That name sounds familiar. Every muscle in his body tenses up.

His next move:
[ ] Take the blade and stab the girl.
[ ] Make a break for the door.
[ ] Pin the girl down on the ground.
[ ] Confuse the girl with words.
[ ] Distract her somehow.
[ ] Custom

Loading User Commands:
[X] An ancient hermit and swordsman watching the clouds

---

"So the apprentice returns..."

The master is a tall and lean man, not unlike the farmers who toil daily in the fields. He is dressed plainly in white and green garments of Eastern design. His long grey-white hair is tied back neatly, done in the fashion of the ancient warriors of the East. The old one strokes his beard thoughtfully as he looks him over.

Vincent shivers as he waits for him to speak. The master closes his eyes, but he knows that he isn't resting. He can feel the old man's aura spread forth across the field. Peaceful, yet sublime, he knows that this master can tear his opponents apart without flinching while folding a paper crane in his other hand. He remembers the first time they met - he did exactly that to some bandits that tried to rob him on the road.

The master never said why he took him as his apprentice. And he never asked. He was still a child back then - a lone orphan in a violent world. He did what he needed to survive, and when he saw a chance at redemption, he took it without question.

"You've grown stronger, but perhaps not much wiser," the master whispers.

They travelled together for a year. He served as his helper and apprentice. The old one was his master and trainer. They encountered strange things and dangerous beings, but he took it all without question. As a child, he had no knowledge of the wider world, so he could not form the words to make up any question.

"M-Master?" he asks aloud.

"Already forgotten my name? No matter, we must complete our business."

"Our business?"

"I have come to collect on your debt."

The master takes a single step closer and looks at Vincent straight in the eye. The old one moves his hand closer to one of his Eastern battle blades. Vincent's eyes widen, but he can't move. His mouth is frozen.

"Do not worry, for your master is a fair judge. This will suffice as payment for touching my daughter."

A flash of light. Suddenly, Vincent can move again. He looks up at the master. The old one has relaxed his stance. He looks down at his hands. Vincent blinks. They are no longer attached to his arms.

He stands in shock, staring blankly at his cleanly cut wrists. His hands have fallen to the ground with a soft, meaty thud. Blood is oozing from his open veins and arteries. The exposed bone and marrow is a ghastly white against the blood. Somehow, the pain hasn't registered into his brain yet, but the horror...

---

"U-Uwaaaaaaah!" he cries aloud.

Vincent quickly sits up. He can feel cold sweat roll down his cheeks. His breathing is ragged and uneven. A drop of sweat falls down coldly onto his clammy hands. His hands?

He checks his hands quickly. After making sure that they are still attached, he surveys the area. Looks like he is back in his room at Hakugyokurou. He takes a moment to check his other limbs, and he sighs in relief to see that he has no other injuries.

Someone rushes into the room.

[ ] Youmu
[ ] Yuyuko
[ ] Komachi
[ ] Chen

Loading User Commands:
[X] "Could someone bring me another?"

---

Vincent props himself up, despite the pain. He needs to do something about this mess.

Komachi glares at him for a moment before turning back to Youmu. Youmu is looking at him with concern as she maintains her fighting stance. She takes a glance at Chen before facing Komachi and narrowing her eyes. Chen is still crying loudly; the situation must be too much for the poor girl. Yuyuko is beckoning him to sneak over to the right with a sly smile on her face.

He has to end this misunderstanding. But what can he say?

He opens his mouth slowly to say something, but without warning, he recalls the heavenly sensation he felt in his mouth. Words are not enough to describe the divine quality of that experience. That sweet bun was simply wonderful.

"Could someone bring me another?" he says aloud.

An awkward silence fills the room.

Youmu looks at him with "What the hell?" spelled out on her face. Chen stops crying and is now staring blankly at him in shock. Yuyuko covers her mouth with her fan as she forces herself not to laugh. Komachi is...

Vincent blinks.

Komachi is standing right over him. She looks positively infuriated.

The last thing Vincent sees is her fist about to imprint itself deep into his face.

...

He is standing in a miasma of light and color. Slowly, the world comes into focus.

"..."

Someone else is here.

He prepares to draw his sword, but he finds that he is unarmed.

"Welcome back," an eerie voice whispers.

He looks up to see the newcomer.

[ ] A beautiful woman standing underneath a gargantuan cherry tree
[ ] An ancient hermit and swordsman watching the clouds
[ ] Death itself, waiting for your last moments
[ ] Custom

Loading User Commands:
[X] Take the sweet bun from Chen and eat it quickly. You are famished.

---

Suddenly, Vincent feels a deep grumbling from within. He looks at Chen with a hungry look in his eyes. It looks so soft that his mouth waters in anticipation. It must feel really warm and comfortable. He wants to hold it so badly! Sweet, oh so sweet - it must be so... delicious!

"B-big brother?" Chen whispers.

He must take it into his hands and squeeze the tender parts slowly. Gently, he will bring it up to his nose and enjoy it's deep aroma. Finally, with mouth open he will... violate it! He must ravage this thing! He must bore his tongue deep into it's folds and taste its juices! It only exists for his pleasure! He cares not of its feelings! He must...

"Y-you are looking at me k-kinda funny," she says.

This will not be over quickly. She will not enjoy this. This little delight of ecstasy, he can't resist it any longer...

"Let's eat," Vincent says with a crazy smile on his face.

With one swift motion, he grabs the sweet bun from Chen's small hands. He takes it to his mouth and bites deeply into the helpless dumpling. It doesn't resist as he takes another bite, and then another. The delicate texture of the bun stimulates him even more as he rams his head into it deeper and deeper. He grinds his tongue into its paste mercilessly. The shikigami and nekomata watch silently in shock as Vincent greedily devours the bun.

"..."

In the next few seconds, several things occur. Chen tugs at his sleeve, looking up to him. Komachi shouts something like a battle cry as she charges forward. Vincent takes a half-step back. Chen's eyes start to tear up. Komachi grabs his neck with her free hand. Vincent opens his mouth to say something. Chen starts sniffling softly. Komachi jerks him up high above the floor with unbelievable strength. Vincent starts sputtering gibberish as he chokes. Chen loses control and starts bawling loudly. Komachi seems to be shouting at him. Vincent feels himself turn blue as his head starts to lose blood.

"L-let him go!" someone cries. The voice sounds familiar, somehow.

Komachi throws him hard against the wall. He cringes in pain as he feels every bone in his body creak with the impact. He crumples down on the ground weakly.

The sounds. The pain. The colors. The pain. The movement. The pain.

He looks up at them, but it takes several minutes for his brain to process the situation. Komachi seems to be arguing loudly with Youmu. Both of them have their weapons drawn. To the left, Chen hasn't stopped crying. She looks really upset. To the far right, Yuyuko seems to be calling him over to follow her. None of the others seem to have noticed the ghost princess.

What a mess.

[ ] Apologize to Komachi.
[ ] Try to comfort Chen.
[ ] Ask Youmu for help.
[ ] Sneak away with Yuyuko.
[ ] Custom

Extra: Shikigami's Project

The nine-tailed kitsune rubs her temple in frustration. She never expected the project to be this difficult.

Ran Yakumo is widely known as one of the most intelligent and powerful beast youkai in Gensokyo. She can handle difficult analytic tasks, especially in mathematics. When Yukari first suggested this endeavor, she took it upon herself as a matter of pride.

"You were able to make Chen your shikigami, so this should be really simple for you~" Yukari said.

Ran sighs as she crumples up another piece of paper filled with failed calculations.

Two months have passed since she accepted this project. She still continued doing the household chores, the border checks, and Yukari's errands. After her usual mundane duties, she found this as a good diversion during her spare time. However, even after spending weeks of careful research and study, she hasn't found a way to accomplish this task.

"I heard that Rinnosuke has quite a few parts and books you might find useful," Yukari said.

Ran made it a point to visit Kourindou every chance she passed by the Human Village for shopping. The store owner was quite amiable to her requests, perhaps at Yukari's prompting. She found no problems in obtaining the parts she needed.

"You can probably talk to Sanae and the others at Moriya shrine too," Yukari said.

She visited the Moriya shrine several times, despite the distance. While she found Sanae's advice useful and up-to-date, the shrine maiden lacked the technical knowledge she needed. She did learn that the inhabitants of the Moriya shrine are quite affable, despite their violent arrival in Gensokyo.

"Take as much time as you need," Yukari said. "I know you have doubts, but I need this done properly. I know I can count on you."

She doesn't really understand the point of this task, but she can't let her master down.

"Alright, let's try this again!" Ran says aloud, psyching herself up.

A large wheeled blackboard lies in front of her. Ran takes a glance at the big bold letters she wrote on it during the first day.

"Internet in Gensokyo," she reads aloud.

Loading User Commands:
[X] Head to the dining room.

---

Vincent stands up and rubs his eyes. A quick glance tells him that he is back at his room in Hakugyokurou. Komachi must have brought him here after he blacked out. He needs to thank her later.

"..."

He yawns as he steps out of the room. He considers checking his pockets for anything missing, but he doesn't feel like doing that right now. His stomach grumbles angrily as if to remind him of a forgotten duty. He hasn't eaten anything today.

The walk to the dining room is peaceful. Vincent glances at the well-kept garden as he passes by. Youmu must be very diligent to take such good care of the mansion and grounds. Maybe the work only tires herself half as much.

"Get back here!"

He can hear at least two pairs of footsteps getting louder as he nears the corner. They seem to be approaching him. Vincent prepares to draw his sword. A small figure runs into sight.

"E-eh?" he mutters.

Suddenly, a child-sized red blur runs toward him and disappears. He can feel someone tugging at the back of his coat.

"Chen?" he says slowly.

A second figure clears the corner. He recognizes the shinigami instantly. She is waving her scythe dangerously from her arm as she catches her breath.

"Give... it... back..." she says between breaths.

Vincent turns around to see Chen looking up at him pitifully. She seem to be holding a sweet bun. Those eyes are difficult to resist, but Komachi looks pretty furious.

[ ] Tell Chen to run and try to stop Komachi from chasing her. You can't resist those eyes.
[ ] Tell Chen to stay behind him. Try to talk to Komachi and resolve this peacefully.
[ ] Grab Chen and help Komachi subdue her. She must have stolen the sweet bun.
[ ] Take the sweet bun from Chen and eat it quickly. You are famished.
[ ] Do nothing. You don't want to get involved.
[ ] Custom

Loading User Commands:
[X] Examine Vincent carefully. He might have some injuries they didn't notice.

---

[Wake up, you fool!]

Something soft is brushing against his head and down to his chest. He can feel something probing his vital points. He has a familiar feeling about it.

[Get up!]

He can feel someone's hands slowly feeling his arms and legs. They feel a little bit colder than normal, but the sensation is quite pleasant. The silky touch of the person's fingers is quite enticing.

[You need a weapon.]

He can sense someone staring at him nearby. She must be looking down right over his head.

[Kill her now.]

Without warning, he feels something soft press against his lips. He stays still as his brain tries to recover from shock. For several minutes, he pretends to be asleep. His mind races as he tries to figure out how to react.

"..."

Finally, Vincent opens his eyes.

"E-eh?" he manages.

A very surprised Youmu is looking down at him. Her face first turns a deathly pale white. Then it turns bright crimson. He doesn't really understand, but she seems to be in a panic.

"E-excuse me!" she says.

Youmu stands up and runs out of the room. By the sound of her footsteps, she must be in a hurry.

"..."

Vincent stays still and lies on the futon for a few more minutes. His body still aches quite a bit. He seems to be back in Hakugyokurou.

[ ] Go back to sleep.
[ ] Check your things.
[ ] Head to the dining room.
[ ] Take a walk around the grounds.
[ ] Leave Hakugyokurou.
[ ] Custom

Loading User Commands:
[X] Wait patiently until they come closer.

---

Ever since the border was weakened, they have had several guests from outside Hakugyokurou. No sense in being rude, as Lady Yuyuko said before. Besides, she could always get rid of them later.

"You aren't going to interrogate our guests?" Yuyuko asks.

Youmu shakes her head.

"We've had quite a few regulars lately. It might just be the lazy shrine maiden or that reckless black-white." she says calmly.

Yuyuko puts a hand on Youmu's cheek. Youmu blushes slightly as she turns her head.

"You are growing up beautifully." Yuyuko says.

Yuyuko moves closer, only a few inches from her face. Youmu's eyes widen in surprise. Yuyuko kisses her deftly on the cheek.

"W-what are you doing?" Youmu stammers. "T-this is inappropriate!"

Yuyuko simply giggles.

"I couldn't help it - you looked so cute just then," she says. "Don't worry, I won't go further than this. You're saving yourself for someone else, aren't you?"

"I-it's just a misunderstanding!" Youmu shouts.

Suddenly, someone clears her throat. Youmu turns toward the sound.

"Excuse me for interrupting, but I think I have something you ghosts might be looking for."

Komachi is standing by the entrance, smiling enigmatically. Chen is standing beside her, clinging to a large pile of cloth between them. Youmu looks closer at the pile. She recognizes the person wrapped inside it.

"V-Vincent?" Youmu mutters.

"We should get him inside," the shinigami says.

...

"W-will big brother be fine?" Chen asks.

"I think this will do for now," Komachi says. "He doesn't seem to be seriously injured. I think he just overexerted himself a little bit."

"What happened?" Youmu asks as she covers the unconscious Vincent with a blanket.

Komachi puts her hand on her chin as she organizes her thoughts.

"It's a long story," she finally answers. "Why don't we talk about it over some tea and snacks?"

Yuyuko practically hops in delight. She starts walking toward the door.

"I'll get some sweet buns! You like those, don't you Chen?" she says.

The little nekomata nods excitedly in agreement.

"I really like sweet buns, big sis Yuyu~" Chen says as she follows Yuyuko out of the room.

"..."

"Well, I suppose I'll accept your hospitality," Komachi says as she stands up. "Can't let those buns go to waste."

"W-wait..." Youmu says weakly.

The three of them leave the room before Youmu can say anything else. She sighs to herself as she turns to look at Vincent. He seems to be resting peacefully.

"Well, at least he's alright," Youmu mutters to herself.

She finds herself alone with the ghost hunter.

[ ] Follow the others to the dining room. You need to ask about what happened.
[ ] Return to your room. You need some time alone.
[ ] Head to the dojo and practice. Maybe you can clear your head.
[ ] Take a seat in the corner and watch over Vincent. He might wake up confused.
[ ] Examine Vincent carefully. He might have some injuries they didn't notice.
[ ] Custom

Loading User Commands:
[X] Give Komachi a thumbs-up before falling unconscious.

---

Youmu sighs heavily as she sweeps around the entrance of the mansion.

"Where could he have gone," she mutters aloud.

When she came to check Vincent's room, he wasn't there. His weapons and coat were missing, though he left his travelling pack. He didn't even leave a note. Lady Yuyuko didn't seem worried though.

"Some time apart makes love grow fonder," she said.

Youmu shakes her head uneasily. That Yuyuko really can't take anything seriously, can she? It isn't that she likes him or anything like that. She just needs him to take care of the seal. He's just another lost Outsider; he is no one special to her.

...

"I promised to stand by your side," he says.

"W-what? Y-you can't, you're just a human!" she argues. "It is too dangerous, even for you!"

He firmly takes hold of her hand and looks into her eyes.

"I'll protect you."

"B-but -"

He interrupts her with a deep kiss. Her eyes widen in surprise, but slowly she returns his gesture. After a few moments, he pulls away.

"Just go," he says. "I'll meet you at the river."

He draws his sword and begins walking away. His blade glints brightly in the moonlight.

...

Youmu absent-mindedly puts a finger to her mouth. She knows that it is just a dream, but she has to admit that it excited her quite a bit. She feels herself blushing as she remembers more, but she pays it no mind. No one is here to see her anyway.

"..."

Suddenly, someone grabs her shoulder from behind.

"So you're thinking about him again, aren't you..."

"E-eh? W-what are you t-talking about?" she mumbles.

Yuyuko ruffles the half-ghost's hair playfully.

"S-stop that!" Youmu says.

"Ara? But I can't help it. My little Youmu looks so cute with such a dreamy look on her!"

Youmu pushes her arms away and quickly calms herself down.

"L-like I said earlier, it isn't like that."

Yuyuko raises her hand to silence her. Then, she points at the sky. Someone seems to be approaching.

"We seem to have guests," she says.

Youmu nod to her and puts down her broom.

[ ] Fly toward the newcomers and question them.
[ ] Wait patiently until they come closer.
[ ] Prepare to attack the intruders.
[ ] Custom

Loading User Commands:
[X] "Human Sign, 「Blade of Memories」"

---

The youkai beasts form a semi-circle around Vincent and Chen. They growl and paw at the ground impatiently as they wait for an opening. They glance at each other as if preparing for a trap. Chen holds on to him tightly. He can feel her soft, damp body shuddering against him.

[Calm your mind.]

Vincent closes his eyes and tries to focus. As he prepares to draw his sword, he feels his senses being heightened. Even without looking, he can feel the position of each beast. There are seven of them, with one preparing to attack from behind.

[You have seen this all before.]

He knows this attack formation. The one behind them will act as a decoy so the others can exploit an opening. Most likely, it will attack Chen first, since she is the most vulnerable. This is similar to how a pack of predators attack the young of large animals. He feels that he has fought this kind of battle dozens of times in the past.

[The wisdom that is passed down in our line is never lost.]

Vincent smirks confidently.

Without warning, the youkai beast behind them leaps down and runs toward Chen. The girl shrieks in fear as it approaches. But before it takes another step, it stops, frozen in its tracks. Vincent smirks confidently.

"You are already dead." he says. His sword is already drawn and glinting brightly in the sun.

The beast makes a sickening gurgling noise before it falls to the ground in three neat slices. The other beasts cry out in anger as they charge towards them. He glances at them indifferently.

"Human Sign, 「Blade of Memories」" he mutters.

He leaps toward the beasts and swings his sword. A single blinding flash of light spreads throughout the forest. Both Komachi and Chen cover their eyes to avoid the sudden brightness. In the next moment, the seven beasts lie dismembered by his feet. Not a drop of blood can be seen on both his clothes and his sword.

Vincent walks slowly beside Chen.

"Are you alright?" he asks softly.

The girl nods quickly.

Vincent sighs in relief. He can vaguely see Komachi flying toward them. Looks like she took care of the rest of the vermin. His vision is starting to blur, and he can feel an incredible amount of pain all throughout his body.

[ ] Wrap your coat around Chen before passing out.
[ ] Give Komachi a thumbs-up before falling unconscious.
[ ] Say a prayer for the dead before blacking out.
[ ] Custom

Loading User Commands:
[X] Protect the girl. She might get hurt or killed.
[X] Use the longsword.

---

"Are you alright?" Vincent asks as he approaches the girl.

She nods slowly. Looking closer, the girl seems to be dripping wet. Perhaps she fell into a stream or a pond. Aside from a few small cuts and scratches, she doesn't seem to be hurt.

"Get behind me," Vincent says.

The girl looks at him, then at Komachi. The tall scythe-wielder glances at her.

"It's alright Chen, just stay back." she says calmly to the girl.

The girl nods obediently and runs behind Vincent for cover. She tightly clutches the back of his coat. He can feel her shivering. He tightens his grip on his sword.

"You'll be alright," he whispers.

The Youkai beasts have started circling them. Their cold reptilian eyes shine intelligently as they prepare to strike. They seem to be natural pack hunters, and by the size of their teeth and talons, they look like they can easily tear apart an elephant or a rhino. But that isn't the worst part.

"There are over a dozen of them," he mutters uneasily.

He glances at Komachi. She looks unexpectedly calm.

"Stay back," she says.

She pulls out a strange card from her dress and runs toward the creatures. She mutters something under her breath as she charges. The Youkai beasts rush forward to meet her attack.

"Death Price, 「Price of Life」," she cries.

Coins. An incredibly large number of coins materializes from her position. She sends them flying toward the incoming beasts. Some of the beasts manage to dodge the initial attack, but the rest of them are torn apart in seconds. Vincent and the girl can only watch in awe.

Komachi pushes forward with her attack, shooting out even more coins. The coins tear through the trees like bullets, killing the beasts that tried to use them as cover. Several of the larger trees fall down heavily to the ground as she continues her barrage.

"Shinigami," he mutters softly. She truly is a Death God.

Suddenly, the girl named Chen tugs roughly at his sleeve. He turns to see that several of the beasts have managed to sneak around Komachi. The creatures eye them hungrily, dripping green saliva on the ground as they step closer.

[It seems like it's our turn.]

There seem to be five or six of them. Komachi hasn't noticed their predicament. Vincent grips his sword tightly as he prepares to counterattack. He can feel Chen shivering behind him.

[Remember who you are...]

[ ] "Human Sign, 「Blade of Memories」"
[ ] "Holy Seal, 「Defiance of Despair」"
[ ] "Restless Delusion, 「Unending Grudge」"
[ ] Custom

Loading User Commands:
[X] "We need to help that girl!"

---

Vincent points down.

"We need to help that girl!" he cries out.

Komachi stops mid-flight and looks down. Her eyes widen as she realizes what is happening. The girl seems helplessly cornered. The creatures are closing in. She doesn't seem to have the means to defend herself.

"Hang on!" she says.

Before he can reply, they dive down at an alarming speed. Vincent grabs tightly to Komachi in reflex, but she doesn't complain. After a few seconds, he feels himself falling to the ground. He lands on his feet safely, though the pain in his legs is excruciating.

"D-damn that hurt!" he shouts.

"Behind you!" Komachi cries.

She swings her scythe widely. Off goes the beast's head.

"Iyaaah!" the girl cries.

Both of them turn toward her. One of the beasts sneaked from the back and is only a few yards from the girl. There isn't enough time to save her.

[Yes, there is.]

Vincent starts running toward the girl. He knows he won't make it, but he has to try.

[This task is petty for us.]

He loses track of time as he dashes and swings his sword at the creature. He feels his sword penetrate the creature's eyes.

"RAAAAWWWRRR!" it cries in anguish.

"Get down!" Komachi shouts.

He drops down on the ground as Komachi swings her scythe. The second creature drops lifelessly on the ground.

"That was impressive," she says as she takes a glance at him. "But it isn't over yet. These things seem to be perfectly alive, and I think that means trouble for the both of us."

Vincent nods in agreement. He takes a glance at the girl. She looks too scared to fight or run.

He prepares his battle stance.
[ ] Go on full offensive. Kill them all!
[ ] Support Komachi. She may need help.
[ ] Protect the girl. She might get hurt or killed.
[ ] Custom

He thinks about his weapons.
[ ] Use the longsword.
[ ] Use the crossbow.
[ ] Use the gun.
[ ] Custom

After leaving the Sanzu River, Vincent glances below to see a large mountain range. The mountains are covered by heavy forests, and he can see the occasional stream and waterfall. To his left, he can see a large peak reaching high into the clouds, but it doesn't seem to be their destination.

"That is Youkai Mountain," Komachi says as she points at it. "The tengu and kappa live somewhere around there. I heard that a new shrine appeared on it a while back. Quite a few interesting and troublesome beings make that place their home."

"Youkai Mountain," he repeats. "Is that place on the way?"

She shakes her head.

"We'll only pass by the side. I usually pass this route to avoid the evil spirits in the swamp between Hakugyokurou and the Sanzu River. They aren't strong, but they can be a nuisance."

"I see," he says. There seem to be worse things than evil spirits in that place, but he keeps it to himself.

Vincent surveys the ground. The view is actually quite beautiful and serene. Gensokyo seems to be full of natural wonders. For the next few minutes, he decides to enjoy the scenery and forget about trouble for a while.

"..."

Something catches his attention toward the right. He can't see clearly, but there seems to be a kid running across a mountain path. She is being chased by a pack of some strange, deformed creatures.

Vincent squints to observe more details. The kid seems to be wearing a red and pink dress with gold trimming. She has a green cloth cap on her head, and she seems to have cat ears. Two tails are poking out from under her dress.

The girl runs into the trees, but she is soon cornered by the creatures. They seem to be a horrid cross between a crocodile and a large hound. They look hungry.

"Hey, did you see something interesting?" Komachi asks.

Vincent pauses.

[ ] "You might want to see this..."
[ ] "Is that normal around these parts?"
[ ] "We need to help that girl!"
[ ] "Not really. The view is great."
[ ] "..."
[ ] Custom

Loading User Commands:
[X] Ask if she can take you to Hakugyokurou.

---

"I need to get back to Hakugyokurou," Vincent says.

Komachi's smile widens.

"Are you a guest of the Ghost Princess?" she asks. "That robe looks like something from their place."

He nods in agreement.

"They have offered me a place to stay when I first came here."

"Too bad you didn't pop up around this place," she says. "I always enjoy having someone to talk to. The souls I ferry across the river aren't exactly good conversationalists."

He glances around the area. He doesn't see any buildings nearby. Does she sleep outdoors?

"It gets kinda lonely sometimes," she says softly.

"..."

She takes his hand and smiles brightly at him.

"Anyway, let's get you back to Hakugyokurou. Maybe I can score some snacks and tea if I'm lucky." she says.

Vincent pauses.

"Umm, what about your work?" he asks.

She dismisses the question with a wave of her hand.

"Don't mind. Don't mind." she says. "There aren't any souls waiting to be ferried right now, and it isn't like they are in a hurry to be judged anyway. Some of them even try to escape."

"I see," he says. Seems like her job isn't very enviable.

"So let's go then!" she says.

She pulls him high up into the air. His eyes widen in surprise. By reflex, he grabs Komachi tightly. They continue rising into the air. He can't tell how high they are, but he is sure that falling from this height is fatal.

"W-w-what the hell?" he manages.

He looks up to see Komachi smiling at him.

"Haven't tried flying before, I see," she says. "I'll forgive you this time, but don't make a habit out of grabbing my chest like that. You only need to hold my hand."

He slowly lets go of her body, half-expecting to drop down any second. Surprisingly, he doesn't fall. He finds that he only needs to hold on to her hand lightly to stay in the air. A glance tells him that she doesn't seem to be carrying him at all.

"H-how does this work?" he asks.

Komachi opens her mouth to answer, but closes it again to think.

"Hmm, good question," she says finally. "I can share my flight abilities with just a touch. I guess I never thought about it before."

Vincent still has much to learn about this strange and wonderful world.

Loading User Commands:
[X] Introduce yourself as a ghost hunter.

---

"The name's Vincent Gray," he says. "I guess you could call me a ghost hunter of sorts. I came from the Outside."

"An Outsider?" Komachi says. "Don't meet too many of your kind around these parts."

She pulls him up on his feet with a smile. She doesn't seem to mind the accidental kiss at all. On the other hand, Vincent feels himself blush just recalling the sensation. She looks pretty cute. He forces himself to think of something else.

"E-excuse me," he manages. "But can I ask about what happened? I don't remember much."

Komachi pauses to think.

"A couple of hours ago, I heard some loud noises approaching the river," she says. "I decided to check it out, since work has been pretty slow lately. I found some foul smelling creatures wandering the area, so I drove them off. I just happened to find you lying unconscious nearby."

He sighs in relief. Looks like he just had a brush with death.

"Thanks a lot," he says with a bow. "You saved my life."

"E-eh? Don't mind! Don't mind!" she says. "I walk around the area while waiting for customers anyway. A little excitement like that is a very welcome change."

"I see," he says.

Vincent checks his weapons and things. Aside from his weapons, it seems like he only took the things inside his coat.

"A ghost hunter, eh?" she says. "So, could you tell me what those things were? Are they similar to evil spirits?"

He pauses to think.

"I think they were some kind of Ghoul," he says. "They are reanimated corpses that have been corrupted into something more dangerous. There is usually some kind of sorcerer or lich involved with that kind of undead."

Komachi nods in agreement.

"That explains why they seemed pretty weak," she says. "My techniques work especially well against the not-properly-living."

"You fight undead as well?"

"Around these parts, I sometimes have to deal with some rowdy evil spirits." she says. "Though I'll admit that they rarely smell as bad as those things."

She sighs to herself.

"Looks like the incidents are starting to get worse," she says. "Maybe the shrine maiden was right after all."

Komachi smiles at him gently.

"Anyway, I guess I should take you somewhere safe," she says. "Have you visited the Human Village or Hakugyokurou?"

Vincent pauses to think. He should have a little over a day to reset Youmu's seal, but he needs to have physical contact with the container. He can probably do some other things before heading back.

[ ] Ask if she can take you to the Human Village.
[ ] Ask if she can take you to Hakugyokurou.
[ ] Offer to stay with her for a while.
[ ] Custom

[X] Inventory
A longsword. Forged with blessed steel. Looks expensive.
A medium crossbow. Fifteen silver-tipped crossbow bolts are included. Hurts when it hits.
A Colt Peacemaker, heavily modified. Loaded with five special rounds.
A page torn off a diary. Carries a foreboding message.
A small black book. You're not sure when you picked it up.

[X] Event
Youmu's Sealed Core: Her half-ghost core will be destroyed in less than 30 hours.

Loading User Commands:
[x] Visit Vincent's room. Maybe you can apologize for yesterday.

---

Vincent opens his eyes. The bright morning sun causes him to squint. As he waits for his eyes to adjust, he recognizes an imposing shadow looming over him. The tall figure is carrying a large scythe. He sighs heavily and closes his eyes.

"I guess those things got me after all," he mutters.

The shadow turns toward him.

"This is the inevitable end of all living things," it says.

"I was really hoping that I wouldn't be meeting you this quickly," he says with regret.

"How rude," the shadow says. "It's not like I grab souls randomly. This is just my job."

"So, my Death," Vincent says without opening his eyes. "What happens next? Is my soul going to be judged or something?"

"Unfortunately, there are some complications," the shadow says. "I can't let you cross over just yet."

"..."

Death seems to be far more complicated that it seems. He pauses to think back on his life. There are a few things that he screwed up here and there, but it doesn't seem fair that he be made an exception from judgment. While he wasn't a saint, he did put a lot of effort in doing good during his life.

"May I ask what this complication is?" he asks.

"You aren't dead yet." the shadow says simply.

"..."

Vincent opens his eyes and tries to sit up, but something blocks his head. Seems like the shadow kneeled over him and he bumped into it. He feels something soft on his lips. It takes him a few moments to recognize the sensation. He pulls away quickly.

"W-what? I-I'm sorry! I didn't mean to-" he stammers.

He takes a better look at the person. She has bright red eyes and short red hair tied in two places. She is wearing a white dress with a blue vest overtop. She has a large belt around her slender waist, subtley countouring her shapely figure. It seems to have some kind of coin tied in the center. She is holding a large scythe in her right hand as she is kneeling down.

She seems to be in shock. Her cheeks are a light tinge of pink. She slowly puts a hand to her lips.

"Excuse me, but are you alright?" Vincent asks.

The girl turns back to him and gives him a jolly smile.

"I'm Komachi," she says. "I am the Shinigami in charge of the Sanzu River. Nice to meet you!"

She offers him her hand. He takes it slowly and shakes it.

"N-nice to meet you," Vincent manages.

He pauses to think.
[ ] Introduce yourself as a lost traveler.
[ ] Introduce yourself as a guest of Hakugyokurou.
[ ] Introduce yourself as a ghost hunter.
[ ] Custom

Loading User Commands:
[X] Sanzu River

---

"I-I'm sorry about yesterday," Youmu says. "I-I didn't mean to accuse you or a-anything."

"..."

Youmu looks away. Her cheeks are tinged pink.

"A-anyway, I guess I was just half-asleep when you saw me," she mutters. "I guess I mistook you for someone else..."

"..."

"N-no, I don't have a boyfriend!" she shouts. "Y-you just reminded me of someone in my dreams!"

"..."

Youmu turns bright red.

"W-why are you looking at me like that?" she stammers.

"..."

Youmu covers her face in embarrassment. It takes a few minutes for her to calm down. She sighs deeply.

"How am I supposed to face him?" she asks aloud. "I can't even talk to you properly."

The skull in her hand stays silent. It is an inanimate object. It does not speak.

"This is hopeless..." she says.

Youmu wraps it up in cloth and takes it with her. She equips her swords, then she pauses in front of a mirror to adjust her ribbon. She wonders idly if it looks any good on her.

Satisfied with her appearance, Youmu steps out of her room and breathes in the morning air. She takes a glance at the sky. The sun is peeking from between a few clouds, as if it was too shy to reveal itself. The trees in the garden sway gently in the breeze.

"What to do first," she asks aloud.

[ ] Head to the kitchen. You need to prepare breakfast.
[ ] Go to Lady Yuyuko's room. She always sleeps in.
[ ] Visit Vincent's room. Maybe you can apologize for yesterday.
[ ] Patrol around the grounds. There might be intruders.
[ ] Take a walk. It is still early.

Loading User Commands:
[X] Run away from the sounds. Focus on fleeing.

---

"What the hell is going on here?" Vincent mutters.

[Run. We don't know what we are up against.]

"You don't need to tell me twice." he says aloud.

Vincent chooses a random direction and begins running. He sprints until his legs hurt, but he can still hear groans behind him. The rank smell of decay is getting stronger.

"D-damn it!" he says.

He hears a high-pitched shriek from the left. He draws his sword and swings it widely. He feels it slice through flesh and bone. A glance tells him that he sliced the creature in half. It looks like a small, decomposing humanoid. Its glowing red eyes glare at him one last time before it collapses lifelessly on the ground.

[Keep running, you damn fool!]

He pulls his gaze away from the creature and starts running forward. The smell of rotting flesh is nauseating. From the mud in his boots, he thinks that he is in some kind of swamp. He can barely see ten meters in this darkness. For some reason, a thick fog has formed around the area as well.

"I have no idea where I am going," he mutters as he slices down another of the creatures. They seem to be running at different speeds, so he is able to take them down one at a time.

[Anywhere is better than here.]

He doesn't remember how long this running battle continues. He mutters curses as the night goes on. The creatures are relentless.

"Fucking hell..." he says aloud as he pauses to catch his break.

[Could be worse.]

"And how the hell could this get any worse..."

[We could run into something even more dangerous.]

Vincent cuts down two more of the creatures before running again.

"This is going to be a long night," he mutters.

[ ] Mayohiga
[ ] Sanzu River
[ ] Poltergeist Mansion

Yuyuko's smile widens as he reads his expression. Her eyes leer at him like a predator playing with its prey.

"Am I not good enough for you?" she asks mockingly.

Vincent jumps several steps back and draws his sword.

"Who the hell are you?" he shouts.

Yuyuko giggles madly at him. His surroundings are starting to get darker.

"What do you want?" he asks. He can't tell which way they came from.

"What do I want?" Yuyuko repeats. "What do I want~ what do I want~ What do I want~ what do I want~ What do I want~ what do I want~ What do I want~ what do I want~ What do I want~ what do I want~ What do I want~ what do I want~ What do I want~ what do I want~ What do I want~ what do I want~ What do I want~ what do I want~ What do I want~ what do I want~"

She stops speaking and gives Vincent a kind and gentle smile.

"I want you to die."

Yuyuko fades into the darkness. Vincent can hear several groans from afar. The sickening crunch of bone and flesh can be heard audibly. The smell of rotting flesh fills the air. He tightens his grip on his sword as he looks around. He needs to escape.

[ ] Run away from the sounds. Focus on fleeing.
[ ] Slowly retreat from the sounds. Prepare to defend yourself.
[ ] Approach the sounds. Attack the creatures.

Loading User Commands:
[X] Go to sleep.

---

Vincent struggles to keep his eyelids open, but he is too tired now. The futon is comfortable, the night is cool, and he is in a safe place. He sighs as he gives in and falls into a deep slumber. The body and mind need to rest in preparation for the morning. A few hours pass. He has a restful and dreamless sleep.

"..."

He shivers in his futon, but there isn't any wind. The doors to the room are closed. He opens a single eye to survey the room, but he sees nothing unusual.

"..."

He feels it again. Something cold is approaching. This feeling is familiar...

[Get your weapons.]

He sits himself up and rubs his eyes.

[Hurry. It is coming.]

Silently, he jumps out of the futon. He quickly gathers his weapons and coat. He doesn't have time to change out of the kimono, so he just wears his coat over it. He takes a defensive stance as he faces the door.

"..."

[It is waiting for us outside.]

Vincent keeps his hand ready to draw his sword as he steps slowly toward the door. He opens the door quickly and prepares to strike, but there is no one outside. He takes a few steps into the garden. He looks up to see a dark and cloudy night sky.

[To the left.]

He turns left to see a strange glow in the distance. As he gets closer, he realizes that the light is emitted from thousands of butterflies. Someone seems to be at the center of the night lights. He calms down slightly as he recognizes the figure. He waves at the figure and calls out her name.

[You fool...]

Yuyuko turns around and smiles at Vincent.

"Have a walk with me?" she asks.

"I don't mind, but why walk around this late?" he asks in return. "Won't Youmu be worried?"

"Don't think about her tonight," she says as she turns toward the butterflies.

Vincent stays silent as he follows her gaze to the butterflies. The colors and lights are quite mesmerizing.

"They are beautiful, aren't they?" Yuyuko asks. She starts walking deeper into the garden.

"Yes," he says. "They are very beautiful."

The two continue walking deeper into the garden. They talk about mundane things, like the night sky and the different flowers and plants in the garden. Vincent soon loses track of time.

"So then," Yuyuko says as she stops walking. "May I ask you for a favor?"

"Anything for the Princess of Ghosts," Vincent says with a bow.

"Kiss me."

Yuyuko puts a hand on his cheek. He can smell an unfamiliar aroma from her.

Unfamiliar? He pauses to think.

[You are such a fool.]

He struggles to keep a straight face. He looks around and realizes that he is no longer within the grounds of Hakugyokurou.

[This is a trap.]

Loading User Commands:
[X[ Take the package with you.

---

Vincent returns to the dining room with the package. Yuyuko has already started eating. She waves at him energetically. Youmu sighs with exasperation.

"We just started eating," Yuyuko says. She passes her bowl to Youmu for a refill. Youmu takes it with a frown. Looks like Youmu hasn't started eating. Vincent waves back as he takes his seat.

"Feeling better?" Youmu asks.

"Yeah, I had some time to think. I suppose that I will just need some time to adjust to this strange new world." he says.

"Wafs fafd?" Yuyuko asks. Her mouth seems to be full of rice and fish.

"Please swallow before speaking." Youmu says lightly.

"This?" Vincent says. "I found it near the entrance."

Vincent gives the package to Yuyuko after she puts down her chopsticks.

"Oh," she says as she reads the label. "It's from Yukari! I wonder if she asked the fox to deliver it."

"I was busy earlier," Youmu says, giving Vincent a stern look. "I might have missed her."

"Let us see what~ Yukari sent us~ on this pleasant day~" Yuyuko says in a sing-song manner.

She removes the package bindings and opens it slowly. It looks like an ornate box. Vincent looks at it with interest. A glance to the side tells him that Youmu seems interested as well. Yuyuko opens the box slightly and peeks inside. Her smile widens. She closes it before Vincent and Youmu can identify its contents.

"She finally sent it!" Yuyuko says. "Yay~"

She prances around the room happily like a child.

"Sit down and finish your food, Lady Yuyuko," Youmu says.

"Oh right!" she says, recovering immediately. "Sorry about that, I just got a bit excited."

Yuyuko turns to Vincent.

"So, as a ghost hunter," she says. "You must know some great ghost stories."

Vincent pauses to think. For some reason, he can recall a few recent incidents. Perhaps his memory is beginning to recover. He doesn't notice Youmu shudder slightly.

"I wouldn't say that they are ghost stories, but I can talk about some of the things I've encountered..."

Vincent starts describing an incident at a rural village. He was sent to investigate a series of unusual murders. Every year during a festival, one person would go missing while another would be found brutally murdered. Yuyuko listens intently as she eats. Youmu seems disinterested, but her movements seem oddly mechanical.

"... so on the third day, we discovered one of the villagers dead on the road. By the wounds and markings on his neck, we concluded that he must have clawed his own throat out and bled to death..."

"E-excuse me," Youmu says as she stands up from the table. She looks quite pale. She gives a polite bow before leaving the room. Yuyuko chuckles a bit.

"Did I say something wrong?" Vincent asks.

"She won't admit it," Yuyuko says. "But she hates ghost stories, especially scary ones."

"I see..."

"Please go on," she says. "So, what happened next?"

...

After dinner, Youmu leads Vincent back to his room. She gives a few directions to the bathrooms and the other places in the mansion before leaving. Vincent doesn't have a chance to change the subject. Perhaps she doesn't feel like talking right now.

Alone in his room, Vincent starts looking at the futon longingly. He hasn't properly slept in a soft bed for the longest time (being knocked unconscious twice doesn't count).

[ ] Go to sleep.
[ ] Explore the mansion.
[ ] Custom

Loading User Commands:
[X] Excuse yourself and wander aimlessly around the grounds.
[X] Get your sword first before wandering.
[X] Discretely pass it to Youmu.

---

"E-excuse me, but I think I'll have a quiet walk before dinner," Vincent says. "I need some time alone."

"Aww," Yuyuko says. She looks genuinely disappointed.

He walks over to Youmu and shoves the skull into her hands. Yuyuko looks puzzled.

"Here's what you needed," he says vaguely before heading back to the room. Technically, it isn't a lie.

"T-thanks!" Youmu manages. "I-I'll head to the kitchen to prepare dinner."

Vincent can feel Yuyuko staring at his back like a lost puppy, but he isn't going to be taken in by just that. The atmosphere is just too awkward right now, and Yuyuko might unintentionally make it worse. He feels that everyone could use some time to calm down and sort out their thoughts, especially himself.

As an afterthought, he picks up his longsword from the room before starting his walk. He doubts if he will meet any trouble around the mansion, but he feels safer carrying it around.

...

The walk around the mansion is uneventful, but he finds time to relax and think. The past week has been confusing. He isn't even sure how he found his way here, and he has no idea how to go back.

He vaguely remembers working for the Church as part of a special unit that specialized in exterminating undead. He travelled all over Europe to kill zombies, poltergeists, vampires, and other horrors. However, his last mission was unusual - he was sent alone without specific instructions.

Before he knew it, he was forced to take shelter in an old church to escape a horde of undead. If it weren't for the supplies in the basement and the escape tunnel, he would be rotting among their ranks right now. Somehow, he found himself in this strange new world.

"So, is this a second chance, then?" he asks aloud.

Vincent always believed that the undead were aberrations of nature, and that they must be destroyed. However, he finds himself staying in this mansion with ghostly beings. Was he wrong to slay all those creatures in the past?

He finds himself at the front entrance of the mansion. He spots a brown package left near the door. Looks like someone left this earlier. Perhaps neither Yuyuko nor Youmu noticed.

Vincent should head back to the dining room soon.
[ ] Open the package.
[ ] Take the package with you.
[ ] Leave the package.