Vincent opens his eyes. Wispy white clouds float lazily along the peaceful azure above. The sun peeks out from between them, shining pleasantly above. The sunshine warmth is gentle and reassuring. He smiles. This isn't so bad. Slowly, he closes his eyes.

[Yep, this isn't so bad at all.]

"..."

[This place is quite nice, isn't it?]

"..."

[A peaceful solace from the world.]

He opens his eyes. The voice came from behind him. But as he sits up, the first thing he notices is the field. All around him are gentle hills full of wild grasses and flowers. He finds himself lost in the view. This place is beautiful. Too perfect for anything he has seen before. Did this mean that he is already...

[Dead?]

Vincent sighs to himself. Yet upon his face is a smile.

"I guess that I screwed up back there. But it really isn't so bad."

[It's a nice place.]

"At least I met a lot of interesting people, and I did a lot of interesting things. I have my regrets, of course. But it could have gone worse. At least I kept my promise."

[Not really.]

"Well, I tried, anyway. Couldn't remember what happened after that last technique, but if that hit it would have hurt pretty bad."

[... I suppose that's true.]

"So, are you here to guide me around?"

[Forget it. Too much of a bother.]

"Not much of an angel, are you. Figures."

[I'm not an angel, you idiot.]

"Huh?"

Vincent slowly turns to the owner of the voice. Before him stands a well-built man in a regal battle uniform. Upon his clothes are countless royal crests, spell insignia and holy symbols. At his waist is a long scabbard with sheathed European longsword. The man's face is familiar.

It is his own.

[Don't look so surprised.]

"You... knew all this time?"

[There are some things that a person can't forget, even if they want to.]

"But, I can't remember a thing!"

[Of course you can't. I only exist in this place.]

"I see."

[...]

"So."

[So.]

"Will you tell me who I really am?"

[...]

The man in uniform looks at Vincent thoughtfully before speaking.

[Nah, too troublesome. There are some memories that you don't need to remember.]

"Wait, what?"

[Besides, aren't you happy as you are right now?]

"What do you mean?"

The man sighs and shakes his head.

[Figure it out yourself. In any case, your time here is almost over.]

"Huh? Wait! What are you talking about?"

[Make sure that you take care of yourself out there. It's my self as well, you know.]

"Hey!"

[I'm leaving it to you, 'Vincent'.]

The man slowly starts walking away. Before Vincent can respond, everything fades to black.

The cloaked girl raises a dagger close to Chen's chest. She licks her lips excitedly.

"And now, let's carve the last of it right here~"

Suddenly, the entire field is filled with blinding light. The necromancer drops the dagger to shield her eyes. Then, she feels a burning sensation around her. She yelps in pain as she retreats several yards from the ritual circle. Slowly, the light grows dim. She hisses angrily.

"W-what was that?" she cries out. "That really hurt! You're going to pay dearly for -"

"Not yet. We aren't finished yet."

Her eyes widen in surprise. Stepping out from the wall of blue flames is a familiar face.

"You again? I'm sure that I've killed you at least twice already! Damn, persistent little human!"

Vincent takes a few steps toward her.

"I'll give you one last chance," he whispers darkly. "Give yourself up."

"Huh? Are you stupid or something? What can you possibly do against my power?"

Vincent continues walking closer.

"I don't remember everything. But I remember this last trick."

Then, he drives the katana deep into the ground. He kneels down and clasps his hands in prayer. Slowly, the dead swamp is filled with an unusual azure glow.

"W-what are you doing?" cries the girl.

He continues chanting the sacred words. She takes a step back.

"Human Sign, 「A Mortal's Resolve」"

For a single moment, the whole area is engulfed in blue light. The girl covers her eyes and ducks in fear. Then, a few seconds later, she opens her eyes. She immediately checks herself for injuries. No damage. She stands up and starts laughing at him.

"Was that it? Was that your secret technique? Ahahahaha!"

"..."

"Well, I can't say that it wasn't fun. I almost regret that I have to end this game now."

Vincent pulls out the katana and starts walking towards her.

"Good bye, little human~"

She raises her hand like before. Then, something unexpected happened. Or rather, something unexpected did not happen.

"H-huh?"

She raises both of her hands and chants spell commands loudly as he approaches. Still nothing.

"W-wait a minute! This isn't right!"

Vincent is getting closer. She quickly tries to fly into the air, but only manages to hop on the ground a few times.

"W-what's going on? Why can't I cast spells? Why can't I fly"

He smiles darkly.

[This is the one thing that monsters fear most.]

"Strange, isn't it?" says the ghost hunter. "How does it feel to be a human?"

"H-human? Y-you've gotta be kidding!"

Vincent closes his eyes and focuses on the katana. He can feel its energy flow through him.

"Umm... y-you wouldnt really hurt a girl, would you?"

He smiles cheerfully at her.

"Delusion Terminating Sword, 「Rising from the Shore of Delusion」"

...

...

...

...

...

[ ] "... Youmu?"
[ ] "... Komachi?"
[ ] "... Chen?"
[ ] "... Yuyuko?"

Loading User Commands:
[X] A warm blade that holds a promise

---

Vincent takes the weapon into his hands. He feels its warmth upon the tips of his fingers. Closing his eyes, he can almost remember the half-ghost's gentle smile.

> "Protect Lady Yuyuko... save everyone.."

He grits his teeth as he forces himself up. The pain is excruciating, but he can't die here. Not yet. Not until he has kept his promise. He tightens his grip on the katana. It begins to glow, as if it has a life of its own. This weapon does not feel alien at all in his hands, despite having never trained with this type of blade before. For some reason, he feels that he can use it.

"Ah, creating more corpses is so much more fun!"

The cheerful necromancer sings to herself as she prepares the ritual. This is his chance. Ignoring the pain, he dashes toward the girl. Moving with inhuman speed, Vincent closes in. However, when he gets to the girl, she vanishes once more. In her place, something humanoid bursts out from the ground. He stops in his tracks and readies himself.

"Naughty human can still move? Good job! Good job! Ahahaha~"

He looks up. The girl is hovering high up in the air, out of range of his sword techniques.

"But I'm a little out of your league. Perhaps you should play with this one, instead~"

Vincent stares at the creature she summoned. It seems to be a well-built man dressed in the regal battle uniform of medieval Europe. He has long flowing hair, and an odd headband tied upon his head. His handsome face is calm and expressionless. The color of his face and skin is a startling white, and an ominous white aura is visible around him. Despite his human appearance, Vincent can tell that this person isn't properly alive. Then, he notices something oddly familiar about him. His eyes widen in horror.

In the dead man's hands is a heavy and dangerous whip.

"Oh shit," he mutters aloud.

In the next second, the man rushes forward and leaps high into the air. His whip unfurls at full length and smashes the ground with incredible force, leaving a large crack where it struck. Vincent barely manages to avoid this first attack. He pauses to think. He definitely isn't prepared to battle someone like him.

"D-die, you monster!" he cries out.

Yet, he has to try.

...

Vincent can't move anymore. That last hit must have broken several ribs.

"Awwww! Is it over already?"

Slowly, he opens his eyes. The necromancer girl has already landed. She mutters a few words in the cursed language. In an instant, the form of the legendary hunter dissolves into dust. Then, she pauses to take something from the pile of dirt. It looks like a single playing card.

"I guess you really are just another weak human," she says with a sigh. "You couldn't even defeat a badly made copy like this one. How pathetic!"

[Pathetic.]

"Too bad. Good bye then, little human~"

She snaps her fingers. A wall of blue flames forms in a circle around him. The searing heat burns painfully, yet the actual damage is slow. Is she planning to cook him alive? The bright flames force his eyes shut. Seeing only the darkness, he becomes even more aware of his surroundings. If this continues, he will definitely die. But what else can he do? She is right. It is foolish for a human to face the powerful creatures of the night. He isn't going to save Chen. He isn't going to save anyone.

[Giving up already?]

"I am going to die here."

[And what of your pride? What of your promise?]

"There is nothing I can do. I am too weak."

[Have you really forgotten your own strength?]

"How can I fight such monsters?"

[You fool! Don't you remember anything at all?]

"This is the limit of a human's power."

[A human's power has no limit.]

"I cannot fight back."

[You only have to fight the fear inside you.]

"I am only human."

[Exactly.]

"... what?"

[You were chosen because you were human.]

"Chosen?"

[Only humans can defeat monsters.]

Loading User Commands:
[X] "What are you going to do with Chen?"
[X] "Why are you doing this?"

---

"What are you going to do with Chen?" says Vincent. "She has nothing to do with any of this!"

"Oh, that girl?" she says. "I just needed a vessel of suitable spiritual power and strength. She does not look it, but Chen has immense potential for a youkai. Not unlike myself.."

"A vessel?"

Vincent looks around at the ritual site. He has seen this before in the past. An unholy ceremony that calls upon the darkness. He tightens his grip on his weapons.

"You were going... to sacrifice her!?"

"Sacrifice? That's such a strong word. I was just going to borrow her pure youkai spirit for a little bit~"

The girl smiles innocently.

"Once I have broken the seal on the Saigyou Ayakashi, the Netherworld's most powerful evil spirits would be unleashed upon this world. With those under my control, I would undoubtedly become the strongest in Gensokyo!"

He grits his teeth. He has seen this lust of power in the past. This person, without a doubt, was one of them.

"A necromancer," he whispers. "But why? Why are you doing this?"

"That stupid Okuu isn't the only one who can create an incident! I'll show you surface dwellers why our kind is to be feared! A great darkness shall sweep across this land. Every living soul shall be my servant, and every dead one my slave!"

She pauses solemnly.

"Then maybe, Master will finally praise me and acknowledge my -"

She suddenly covers her mouth, as if she has said too much. But this lasts only a moment. Soon, a malevolent smile forms upon her face.

"Why? What a silly question, little human. Because it's fun, of course~"

Vincent readies his weapons. The time for talk is finished. He does not understand everything, but one thing is clear. He has no interest in saving this person. No longer will he hesitate in drawing his blades. No longer will he strike at the enemy with honor and justice. No longer will he hold back and show mercy.

"..."

He utters no battle cry. He does not scream in anger or hatred. He sheds no tear in sorrow. There are no tears left. Only one coherent thought remains in his mind. Without another word, he rushes at the demon cat, both blades already drawn.

Kill.

"So energetic, fufu~"

She stretches her arm and points at him. In an instant, a dozen of the blazing spirits fly off toward him. He does not waver. With the two swords, he slashes away the evil as it approaches. The girl smiles, as if amused. Another volley of cursed fire comes at him. He carefully avoids the attack without slowing his approach. A few of the shots pass dangerously close, grazing his side painfully. But that doesn't matter. He is close enough now. Vincent lunges at the girl with both weapons. In the next moment, he swings his sword with killing intent. Flesh, bone and darkness, there is nothing that this blade cannot cut down.

However, his sword does not cut anything.

"Naughty human~" says a voice from above.

Without warning, several skeletal arms break out from the ground and grasp at his legs. Their undead grip is strong and relentless. No matter how hard he tries to pull away, he cannot free himself. He slashes away at them, but even more take their place.

"Very fast, this one is. But not for long~"

The girl points at him once more. This time, a single blue spark pops out. Only a little bigger than a candle flame, it flies toward him leisurely. Vincent continues struggling, but it is futile. Before he can react, the little blue fire is already floating in front of his face. He cries out in surprise. Then, his eyes widen in horror as the flame flies straight into his mouth and down his throat.

"AAAAAARRRRGGGGHHHH!!!"

Vincent cries out in pain. It burns! It burns! It burns! He can feel the flame tearing him apart from the inside, slowly and painfully. The pain is too much. He drops his weapons and crumples down on the ground, grasping at his throat and stomach. His screams echo throughout the desolate swampland. After a several excruciating moments, he hears the girl sigh loudly.

"Tch! How disappointing!"

The girl snaps her fingers. The skeletal arms release his legs and retreat back into the ground. The burning pain from within slowly vanishes, leaving him coughing and choking as he tries to recover. She lands on the ground and starts walking toward him. He can barely move, much less escape.

"Pretty weak without my power, aren't you? It's a pity. You had a lot of potential as a medium. In fact, you still do~"

She stands right in front of Vincent. The girl ruffles his hair fondly.

"Why don't you accept me as your master?" she says. "I could make you my familiar, if you choose."

"..."

"Now, don't be like that. I'm just trying to give you a second chance. No point in wasting such a talented -"

Before she can finish, Vincent swings at her. Her eyes widen in surprise. His fist unceremoniously connects with her face. Without giving her time to react, he punches her again with his other arm. He screams in anger as he continues pounding the girl's head. Blood splatters on his face, but he pays it no mind. He keeps attacking, smashing his fists upon her head. Sounds of flesh breaking and bones breaking, but he pays them no heed.

"Haa... haa... haaa..."

He doesn't know how long it took. In the end, he only stopped due to sheer exhaustion. She isn't moving anymore. Slowly, he stands himself up and begins walking away from the corpse. It is over. All he needs to do now is get Chen to safety and -

"Weak."

He stops in his tracks and turns around. The corpse stands herself up and wipes the dust and blood off her face. Except that it wasn't a corpse yet. The girl stood before him, her face completely regenerated.

"Humans are so weak. I even let you take a free shot at me, and this is all you can do?"

The girl stands in front of him. She doesn't look amused. Before he can respond, she vanishes. In the next moment, he feels something grab his neck. He blinks. The girl has already lifted him up the ground with one hand, choking him effortlessly.

"I don't even have to use my powers to break you. I can tear you apart with my bare hands, ahaha~"

She tosses him several yards away as if he were a rag doll. He lands painfully on the ground. The girl starts walking closer. He struggles to crawl away. But it's futile. She is already beside him. He cringes in fear. He can't fight back. He can't fight a monster like her. He can feel her running her hands along his left arm. Her sharp nails scratch painfully as she examines him.

"Interesting," she says. "Your joints are just like a doll's. I wonder what happens if I -"

"Pop!"

"AAAAAARRRRGGGGHHHH!!!"

She lets go. He hits the ground hard.

"Oops. I guess I might have broken something. How careless, ahahaha~"

The girl's laughter is almost as painful as his body.

"Well, I'm done playing here. I better finish the ritual now. Die quietly, little human~"

She starts walking back toward the sealing circle. Chen lies helplessly, still unconscious. No. No. No! This isn't right. This isn't right! This can't be right. This can't be the end. It can't just end like this! It won't end like this. He won't let it end like this!

"..."

Slowly, Vincent forces himself up. No voices in his head, this time. Only his own. With one single jerking movement, he realigns his dislocated shoulder.

"FFFFFFFF.....!"

The pain is intense. He bites his lip and stays silent. She doesn't realize that he can still move. This is his chance. If only he had a weapon.

"Clang!"

Something lands nearby. He doesn't stop to think. His hands quickly recover the item.

[ ] A warm blade that holds a promise
[ ] A cold blade that holds a grudge

Loading User Commands:
[X] Free her immediately.
[X] Custom

---

Vincent does not hesitate. Trap or not, he can't just leave her like this. Chen is a precious friend. He must protect her. He must protect everyone. She would have done the same.

"Hang on, Chen," he mutters.

He draws his own blade and skillfully slices the chains and seals apart. They come off easily. In the next moment, he carefully examines the unconscious girl. She doesn't seem to have any injuries, but he can't wake her. No response even when he shakes her or cries out. Was she under some kind of spell?

"Oh! Are you going to do something to that innocent girl? So naughty~"

He turns around in surprise. The cloaked girl is standing only a short distance away. Slowly, she lowers her hood. Then, she takes a moment to fix her hair before smiling at him.

"That was a clever move," she says. "I never thought that you could protect the half-ghost from my influence. It took me a while to understand what had happened. Very clever human indeed~"

Vincent pauses to take a better look. The girl has fiery red hair tied into twin braids with black ribbons. Her eyes are red as well, in contrast to her black and green dress. Around her back is a cloak marked with strange symbols and intricate designs. Upon her head are a pair of black cat ears, and two different tails poke out from under her dress. Another nekomata? Who was this person?

"Even now, I still can't control her spirit. So disappointing... I really wanted that half-ghost's soul! Those are really rare, you know?"

He slowly lowers Chen to the ground. Then, he draws out Youmu's sword with his other hand. He readies himself to attack with both weapons. But before he could do so, the girl starts giggling.

"How did little human break free from the spell, I wonder~"

She lands on the ground and starts walking closer. Several blue balls of flame pop out from the darkness and start circling her.

"Very interesting," she says. "I think I'll play with you, first. Such an amusing little human, thinking he can stand against me~"

Vincent grits his teeth. He can sense an immense power from this girl, unlike anything he has felt before.

"Why so quiet? Cat got your tongue~"

She seems so confident. Does he even stand a chance?

"It won't be much fun if we begin the Festival of Corpses right away. Don't you have anything to say, little human? I'll even answer your questions if you like~"

Select up to three.
[ ] "Who are you?"
[ ] "Festival of Corpses?"
[ ] "Protect the half-ghost?"
[ ] "What did you do to me?"
[ ] "What happened to Yuyuko?"
[ ] "What are you going to do with Chen?"
[ ] "You were behind everything?"
[ ] "Why are you doing this?"
[ ] Ask a different question. (Custom)
[ ] Enough talk. Time to end this.

Loading User Commands:
[X] Take Youmu's sword and go after the girl.

---

Vincent runs through the gray mist without stopping. Not once does he turn back, not once does he hesitate. His eyes are cold and determined. His mind is clear as day. There is only one path.

In his left hand, he holds the blade that the half-ghost left with him. Even if it is still sheathed, he feels a strong spiritual energy coming from it. It feels warm in his hands. He does not fully understand it, but instinctually, he knows that this weapon holds an otherworldly power.

In his right hand, he holds his own sword. It feels different from before. Somehow, he knows that this weapon could now slash through any opponent, mortal and immortal alike. A cold weapon that does not distinguish between friend and foe, the things it cannot cut are next to none.

...

Vincent stops abruptly. The great barren cherry tree is only a short distance away, thousands of wisps circling it slowly. Even from this distance, he recognizes what they are.

"Souls," he whispers darkly.

An ominous sight, indeed. Nothing else grows in its shadows, not even a single blade of grass. The soil around the tree is black as night, and the mist itself thins toward the center, as if afraid to approach. Slow and cautious, he walks around the perimeter of the unholy cherry tree. He does not discover anything unusual until he reaches the back.

"..!"

A large circle of cursed seals and candles. Symbols and markings used by dark sorcerors. Strange totems and statues standing silently among the shadows. Stains of blood and ink alike.

There is no doubt that this place is the center of this black magic. There seems to be no one else here. However, at the center of the circle is a small figure. He walks closer. That shape is familiar. Wait, isn't that -

"Chen!?" he says quietly.

Bound in chains and dark seals, the nekomata girl lies unconscious on the ground. But before he can do anything else, he hears footsteps.

Someone else is coming.

Chen...
[ ] Free her immediately.
[ ] Try to wake her.
[ ] This is a trap.
[ ] Custom

Someone is coming...
[ ] Wait patiently.
[ ] Call out to them.
[ ] Hide in the shadows.
[ ] Custom

[X] Inventory
A longsword. Forged with blessed steel. Looks expensive.
A sword named "Hakurouken". Youmu left it with you.
A black hair ribbon. It belonged to Youmu.

[X] Status
Unavailable

[X] Event
Unavailable

Loading User Commands:
[X] Stay with her.
[X] Custom

---

Vincent quickly puts the sword down and examines Youmu's wound. He rips off his sleeve to use the cloth as a makeshift bandage. Then, he puts constant pressure on the wound in an attempt to slow down the bleeding. His head throbs painfully as he tries to think. He doesn't have any medicine or tools, and he has no idea where he is.

"I'm sorry!" he whispers. "I'm so sorry! W-what have I done?"

Youmu smiles weakly.

"It's only a flesh wound. Don't worry about me. You have to -"

She chokes for a moment, coughing blood. Vincent gently holds her up until she recovers.

"Don't speak!" he cries. "Once the bleeding stops, I'll take you back! I'll find someone who can help you! Just rest and -"

She slowly looks down, examining her wound. Then, she shakes her head.

"This is a fatal injury. I never thought that a human could do so much damage. You really are amazing, Vincent."

The half-ghost looks up at him. Then, she shoves her sword into his hand once more. She wraps his fingers around it tightly with her own.

"You have to stop that girl," she whispers. "Protect Lady Yuyuko.. save everyone.."

"What are you saying? I need to get you to a hospital! Just give me a few seconds to think and we'll -"

She chokes again, coughing up even more blood.

"No more... time," she whispers weakly. "Please... I have... tell you..."

He stays silent as she speaks.

"I... always..."

Her lips quiver weakly.

"Y-Youmu?"

The half-ghost closes her eyes, as if to sleep. Her body becomes completely motionless. She lets go of him, leaving her precious weapon in his hand.

Slowly, he lowers his head and plants a gentle kiss on her lips. She does not respond.

A single tear rolls down his cheek.

...

Vincent sheathes his blade. He does not know the way back. He has no reason to go back. There is nothing left for him in this world or the next.

Before him is one last path.

[ ] Take Youmu's sword and go after the girl.
[ ] Say a prayer for the half-ghost.
[ ] Give up and despair.
[ ] Custom

Loading User Commands:
[X] Strike with Hakurouken.

---

Cold. It feels so cold. And weary. So tired. Should just go back to sleep.

"..up!"

Head hurts. Someone is being loud. Too loud.

"ake.. up!"

Just won't quit. I don't want to -

"Wake up!"

Ughh... stop shaking me. I'm awake. I'm awake already.

I'm awake.

...

Vincent slowly opens his eyes. He blinks curiously at his surroundings. Where is this? All around him are dead trees and swampland. Everything is enveloped in gray fog and darkness, and it takes a few moments for his eyes to adjust. The sun shines high above him, but the thick mist turns its brightness into an eerie glow, not unlike a bad moon. Huh? A bad moon?

"Very good, little human~"

Someone ruffles his hair fondly.

"After you finish up here," she says. "Come to the ritual site. There are still a few others who might interrupt the sacrifice."

He turns around quickly, but the owner of the voice is already walking away. A cloaked figure he doesn't recognize steps into the thick fog and vanishes before he can respond. Suddenly, his eyes are drawn to something larger. A silhouette of a gigantic cherry tree towers over him. Its huge branches are leafless and barren, yet it glows an eerie purple as he watches. Hundreds.. no, thousands of wispy things are swirling around it.

"What.. is that?" he manages.

"Clang!"

Something metal hits the ground. Vincent turns around. A long, dangerous looking sword lies carelessly. Someone is standing a few yards nearby. A familiar face. He sighs in relief.

"Youmu? Is that you?"

The half-ghost doesn't turn around. Puzzled, he starts walking closer to her.

"Hey! What's going on? Who was that just now?"

"..."

Still no answer. Something doesn't feel right. He starts running toward the girl.

"Are you okay?"

Vincent grabs her shoulder gently. She slowly turns her head. Then, the half-ghost grins.

"You're back," she whispers.

"Back? When did I -"

He doesn't finish the sentence. Crimson. His eyes are immediately drawn to the crimson. The bright red contrasts harshly against the green and white. The half-ghost starts to lose her balance, but he catches her in his arms. More crimson starts to stain the ground.

"Youmu!" he cries out.

The half-ghost continues bleeding from a large stab wound in her stomach. The amount of blood that is flowing out is alarming. This is most certainly a fatal blow. Who could have done such a horrible -

"W-what the -"

Then, he notices it. In his other hand is a weapon that is only too familiar to him. His longsword forged from blessed steel looks exactly as he remembers it. Except for one thing.

It was dripping blood.

He drops the weapon as if it burns. Did he just -

"I-I'm going to get you some help!" he cries. "Just hang on! Everything will be -"

The half-ghost raises her hand and covers his mouth.

"Good to see you again, Vincent."

She is smiling at him. Even in this dire situation, she smiles. He says nothing and forces a smile back. Slowly, she puts her other sword in his hand. She wraps her hand around his as she tightens his grip around it.

[ ] Go after the cloaked figure.
[ ] Stay with her.
[ ] Custom

Loading User Commands:
[X] Follow him into the mist. You can't afford to lose him!

---

Youmu chases as fast as she can, but she only barely keeps up with the bandaged swordsman. The two speed through the misty Netherworld, leaving the ghouls, ghosts, and the rest of the battle behind them. The sounds of combat fade away, leaving an eerie silence around the area. She hears nothing but their light footsteps as they make their way through the mist. The half-ghost shivers slightly when she notices their destination.

They are headed straight for the Saigyou Ayakashi.

Suddenly, Vincent stops running. They are only a short distance from the cursed tree. The half-ghost pauses to catch her breath. He doesn't turn around. Instead, he turns to the side, peering deep into the shadows.

"W-why?" she says. "Why did you lead me here?"

"..."

The bandaged swordsman doesn't say anything. Someone else answers in his stead.

"Just as planned. Very useful little human~"

The mist around Youmu starts glowing an eerie blue. She gasps in surprise when she looks down. All around her are intricate etchings on the ground. Light passes along the strange symbols and markings, forming a large circle of seals. The center of the circle seems to be directly underneath her.

"What the!?"

A cloaked figure reveals itself from the mist, landing lightly beside Vincent. Without a word, the bandaged swordsman kneels before the newcomer. The girl pats him on the head fondly.

"I see that you didn't damage her," she says to him. "You did well. That's a good human~"

The girl pauses to look at the half-ghost. Even with the hood on, Youmu can clearly see a toothy smile form on the girl's lips.

"Now I can complete my collection~"

The sealing circle glows even brighter, engulfing the surroundings in blue light. The half-ghost closes her eyes and braces herself for the worst. She curses at herself in her last moment. She should have seen that this was a trap.

"..."

Then, the light starts to dim. Youmu opens her eyes. Then, she examines herself. After finding no visible injury, she checks her ghost half as well. No damage. Wait.. nothing happened?

"Huh? Why didn't it work?" says the cloaked figure. "I followed all of the instructions! I don't think I missed anything. What did I do wrong?"

The girl rummages through the dress under her cloak. As she searches for something, the half-ghost notices that the stranger has one.. no, two tails. But before she can confirm anything else, the cloaked girl pulls out an odd item. It looks like a small black book.

"Soul sealing... soul sealing... where was it, again?"

After a few moments, the girl sighs to herself and pockets the item again.

"Ah, forget it! Once the ritual is complete, I'll be able to collect everything I ever wanted! This will be an incident that not even those two troublesome humans can stop! I'll have more than enough new toys!"

She raises her hand and points it straight at Youmu.

"I can afford to break this one," she cries. "Destroy the half-ghost!"

The bandaged swordsman stands up and turns around. He pauses only for a moment. Then, he draws his sword. The half-ghost readies herself.

This may be her last attack.

[ ] Strike with Roukanken.
[ ] Strike with Hakurouken.

"Hrggkkh?"

Youmu sheathes her blade. Shards of bone and chunks of flesh fly into the air. Screams of soulless anguish. And then, silence. The ghouls who stood in her path are reduced to a bloody mess. But behind her, even more of them are coming.

"These ghouls are endless!" she mutters.

The half-ghost tightens the grip on her weapons. Momentarily, she closes her eyes. The ghouls continue advancing. But before they can reach her, she vanishes.

She reappears only a few feet from Vincent. She swings her longer blade, first. As she expected, the bandaged swordsman easily blocks it with his weapon. Then, she aims for his head with the shorter blade.

"Eh!?"

Youmu blinks in surprise as the Hakurouken is knocked away. In the swordsman's other hand is his scabbard, which he used to counter her attack. Her eyes widen in horror as she realizes that her left side is completely defenseless.

"..."

But instead of taking advantage of the opening, Vincent pushes her back with his blade and takes a huge leap backward. The delusion terminating sword lands a few feet away. He slowly lowers his blade. Seems like he is waiting for her to retrieve her weapon.

Was there still something human left?

Youmu shakes away the thought of trying to reason with him. It is already too late. She quickly recovers the Hakurouken and prepares her stance. She must bring him back with the technique that is passed along the Konpaku line. Her sword shall cleave away this madness.

She rushes straight at him. Their swords glint brightly in the morning sun as they meet. She doesn't hold back as she makes each strike, moving at inhuman speeds. However, he blocks each of her attacks just as quickly. No matter how she attacks, she can't find at opening.

"... haaa... haaa.."

Youmu pauses to catch her breath. None of her techniques seem effective against this swordsman. His skill is far beyond what she has seen during their duels. In fact, it rivals that of her master. Her imperfect sword skills are a poor match for his speed and power. She cannot win this fight like this.

Then, she realizes something odd.

The bandaged swordsman blocked and dodged each of her attacks, but he never tried to attack her back.

"Vincent?" she whispers. "Are you holding back?"

He doesn't answer. Then, without another word, he dashes deep into the mist behind him, taking the same path as the mysterious cloaked figure from before.

[ ] Follow him into the mist. You can't afford to lose him!
[ ] Assist the others. They might be having trouble.
[ ] Custom

Loading User Commands:
[X] Awaken from this nightmare.

---

"Hmm... the sequence is behaving similar to the Schrödinger-Yakumo wave function. Theoretically, this is only possible under special conditions. The resonance fields themselves will not be enough to significantly alter the synapse matrix. But there should be no other class A entities on the current..."

Ran suddenly freezes. Her eyes slowly widen. She turns around too quickly, this time knocking over one of the displays. But she seems too agitated to care about it.

"Vincent!" she cries. "Where is Lady Yukari's guest? Is he still -"

He blinks stupidly. The kitsune seems to be talking to him, but her voice just got cut off. In fact, he doesn't seem to hear anything at all. Not even the sound of his own breathing. The only thing he can hear is his own heartbeat.

It seems to be slowing down.

Something.. doesn't feel right. In the next second, he loses his balance. Ran manages to catch him before he hits the ground. She shouts desperately at him. He still can't hear her voice. She seems to be repeating the same few words again and again, but he doesn't understand.

"Tail~" he croaks.

Vincent doesn't hear his own voice, but Ran's red face is enough to confirm that she heard him. She quickly shakes her head, mouthing the word, "stupid", somewhere along the line. To his surprise, she doesn't get angry, and she only holds him tighter and closer. Her cold and calculating demeanor has all but broken down.

In the last moments of his consciousness, he smiles at the kitsune. Despite everything, it looks like she is still a girl, after all. It is a fresh, new look for her. She really does look cute like this. And she feels so soft.

Soft

He blinks slowly. Did he forget someone important?

Everything fades to black.

[ ] Eyes of the heart
[ ] Eyes of the sword
[ ] Eyes of the stranger

Loading User Commands:
Youmu - [X] Deal with Vincent and the ghouls
Remilia/Grey - [X] Deal with Yuyuko and the evil spirits

---

Grey lands on the ground. He takes a moment to examine his things. The violin seems unharmed, so he carefully takes it out. He might not be strong enough to break the control spell on Yuyuko or Vincent, but he can definitely use his ability on the weaker minions. At the very least, this would lessen the number of enemies they need to face head-on.

"Hey you!" cries Remilia. "Keep those ghouls off me. I'll tear that man's throat off myself..."

"Eh? But we don't really need to -"

"He'll pay dearly for hurting Flandre!"

Suddenly, the half-ghost lands beside them. By the time he realizes it, her blade is already at his neck again.

"Don't," she whispers. "D-don't hurt either of them."

She slowly looks at them, her eyes slightly damp. She must be using all of her willpower to stay calm in this despairing situation.

"Stupid half-breed!" cries Remilia. "They aren't your friends anymore! Those two are nothing but puppets!"

The half-ghost bites her lip and turns away silently. Slowly, she lowers her weapon. Grey watches her for a few moments. Then, he sighs to himself. There is another way, but it will be difficult.

"Guess we don't have a choice," he says with a shrug.

Remilia turns to him and raises an eyebrow, but says nothing.

"We will just have to save them both."

~~~

"Obsessor, 「Slash of the Eternity」"

Youmu pierces right through the ghouls with her blade. She tears them apart with her technique without hesitation. The ghouls cry out in pain and rage as her weapon runs them down one by one. In a split-second, her surroundings are filled with the filthy remains of the cursed dead. Then, she takes a moment to shake the blood off her swords before looking up.

Vincent is standing in the distance with his arms crossed. He seems to be watching her patiently as more ghouls rush forward to attack. His face is expressionless, and his eyes are empty. Somehow, in this chaos, he seems even more lifeless than the undead troops he leads.

"..."

The half-ghost tightens her grip on her blades. She doesn't understand how Grey could have known, but that young man was right. The answer was already in her hands. It had always been with her, all of this time. Something that she has with her that could save them.

[i]Hakurouken.[/i]

With this, she has a chance to bring Vincent back. But she will need to get to him, first.

"Vincent..." she whispers.

At those words, the ghouls start to close in on her.

"... stupid idiot!"

Youmu pauses as she readies her next attack.

~~~

The sky is filled with colorful rain as the two of them clash. Remilia Scarlet and Yuyuko Saigyouji begin their duel high in the air. The vampire and the ghost pay no mind to the hundreds spirits gathering around them as they battle. In fact, the spirits themselves seem to be getting destroyed one by one in the crossfire. Minions of these level have no place in a battle between those two.

Grey watches them safely from the ground. He can't fly, and he has no way of contributing to a fight of that level. However, he has another task. He takes out his instrument and starts whispering to it gently. Then, he starts playing a familiar piece.

"Now for my part," he whispers.

As the battle continues, spirits start gathering around him. Vengeful wraiths or just lost souls, he can't tell. But soon enough, a number of spirits start swirling in a great circle. Attracted by his elegy, they continue increasing in number. Soon, he collects several dozen spirits with his music.

"..."

He looks up as he continues playing. Remilia seems to be having difficulty keeping Yuyuko at bay. The vampire pants heavily as she prepares her next attack. The ghost princess, on the other hand, seems to have no trouble pushing forward with even more powerful spells. At this rate, Remilia won't be able to weaken Yuyuko enough for his command spell to work.

Grey grits his teeth as he thinks. He needs to create an opening so that Remilia can turn the tide of the battle. Then, after weakening the ghost princess enough, he can try using his ability to subdue her.

~~~

Youmu...
[ ] Rush straight at Vincent; ignore the advancing ghouls.
[ ] Move forward slowly; cut down the ghouls as you move.
[ ] Stand your ground; wait for them to come to you.
[ ] Custom

Grey...
[ ] Continue gathering more spirits.
[ ] Order the spirits to support Remilia.
[ ] Attempt to break the control spell now.
[ ] Custom

Loading User Commands:
[X] Hurry after Lady Remilia and Grey. You can't waste time.

---

Komachi is still lying unconscious, her weapon several feet away. For a moment, the half-ghost hesitates.

"..."

There isn't enough time. If Youmu delays any further, she won't be able to catch up to the others. After muttering a prayer for the unconscious shinigami, she flies off after them. The cold wind blows harshly against her face as she hurries.

~~~

Halfway to the Saigyou Ayakashi, she finally catches up to the other two. However, they can go no further.

"Nya! The guests have finally arrived. Isn't it interesting~"

A cloaked figure floats calmly in mid-air. From the voice, it sounds to be a young girl. However, the hood of her costume hides her face completely.

"However, the preparations for the party aren't complete yet~"

Suddenly, they hear growling sounds from below. From the shadows, dozens of ghouls start lurching into view. Some of them seem to be carrying weapons. At the front is something different. It doesn't look like a ghoul at all. A human. With his longsword in his hand, Vincent leads the company of the cursed dead.

"Damned human," hisses Remilia. "He'll pay for hurting my sister!"

Then, from the mist, hundreds of wisps start swarming wildly. As she looks closer, she recognizes them as vengeful spirits. And at the front of this cloud of death is another familiar face. Approaching slowly, her fan covering her mouth, is the ghost princess herself, Lady Yuyuko Saigyouji.

"L-Lady Yuyuko!" cries the half-ghost. "B-but what are you -"

"Puppets," whispers Grey. "So that's why my ability isn't working on them. They are already being controlled by a much more powerful force."

"Have fun~" says the cloaked figure, laughing.

The stranger disappears into the mist, leaving the three of them in the middle of the cursed dead. From the distance, the Saigyou Ayakashi glows even brighter and more ominous. There is no choice.

They will have to fight.

Youmu should...
[ ] Deal with Vincent and the ghouls.
[ ] Deal with Yuyuko and the evil spirits.
[ ] Custom

Remilia and Grey should...
[ ] Deal with Vincent and the ghouls.
[ ] Deal with Yuyuko and the evil spirits.
[ ] Custom

Loading User Commands:
[X] Head down immediately. Try to talk to Vincent.

---

The wind blows against the man, and some of the bandages around his head fly off. Youmu gasps in horror as she recognizes the attacker.

It's Vincent.

The half-ghost swoops down immediately. She lands between the unconscious Komachi and the strangely dressed Vincent. A pause to catch her breath - she looks at his face and confirms that this person is definitely their ghost hunter guest. But what is he doing here? Why is he wrapped in those bandages? And why did he attack Komachi?

"Vincent!" cries Youmu. "I-Is that really you? What are you doing out here?"

The man stops walking and looks at her blankly. Slowly, he cocks his head to the side, as if inspecting something he has never seen before. His eyes are empty and lifeless. However, his grip on his weapon is tight.

"It's me! It's Youmu! D-d-don't you recognize me?"

The man only continues staring. He hesitates. His face twitches a little. Then suddenly, his lips form a very small smile.

"Vincent?" she whispers hopefully.

In that moment, she remembers his gentle smile from yesterday. That was a mistake. By the time she realizes it, the man already has his weapon raised high above her head. Youmu closes her eyes in reflex. With one swift motion, he brings it down upon the defenseless half-ghost, and in a split-second, it -

"..."

Slowly, the half-ghost opens her eyes. She gasps silently when she sees it. The longsword glints brightly through the morning fog, only an inch from her head. The man stopped his blade at the last second. She glances at his face. There is something different in his eyes. Something familiar.

"It's alright," she whispers softly. "It will be alright, so just -"

He lowers his weapon. Then, without warning, he grabs her shoulder and shoves her roughly to the side. She loses her balance and falls on her behind, painfully. After a moment of shock, the half-ghost sits up, rubbing her back.

"W-what are you -"

"Divine Spear, 「Spear the Gungnir」"

A bright flash of red fills her vision. In the next moment, the vampire's destructive weapon flies through the air toward Vincent. She watches in horror as it impales him right through the chest. It must have been only an instant, but it felt like an eternity. The cold steel, embraced closely with the Scarlet Devil's power, pierced right through him. It skewered his soft flesh. It shattered his bones as it drove its way through. And it continued flying into the distance as his body slowly fell.

"Vin... cent..?" she whispers hollowly.

Then, her eyes widen in shock. The body vanishes into thin air. An... after-image?

"Damn it! I can't believe I missed! Fast-moving bastard!"

Her eyes follow the loud shouts. Lady Remilia is already high in the air. Her spear is already back in her hands as she complains angrily. As she follows the vampire's gaze, she spots someone standing a good distance to her left. Vincent seems to be standing beside a broken tree stump. He looks unharmed.

"..."

He turns to her for just a single moment. Then, he runs off into the fog behind him. With his weapon in hand, the ghost hunter disappears in the direction of the Saigyou Ayakashi. Shortly after, Grey steps out from nearby. He seems to be panting heavily. The vampire lands right beside him.

"What happened?" she demands. "Are you really that useless?"

He shakes his head.

"It's different," says Grey. "It felt like I was straining to pull him away from something else."

He has a spell card in his hand. It seems to be different from the one he used earlier.

"Who cares about that?" cries Remilia. "I'm not letting my prey get away that easily! Now hurry up! We're going after him!"

"W-wait, what about -"

The vampire grabs him roughly by the arm and drags him with her as she takes off into the air. They immediately head after Vincent. As the half-ghost watches them leave, her gaze turns toward the Saigyou Ayakashi in the distance. The purple glow seems to be getting brighter, and even more spirits are gathering around the tree.

"Lady Yuyuko," she whispers.

She stands herself up and looks around. Komachi is still lying unconscious. Her scythe is several feet away from her. However, the shinigami seems to be moaning softly in her sleep.

"..."

[ ] Hurry after Lady Remilia and Grey. You can't waste time.
[ ] Examine Komachi for injuries. Try to wake her up.
[ ] Custom

Loading User Commands:
[X] Agree to the truce. Leave for the Saigyou Ayakashi immediately.

---

"You can call me Grey," says the young man.

He offers his hand to the half-ghost. After a moment of hesitation, she shakes his hand reluctantly.

"Y-Youmu Konpaku," she says. "Guardian of Hakugyokurou and personal retainer to Lady Yuyuko Saigyouji."

"Pleased to meet you. I'd like to know you better over some tea and biscuits, but unfortunately, we don't have much time..."

Youmu nods to herself as she sheathes her weapons.

"I will cooperate with you two," she says. "But know this - if either of you so much as lays a finger on Lady Yuyuko, I'll slash you without hesitation! My blade does not distinguish between friends and foes."

~~~

"Useless servant," says Remilia loudly. "I should drop you down right now for troubling me like this!"

"I-isn't that a bit too much?" cries Grey. "I'll die if I fall from this height!"

"Then just save yourself with a spellcard or such nonsense! Really, I don't know why I put up with you..."

"W-well I did say that you should have took Sakuya instead -"

A moment of silence passes.

"I can't take her this time," whispers the vampire. "She will definitely do something unreasonable if she finds out."

"So.. I'm just a replacement?"

"Of course not," she says cheerfully. "You are my human shield, in case things get dangerous. Be thankful that you can be useful to me."

"..."

Youmu says nothing as they fly towards the Saigyou Ayakashi. None of this has anything to do with her, after all. On the other hand -

"Lady Yuyuko," she whispers softly.

~~~

Something seems to be happening below. Their odd party of three - half-ghost, human, and vampire - slows down to investigate. The trees around the area have been torn to pieces, and the ground is filled with smoldering craters. At the center of the destruction, they can see two figures standing.

"Haa... haa.. haaa..."

The one on the left is a familiar face. Bright red hair tied in two places and a distinctively shaped scythe, it can be no one else but Komachi. The shinigami is panting heavily as she holds her weapon. From the damage on her clothes, it looks like she has been fighting a battle.

A losing battle.

"D-damn it!" she cries out. "What the hell are you doing! Aren't we friends?"

"..."

Youmu turns to the right. Wrapped completely in bandages from head to toe, a strange man steps into view. Even the man's eyes are covered, though he acts as if he can see Komachi clearly. He seems to be holding a long weapon in his hand. A sword of some kind, though she can't see it very well from here. Slowly, the man steps forward toward the shinigami.

"Looks like I'll have to knock some sense into that hard head of yours. I don't want to do this, but..."

Komachi draws a spellcard from her dress. But the man is faster. Before she can declare her spell, the man suddenly vanishes. Her eyes widen in surprise. In the next second, the man is already standing a few feet in front of her. The man raises his weapon and brings it down upon Komachi. The shinigami manages to block it with her scythe, but the sheer force of the blow pushes her back. Then, the sword starts shining brightly.

"Restless Delusion, 「Nirvana Soulbreak」"

Both of the figures are engulfed in a blinding explosion. Youmu and her party take a few seconds for their eyes to recover. As the dust clears, they can see the two figures standing in the middle of a huge crater. One of them isn't moving.

"Komachi," she whispers.

The shinigami is lying unconscious on the ground. Her weapon is several feet away from her hand. She doesn't seem to have any serious wounds, though her body is full of scratches and cuts.

"Is that him?" says Grey.

Remilia nods carefully. She seems to be hesitant, for some reason.

"He is very powerful," says the vampire. "Grey, I want you to support me from a distance. The half-ghost can do whatever she likes, it doesn't matter."

The man wrapped in bandages starts walking toward Komachi slowly, his sword still in his hand. The wind blows against him suddenly, and some of the bandages around his head fly off. Youmu gasps in horror as she recognizes the attacker.

It's Vincent.

[ ] Head down immediately. Try to wake Komachi.
[ ] Head down immediately. Try to talk to Vincent.
[ ] Head down immediately. Protect Komachi.
[ ] Head down immediately. Protect Vincent.
[ ] Custom

Loading User Commands:
[X] Custom

---

"That air-headed ghost princess must have run off somewhere," Remilia says.

The vampire cracks her knuckles as she takes slow, deliberate steps toward her. This is the worst possible situation. If what the vampire said is true, then Lady Yuyuko isn't even within the grounds. That would mean that she is alone.

Youmu grits her teeth. Calm down! She can't let Remilia intimidate her. The vampire's power is certainly above her own, and it even rivals that of Lady Yuyuko. In a head-on battle, it would only be a matter of time before she would be taken down.

"Guess that I'll have to take my frustrations out on you, instead."

She swallows nervously. This looks really bad! But the half-ghost still has one advantage. Even if it is against her principles, she doesn't have a choice. Slowly, she shifts her position so she can see both the vampire and her hostage. Then, she lowers her blade directly at the young man's neck.

"Y-your 'property' is trespassing on Hakugyokurou grounds!" she cries out.

The vampire stops walking. Youmu puts on her best menacing face as she continues.

"And so are you," says half-ghost. "E-even if it is the Scarlet Devil herself, I won't back down! What is your business here?"

Lady Remilia doesn't say anything in reply. Instead, she only watches them, as if she is waiting for something. The three of them stand still in a stalemate. The silence is excruciating. Youmu glances at the young man. He seems to be looking at her sadly.

Then, without minding her weapon at all, he slowly raises his hand and puts it on her shoulder. She shivers involuntarily in surprise. I-is he crazy? Doesn't he understand his situation? She could end his life in a split-second right now. Yet this man is looking at her with an expression full of pity. And kindness.

"You aren't this kind of person, Youmu," he whispers.

How? How does he know her name? Has she met this person before?

"W-what are you talking about?" she says.

"You don't really want to hurt anyone."

Suddenly, the young man smiles at her. For some reason, she starts blushing. She doesn't understand this at all! She has no idea who this person is, but why? Why is he smiling at her so kindly? This just doesn't make any sense! But if he looks at her like this, she can't -

"Y-you... stupid idiot!" she cries out.

Before he can react, she grabs him by the neck and tosses him at Lady Remilia. The vampire's eyes widen in surprise.

"N-nyu!"

For a moment, everything stands still. The young man landed right on top of the Lady Remilia, almost blocking her completely from sight. The vampire really is quite small, she notes. Then, Youmu watches in shock as the young man receives a kick to the groin. Seems like his hands landed somewhere sensitive. As he crumples in pain, the vampire shoves him away with one hand. Then, Lady Remilia turns back to her, her eyes full of fury.

"Stupid half-ghost," she says. "Now I'm really going to have to teach you some manners!"

The vampire stands up, stretching her wings slightly. She raises her hand, muttering some words under her breath. In the next moment, a dangerous looking spear materializes before her. With this weapon in hand, she starts walking forward. In response, Youmu draws both of her swords and stands her ground in a defensive stance. Even if it's futile, she won't back down from this fight. Her pride won't let her.

But before either of them could attack.

"Command Sign, 「Seal Movement」"

Youmu instinctively tries to dodge, but something is wrong. She blinks a few times as she realizes it. She can't move her arms and legs!

"W-what the -"

"Nice work, Grey," says Lady Remilia darkly. "Even though I don't really need help, this will make things much easier for me."

She glances at the young man. His face is still full of pain. However, he is holding a spell card in his hand.

"Now all I have to do is -"

Suddenly, the vampire stops talking. She grunts for a moment, as if having great difficulty moving. In fact, she doesn't seem to be moving at all. Eh? Seems like Remilia can't move either.

"That really hurt, Remilia," says the young man.

Slowly, he stands himself up. He dusts off his pants carefully, as if that was a more important concern. Lady Remilia stares at him in shock. Then, after a few moments, the vampire finally speaks.

"H-how dare you!" she cries. "How dare you do this to your Master!"

"Don't misunderstand," replies the young man. "I'm doing this to protect your interests. You need Youmu alive, don't you? We will need her help later."

He glares back at the vampire, as if silently adding, 'that really hurt'. Then, he turns toward the half-ghost.

"Besides," he says. "I don't think we have the time for this. If we don't hurry, something really bad is going to happen."

The young man points toward something in the distance. Through the mist, the silhoutte of the great cherry tree Saigyou Ayakashi can be clearly seen. Bright purple energy is swirling around it, and even from this far, she can see thousands of spirits gathering toward the light. For some reason, the scene reminds her of -

"Lady Yuyuko," she whispers.

The young man nods solemnly.

"For now, why don't we call a truce?"

The vampire stares angrily at him.

"Don't worry," he adds. "This will benefit our side as well. If I'm not mistaken, that light will lead us to the source of both our troubles."

Youmu pauses to think. She doesn't have much choice.

[ ] Refuse the offer. You can't trust them.
[ ] Refuse the offer. You don't need their help.
[ ] Agree to the truce. Leave for the Saigyou Ayakashi immediately.
[ ] Agree to the truce. But there is something you need to do first... (Specify)
[ ] Custom

Loading User Commands:
[X] Approach the young man first. Forcefully.
[X] Custom

---

The young man sighs to himself as he starts walking toward the entrance.

"Maybe not a 'happy ending', but would it be too much to ask for a break?"

The young man hasn't seen her yet. This is her chance. Youmu quickly opens the door and rushes behind one of the trees outside.

"After all that had happened yesterday, I was really hoping to spend some time with..."

As expected, the intruder hasn't noticed her quick movements.

"... or I could walk around town. I'm sure that I can find a nice gift for..."

Youmu carefully eyes the violin case in his hand. That instrument is dangerous, and she can't afford to take any chances.

"... but instead I'm out here, in the middle of nowhere, fighting for my life against zombies! What the hell? Why the heck does it have to be zombies?"

The half-ghost's eyes narrow. Without hesitation, she steps out and dashes toward the intruder. Before he can react, she draws her sword and knocks the violin case away.

"What the -"

Then, with her other hand, she grabs the intruder and tosses him behind her. The young man lands face-first against a nearby cherry tree. After cringing in pain, he opens his eyes to see an arm pinning him hard against the trunk of the tree. The other arm is holding a long katana right beside his neck. Its owner is staring darkly at him.

"Who are you!" cries the half-ghost. "Are you behind the attacks?

"Huh?"

"For the time being, I'm here to slash you. That's my story."

"..."

His head is still spinning, but for some reason, he doesn't feel at all surprised. This scene seems somewhat familiar. He looks up at his attacker. Short silver hair... a green and white dress that looks a little like a uniform... a sharp bladed weapon...

"Hey miss... are you, by any chance, related to someone named Sakuya?"

"E-eh?"

The two of them stand still like that for a moment. The half-ghost, keeping her blade steady at his neck, and the young man, staring back at her calmly. For some reason, the violent atmosphere has suddenly disappeared, leaving only awkwardness. This isn't at all what she has planned. She needs to get some answers from this intruder before -

"Hey half-ghost."

Youmu keeps her weapon at the stranger's neck as she glances behind her. She bites her lip as she recognizes the person. This is the worst possibility.

"I don't remember giving you permission to touch my property."

"L-Lady Remilia? Ah! This is..."

"That air-headed ghost princess must have run off somewhere," she says. "Guess that I'll have to take out my frustrations on you, instead..."

The vampire cracks her knuckles as she takes slow steps toward them.

[ ] Custom

Loading User Commands:
[X] Entrance

---

"I'm sorry for disturbing your rest," she whispered.

Youmu shook the blood off her weapon before she sheathed it. In the next moment, the four ghouls that were standing behind her shrieked in pain as they fell apart. When she took a glance back, the undead creatures were nothing more than broken pieces of meat and bone.

But the half-ghost's mind was already on something else. As she hurried through the mansion, she could hear the sounds of battle near the entrance. The shrieking and screaming of ghouls as they thirst for human flesh. Explosions that shook the ground violently. Her eyes narrowed as she ran through the hallways.

She paused at the door. This was dangerous. Slowly, she opened it and took a peek outside. Her other hand was ready to draw her weapon. However, she didn't expect to see this.

"Filth! You dare raise a hand against me?" cried a familiar voice.

High in the air, she saw a tiny figure. It was a small girl with short blue hair. She wore a pink dress and hat with bright red trimming, and she had a pair of bat wings behind her. The half-ghost had no doubt that this was the self-styled vampire princess of the Scarlet Devil Mansion. But what was Remilia Scarlet doing here?

Youmu kept her distance and watched as the girl dove down to attack a company of ghouls. She slashed at them with her claws, leaving only shreds of meat behind her. Suddenly, one ghoul rushed out from behind a tree. But it was useless. Remilia stopped it with her hand and grabbed its head. Then, she crushed its skull with her bare hand. The strength of a vampire was truly monstrous.

"So this was were they were coming from," said the vampire. "Hey, you!"

The half-ghost gasped silently. But a moment later, she realized that Remilia hadn't noticed her yet. She seemed to be shouting at someone else.

"Surrounded already? Don't tell me that you expect your Mistress to save you?"

"..."

Youmu shifted her position to look toward the left. It was a strange sight. Ghouls had surrounded someone in a circle, yet they weren't attacking. In fact, they seemed confused as they stared blankly at their surroundings. But stranger still was the person in the middle of the circle.

It was a handsome young man dressed in a simple traveller's ensemble in the style of early 18th century Europe. His face was calm and composed as he stood there, alone among monsters. In his hands was a violin, which he was playing elegantly. He was playing a song that she recognized as an elegy to the dead. Could this person charm the ghouls with his music?

"Ah!"

Youmu gasped in surprise. The person suddenly stopped playing. He lowered his instrument and smiled gently at his undead audience. He raised his hand and snapped his fingers.

In the next moment, the heads of the ghouls exploded! Blood rained around the man, but not a drop landed on him. One by one, the decapitated bodies dropped down to the ground, forming a bloody circle of death around him.

The young man looked up at the vampire.

"Sorry for troubling you, Mistress."

"Took you long enough," said Remilia as she landed beside him. "Anyway, I need you to find the half-ghost. Make sure you bring her to me alive."

"Half-ghost?"

"You'll know her when you see her. I'll check the back and deal with that gluttonous ghost princess myself."

The vampire took a few steps forward before pausing. She spoke without turning around.

"Make sure you don't die," she whispered.

Remilia took flight immediately. The man watched her circle around the side of the mansion. Then, after sighing to himself, he started walking toward the entrance.

He hasn't seen her yet.

[ ] Approach the young man first. Peacefully.
[ ] Approach the young man first. Forcefully.
[ ] Approach Remilia first. Peacefully.
[ ] Approach Remilia first. Forcefully.
[ ] Custom

Loading User Commands:
[X] Late Morning

---

"Haa... haa... haa..."

The room is filled with the sound of quick ragged breathing. After blinking a few times, a pair of eyes takes in the surroundings. The late morning sun shines brightly through the windows. No one else is in the room.

Youmu closes her eyes and tries to calm herself. She can still feel herself sweating as if she had run a marathon.

"Get it together," she tells herself. "That was just another weird dream."

A dream? It felt like something much more than that. She can still remember the sparkle of his azure eyes. Deep blue, like the sky or the sea. She can still hear the gentle sound of his voice and the softness of his heartbeat. But more than that, she can still feel his warmth and his touch. Even now, she can recall how he had... Youmu quickly opens her eyes. She can't be sure unless she checks, but something feels off this morning.

"..."

She swallows nervously as she lowers one of her hands to check under her dress. The half-ghost turns bright-red when she realizes that something underneath is quite damp to the touch.

"Kyaaaaaah!"

~~~

Youmu looks at herself in the mirror. Even after a quick shower and a change of clothes, she still feels like a mess. But she can't afford to neglect her duties. Carefully, she ties up her hair with a her black ribbon.

"It's just a dream, after all..."

First, she takes the long sword "Roukanken". She was told that this weapon could kill ten spirits in one stroke. Then, she takes the short blade named "Hakurouken". This blade could dispel the confusion of those it cuts, human or spirit, but it could only be used by those of the Konpaku family.

"..."

She pauses by her dresser to pick up one last thing - a small bundle of cloth. This contains the skull that is the container of her ghost core. After looking at it for a minute, she carefully stuffs it into her ghost half so that it can't be seen.

"I wonder if Lady Yuyuko already had something to eat..."

~~~

Their eyes met. In that single moment, both of them stood frozen, not out of fear but of surprise. The half-ghost and the intruder stared at each other. The intruder growled menacingly. Her eyes narrowed. In the next moment, they rushed forward at each other. Both of them were ready to kill.

But Youmu was faster.

Her blade flashed like lightning. In the next second, the intruder blinked, as if shocked. Then it fell apart into seventeen different pieces of meat, each sliced as cleanly as the last.

"Tsk, I cut trash again..."

After sheathing her sword, she turned back at the bloody mess. Youmu frowned as she examined the remains of the creature. It was no wonder that she couldn't sense its presence. This creature didn't have a soul. It was nothing but a "shell". No, it was little more than that - a "puppet". This creature must be what Vincent described from before - a ghoul. But how did such a thing breach the defenses of Hakugyokurou?

Her eyes widened. It was then that the half-ghost realized it. It was already late morning, but Lady Yuyuko had not come into her room to complain about breakfast. Did something -

"Ah!"

Youmu quickly closes her eyes to heighten her senses. She can't feel Lady Yuyuko, but she can sense two presences near the mansion entrance. One of them feels oddly familiar. She can't sense anyone else nearby. The ghouls do not have souls, so she can't sense their locations.

She pauses to think.
[ ] Lady Yuyuko's Room
[ ] Vincent's Room
[ ] Dining Room
[ ] Entrance
[ ] Kitchen
[ ] Garden