[Reimu x Marisa]-centered Short Stories Glen !!IwLmyyA2R0 2011/08/06 (Sat) 04:14 No. 55 ▼ File 131260409346.jpg - (618.55KB, 777x998 , 41240ba893b8b28f028dcac09bbf70b8.jpg)
"So hungry..."
Reimu sifted through her pantry and found a pack of crackers that Yukari had given her... what, six, seven months ago? She couldn't remember. She opened the plastic wrap and started to munch on them as she walked back outside and sat down next to her tea. The crackers were stale but it was all she had left; there was simply no food to be had anywhere in the house. Reimu had exhausted all of her reserves, and the drought they were having had killed off all but her tea leaves. Suika left a couple days ago to the Forest, but ended up having to go back home for a while. "Oni business," she had said. Reimu figured that Suika was tired of not having anything to eat.
Reimu sighed and leaned back, staring up at the sky. She hadn't had a solid meal in two weeks. That was when the last of her rice had gone. She had considered going to the village and asking for food, but she was still extremely unpopular there; Sanae was who they all looked up to now. Fucking Sanae, she thought. Taking all the glory for everything I've done. Even if she didn't mean to, she's certainly not turning down all those donations. The Moriya shrine had made fifty thousand in a week - Reimu didn't even think there was that much money in all of Gensokyo! The Hakurei Shrine didn't make that much in a year.
Of course, there were other options. Reimu nibbled on another cracker as she thought of heading to the Mansion. No, that wouldn't work either - Remilia and Flandre had been getting into it for well over a week now, and it didn't show any signs of slowing down. Flandre wanted to go out and play, but Remilia insisted on keeping her locked in the mansion, and so the entire place was a battleground now.
There was Eientei, but the flight was just too far.
And then there was... Yukari. The gap youkai had made it clear a long time ago that Reimu would always be welcome there, and she would gladly give her money and food in return for, as Yukari put it, "services rendered". Reimu wasn't entirely sure what she meant, but knowing Yukari, it was probably sex. She made it no secret that she wanted to be the one to take Reimu's virginity, so the shrine maiden did everything she could to stay the hell away. Reimu shivered at the thought of Yukari - well, anyone for that matter, but especially Yukari - getting their dirty, lust-driven hands all over her. Hell, Reimu didn't even touch herself, she wasn't about to let someone else do it.
As for Marisa... well, Reimu felt another pang of betrayal at that. Marisa had taken up a mission for Rinnosuke to head into the real world with Ran and Chen to find a... "computer"? Reimu didn't even know what that was, just that it ran on electricity, like a kitchen appliance of her black-and-white TV (which really sucked because COLOR television was just recently introduced! Color!), or the radio. Marisa, having sworn never to work for Yukari again, had broken that promise to do this. Yeah, the payout was huge if they got a "good one", but Marisa still broke her word to Reimu. And deep down, it hurt.
Or maybe that was the hunger talking again. Reimu couldn't tell. Her stomach growled at her for another cracker, so she obliged it, eating it slowly to savor every last bite. Things weren't like this for her mom, she knew. When Reimu was a baby, there were always donations coming to the shrine, and they never went hungry, even during droughts. Back then, people knew and loved them. But there were more of them too, Reimu knew; there was her mom, the strong-willed Youkai Exterminator, Rei Hakurei; the keeper of the boundary, Kyoko Hakurei; and the beautiful, popular maiden, Kagome Hakurei. The "Gorgeous Hakurei Sisters", they were called.
But then Rei fell in love with a magician from the outside. She couldn't remember his name - it was something European, "Russian" he had said, wherever that was. He was charming and popular, but he was also two steps from insane. He claimed to be a prophet, able to see the future, and said that all of Gensokyo was doomed to failure. That of course made the Hakurei unpopular, and when Reimu was five her parents were killed by humans. Her aunts disappeared too, presumably killed at the same time, and so little Reimu was left alone.
That was the first time she ever met Yukari. The gap youkai basically raised Reimu - or at the least, just made sure she didn't die of starvation, thirst, or pillagers. When Reimu's first Incident occurred when she was nine, Yukari disappeared from her life until the Cherry Blossom Incident years later, and by then, she had all but forgotten about Yukari. It wasn't until recently that she had this information revealed to her, and it made her conflicted about how she felt. She still didn't like Yukari, and she figured it was because of her that she got along with youkai (and thus made her more unpopular), but she did now have a grudging respect for her now.
A chirp caught Reimu's attention. Looking down, she saw a few small birds surrounding her feet, looking up at her and hopping up and down. Reimu looked at the crackers in her hand and sighed, crushed them up, and tossed them to the birds. "I guess you gotta eat too, huh?" She said to the birds as they chirped happily and ate the cracker crumbs. "You guys are starving me too," she said jokingly, clapping her hands together to get rid of remaining crumbs. She finished off her tea and calmly watched the birds. Her stomach protested such a waste of food, but Reimu didn't care; she was always up for helping others over herself, even if she didn't act like it. Or in this case, even if it meant depriving herself.
Reimu leaned back on her arms and stared up at the clouds. Maybe Yukari's offer isn't so bad... she considered as she watched them float by. Food, money to buy more food. I wouldn't starve... and all I gotta do is just... sell my body. She shivered. No, I shouldn't think stuff like that! I'm not... not going to sell myself to her. I'm not going to give myself up just to eat! Something will break for me, it's got to! ...But I'm so hungry. Reimu's stomach gurgled again, and she put a hand on it. Maybe if I just disconnect my mind from what she'd be doing to me. I could just let her have her way with me... if I'm not really there mentally, I wouldn't have to suffer, right?
This wasn't fair. Reimu was one of the most important people in Gensokyo! So why was she thinking about whoring herself out just to survive? Had things really fallen that bad for her? Was she doomed to a life being nothing more than Yukari's sex slave? No, it couldn't be like that. She'd move to the Moriya Shrine first.
"Reimu! Hey, Reimu!"
Reimu gritted her teeth as she heard Sanae's voice come from the direction of the shrine. Speaking of people she never wanted to see, she watched as the green-haired Moriya miko came out the back of Reimu's shrine, carrying a bag between her hands. Sanae smiled brightly at Reimu and walked toward her, and Reimu had to swallow bile to keep it from rising in her mouth. That damned arrogant maiden, coming here to mock her some more, surely. Sanae was always showing Reimu the new gifts that the villagers had made for her, or whatever Rinnosuke could be bothered to part with. It was infuriating, but in this case, she was still a guest. So, Reimu put on her happy face, stood up, and gave Sanae a light bow as she walked up.
"Good afternoon, Sanae!" She greeted warmly. "Would you like some tea?"
"Oh, no thanks, I brought my own!" Sanae reached in her bag and pulled out a glass bottle with some strange writing on it. "I got this from Kourin today. It's pretty popular back outside. It's a type of tea from a place called America. You serve it cold, see?" She touched Reimu with the bottle, causing her to yelp from the cold of the bottle. "It's really good! Man, I should have brought you some but I forgot. Oh, yeah, look at this," She reached in her bag and pulled out... Reimu thought Yukari called it an "iPod"? The gap youkai had one similar to it. "This thing's awesome! It has a lot of my favorite music on it from the outside! You wanna listen to it with me?"
"N-no thanks," Reimu stuttered, staring as Sanae put in an earbud and turned up the iPod, causing loud pop music to come blaring out. "So why'd you stop by?"
"Hm? Oh, I just wanted to show you this stuff that I got today," Sanae pulled out a blanket. "One of Keine's human students made this for me. Isn't it amazing? She said it was thanks for saving everyone a few years back when the sky was red. I have no idea what she's talking about, but I just couldn't turn it down. Isn't it great?" Sanae pulled the blanket to her chest and hugged it warmly. "Ah, it feels so good. I wish they'd give you something like this Reimu, but no one at the village seems to like you. Wonder why?"
Are you stupid, or mocking me? Reimu thought. "Oh, I guess we just don't get along," Reimu waved her hand dismissively. "The villagers just don't like me being all the way out here, I guess. Too dangerous?"
"Well maybe if you weren't so lazy you know?" Sanae reached in her bag and pulled out a straw doll that resembled her. "I mean, yeah you solve incidents and stuff, but you don't really do anything else. But I help solve incidents too, and you know, I think I'm getting pretty good. Better than you, even! I wonder why? Do you think it's because you're always hungry you can't focus? Or is it something else?"
"Who knows?" Reimu tilted her head and smiled.
"Well I guess it's hard when you have no money," Sanae put a finger to her mouth and appeared to be deep in thought. "Maybe we could move your shrine closer? That'd probably be a good idea. What do you think Reimu? Maybe if we got you a sexier miko outfit to draw in donations, or I could try and call up a miracle for you! ...well, no, you wouldn't like that, you like doing things yourself..."
Sanae continued prattling on, oblivious to the world around her as Reimu lowered her head, shadows covering her eyes. Why is she doing this to me? she wondered. She's enjoying this. Sanae began to laugh at one of her own jokes. She likes feeling like she's better than me. She likes everyone loving and adoring her. She doesn't mind me starving to death... being poor... Reimu felt tears at the corners of her eyes. I expected this, but why does it still hurt my feelings? What have I done to deseve this? She felt anger rising up as her heart clenched, and a quiet sob escaped her, causing Sanae to pause. "Is something wrong, Reimu?"
"... please leave. I'm not feeling well," Reimu choked out. She looked up and glared at Sanae. "I guess since I'm too poor to eat, I'm getting sick!"
"Well we could-" Sanae yelped and ducked as Reimu hurled her teacup at her. "Reimu, hey!"
"Leave me alone!" Reimu screamed. The birds around their feet escaped as Reimu took a step toward Sanae and grabbed her doll from her hands. "Go away, Sanae! I never want to see you here again!" Sanae took a step back from the angry red-white before turning tail and taking flight, flying away as fast as she could as Reimu screamed and kicked her clay tea pitcher, sending it across the yard. Reimu stormed in the house and screamed at nothing, flipping her kotatsu over before hurling that out of her house, then her television, her radio, her futon, anything not nailed down.
Reimu stopped her rage long enough to lean against the wall. The adrenaline from her anger quickly gave way back to her sadness, and Reimu felt her tears begin to stream now. Reimu slid down the wall and covered her face with her hands and began to cry, harder than she ever had before in her life. It was so unfair for her to feel like this, she thought as her self-control collapsed. Reimu's shoulders shook as she moved to hug herself as she ended up laying down on the floor in a fetal position. I can't do this anymore. she thought as her tears wet the floor. I can't... it's not fair... I'm too tired to keep on... too hungry... I've got nothing to feed myself with... why does this happen to me?
Reimu felt something strange in her chest as her heartbeat began to slow. What's this feeling? she wondered. Maybe my body has finally turned on itself, looking for food. Maybe I'm going to die hungry... that would be grand, wouldn't it? Reimu closed her eyes to try and stop herself from crying, but it only made things worse. I wish I could apologize to whoever is doing this to me... The miko tightened her hold on herself and felt tiredness begin to wash over her. Without anything solid to eat, there was no energy to burn, and without that, Reimu was finding it increasingly hard to stay awake... especially in moments like this.
Another sob escaped from the girl as she managed to pick herself up and make her way to her bedroom. Even though there wasn't a futon there, she fell where it normally would lay, and Reimu closed her eeys again. Another tear streamed its way down the side of her face, and she fell asleep alone and hungry.
-=-=-
A sudden light forced Reimu to awake. She sat up and looked around, wondering just what the hell was going on. Reimu looked down, noticing that she was under covers, then noticed that she wasn't even in her room. No, with the clutter around her, the western-style bed, and the distinct scent of mushrooms in the air, this was definitely Marisa's house; this obviously meant that Marisa was home, but nowhere to be seen.
Slowly, Reimu got up out of bed, then looked down and blushed. She was down to her sarashi and panties, and looking around, her clothes were nowhere in sight either. Sitting next to the bed and folded up neatly was a simple white nightgown, so Reimu tossed it on real quick before making her way out of the bedroom and down the hall. She walked downstairs and peered around the corner, where she could just make out a figure dressed in odd clothes moving back and forth in the kitchen. What, is she cooking? But Marisa's a terrible cook. Reimu shrugged and made her way into the kitchen to watch what was going on.
Sure enough, Marisa was going back and forth between her stove and fridge, pausing only to glance at a wire-bound book with a picture of soup taking up a good fourth of it. She was dressed in some odd clothes and her hair was tied up into a ponytail, which really suited her Reimu had to admit. The witch was oblivious as she was watched, humming a tune to herself as she stirred a pot of some... actually, that smelled pretty good. Reimu's stomach made a hungry sound.
Marisa yelped and turned around. "Oh, you're awake! I'm sorry, I didn't mean to, heh..." Marisa rubbed the back of her head and grinned. "It's good I got back when I did, yeah? No offense but you look like death warmed over."
"Thanks," Reimu droned, seating herself at Marisa's table as she watched. "What kind of pants are those?"
"They're called... denim I think?" Marisa shrugged. "I dunno, but they're comfy. I did some shopping while Ran and I were Outside. Got some pretty neat stuff." Marisa adjusted the collar of her pink-and-white t-shirt and went back to cooking. "Reimu, have you not eat at all since I've been gone?"
"Well... some stuff... but I ran out of food a little after you left," Reimu lay her head on the table and watched Marisa. "I've been living on scraps, and you know how donations are for me."
"Jeez, you should have come here. I got plenty of food, yeah?" Marisa gestured toward her pantry. "I eat enough of your food and you know my place is always open to you."
"Well, I didn't know if you had any traps or anything," Reimu explained. "I thought about it but I didn't want to risk it."
"Fair enough," Marisa grabbed a bowl out of the cabinet and filled it up with the soup. She grabbed a spoon and set it down in front of Reimu. It looked like vegetable soup, but a bit thicker and the broth was a bit darker, and smelled of beef slightly. Reimu gave thanks and took a sip of it. Her eyes widened, and it took less than ten seconds for her to swallow the entire contents.
"Wow, this is good!" She exclaimed, and Marisa smiled at Reimu's outburst. The miko blushed slightly and looked away. "I-I mean, you did alright,"
"Want another?"
"Please," Marisa took the bowl and refilled it.
"Don't eat so fast or you'll make yourself sick, okay?" Marisa said, setting the bowl down and grabbing one of her own. "Oh, I went ahead and took the liberty of buying you some food for your place. My payout was pretty big, yeah? I think you'll like it. Oh, and Suika's back. She wanted me to say hi for her."
"Freeloader," Reimu muttered, restraining herself from diving into the bowl again and taking a modest sip of it. "I knew she'd come back if I had food, I just knew it." Nontheless, Reimu smiled at the thought of having a friend at the shrine once more.
"Look, Reimu..." Marisa looked away, feeling awkward. "I'm not good at this kind of stuff, so I'll just say it. Don't let yourself get like this again, okay? You scared me to death when I found you in your room, yeah? Just look, I don't care what you have to do, but don't do that to me again. I worry about you, 's why I'm always over," she chuckled nervously. "When I picked you up, it was like picking up a child, you were so light. It scared me, it really did."
"Marisa..."
"I care about you, Reimu, yeah? So I'm just sayin'."
Reimu looked down at her soup. Marisa was acting weird, that was for sure. She didn't say stuff like this normally; it was just outside her thought processes, so it was odd to hear her say stuff like this. Well, Marisa had danced around the subject enough times to know what she was talking about. When Marisa said that she 'cared' about Reimu, she meant it in a way that Reimu wasn't entirely sure she was comfortable with. Not to say she wasn't uncomfortable with Marisa; on the contrary, she deeply cared about the witch. But Reimu didn't feel... what? Did she love Marisa? Maybe not anything that strong.
Could she see herself spending the rest of her life with Marisa? Perhaps. But as Reimu looked up at the witch, who grinned and chuckled nervously again, she couldn't imagine doing anything like sleeping together in the same bed, or sharing an intimate moment together, or anything like that. Right?
But Marisa was so nice to her, despite her gruff attitude and her laziness and all that. She had been with Reimu for so long that they were practically inseparable. So maybe it'd be okay.
Reimu sighed and took a deep breath. Now wasn't the time to think about this. Not yet anyway. Instead, she smiled at Marisa. "Marisa, thank you. For this, and for everything."
"Heh... you're welcome, Reimu! Anytime! I'm with you till the day we die, yeah?"
"Yeah..."