After that, I walked out of the shrine and ran.
Back to the Scarlet Devil Mansion.
As I ran through the night, the cool breeze brushing against my face
The path back to the Scarlet Devil Mansion was a familiar one. The moonlight illuminated the forest, casting eerie shadows that danced with the rustling leaves.
A soft chuckle echoed through the night, a voice that seemed to materialize from the very shadows around me.
I tightened my grip on the crimson crystal, my senses on high alert.
"Show yourself!"
The chuckling continued, low and unsettling. Then, from the darkness, a figure emerged, slowly stepping into the moonlight. It was a woman, her presence enigmatic and her smile cryptic.
"Fufufu~ There's no need to be so defensive."
The night was still, the moon casting a pale glow over the landscape as I stood face to face with Youmu and her mistress, Yuyuko.
Their unexpected appearance had caught me off guard.
"Miss Yuyuko... and Youmu?"
Yuyuko greeted me with a serene smile. "Good evening to you, Shun~"
I couldn't help but feel a sense of unease. "What are you two doing here?"
Yuyuko chuckled softly. "Hm? What am I doing here? I came here to check on you, of course, ~"
"Check?"
"That's right~" She leaned closer, her eyes twinkling mischievously. "I heard that you and Reimu ended up with a draw... especially Yukari, who was praising your swordsmanship a lot."
I couldn't deny that her words made me feel a bit self-conscious. "Thank you, Miss Yuyuko," I replied with a bow.
Yuyuko's smile widened. "Hehe, but you should already know by now..."
I furrowed my brow in confusion. "Huh?"
It was then that I noticed Youmu drawing her two blades.
"I see..." A smile formed on my lips
Without hesitation, I transformed my crimson crystal into its familiar sword form and then drew my silver blade.
"You've changed, Shun," Youmu remarked as she walked forward, taking a graceful stance.
"It's been a while, Youmu," I replied, mirroring her stance.
"Well then..."
"Let's begin!" The two of us spoke in unison, and without further ado, we launched ourselves into battle, the clash of blades echoing in the still night air.
The sound of clashing steel filled the air as Youmu and I engaged in a fierce duel. Each strike, each parry, was a symphony of precision and skill.
Youmu's movements were swift and elegant, her dual blades a blur as she attacked with calculated strikes. Her skill was undeniable, and I had to push myself to match her.
I focused on my footwork, stepping lightly and gracefully, trying to anticipate her strikes and find openings in her defense.
"An opening!"
I thrust my blade toward Youmu, aiming for that crucial strike.
But she was quick to react, countering my thrust with an upward slash that sent a shiver down my spine. Her phantom half joined the fray, launching a relentless assault from behind.
Caught off-guard, I had to leap backward, summoning crimson knives to fill the air between us. The blades flew towards her, forcing her to maneuver and dodge. But Youmu was not done yet.
As I focused on her, I saw her conjure a barrage of pink slash projectiles that came hurtling towards me. She then vanished from her position, her movements becoming elusive.
("Blood Sign: Tendril Chains") summoning the chains, hoping to ensnare Youmu in their grasp.
But then, something changed. An aura of power surrounded Youmu, and I looked up just in time to see her wielding Roukanken, her famed blade.
With a surge of energy, she slashed downwards with incredible force.
I had no choice but to block it with both of my blades, struggling to withstand the sheer power of her strike.
As the blades pressed against each other, I could feel the weight of the battle bearing down on me.
"I can't afford to lose here..." I muttered, determination burning in my eyes.
"Huh?" Youmu seemed surprised by my sudden resolve.
Just then, a flame erupted from my crimson sword, casting an eerie glow in the darkness of the night.
"Wha-!?" Youmu was clearly taken aback, her surprise evident in her widened eyes.
As the scorching flames enveloped my blade, I landed gracefully on the ground, wasting no time in taking action. ("Blood Sword: Royal Flames")
With a flourish, I swung my fiery sword, causing it to emit a barrage of fire pellets that streaked toward Youmu with incredible speed and ferocity.
Youmu reacted swiftly, her blades a blur of movement as she blocked and parried the fiery projectiles.
"What's with these flames!?" she exclaimed, clearly struggling to keep up with the fiery assault.
Sensing an opportunity, I muttered my next spell card, my voice steady despite the intensity of the battle.
"Blood Sword: Deep Scarlet!"
My crimson blade radiated with an intense scarlet glow as I swung it forward with unwavering determination.
The very essence of crimson seemed to coalesce around the blade, materializing a devastating, massive slash projectile.
Youmu's eyes widened and gritted her teeth.
(Sword Skill "Cherry Blossom Flashing!")
Youmu moved with incredible speed, dashing toward me like a fleeting breeze. In her wake, a trail of cherry-pink sword slashes followed, a beautiful yet deadly display of her skill.
With a swift and precise motion, she managed to destroy my massive slash projectile, leaving both of us panting from the intense exchange.
"Youmu."
"Lady Yuyuko?"
"I think our curiosity has been satisfied for now," Yuyuko remarked, her expression thoughtful as she watched our battle.
Youmu nodded, her blades at the ready, as she landed gracefully on the ground behind Yuyuko.
I too was catching my breath, my heart still pounding from our intense clash.
"May... I go now?"
Yuyuko gazed at me with a curious expression. "Say, Shun... Why are you doing this? Didn't that vampire decide to... let you go?"
I paused, contemplating my response before speaking earnestly. "I can't do that... Lady Yuyuko."
"You can... You're free now."
"Lady Yuyuko... Lady Remilia changed my fate when I first came to Gensokyo. That's when I made a promise to myself... that I would serve her until the end. Honestly, I should've seen this from the start... but I was a fool."
Yuyuko smiled gently, her eyes reflecting a deep understanding.
She turned away, her ghostly presence drifting into the shadows.
"Then... Good luck to you, Shun."
With that, the two of them vanished into the night, leaving me standing alone under the starry night sky.
"Wait for me."