Author's Note: Sorry for taking so long, I must admit, quite shamelessly, that apart from busy with Real Life works, I also spending quite a bit of my free time playing Azur Lane as well.

Anyway, the chapter is finished, but still haven't get anyone to proofreading it yet. I have to admit, that it has been many years since I last wrote Touhou crossover, so I have no clue, and doubt, that anyone will interest in proofreading a story that have uncertain update schedule like this one.

Regardless, I appreciate anyone who's willing to help and the comment on my grammars. I have to try improving it myself anyway. Hope you enjoy this new chapter. Any criticism is welcome, as long as it's reasonable.

Chapter 2: Gathering Ragtag

it was in the middle of spring in the land of Illusion; Gensokyou. The birds are singing, flowers are blooming, and fairies, as an embodiment of nature, are excitedly flying around shooting brightly colored hailstorm of harmless bullets at anyone who trespassed upon their natural habitats in an effort to 'play' with them.

All in all, this shaped up to be another joyful, happy day.

However, one of the deities who resides in a shrine on the peak of mountain range deep within forest beyond the sole human settlement in Gensokyou couldn't find any joy in such event. Not because of bad memories regarding the season, but because of nagging feeling that something that isn't right, and it's demanding her attention.

But the problem is that, to act upon it would mean drawing the ire of the guardian of Gensokyou, the last thing she wanted to happen.

Of course, said guardian's relatively laziness also part of the reasons why she didn't bring it to her attention sooner, another is that it's not life-or-death matter to her either, so it's not worth bothering others, even her descendant.

That doesn't mean said descendant couldn't notice that something was off though.

"Lady Suwako …"

Speak of the devil…

Rounding a corner of the shrine that has been her home for centuries was a shrine maiden in a heavily modified outfit that could be barely called 'shrine maiden' at all; cloth dyed in blue and white instead of red and white, detached sleeve, knee-length blue skirt instead of traditional red hakama pants. The few saving graces about this costume is that it goes really well with the wearer's natural born bright green hair, that, and it fit the theme of the two deities she serves whose domains lies in all the factors to make the land fertile.

"Lady Suwako, are you all right?"

The goddess of earth couldn't ignore her descendant's call any longer; she sat up on the porch, turned to fully face the young girl with all the smile she could muster and replies "Oh, Sanae-chan, I thought you were going out to Hakurei shrine again?"

The shrine maiden of the Moriya looked at the diminutive goddess she served with worried gaze "I was about to when I noticed you, Lady Suwako. You look… unwell."

"Oh?" Suwako's hand fumbled a little and grabbed her straw hat with a pair of eyes attached to its top to put on her head before asking back, trying to look as clueless as possible "Am I?"

"You keep spacing out." Sanae – the shrine maiden – pointed out "Not just today, but for several weeks already, every time I and Lady Kanako saw you…" she paused "Lady Kanako told me it was nothing to worry about, but I…"

"Then shouldn't it be nothing to worry about?"

Suwako cut Sanae off with an obvious fake mirth that couldn't fool anyone. And Sanae did indeed called her out on it.

"You're not convincing at all, Lady Suwako."

Suwako's smile dropped a little, her blue eyes closed for a moment in contemplation before she finally decided to tell Sanae about her worries "It's about faith I sensed coming from the outside world, but also not outside world."

That answer made Sanae even more confused than before, and it showed clearly on her face, necessitate the diminutive goddess' explanation.

"I supposed you're right. I should've explain more, even if this… worrisome matter didn't crop up, I still have to prepare you for the responsibility as god anyway."

A cough escaped Suwako's lips, she then waved a hand to let Sanae sit beside her before she begins.

"Most gods can exist everywhere at any given time to watch over their faithful. It's the reason why we can hear their pleas, gather their faith and enact divine interventions when we deemed necessary…"

Suwako sounds reminiscing at those words, Sanae guessed that she was reminded of her own heyday in ancient time.

"We relocated here to Gensokyou because the lack of faith from people in the outside world, that much is obvious. The elders who still has faith in us slowly dying out due to their mortality that we could do nothing about. And the newer generations no longer believe in us. That much you already know."

Sanae wasn't dumb, she realized where this conversation was going and decided to ask. "And why you receiving faith from people in the outside world a bad thing Lady Suwako?"

Suwako nodded, absent mindedly playing with her white long sleeve that almost covered her hand "Indeed it shouldn't; while I feel guilty for being weakened to the point that I couldn't communicate with these followers anymore, much less helping them as a proper god should, I've come to accepted it since the turn of 20th century."

"I sense a but… here" Sanae remarked.

"Shuh… you shouldn't interrupting your great-great ancestor from telling her story…" Suwako chided her descendant, seemingly relieve some worries when she laughed at the sight of Sanae meekly apologized and bowing to her "… You're not doing anything wrong Sanae. While I'm delighted at someone worshipping me, I don't really think it's time now, isn't it?"

That made Sanae's cheek flushed slightly, but at least she was not bowing anymore. "Good. Now, where did I left off… ah yes…"

The goddess puffed her violet blouse, as if brushing off some dirt before continues "Anyway, my 'self' in a parallel universe that's receiving their faith and transferring it back to my original 'self' here found something strange about this worshipper – she is not entirely human... not any mythological being I known of either..."

The disturbed look on Suwako's face confirmed Sanae that her ancestor is deeply worried about this development, but without clear picture of what happened, she couldn't offer any consolation either and choose to continue listening.

Suwako, on her part, seem aware that her shrine maiden/descendant was listening, so she continues. "She was… altered… somehow, by magical means, and it's not of a good kind. My power in the outside, parallel world is too weak to get anything more specific than that it was malicious, eating away at her life."

Sanae frown deepened, if it was a curse, then the best the so-called modern medicine and technology could do is make the curse-bearer die a slow, agonizing death. Even she, shrine maiden who serves the goddess who can curse any non-supernatural human on a whim given enough faith power, wouldn't dare calling it upon even her most hated enemy – not that she had one anyway.

And then, Suwako decided to try dispelling the gloomy mood by waving her hand over Sanae's face "Hey, what's with this brooding Sanae? You have to learn to let thing slide when it's out of our capability to do anything about."

Sanae nervously nodded, and then she stood up with eyes wide "Ah, you remind me, I have to go to Hakurei Shrine! Reimu said that there's an incident cropping up in the forest of magic and she wants everyone to help her investigate…"

Before she could say any further or act upon her word, Suwako suddenly stiffened up, which also caused Sanae to turn around and saw a familiar purplish portal disgorging a raven-haired shrine maiden in red and white attire down on the lawn in front of the two with a comical crash.

Sanae was about to rush to help her red-white counterpart when Suwako grabbed her arm and stopped her. She glanced at her ancestor questioningly only to saw the goddess motioned her head at the portal that has yet to close.

Sure enough; the portal spilled out a couple more; one blonde girl in black dress with white apron landed on top of the red-white shrine maiden, followed by another blonde dressed in blue and then finished by a black witch hat floating down from the portal before it closed.

Before Sanae or Suwako could decide on what to do, the blonde duo got flung aside by the clearly enraged shrine maiden who sprang up on her feet and start shouting angrily "Damn you, Yukari! I told you to tell us where those monsters came from! Not dumping me on a Youkai mountain!"

The other two groaned and slowly got up; the black clad blonde looked around and then crawls toward the witch hat laying on the ground, while another turned around and eye the resident of the shrine suspiciously as soon as she was steady on her feet. A dark-colored grimoire with chains wrapped around its handle floated up from nowhere into the girl's hand, followed by half a dozen of miniature dolls dressed in black and white Victorian-era maid attire carrying assortment of weapon from rapiers to muskets, all pointed at the shrine owners.

While Sanae nervously looking at the blonde who seems ready to attack them, Suwako didn't bothered before warmly greeted the newcomers "Hello. This visit is quite unexpected, and I can see that you all didn't come here voluntarily. Regardless, come and sit down, so we may discuss what business that… woman… had with all of us."

Her word seems to draw the attention of the shrine maiden in red and white; it stopped her from cursing Yukari and directed her attention to the resident she intruded instead…

"Are you two the culprit behind the black monsters we're having lately?"

…and that attention certainly not of a good kind at all.

"I'm of the sentiment that you're suspicious."

Yes, not of a good kind at all when the blonde puppeteer spoke a moment later…

While her great ancestor/goddess of her shrine still laid back and carefree-looking, Sanae's face looked confused as she asks back "Is… that the matter you want to discuss with me today, Reimu?"

The shrine maiden in red – Reimu – twitched her hand as if preparing to grab something, her eyes glanced up and down, scrutinizing Sanae and Suwako for minutes while the blonde puppeteer using her puppets to restrained the blonde witch, who already put on the witch hat and about to surprise attack them if the curse she sprouted at the fellow blonde was anything to go by.

With a huff, Reimu placed her hands over her hips and muttered with slight disappointment "They're clean, huh?"

Then she turned to the puppeteer and the witch and yelled out "Drop that you two, my instinct told me they're not behind this incident. And I'd rather save energy for when that gap hag shows up!"

The puppeteer stowed her dolls away at Reimu's word as she too saw the wisdom of conserving power to take it up on the one who threw them here. However, it seems that that same words set off something in the black witch who summoned a broom to her hand, pointed it at Sanae and starts shooting bright laser at her!

To her credit; Sanae threw out a glowing, star-shaped shield as tall as herself up between her and the witch just in time, letting the laser splashed harmlessly on it.

The witch, seeing how Sanae nullified her 'surprise attack' proclaimed loudly that she's going to "stop the Moriya conspiracy", hopped on the broom and flew up to the air to begin raining star-shaped bullet of various colors upon the shrine.

It was now that the diminutive goddess of the shrine decided to act; her right arm swung forward in an arc and a shimmering shield came into existence, blocking the shrine from the rain of projectiles.

Suwako then looked up to the black-white witch in the sky – with both her normal eyes and the one on her top hat – and said "I wouldn't tolerate you destroying my home here, Marisa! Stand down this instance before I make you!"

Her threat didn't register on the witch, as rain of star-shaped bullets and laser beams continue to pour down on the defense barrier with occasional taunt from the witch trying to make the Moriya defenders lose their composure and attack back.

But they wouldn't; especially when the guardian of Eastern Wonderland standing right there, while she did not take their side yet, the Moriya know that it would only be a matter of time before she does.

That, and with the amount of barrage sent their way, moving on the offensive would mean leaving their home open to attack, and a smoldering crater a second later, so it's not like they can move right now.

Their reprieve came just a second later with barrage of brightly colored bullets with few snake-shaped projectiles in-betweens shot up from nearby wood at the witch. The black-white witch jerked her broom hard to the right, avoided the barrage by a hair's breadth and turned to confront the new assailant, stopping her attack on the Moriya shrine in the process.

"Kanako!" The witch shouted angrily at the newcomer before she dives down into the wood, out of sight of everyone except for occasional loud explosions.

Suwako lowered her shield and sighed that her precious resident no longer under threat before making her way to the red-white shrine maiden and the puppeteer along with Sanae.

The other noticed their approaches and instinctively become on guard until Sanae held out both hands as peaceful gesture before asking "Before anything escalate further, may I ask what's going on that have you suspected of us behind… whatever happened?"

Reimu – the shrine maiden in white and red – snapped "Yukari messed with us and I'm kind of angry, so I jumped the conclusion when I saw you two." then she adds "there, feeling better now?"

Ignoring explosion and flash of light from the nearby wood, Sanae turned to Reimu "Wouldn't that happen to be what you're asking me to go to your shrine and discussing?"

Reimu huffed "Does it matter now? That hag takes the matter in her own hands and sent us here already."

Not knowing how to response, Sanae told her guests she'd go and fetch some tea for them and went back inside the shrine, while Suwako shrugged at the two guests before she too walked into her home "Well, what are you two waiting for? Come in, leave Kanako and Marisa be. They'll cool off sooner or later. And tell us what's going on."

Reimu glanced at the wood one more time before decided to accept the Moriya's hospitality and get into the small yet nicely decorated living room nearby, while the blonde puppeteer walked toward the wood where the witch and Kanako is fighting, saying she'll try to stop the two.

Once inside and sitting at the small table opposite of Suwako, Reimu glanced around the room to various strange dolls she knows nothing about except that they were from the outside world sitting on a bookshelf as decoration. "Realistic painting" of Sanae in an extremely conservative red and white shrine maiden outfit unlike what Reimu wear in front of a Moriya shrine hung off on the wall next to it. Reimu think that the 'painting' give off some lonely vibe, but it's not surprising considering the reason the goddesses and Sanae's relocated into Gensokyou.

Reimu's musing cut short by the sound of door slid open and Sanae walked in with a tea set on a tray. And soon enough, pleasant aroma of steaming tea filled the air, soothed their nerves and calm their thought.

The shrine maiden of paradise put down her cup after a moment of silence, before she glanced at the two hosts of Moriya shrine "All right, let's start from the beginning; Alice and Marisa started noticing a few strange youkais wandering their forest a few days ago..."

Seeing the raised eyebrows from the Moriya, Reimu continues "They covered themselves with barrier that seem to have attracting effect and subtle mind manipulation on anyone not having magic to commit suicide."

A pause, then she's explaining further "That's not all, when we approached them, they quickly attacked us with lethal force, not adhering to Spell Card Rule. We were forced to exterminate them."

"That's not the last you see of them I'd wager?"

Suwako piped up, which Reimu responded with a grim look

"Not by a long shot. More of them appeared during the past two weeks. Though none of them share appearance or combat skill, they're still obviously the same species, and have the same behavior of trying to prey on everything it could find."

She let out a frustrating grunt and looked at Sanae "That's why I'm asking you to come to my shrine today, so we can begin the search through Magic Forest and find out where they came from, but it seem Yukari had other idea…"

"…I would be more appreciated if your friend weren't jumping the gun, Hakurei."

Snide remark heralded the arrival of another resident of Moriya shrine. The door slid open, revealing another woman with blue short hair clad in red blouse and dark red ankle length skirt, necklace with a mirror hanging on her neck reflecting the nonplussed look of Hakurei shrine maiden as she strode inside with the witch and the puppeteer in tow.

"I haven't rest for days, Kanako!" Reimu countered Kanako, who was looming over the raven-haired shrine maiden while Marisa and Alice sit down across the table "Neither Marisa nor Alice, we've been running around the forest killing those monsters. There're no clues or trails to trace, they appeared out of nowhere without tripping Hakurei barrier. And they appear frequently enough to keep us all occupied."

Sanae's eyes widen as she looked at her guests "So with you all coming here, who's patrolling the forest?"

Reimu, the puppeteer and the witch grimaced, however, before anyone could voice their concern, another presence made itself known in from of disembodied woman voice echoed out of nowhere.

"-Do not worry, the hermit and her pets will keep those thing under control while we discuss the matter.-"

That made Reimu jumped from her seat, her eyes glared around the cramped living room searching for the source of voice which made the woman chuckled "-I know better than to appear next to this many people who are upset with me. So better sit down and let me explain what's happening.-"

"The only explanation I see right now is you're slacking off again Yukari!" Reimu countered heatedly, still futilely looking around to find said elusive speaker, with others in the room nodding in agreement to her rant.

"-The Barrier still working as intended, my friends…-" Yukari quickly addressed what everyone was thinking, yet their faces still that of not believing "-…however there's third-party that's breaching it and brought those former humans here.-"

Sound of teacup clattering on plates echoed through the suddenly quiet room. Reimu's face frozen in shock, as did other guests in Moriya shrine.

"You're mean to tell me… that we're killing fellow human?"

"-Perish that thought, my dear-" that reply came as quickly as Reimu reaching that conclusion "-They were no longer human the moment they became those monsters you slain. Their consciousness eroded away, leaving only primal instinct of a monster that wished nothing to feed on any souls they came across.-"

That explanation calmed Reimu and her friends down enough for the discussion to proceed as the voice of Yukari explained further "-Before you ask; the judge of the dead also quite angry with this development as well, and she has been sending her agents to comb Gensokyou for the culprit as well as informed Ministry of right and wrong on the outside world.-"

"I sense a 'but' here." Kanako interjected with a scowl, and with a quick glance also see that her fellow also felt the same.

As on time; Yukari answered their unasked question "-While I said that the turned human originated from outside world, it's not from our outside world.-"

While others still processing what they just heard, Sanae and Suwako shared a quiet glance at each other; surely what Suwako sensed for the past few days couldn't came from that same reality?

Drumming her fingers on the table, Reimu slowly came to realization as she shot the Moriya residences a glance "So we have to head out to the alternate outside world to find the culprit?" she took silent from Yukari as a 'yes' and sighed "I see, that's why you dumped us all here?"

However, it was the taller goddess who started seething with rage "Don't you ever think of sending Sanae out there you hear me!"

"-Hear, hear…-" Yukari's voice replied almost instantly, however it was deprived of her usual mocking tone, something that didn't escape other goddess's ears. "-But the fact remain that the culprit, both the one turning human into monsters, and the one sending them here, do not cross into our realm, there's little I can do.-"

"I doubt that. You're one of a few who can freely traverse the Hakurei Barrier. Why couldn't you deal with the culprit yourself?"

Yukari was silent for a brief moment before her voice return "-Have you not think it's strange that someone breached the barrier and sent them through without me or Reimu knowing? And even now, I still couldn't prevent them from coming in nor did I uncover their method.-"

Everyone was silent, with Reimu cursing inwardly how some important matter like that slipped her, while Yukari continues explaining "-Reimu can't leave to deal with the creator of these human-turn-monsters for obvious reason, they're on the outside world while her presence is required in Gensokyou to maintain the barrier. And for various reasons, I and the hermit cannot go out there to deal with this threat.-"

"So you going to have Sanae go out there and deal with it regardless huh?"

Reimu's snide comment elicited a thankful glance from the two goddesses, due to them knowing that the shrine maiden means it.

But in the end, the decision rested upon the girl in question.

"-And I wouldn't have come here if certain someone haven't mentioned investigating something on the outside world that's bothering her.-"

Sanae's eyes widen, while Suwako growled in displeasure at the disembodied voice "You eavesdropped us."

But then she was distracted by the demanding looks given to her by other three guests in the room, even her companion goddess eyed her suspiciously.

"What's she talking about, Suwako?"

Suwako held out her hands toward her long-time partner, her anger at Yukari forgotten "Calm down, Kanako, it's something that I feel to be trivial..." she trailed off when all eyes upon her "…well, but if you insist, here's how it goes…"

A brief explanation – the same one Suwako discussed with Sanae earlier - that followed did calmed everyone in the room and lifted their suspicion, but it also allowed Reimu to pieced together something and bluntly ask to Yukari "So I presume this culprit is hiding in this alternate reality where Suwako's strange source of faith also coming from?"

"-I'd be praising your intellect had I not know that it's your intuition, Reimu-"

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"-Regardless-" Yukari's voice clearly dismissed Reimu inquiry and focusing on other occupants in the room "-I'm asking Sanae to go investigate this alternate outside world. If you go, I permit you to do whatever you like to this 'follower' of your goddesses who seem to live there as well. How about it? not a bad trade huh?-"

Kanako snapped "She's not pawn in your scheme! Leave her alone!"

"-But if nothing is done, then she'll be drag into it anyway, along with many more innocent people.-"

Kanako gritted her teeth, millennia of experience told her exactly what the disembodied voice's game was…

"Please, Lady Kanako, Lady Suwako, let me go investigate."

And how annoyingly effective it is, especially to the kind-heart one!

As soon as Sanae's plea reached her ears, Kanako regards her shrine maiden-plus-great-great granddaughter with worried tone "Sanae, you don't have to do anything. We're still here, why risk your life for a single believer in the outside world?"

"Yet these… monsters… keep coming from that world…" Sanae countered, her voice shaken, rage directed at whoever responsible for turning human into those monsters "How can we so sure that the situation will resolved itself? How long can we all keeping up killing these 'former human' before we break? It's not a matter that we can brush aside and wait it out anymore, Lady Kanako."

Kanako was tried to rise another argument but find herself at a loss of word. She glared at the ceiling, trying again to dissuade the meddlesome Yukari from involving one she saw as her daughter.

Yet, she soon forced to acknowledge the fact that it was futile. She shifted her gaze to Sanae again, trying one last time, yet the gaze she received back tell her that the shrine maiden won't budge on this decision. Even Suwako, her long-time partner, did nothing to dissuade their child.

"She has made her decision, Kanako." The voice from diminutive goddess seems resigned, but one look at her eyes and Kanako could tell that she's not please with the outcome either "…and both Yakumo and Sanae is right, as much as I hate to admit it."

Kanako sighed, seemingly relented, but defiant still shone in her eyes, finding a way to stop this dangerous mission Sanae decided to partake by any means necessary.

"Lady Kanako," Sanae spoke up "You once said that as god, we have responsibility to look after those who put faith into us. To shrink from the task means we're betraying not only their trust, but our duty as well."

Throughout the discussion, Reimu and her company didn't say anything. Even the brash black witch who jumped the conclusion and tried to destroy their shrine earlier know better than to interfere what clearly familial matter.

"But you'll be back to the outside world, alternate one it may be, away from spell card rule against being that will not hesitate to kill." Kanako weakly argued which promptly shot down almost immediately by a look from Suwako.

Sighing, Kanako finally fold "All right, you can go Sanae, if only to put Suwako's worry to rest."

There was no cheering, only solemn nod of acceptance from the Moriya shrine maiden, but the goddess wasn't done yet and she spoke up to the one who have yet to meet them face to face "Yukari, I know you're listening so I'd say this once; If Sanae comes to harm by your machination, I'd make you regret it! That's a promise!"

Silence hung in the air for brief moment before Yukari's voice rang out "-While I cannot guarantee that she'll not be in mortal peril…-" Kanako growled at this, but Yukari cut her off "-…her dying out there is not in the best interest to me as well. So yes, you have my promise. I'll make sure she'll come back alive.-"

The goddess let out a huff, grudgingly agreed, before her smaller partner ask for confirmation "So, we are in agreement."

"-Indeed.-"

As the hosts settled down, the black-white witch took her turn to speak "Well, if that's all, then I guess it's time we take our leave. Right? Reimu? Alice?"

The other guests looked at each other, then at the three Moriya residents. One by one, they stood up, said goodbye and wishing luck to Sanae and walking toward the door. But when Marisa slid the door open and tried to step forward, she crashed head-first into an invisible wall that flashed purple. The disoriented witch couldn't right herself in time and landed on her butt.

Behind her, Alice, who barely avoided crashing into the witch narrowed her eyes at the impeding barrier, but it was Reimu who's quick to run her mouth while the witch still moaning in pain on the floor "Yukari, I thought that our business here is done."

"-It is, just partially.-" The disembodied voice of Yukari rang through the living room again "-There still a matter to discuss, specifically with you two, Marisa, Alice.-"

The two mentioned magicians tensed, but alas, lacking target to lash out on, they could do nothing but glanced at Moriya residents for help.

Suwako stood up, her smile lost its cheerfulness, replaced with tempered fury "You're overstaying your welcome here, Yukari, tell me why I shouldn't tear this barrier down and call our deal off right now?"

"-Because I'm going to have these two accompany your precious Sanae to the outside world.-"

That answer was unexpected, for the Moriya residents were stunned into silence, however, the one Yukari mentioned were more vocal, especially the black-white witch whose complains and slight profanity leave her mouth at the speed befitting of her personality.

Surprisingly, Yukari was patient enough to wait until the witch winded down before calmly explains "-It's not like staying here in Gensokyou will do you two any good; until Sanae manage to find the culprit and put a stop to them, then you two will keep defending your turf forever, would you prefer that?-"

"Hell No!" And again, words left Marisa's mouth before her companion could've say anything or stop her, elicited a groan from the blonde puppeteer and the shrine maiden pinching her nose while the witch continue ranting "I've been killing those things non-stop for days without knowing what they really were. So count me in!"

Reimu facepalmed at her friend falling for such obvious bait, but the blonde puppeteer seems to agree with her if what she speak was any indication "While we're not well verse in the outside world, having extra set of eyes out there, along with our knowledge in magical side of thing should be a boon."

"You do know from the past few days that if you're to venture outside, there's no more 'beating something with just skill' anymore right?" Reimu, who know the blonde almost as long as Marisa, warned her "This culprit must be powerful, couple with no spell card rule, if you don't fight at your full power, you'll put everyone at risk."

Hesitation flashed on Alice's face briefly, before her blue eyes glowed eerily while sidestepping the question "It's not like we're not already using lethal force here to subdue those 'former humans'. Being there or here is of no difference."

Reimu gave the puppeteer a long, hard stare, before she nodded "I hope that you'll live up to your word when the time come, for your sake if nothing else." then she gestures toward the Moriya residents who has been listening before addressing someone who isn't there, irritation thick in her voice "So, Yukari, since Marisa and Alice already said they'd be heading out with Sanae, you better bugger off now before I tear down your barrier!"

Sound of shattered glass echoed, while nothing seems to change, everyone in the living room could sensed the barrier dissipated and soon enough, the witch pulled out her broom and shot up toward the exit before anyone could've say a thing, as if thirsting for freedom.

Alice let out an annoyed huff while Reimu grumbled "Damn it, let the Marisa be the one to shot off without any thought!" the shrine maiden then turned to addressed her remaining companion "I suggest you discuss with Moriya here what to prepare. It's a different place, different rule from what I heard of from that… girl…" she grimaced at the memory of the incident perpetuated by outsider some time ago "…and when you all are prepared, come to my shrine, I'm certain that that hag will be waiting to create a way to outside… parallel world."

Alice nodded as Reimu shoot straight to the sky after the witch who left earlier, before the puppeteer turning back to address Moriya residents "Sorry for intrusion, I'll be going. After what happened, we're in no mood for further discussion…"

Suwako stood up and gestured at her family "We shared the same sentiment, maybe tomorrow morning?" seeing Alice nodded, she focused on the puppeteer while continues with serious look "Very well, you should try convince Marisa to be here with you tomorrow. Please trust me when I say that what Reimu knows is but a fraction of how outside world works. We will crash course you two as much as we can." she glanced at the displeased Kanako to the back and then correct herself "…or at least, I and Sanae will."

If Alice caught the implication, her face doesn't show it. The only sign of acknowledgement was her parting words "I'll try, thank you for your help, see you tomorrow then." And then she took off into the afternoon sky.

Once all the unexpected guests left the Moriya shrine's perimeter, Suwako walked back to the table and plopped down opposite of Kanako and Sanae "Well," she begins by speaking to Sanae "You should get and prepare your old miko outfit, Sanae. Because you know…" she trailed off while looking at her descendant's 'attire'.

Sanae looked at her clothing a moment and then nodded "I understand, Lady Suwako."

Kanako who watched the exchange decided right then to make a comment, her mood still sour after Yukari's intrusion and it reflected in her words "You're far too lax for her own good."

Suwako nodded at Sanae, sending the latter away with empty pot and cups. After the door slid shut and the sound of footsteps vanished, she replies "Yet both of us know that we cannot babysit her forever."

Pausing a bit, the diminutive goddess sighed "You know her; she firmly believes that she must prove herself worthy of ascension, instead of being granted that title and prestige by virtue of being our descendant." she chuckled "…that's not a bad trait isn't it?"

"No, it isn't… but still…"

"Sanae going to be fine…" Suwako cut Kanako off confidently "Have faith in her. And if that's not enough to calm your mind, why we not help her and those tagalong magicians prepare for the expedition? Since we don't trust Yukari and nothing going to stop it from happening."

Kanako narrowed her eyes at the mention of that woman, she stood up and looked at Suwako with resignation "You're right."