If the World could be reborn through a single man's actions, would it change for the better? This question floated in Reimu's mind silently as what was left of Gensokyo slowly came into view. The sky was stained blood red as the sun began to descend over the mountains and the air became cool, yet still stank with the stench of destruction and decay.

With both feet firmly atop the hill, what greeted Reimu caused a single tear to trickle down her cheek. It tasted salty and bitter.

Gone. Everything was gone. The human village, the Scarlet Mansion, Hakurei Shrine… gone. All of it.

How long has it been since that day? The day when a dear friend finally succumbed to the darkness… when time stopped and the sun was dark, when comrades fell left and right in a desperate attempt to save Her life… when the land of Gensokyo… was no more. How… long?

"…Reimu…" A weak murmur came from the bottom of the hill. "…It's going to –ugh, take me… a while…"

"Take it easy Sanae."

A faint smile creased the pale face of the green miko. She held her abdomen and limped weakly, struggling to climb the hill and grimacing in pain.

"Are you okay?" asked Reimu as she came up next to her breathing heavily.

"…Yeah. I just… want to get… to my shri…"

Reimu caught her as she slid to the ground.

"I-I'm alright… Let's…go…"

With a gentle pull, Reimu lifted Sanae and gave her support.

The two began to walk slowly, one foot in front of the other, to Moriya Shrine.

A small energetic voice called out to Reimu in greeting.

"Hey! Reimu! Do you want to have a drink? I've got lots of sake today!"

"Ah, no thanks Suika."

A look of disappointment came over the little oni. She began to pout and whine.

"Come on! It stinks drinking alone! And Yuugi is off at some mountain again."

"No, really, Suika."

"Hmph, fine. More for me then."

She began to walk back into her house when she suddenly whirled around with an ecstatic expression. The horns on her head crackled in excitement.

"That's right! I just remembered that my shipment of sake from the outside world is coming today! You don't need to come after all."

With a girlish chuckle, Suika put her arms out to the sides like an airplane and ran back into the house. Her gourd bounced violently on the ground.

"Sake! Saaaakeeee! Sakeee…" Her voice trailed off as she ran back into the house and out of sight.

Reimu looked down and laughed to herself as she watched a crisp green leaf blow over her feet.

"Suika, you drunken…"

But as she looked up again, Suika was gone. All that was left was an abandoned house with tattered windows and scorched walls. A plank broke and clattered noisily, landing next to a broken gourd that sat silently on the floor of the house.

Looking over, she realized Sanae was watching her in concern.

"…what's… wrong…?"

Reimu shifted her weight to give Sanae more support and began to lead forward. "It's nothing. Just… no. Never mind. Let's go."

She silently nodded and limped forward, her head turned down and the color from her face gone.

How much longer? How much longer will I have to walk until I…

Reimu shook her head and tried not to think about it. She only knew that the path was going to be long, and the ghosts of Gensokyo were forever burned into it. She was going to walk for a very long time.

They silently trudged forward until night fell. Usually, the sounds of youkai filled the air, but now, only the the crunching of dirt beneath their feet broke the emptiness. Sanae seemed distant, almost unconscious. Reimu was staring forward, trying not to think of anything but reaching Moriya shrine.

"...Reimu..."

"Yes?"

"Can we... stop for a bit..."

Reimu looked at Sanae and realized that she was barely holding up. Her eyes had dark circles around them and whatever energy she had was exhausted.

"Okay Sanae. Let's see... ah. There's a few trees coming up. We'll stop under one of them."

"...thank you..."

They slowly made their way to the remains of a tree, the bark stripped and scorched, and laid down. Sanae immediately fell asleep.

Reimu looked at her and pictured a more energetic, happy Sanae that used to exist only days before. However, it was already too late, and the events that transpired could not be undone. No spell cards would work and magic seemed to be disappearing altogether. Perhaps, it wouldn't be too long before Gensokyo itself

disappeared...

No stars were out this night. The sky was black and only the light from the full moon shone down on the desolation. Reimu did not need to worry about their safety for there was nothing to worry about. Everything was dead. Everything. And Everyone. All. Dead.

She tried not to dwell on the past for too long, but a small memory broke through. It was of the Scarlet Mansion burning and a red eyed demon rising from the flames. She saw a small figure struggling to get back on its feet and then lunge at the demon. There were bodies all around... the bodies of... the bodies of...

Reimu couldn't remember. She was barely conscious at that time, and the last the she could remember was the small figure lunging at the demon and piercing its heart with... with something. Or did the figure grab onto the demon?

The memory was muddled and details were unclear. As she thought about it more and more, becoming interested in understanding what happened, her mind began to wander. Different images and thoughts began to cloud her thinking and she couldn't focus anymore. Before realizing what was happening, Reimu fell asleep. She began to dream lucidly, a short respite from the horror that was reality. In her dreams, she returned to a Gensokyo that never ended, a land where the lives of hundreds was still existent and strong, where friends were still with her. But they were only dreams, and in a sick twist of inevitability, the illusion would be broken, and Reimu would return to her struggles. For now though, she slept happily, save for a single tear that trickled down her cheek and soaked into the scorched earth. For now, she could dream.