The Gensokyo Hat Heist

A Lowly Spirit.

Disclaimer: (Please Read)

This story takes significant liberties with established lore. I try to stick to the canon as best as possible but in order for the plot to work some liberties have to be taken.  As such, some events may seem out of place or contradictory, for that, I apologize.

This story is intended for mature audiences, Please be aware that this story contains: Depictions of Death and Grievous bodily harm. Domestic abuse. Traumatic experiences. 

With that all out of the way, please enjoy.

A nameless pale-blue spirit floats across the plains of Gensokyo, drifting with the wind, having no control of their own body. Devoid of any form, they floated endlessly.

No matter what they tried, they couldn't exert any force by themselves. Nobody saw them, even those who were spiritually inclined would walk right through their 'body'.

They were doomed to an existence of eternal turmoil. They were aware of this, but unable to do anything about it. Unfortunately, they had lost any and all memories of the time it lived, unable to even recall if they were human or not. Or if they had ever lived at all.

Reimu:"Marisa! Stop cheating!"

Marisa:"There's no such thing as cheatin' in a danmaku match!"

Reimu:"Oh yeah!? Take this then!"

A casual danmaku match between two friends raged on in the sky, blanketing it in sparkling dots, like stars in the night sky. The spirit recognised these two, they had seen them before.

They remembered the time they watched over an 'incident'. A scuffle between shrine maidens at the top of the Youkai mountain.

The spirit watched on, curiously. It was something exciting, but left a hole inside of their proverbial heart. It yearned deeply to join them, if only for a second.

And then. A voice.

???:"I have granted you the power to join the living. However, one may not enter the planes of existence without taking the place of another. Be wary."

They hadn't thought that voices could come from within oneself. They were also surprised that something was clearly referring to them.

Marisa:"HEY! Ya knocked my damn hat off! G-Gwah!!! Stop! St-Stop!"

Marisa's hat sailed downward toward the spirit. Lodging itself deeply in a bush. The spirit, dragged by the wind, was slowly pushed toward it.

Marisa:"Screw this, I'm goin' home!"

Reimu:"Ah, c'mon. Don't be a spoil-sport."

Marisa flies downward as the victorious Reimu shakes her head, taking her leave.

Marisa:"Now, where did that damn thing go?"

Marisa slowly begins to look for her hat as the spirit drifts ever closer toward it.

Marisa:"Ah, there it is!"

Just as Marisa grasps her hat, the spirit is blown into it by a particularly strong gust of wind. They felt themselves meld into the hat.

Marisa:"W-!?"

Marisa disappears in a puff of smoke. Seemingly dropping out of existence. The spirit on the other hand, felt themselves growing. Their newly formed hands sprout fingers.

When they fully form, they find themselves wrapped in black and white clothing, a familiar hat gracing their head. For the first time in their 'life', they feel the sensation of leaves against their skin.