Forbidden Knowledge Vol.1 (Marisa Kirisame X Male Reader)

Chapter 36 - Necrofantasia

Marisa crashed through the walls of her home, her body slamming into shelves that came toppling down around her, glass bottles shattering and scattering potions across the floor. She lay there in the rubble, her clothes torn and her hat ripped. Pain surged through her body like fire, but she gritted her teeth and tried to push herself up. Every movement sent shockwaves of agony rippling through her limbs. She struggled, her arms shaking violently under her weight. She had been reckless and had thrown herself into the fray without thinking, and now she wasn't there to protect Y/N from Yukari. Tears welled up in her eyes, stinging as she cursed herself.

"Stand, damn it! Stop being so weak and stand!" she yelled, her voice breaking.

With a defiant scream, she forced herself onto her feet, staggering around with blurred vision and trembling limbs. She had to lean against the wall for support, every breath laboured, the sickening taste of failure rising in her throat. Biting her lip to keep from breaking down again, she stumbled through her wrecked home, desperately gathering the few potions that hadn't shattered in the fall. Her thoughts were entirely on Y/N, and she clung to that focus, hoping it would be enough to get her moving.

But as she clutched the potions to her chest, her strength gave out, and she collapsed. The bottles fell from her arms, breaking upon the floor and spilling their contents. Marisa lay there, crumpled and shaking, unable to move. She covered her face with her hands, hot tears spilling out despite her efforts to hold them back.

"I'm so weak..." she sobbed, her voice barely a whisper. "Why am I so weak? I can't do anything right, no matter how hard I try... All that effort, late-night studying... Training until I pass out... Yet I can't even hold my ground. I can't match Reimu... Y/N... I'm alone."

The words hung in the air, heavy and painful, and she felt herself sinking deeper into despair. But then, out of nowhere, a force wrapped around her, pulling her off the ground with such strength that she gasped in shock. She found herself staring into the eyes of someone she hadn't seen in years—someone who should not have been here. Her breath caught in her throat as recognition set in.

"M-Mima?" she whispered, her voice trembling as she was released and stumbled back against the counter, staring at the figure floating before her. "You... You can't be here... You were sealed away... Reimu sealed you away in the worlds between!"

"And yet here I am," Mima replied, a sardonic smile playing across her lips as she drifted around the ruined room. "And now you remember." Her voice was as cold as ever, cutting through the air. "You've forgotten the promise you made to me, little Kirisame. What did you say about the day we met? You wished for power, didn't you?"

Marisa gritted her teeth and forced herself to stand up straight, ignoring the pain that shot through her body. "I'm not your puppet anymore, Mima," she spat, her voice shaky but defiant. "I'm far beyond the days of chasing you around like a lost puppy."

Mima's smile widened, a dark amusement flashing in her eyes. "Instead, you've become a rodent who can't even keep the one she loves safe." Her tone was nasty, every word laced with contempt. "Are you going to leave Reimu to save the day again? She takes your spotlight, your rightful place as number one. What's next? Y/N?"

"No!" Marisa's voice cracked with emotion as she clenched her fists. She could feel the anger surging inside her, mixing with shame and despair. "I won't fall for your words... Not again."

Mima's laughter filled the air, a chilling sound as she floated closer. Her voice began to shift as though someone else was speaking along with her, a deep and sinister male voice echoing her words. "He's going to die. You can save him. Burn the stars down and steal their light. Break your destiny and rise above."