(Touhou x GKE Universe) The Unsung War

Leaving the Bamboo Forest

 I am standing under the tori gate of a shinto shrine. Not a particularly fancy shrine really. It's more dilapidated than a structure of religious importance. There is nothing different about the weather that day, a windy evening without a single cloud in the sky.

A particular shrine maiden is standing behind me. I hear her shouting. About what? What?! I yell back. But my voice is not there. In fact, I cannot even control my own body. I am staring up into the sky and through the darkening horizon, there are flashes of light in the heavens. Bright lights. Some yellow, some orange, some pure white.

Within seconds, I see stars. Shooting stars. Falling from the sky like pillars of fire. Missiles? From my frazzled state of mind I cannot make out what they are. The shrine maiden behind me becomes frantic. She tears me from my trance and looks me in the eyes. Her eyes are red and tearful.

She is begging me to do something. I know because I can see her mouth moving. I just cannot hear her words.

Without control of my body, I fling her away, sending her spiraling to the ground. I turn around again and as I do so, the pillar of fire that extended beyond the horizon lights the sky as bright as day. My vision is bathed in pure whiteness.

I hear the shrine maiden weep. She is crying... as though she lost someone important. My eyes suddenly close, and my helmet unfolds. The wailing of wind becomes apparent and suddenly, I feel cold hard metal below my chin. Is that a gun?! I am pretty sure it is. And then I was confident it was when I heard the bang...

Tylo shot out of his futon, throwing the blanket across the room. His eyes were wide open and a few drops of sweat trickled down his forehead. He unfolded his helmet and touched his own face. Yep, still there. I'm not dead. Tylo reassured himself.

Looking around, he spotted Miyu fast asleep across the room. Her helmet was still folded over of course so he was unable to tell what she was thinking of at the moment.

"What a dream..." Tylo said to himself as he placed his palm on his face. "Was that me? Couldn't be... Could it?"

Tylo looked around the room again. Dim rays of light streamed through the translucent paper partitions at roughly 30 degrees, angle of depression. By rough calculations, Tylo confirmed it was at least 7 to 8 am. Or mid-morning.

Tylo was not superstitious. In fact, he was far from that. More materialistic than anything. But he knew better than to disregard dreams that clear and vivid. He pulled out the red and blue crystals from his suit. The ones he collected from the slain fairies. Could they be the cause? He thought to himself. Perhaps Doctor Yagokoro could answer his questions.

As Tylo proceeded to stand up, he heard the shoji or sliding door open. The same rabbit from last night, the one in the business suit, Reisen, walked in.

"Oh! Good morning sir." She said. "I hope I didn't wake you."

"That's fine. I was already ready to leave..."

"That's a shame." She said with a sigh. "There's breakfast if you so desire. I'm sure the princess would like to meet you before you leave."

"Is there? Thanks but no thanks. I have my own meals and I do intend to get them soon. Again, thank your... masters for their hospitality but I really must get going."

Reisen's ears suddenly began twitching. Left, right, left, right they moved. She donned a serious expression and said.

"Hmm... New orders from Eirin-san... She insists."

"I guess it can't be helped." Tylo pressed a few buttons on his RIG and Miyu instantly shot out of bed looking very shocked. "Come. Let's go." He said quickly.