VOTE RESULTS

[X] How about we do something that doesn’t involve fighting? (2 Votes)
- [X] A race from Yamane's Poison house to the Bridge to the Surface World (as a checkpoint), then continue to the Palace of Earth Spirits. The goal is at the Rose Garden. First to arrive, wins. (3 Votes)
- [X] If you lose Parsee, give me a tour around the Underground City. (2 Votes)

Let’s rock.

---

You don’t like the fact that you have to settle a dispute with a danmaku battle. Sure, while it’s a way of Gensokyo’s residents settle their differences; you don’t feel like wasting your ammo at this moment.

“Well? Are you a brave one or are you a coward?”

[i]“Run. It’s the feat of who’s the fastest – if you’re choosing to be a pacifist.”[/i] All in a sudden, you heard a voice echoing in your mind.

“Huh?”

“I’m waiting, human…” Parsee said impatiently.

Well, if there’s no other way, you’d have to do play the pacifist.

“I’ll decline your danmaku battle, and how about we do something that doesn’t involve fighting?”

[i]”Wimp.”[/i] Parsee thought. “So what’s your idea?”

“I challenge you to a race from Yamame's Poison House to the Bridge to the Surface World as a checkpoint. And then we continue all the way towards the Palace of Earth Spirits. The goal is at the Rose Garden.” You stared at her eyes in confidence. “First to arrive, wins.”

Parsee smirked. “That would do, I suppose. I just happen to be a good runner around here.” She exclaimed. “And your wager?”

“If you lose, you’d be my tour guide for me around the Underground City this weekend. And if I lose…”

“And if you lose, you’d be our dakimakura next weekend.” Yuugi interjected as she entered Yamame’s bar. “How about it?”

“Y-Yuugi! This is my competition; let me choose what I want to do with him!”

The one-horned oni laughed heartily as she walked closer to your table. “But, isn’t that the thing you actually want to do to him, right?”

You can see a crimson tint on Parsee’s face as she punched Yuugi’s chest repeatedly. “Stop saying things like that!”

The oni and Yamame’s customers turned their attention towards you. “So, Seo. What’s your say?”

“I don’t know… but I haven’t got the chance to go around this city, so why not?”

“No. I mean about the thing you had to do if you lose.”

You sighed. “Sounds okay, I guess.”

“Good.”  Yamame said as she appeared from the bar’s kitchen with plates of noodles. “I guess both of you need to have a bit of briefing when it comes to a competition.”

The spider woman handed you the plate before you started eating the noodles. “Rule number one. Absolutely no cheating. Flying around is forbidden in this race.”

Parsee pouted.

“Rule number two. No rough-housing. Anyone who is guilty of hurting the other player during the race is subject to punishment. Also danmaku is not allowed for this competition.”

The bridge princess groaned.

“Finally, rule number three. Do not damage public property. Absolutely no running on the rooftops. Seo, this applies to you too.”

You choked on the noodles a bit. “Actually that was Orin’s idea, not mine.”

“I don’t care.”

Yamame repeated the rules once more before you agreed to the conditions set.

“Alright. I’ll follow it.”

“Oh, by the way, Seo, give me your pistol and one bullet please?”

“What for?”

“It’s for flagging both of you off for the race.” She replied.

“One moment.” You pulled out your M9, ejected the magazine and racked the slide to expel a round from the chamber. Then, you took out an empty mag from your pouch and loaded it with a danmaku-refit round, handing both the magazine and the M9 to the spider woman.

“You know how to use this?”

“I watch movies from the Outside World when I have the time.” By this time, you've finished eating. “Why don’t you go and have a good warm up before you start running?”

“Sure thing.”

--|| A Few Minutes Later ||--

Both you and Parsee are now standing outside of Yamame’s Poison House with the spider woman’s customers. They were talking to each other and you can also see the folks placing their bets on who will win the race.

“Are you two ready?” Yamame asked as she slapped the magazine into your M9.

“Ready to win.” Parsee said.

“I’m all set.”

“Good. On your mark…get set…” Yamame chambered the handgun by flicking the slide release before she raised your M9 to the air. “Go!” She pulled the trigger, and an earsplitting crack tore through the air. Both you and Parsee dashed off towards the bridge accordingly.

The handgun’s slide had locked back, and Yamame ejected the empty magazine out. She inserted a fresh one handed by Orin, before she turned the safety on the M9 off and handed it to Orin. The kasha then tucked it in the holster you left behind with her.

[i]“Well, I wish you luck, Seo,”[/i] she muttered.

---

At the first leg of the race, you and Parsee seem very even. Both of you and Parsee kept trying to overtake each other, but with no avail. That however changed when both of you reached the Bridge to the Surface World.

Yuugi and Kisume were on the other side of the bridge, waiting for you and Parsee as a checkpoint.

The moment she reached the bridge’s other end for the checkpoint; she swiveled around on the spot to turn. You, on the other hand, had to skid before you could turn around and resume your sprint to the Palace of Earth Spirits.

"How'd she take that turn so well?!" You yelled out.

“Whoa, how did she do that?” Kisume asked to Yuugi.

The oni smirked. “Parsee’s a Swerve Star.”

As you ran past the bar, Yamame waved her hand in your direction, but you had no time to wave back at her. You had to find some way to catch up to Parsee, and fast.

You and Parsee eventually came upon a steep flight of stairs. Without hesitation, the bridge princess leaped all the way down to the bottom. You, though, skidded to a stop. Jumping that far or even rushing down didn't look too inviting.

“Hey, why'd you stop?” someone shouted. You look up, and spot Orin staring at you from up on the rooftop. She must have wanted a better view of the race, and decided to follow you two.

“I don’t want to end up forfeiting the race with broken legs! There has to be a easier way down!” you responded, in between gasps. "Do you see one?"

“Turn around and look for the shortcut on your right!” she yelled. You do as she says, and took the alley on your right. You smiled when you see a less-steep downhill road, before you resumed your sprint to the palace.

“Go for it, mister!” The kasha cheered for you as you resumed your run for the palace.

--(( Satori ))--

You woke up somewhere in the afternoon with your head still aching over yesterday’s drinking binge.  However, it is not as irritating as last night’s headache. With your pets (especially Okuu) interrupting your sleep, you have to share beds with your guard.

“Orin? Seo? Okuu?” You called out when you finished dressing up. “Anyone there?”

Once again, the palace felt very empty. It’s just you all alone in the Palace of the Earth Spirits.

You decided to check on Seo’s post, only to find the Death Machine turning around on its tripod in search of contacts when you reach there.

[i]“He must have been to the Underground City again.”[/i] You thought.

“Satori-sama!” A voice called your name, which prompted you to turn around. It’s your pet kasha in her cat form. She transformed into her human-like form seconds later before she proceeded to give you a hug.

“Orin, have you seen Seo?”

Your pet smiled, which prompted you read her mind briefly. “A race?” You asked in a puzzled tone.

“Turn around, Satori-sama~”

And from the rooftop, you could see Parsee running towards your palace, with Seo following behind her. The latter was running in at an odd angle, and he seems to gaining on the winning horse.

“A race?” You asked when you read your pet’s mind.

“I will tell you the details later, Satori-sama! Now we need to get to the balcony to the rose garden – that’s where the race will end!”

--- [Seo] ---

Somehow, you managed to catch up to Parsee by straferunning. Although it looks very odd, it seems that you are going faster than just running alone.

“Faster! You can do it!” Orin cheered from the balcony overseeing the garden.

“You’re not gonna make it!” Parsee teased you over her shoulder, hoping to discourage you.

“Oh no you don’t!” You replied. Like hell you were going to lose.  [i]”Just a little bit there, Seo, you can make it!”[/i]

In a last-ditch effort to get to the finish, you summoned every ounce of strength in your body and attempted a flat-out sprint, but something snagged your legs and made you fall end-over-end on your head – blacking you out almost instantly. You’re not the only one who fell, either; you heard Parsee yelp as well before everything goes blank on you.

---

When you next wake up, your mind is still a haze, and your vision blurred.

“Are you okay, Seo?” a voice asked. You cannot identify the owner of that voice, since it sounds as though it were mixed with someone else’s.

The hell with it; if you can’t recognize their voice, you can at least try recognizing them by their footwear. You raised your head off the stone walkway and…

What footwear is that?
[] Slippers
[] Boots with a heart on each pair
[] Geta
[] Mary-Janes without white socks
[] Mary-Janes with white socks