"Retreat! Their too strong!" came the voice belonging to a paniced leader that led a group of bandits, now reduced to nothing but a small gang as a result of the lot of them had been either gunned down, blown up, or sliced in half by your forces. The area around him and his men is devastated, with craters, debris from their Super Vehicles and machinery, and the legions of mutilated and charred corpses from the intense battle that had been fought. You lower your gun as you see the bandit leader back down, before finally coming to terms with his cowardice and running away as fast as he could, his few remaining allies reluctantly following behind him. A satisfied smile spreads across your face as you see their figures comically dashing away into the barren wastes that surrounded the ruined city you called 'home'. Another victory had been claimed today.

Attacks like these were pretty much clockwork now, that is, ever since the rebellion against the Gensokyo Army which resulted in the formation 5 seperate factions in the early years of the 21st century. These 5 factions, now being led by a respective leader, would prosper and eventually form their own nations, a Utopia fit for their ideals and views. A Paradise fit for them and ONLY them. Where did this leave the remaining forces and nations who did not follow these 5 factions? Simple, they were left behind, now having to fend for themselves and becoming nothing more than common rouges that made a living by salvaging anything they could find, and stealing whatever they needed. Everyone had one day hoped the Gensokyo Army would reform and restore balance, but this dream has long since been abandoned, now that it was known that the 5 world leaders had prospered in forming their own nations and were not planning on going back to their old ways just because a set of lower class humans and youkai needed their help. But, so long as you, and your allied forces, could come out okay in the many battles that lie ahead, you couldn't care less about the state of the world.

However you were certain that this current win was not so easily assured, the opposition had brought a formidible assortment of Type 4: Girida-O's and even the powerful Type 2: Di-Cokka. Had it not been of the help of the humans who stepped forward and fought alongside you, and the newly restored Super Vehicle; Sand Simon your side could have very easily lost this battle. You remind youself to also give thanks to the brilliant engineer Kappa who had worked on the vehicle in the 1st place. You were told that all Kappa had a knack for machines and craftsmenship but you were sure that this Kappa far exceeded that notion, seeing as to how she could not only fix the Sand Simon but also improve it's capablilties in combat. Such a feat should not go without giving credit to those who truly deserved it.

After a short celebration of having repelled another threat, your comrades settle down to converse amoungst themselves about what's to be done now. However, your mind began to wander to the bandits who attacked earlier. You know full well that bandits don't attack an area for no reason, and this being their 3rd time in a week of showing up in this city, is more than enough reason to speculate that said bandits persisted only because they were after something located in this very area. What that something is exactly, is anyone's guess. "This'll be the 3rd time this week those bandits attacked this place..." You sigh as you hoist your Heavy Machine Gun over your shoulder, looking out to the dull barren wastes that seemed to strecth on forever. "I don't know what, but these guys are after somethin'..."

"They're bandits. They're ALWAYS after something" You look over your shoulder for the source of that remark, and you come to see a young woman leaning against the Sand Simon, it's Mokou, a tomboy-ish regular in the diplitated city the humans called home. But, she usually only to visited as a means to check up on her good friend Keine Kamishirasawa, the school teacher as well as the self-appointed protector of the area. During the time you've come to spend with Mokou, you've always been misled by her appearance being her attire of a tan (possibly charred) shirt and suspenders always threw you off. Had it not been for her feminine voice, long flowing sliver hair and those talismen bows in said hair, you would sure to have expected her to be a man.

"As insightful as ever, Mokou-chan" You replied to Mokou's statement earlier, to which she leers to you in response, possibly due to the nickname you called her by just now "Don't call me that!" she snaps to you, her red eyes piercing through you with burning anger.

"Fair enough, I'll stop" You comply to her wishes with a nonchalant shrug. Although, despite her saying this, you've always persisted in calling her 'Mokou-chan'. After all, she didn't seem to mind it when Keine called her that, so why not you. "That aside, I'd like to thank ya for helping us out with those bandits earlier" You say and offer out your hand to her as a means of a handshake. To which she crosses her arms and turns away.

"Hmph, I was only doing to protect the humans and Keine. I wasn't doing it to help you." Why couldn't she just say 'Your welcome' like a normal person does. But, then again, an immortal, reverse trap, wielding intense fire manipulation abilities isn't exactly normal in any sense. You give her a cynical look from behind her back, as her words give rise to something you now know hasn't changed despite you being here for more than a year now. "What? You STILL don't trust me?"

"No." She answered swiftly, not even stopping to think about it. For someone who manipulates fire, Mokou sure is cold sometimes. But, you were used to this distrust from her by now, for you knew that she'd learn to be your ally sooner or later.

"Well, you will eventually" You shrug, your cynical expression being replaced with a smile. "Trust maybe hard to build in this world now, but I'm willing to wait until I win yours."

You see Mokou's body tense as these words pass through her ears, she turns to you obviously trying to hide a blush. "W-what's that supposed to mean?"

"Exactly what it says" You answer dryly, following this with a slight chuckle at her expression, she tries so hard to hide that soft side of hers. Although you know messing with a girl like Mokou isn't really being that of a gentlement but still, you had to admitt it was pretty fun. Albeit dangerous. "Ugh, you're being weird again." She sneers and turns on her heels to leave you. "I'm going back to the school and check on Keine, she should know the bandits have been beaten already"

"I don't understand why you always mess with her like that?" Asked one of humans who had fought in the battle alongside you. "You know she could bake your ass like a potatoe, right?"

"Yeah I know. I suppose I like 'playing with fire'." What a bad pun, but you couldn't resist, as obvious as it may have been. And the reception is just as bad as the pun in question was. "...It was that bad, huh?" The lot of your group nods slowly, some fidgeting a little signaling just how awkward the phrase had made this moment.

Putting your horrible sense of puns and humor aside, you decide it's time to do something else. The day is still young and you're feeling good about yourself, despite the earth being in a state of ruin. You say your good byes to the humans who aided you and walk off into the city, seeing now that the residents had returned from being in hiding and had resumed their normal duites. You weren't really sure where the humans sought refuge when they were under attack, but where ever it may be it sure was an effective shelter to be within during these times.

But, whatever the case maybe you're free for most of the day (unless some douchebags wish to launch another terrorist attack), and now stuck with a decision of what you want to do next.

[ ] Go see if you can find that Kappa you thought of earlier.
[ ] Go to the school, even though you know Mokou's not going to like you being there.
[ ] Find yourself a ride and go somewhere else.