>>14576 Yeah, give me time. I'm going through the busier part of summer vacation, I don't have that much time for writing. I'm working, hanging out with friends, catching up on old vidya I couldn't play in academic year, reading books, etc. All should calm down in some time, then I'll start writing regular updates for AAA.
=========================
[x] Jump over to Yuuka, keep as close to her as possible.
[x] Pull the knife out.
"Tch."
You grit your teeth. At a time like this, something has to happen... Why didn't she pull it out by herself yet? You really could use some help here, and seeing as the situation looks, violence would be the best, or at least the most effective method of dealing with it. But... Maybe you had chance at fighting with Reimu inside the shrine, where you could use the suprise factor, and she didn't even intend to harm you for real, but now... No, it's pointless to even try. She won't kill you, but she can still knock you out. Which would eliminate Yuuka's last line of defence...
What the hell is going on, Yuuka?!
She groans again. That's so unlike her. Why didn't she pull it out yet...?!
Damn it.
Your body springs into a leap practically on it's own. Ignoring the obvious threat of Reimu's projectiles, only waiting to be launched. But none of them actually do when you approach kneeling Yuuka.
"What are you doing."
Reimu's voice is cold. Almost as cold as Yuuka's when she's in her 'public' mood. You quickly grab the knife in Yuuka's hand, but she stops you by shaking her head.
"... teeth."
She snaps her jaws as if to show you to put something in between them. Is it... really that painful?
"Get away from her."
Shut up...
Your frantically look around for something to use. Sleeve? No, too thin. A piece of wood would be perfect, but...
Wait. You do have another two knives. They're not wooden, but will be perfect for the task.
"Get. Away. From. Her."
Shut up!
You place the knife in Yuuka's mouth, which she immidiately bites on. Then, holding her palm with one hand, you grab the knife with the other. Yuuka nods.
Then, you pull it out. It went out practically without problems, but... Yuuka lets out a groan before taking in a few deeper breaths. Like if she was holding it back for too long. Is it really that painful? She doesn't seem the kind of person to moan over such a minor wound. Just the opposite. But then again, she did seem to lose all strength back then, when you knifed her palm while she was riding you... Was it the same hand as now?
"I'm okay. I'll explain later."
Yuuka tries to smile reassuringly. It's not too convincing, but you still accept it.
"I told you to get away from her."
You stand up, still covering Yuuka from a clear line of fire. Shut up. If you really had some feelings towards... Then you would act diffirently.
This is not the Reimu I know. Shut up.
"Reimu." you whip a knife open. Even if it's pointless, until Yuuka regains strength... "I'm sorry. Let's have a repetition of our earlie--"
Your sentence gets cut off by Yuuka's hand on your shoulder. Suprised, you turn to her, only to meet another reassuring smile.
"Tch."
Reimu smacks her tongue.
"Reimu." Yuuka speaks up "Our game's rules have been broken. It's pointless to continue now, after this... interruption." you take a glance at her hand. It's still bleeding slightly, but it's already started healing. Amazing. But, her fingers are still twitching in equal intervals. "I propose a diffirent method."
"... make it quick."
"Why don't we ask him? After all, it's his decision to choose his fate."
"That's dirty. You know he--"
"Oh, right. You've seen us. But, don't you think, that you should let the one you love make his own decisions?"
"I don't lo--..." Reimu falls silent under Yuuka's stare. The spikes above her flicker for a second, but light back up a moment later.
Yuuka turns to you.
"So, boy. Who do you belong to?"
What kind of question is that?
"I 'belong' to no one. I told you before, my life is mine, I am my own fate's forger."
"Then who do you want to belong to?"
[ ] "Let me repeat myself. I belong to no one. But if it's about choosing between you two..."
-subvote [ ] "I love you, Yuuka, and I can't do anything about it."
-subvote [ ] "I love you, Yuuka, but Reimu... I can't leave her. I'm sorry."
-subvote [ ] "I can't decide. If I only had more time..."
[ ] "Why speak in riddles? Can't we be outright frank with our feelings? I love you, Yuuka, I belong to no one, but my heart is yours. What you do with it, it's your bidding."
[ ] "First come, first serve. I love you, but I cannot simply leave the one that gave me so much hospitality."