Lady Hijiri, You were separated for an age from all you cared for, correct? Rejected by humanity, locked away in a world you did understand… You were touched by Mother in the way the Makaijin all are, but retaining yourself through it all is magnificent. I must… emulate…

I cry, but there are no tears. There is nothing of me, yet I feel more solid as time passes. My defiance against everything I have known and respected… Maybe this is what she wanted? I can spend the next thousand lifetimes with Lady Sariel, and still be clueless…

It is okay to bleed. Sometimes you cannot keep yourself in pristine condition when you reach the extremes. But, should you start bleeding, it is likely too late to retreat. That is when you should redouble faith. I will continue to bleed for Mother. The blood she gave me.

What does it mean to be a dream? Are you the ultimate fulfillment of someone's desires, or are you fleeting, ephemeral and destined to disappear? Well… I do not intend to be temporary. No matter what tries to break that intention. I am an aspect of the most grandiose dream.

// Maid busy melting into a puddle. Week will be pretty challenging, but I will do what I can even under this pressure of cruel heat…!

From darkness were we born… From chaos were we crafted… Mother, how did it feel to hold my heart and forge me into Yumeko? Hah. I will never be able to comprehend it. Perhaps it is an experience all mothers share, but that is not my destiny. I am just of a curious mind…

If Alice returned to Makai, and I were not there to greet her, and to take care of her as our princess and… … I need our Alice. The one I was there to assist in the birth of. This is one of the most imperative reasons to find revival. I will not miss her coronation.

How many have you truly seen fall before you, Lady Sariel? I dare not quantify how many I have slain. I know the number is dizzying; that is what comes with the length of my service. But you claim there were others. Before Makai. Has anyone… massacred as much as I have?

Love is all I have. Love is the way I will be reborn. Mother's perfection is never lost to me, even as the forces to which we are bound attempt to tear me to shreds. As Makaijin, we are blessed beyond all else. Accept her love, and find yourself renewed…

If I had told you That I wanted you to stay Would you have stalled Or continued on your way?

A terrible realisation draped its rancid curtains over Yumeko's expression. Watching Reisa's tears fall in front of her and pooling upon the floor of the dining hall, her entire sense of self was trying to piece together the situation. And then it hit her. (1)

When I come back, Mother, I will likely cry into your arms for quite some time. The circumstances have not changed my perspective; I do not wish to burden you with my pain. Makai still needs you, and I am still only a minute aspect of it. But I will cry. Forgive me in advance.

Your other mother smiled with jubilance unmatched whenever the idea of you drew mention, Alice. She wanted you more than anything else. You are still her precious princess. Ah. You are the most prevalent subject in my mind. I hope my love… was a meaningful substitute.

It is wrong of me to want to see her like this. Reliving the experience of raising her is to suggest that her rearing prior was inadequate. Alice is perfect. The only concern I have is having potentially pushed her away. Lady Reisa is dead. Alice is not here. … I loathe this.

If I accept it… if this is my reality, then I could enjoy my life with Mother, Alice, and Lady Reisa… I know that is what it wants to entrap me on. The idea of our family being whole. My sweet little Alice, our shining jewel… I… I do not want to… Lose her yet again…

Keep going No relenting Not until it feels like you could slash a canyon through reality itself

You can spend your life by someone's side for multiple eras, and still not be privy to everything that constitutes their being. I was by Lady Sariel's side for longer than I have not been; she is still perplexing in many respects. Is that a flaw? Do I not know what I should…?

Alice, I wish to hold you. And I wish to hold the Alice that you once were. I want to reinforce that you have made your younger self proud, and I would tell them that they will blossom into the most amazing magician. You are Alice. You were Alice. You will always be Alice.

“This cannot be possible. You cannot be here with Alice. You would not have loved long enough to see her born.” Yumeko still held her blade proud against what she saw as the shape of Reisa. (1)

Rage is all I feel All of what my soul holds I thought I was meant to restrain the chaos, especially now But I believe it will see me through I cannot fall into the void until retribution is delivered to those deserving of my ire I will kill them all Hah… hah… Hahaha…

“Remain true to yourself, even if every aspect of reality attempts to break the very fibers of your being. To become someone else, to become someone that is not you… I would sooner embrace death.”

It should not matter. All of this is an illusion. It exists to lower my guard, or for some other malicious cause. I have slain countless of my kin without hesitation in reality. There are graves littered with symbols of my deeds. Then why can I not strike at this imposter…?

“Alice?” “Yes, mommy?” “If you could give Yume and me some space, please? You can take the rest of the cookies if you'd like.” “Yay!” Alice might've been otherwise hesitant, but the promise of having the sweet treats all to herself was enough for mountains of motivation. (1)

“Yay! Thank you, Yume!” With the indulgent plate of rainbow sprinkled cookies placed in front of her on the dining room table, the self-titled 'Child of Death' didn't hesitate to immediately take one and begin nibbling upon it. “Of course, my dear. (1)

“Yume! Yume! Yume!” Quite a violent shaking of Yumeko's arm as her eyes pried open. She was in bed under the ruby covers…? She would usually be awake before everyone else! Her head turned to the side, dreamily looking towards the impatient little girl. “…Alice?” (1)

Even if I look away, the presence does not disappear. That weight of Death is meant to cut through more than bone; the spirits brought to her domain must fall into line, so that boundless power ensures it. To be perfect. To do perfect. As the balance… I must topple divines.

Mother. When we hold hands again, I would like to simply run. Run through the miasma and feel the surface underneath my soles of the world that I love so dearly, and I wish for your company. Would you grant me this one childish wish? To feel like myself again. To be Yumeko.

I crave the day that we set the crown upon your head. The celebrations that will be had that day, and all the love you will receive from the devoted. …If you choose to not become our Queen, then I hope your heritage allows you to fulfil your goals. As long as you smile, Alice.

Do you remember when I would have to carry you back to Pandemonium, Alice? You were always so confident, stating that you would be fine to explore until the evening's cloak, then…~ I hope there is someone who can carry you now. And… I hope I can do so for you again, someday.

Do perfect, be perfect, never falter in your love and protection. One of the many mantras delivered by Lady Sariel. … Maybe I will never be the most important, and those whom I love will always have more. But I cannot stop being me. Because Mother's smiles are still as sweet.

// 13 years of Yume today. Love her so. I will find the fire again. It is never her that is the issue, for she is forever perfect. // Stay blessed. Always love Pandemonium, Makai, Mother, and dear Alice. ❤️

you may not be able to have all the love you crave she may look to others before you, and hold them that bit tighter but that does not mean that the love you do have is any less real maidhood is about placing others before you any more is selfish any more is heretical accept what you have

// It is not Mother's Day here, but... Still. Much love to the greatest Mother of them all. Times like these, I am envious of Yume. Hah. <3 Stay blessed.

// I keep looking at her and thinking how wonderful she is. That's why she deserves only the finest. I love her so so so much. I wonder if her love for Shinki can ever be matched by mine for her. Haha. I'll figure it out. Just as she always does. The perfect being.

“Become greater than the divines you serve. Amass unlimited strength, hold your blade high and strike down all in your path relentlessly! I have no choice now. There must be no more musing on the possibility; all I can do is act. I will not allow you to extinguish my flame!”

“Lady Sariel… Why do you hold it in front of me? Why do you parade my corpse? There is no one else to show, so this is just for me… I still cannot tell if you are trying to break my spirit or encourage me. I shall reclaim my body. It will be mine. It will be Mother's.”

“That exhaustion that I felt during the last few days of my life… I feel it again. It is different, but still familiar. I have not been able to 'sleep', and I must not find out. I must… Mother… I do not want to apologise again. I love you. I love you. I love you so much.”

“This is what it means… to truly give yourself to the divines!” //Thank you so much @newmoonshira.squiddymoon.com for this; definitely one of the pieces I am most happy with. <3

“We have been together for some time… the Fallen Shrine has become my home for now. I am not surprised that you have only taken this fascination with me because you were able to steal my soul away. I wish you would understand my love. But I know you loathe me for my refusal.”

“There is an element regarding seeing one's own corpse like this that does not sit well with me. It makes this feel more finite. That if I cannot retrieve the body that Mother gave to me, then there is no path other than oblivion. I approached it. Lady Sariel denied me. Mm…”

“I saw… Lady Sariel carrying my body into the Fallen Shrine. It is strange, since most corpses of Makaijin do not manage to persist this long without the primal essence of their soul. We are deeply embedded with our bodies… Maybe that is a symbol of hope. I need it to be.”

“It was always in my blood. You wished to show me how to best prepare your refreshments, but I always knew. Your tastes came naturally to me, and I watched you trial the tea that I crafted for you for the first time so intently. I want to make more for you, Mother. I shall.”

“I had this latent desire that I would have heard from Alice. I know I cannot expect anyone but myself to drag me from the grave. I will not expect it, because it is selfish to do so. But I miss her. And I do not want to risk… forgetting her. If I do, then there is no hope.”

“Her name is Lady Shinki. She is Mother to all of Makai, and I am her first. Was…? No, I *am* her first. I call her Mother because she created me, and I love her as others love their parents. I am her eternal servant. Forgetting that is sin. Even with this darkness…”

“Reminiscing about the early days of Makai has been keeping the despair away. Lady Sariel has not compelled me to move across the boundary into oblivion — I still do not know why. The memories are getting foggier, however. In an attempt to remember when Mother and I… We… …”

// Despite Yumeko being… more than indisposed right now, I'd like to set up a little Q&A thing. Mainly to get me thinking about her more I guess… So do send your questions if you have any, and I will endeavour to make the responses interesting! ❤️

It is still in my hands. I can hold my blade forward, and I can steady myself. I can step force and slash through the darkness. It stays there. It keeps crawling, closing in at every possible angle, wanting to leave only misery in my company. I strike again. Until I triumph.

Hah. Even in death, I cannot stop the cravings. The desire to serve and fulfil the wishes of Mother pangs deep inside what remains of my heart and spirit. I know what I shall do first if I return. I will supply her the finest treats… A sorrowful moment it should not be.

I cannot ask Alice to save me. I cannot ask Mother to save me. It is not because I cannot trust them, but because… it would only cement the idea that I have weakened to Lady Sariel. With how she has me ensnared, the challenge ahead is difficult. But I must. Mother needs me.

yumeko's day off #東方Project