~Love is a Black, Black Rose~

Summary

Marisa and Reimu spend the morning together, looking at the flowers and perhaps growing a little closer along the way. A cute, light-hearted little story.

Marisa was hard at work one morning when she heard a shout.

"Marisa! You have to see this!" It was Reimu, hoofing it through the forest. "It's an amazing likeness! I've never seen one like that before!"

"Reimu?!" Marisa dropped her chalk and looked up from the half-finished pentagram. "Slow down, okay? What do I have to see?"

"It!" Reimu clarified.

"Oh, so THAT'S how it is." Marisa rolled her eyes and stood up. "All right, show me!"

Reimu grabbed Marisa's gloved hand. "This way!" she shouted, taking off beneath the trees.

A couple of minutes crashing through the undergrowth brought them to a tiny river. Its clear water tinkled over a bed of stones, weaving between tall trees and waist-high bushes.

Waist-high, that is, except for one. Reimu squatted down in front of the silliest-looking rose bush Marisa had ever seen and gave her an expectant smile.

"Um," said Marisa, peering down at the bush. It consisted of one tiny, thick stem, not much longer than a pumpkin stalk, and a gigantic black and white rose.

"See?" giggled Reimu. "It's you and your hat!"

Marisa was silent for a moment, then she burst out laughing. "Oh, my gods, you're right! It's like looking in a mirror!" she gasped, clutching her sides. "Reminds me of that red butterfly I saw sleep for three weeks..."

Reimu shoved her into the stream, where she fell on her bottom with a splash. Marisa pushed the stream on top of Reimu, drenching her. After an eventful minute of splashing and screaming, they staggered back to Marisa's house for tea and cake.