It appears that it intentionally knocked out her sister so that she would stay with the herd. I'll be damned the deibu sacrificed her self for the tribe. I guess that makes it a recovered deibu.
^ Not really. Older Sis-Wild Deibu wanted to be with the humans, if the Yukkuri of the forest wouldn't listen to her. Not sacrifice. Take Little Sis-Badge Reimu's place. Deibu was still quite the Deibu until she was busted in post #25522 .
I know it's a bit late to join the discussion, but here's my interpretation:
I base it on the Death Voice Reimu's last thoughts before its apparent death. A bit confusing to follow -- since it calls both itself and its sister Reimu -- but the implication I find is that it actually realized its singing was terrible since hearing what real good singing was like from its sister.
It felt it had to sing anyway because it was the Forest Songstress' daughter and initially resented the Songstress Reimu for outshining it... but couldn't go through with its planned revenge because it realized deep down that the problem was with itself, not its sister.
Thus, it tried to learn from the other Reimu so it could fulfill its duty... but when the time came and its Sister tried to leave to save the other yukkuri, the Death Voice Reimu took its place so that the Songstress Reimu could continue to aid the other yukkuri in taking it easy, accepting its fate as rightful punishment for its initial selfishness.
Despite the initial bad impression from the Death Voice yukkuri, it was a "nicehead" deep down just like its sister more obviously was. Thus, they both get to live, even if the Death Voice Reimu still has to suffer for its crimes before coming to its senses.
Also, carefully read the Death Voice Reimu's words when it knocks out its sister:
"Yun! The one going to the humans is this Reimu! Reimu is this forest's songstress! A special yukkuri that can sing!"
At the time, it seems like it's referring to itself the entire time... but looking back on it combined with its last thoughts, it seems more likely it was only referring to itself when it said "this Reimu" -- the latter part was referring to its sister, saying that she couldn't leave because she was the forest's songstress now. The simple speech of yukkuris and their confusing way of referring to themselves and each other allowed this ambiguity.
Despite the initial bad impression from the Death Voice yukkuri, it was a "nicehead" deep down just like its sister more obviously was.
Or to quote JIE's scale of Yukkuri Alignment, DV Reimu was a "scum with potential" yukkuri.
It continues to live not because of its actions, but by the whim of Miss Owner. We're probably shown the lull between abuse sessions that DV Reimu will suffer in for the rest of her miserable life.
Skribulous said: It continues to live not because of its actions, but by the whim of Miss Owner. We're probably shown the lull between abuse sessions that DV Reimu will suffer in for the rest of her miserable life.
Ah, sorry, I should have been more clear. I was referring to why it was allowed to live from a literary standpoint, rather than in-story perspective from the last part. As for the in-story reasons, I think you hit the nail on the head.
Nezumi said: Ah, sorry, I should have been more clear. I was referring to why it was allowed to live from a literary standpoint, rather than in-story perspective from the last part. As for the in-story reasons, I think you hit the nail on the head.
If it was a literary standpoint, I'd say DV Reimu should've died, since it would've been a far less cruel fate that living in misery.
Skribulous said: If it was a literary standpoint, I'd say DV Reimu should've died, since it would've been a far less cruel fate that living in misery.
Ah, but it's happy despite its imprisonment and possible abuse in the last frame. The natural tendency of the reader is to assume this continues. There are multiple tropes that are based in part or whole on this tendency, such as And The Adventure Continues, No End In Sight, the Bolivian Army Ending...