Gravity
Her footsteps are heavy, because she has no need to sneak; the set of her jaw dissuades all interruptions as she thunders up the steps to the Moriya Shrine. Fairies cluster overhead, watching as closely as they dare.
"Welcome, Reimu. To what do we owe the pleasure?" Kanako asks as the shrine maiden clambers up the last of the steps. "Very few humans get a welcoming committee of gods, you know. But you are quite a rare and special guest."
Suwako and Sanae step forward, presenting an image of solidarity; neither of them labours under the illusion that Kanako's flattery will defuse the situation.
"Kochiya. You know what this is about," Reimu growls. Her sandals are muddy. Her feet are sore.
"What a tone to take towards a god," Suwako says, her voice playful. "Although it's that attitude that makes believers come to our shrine instead of yours, so I guess we ought to be grateful."
"Don't antagonise our benefactor, Suwako," Kanako rebuffs her. "What seems to be the problem? Sanae?"
"Ahaha," Sanae giggles, not a little nervously. "Well, the last time I saw her, I thought that, as friends and allies, we might take a little trip into the human village together for some shopping."
"And then what?"
"I refused," Reimu says bluntly. "I don't have money and I don't need anything. It's a waste of energy."
"So," Sanae continues, cautiously, "in the interest of promoting friendly relations, I gave her a reason to go shopping."
"She stole from me!" Reimu snaps, eyes flashing.
"I... borrowed. Did you walk all the way here, Reimu? Oh, but I suppose you can't fly without it," Sanae says, slowly lifting off. "Your underwear, that is."
Reimu's face is red, but it's difficult to tell whether it's rage or embarrassment. "I'll take you down, Sanae."
The maiden of the Moriya Shrine scoffs. "From all the way down there? We're on the Youkai Mountain, Reimu. If you think you can lift off without one of those birdbrained photographers swooping in for a scoop, be my guest."
"And even if you did," Kanako adds, "It'd be three against one. I can't sit back while you invade our shrine and fight our priestess, I'm afraid."
"Three on one, is it? I can't fly," Reimu replies, an icy grin playing around her lips. "But at least I can count. Right, Yukari?"
The air turns icy as Yukari emerges from a gap in the sky, yawning. Suika totters through in her wake; with a lazy wave of her hand, Sanae falls from the sky like a lead weight.
"I heard you were bullying my shrine maiden," Yukari says, with a beatific smile.
"I heard there was gonna be a fight," the oni adds with a grin.
Reimu takes a single step towards the landbound wind priestess, and smiles. "You know what, Sanae? I think I will go shopping with you after this. Because from the look on your face, I'm not the only one who needs new underwear."
A/N: I wanted to a do a Reimu centric collection of drabbles that are 500 words each (without the title and author's notes, of course). I'm not really sure how to characterise Reimu yet, but I suppose that's what the practice is for. Standard disclaimer applies: I don't own the setting or characters of Touhou. I'll be updating every now and then, whenever I have one finished; I'm not on a strict schedule. I hope you can derive some enjoyment from my flubs.
This one was originally going to be more serious, but turned into a doofy thing with a bad punchline. I would like to see a Hakurei vs Moriya team fight though. I cut a lot of cruft out to fit in the word limit.
