Another common day of reporting
The wind was steady in its cold howling, and a blue filter had descended from the outcast sky, covering the world bellow with the faint and eerily shade. From the grey, heavy clouds was coming a faint drizzle, so thin that it was more of a mist than a rain. The world had turned into a painting of shades of blue.
Huge black wings pierced the air making the mist dance into vortexes with each powerful stroke as they propelled their owner through the sky; a slender woman dressed in white and black. Each time I look to this place it is different, always changing, but somehow it's always remains the same. She though as she observed the forest-covered hilly landscape bellow. Gensokyo… my home.
She tried to delay her arrival as much as possible, not because any fear or anxiety of what she would find at her destination but because the weather was simply superb to fly. Everyone one from humans to every kind of youkai hated those grey skies and the rain even more, all but her. The silence, the smell of the sky falling down and of the forest rising up, the occasional faint smoke, the cool mist on her face and wings, and above all that blue light. All of that made her think of the past, the present and even to bother with the future; an odd mix of joy and melancholy. How long has it being? She asked to herself. Usually she would sink into those feelings and memories for hours, sometimes days or even more. She hated it and yet, somehow, loved it, but above all she needed it; freedom and peace, even if short-lived, she needed them to keep her busy mind from running awry. And like it always her peace ended as she arrived at her destination and she had a job to be done.
The Forest of Magic was the densest and darkest patch of vegetation and other things on Gensokyo, with the exception of the outskirts of the tengu territory on the youkai Mountain. It was a dark, thick and damp environment filled with incredibly old and twisted trees as well as the most varied array of mushrooms and other non-plant things. It was regarded as a place of mystery if not of evil, so humans and even a few of the week youkais tended to avoid it, something understandable considering the oppressive atmosphere the place as if it was not just things on the dark that offered danger but the forest itself. But the owner of the jet black wings nothing had to fear, she knew the reputation was greatly overstated and that nothing on that arcane place could harm her; nothing was match for her.
She spotted the clearing on the forest she was aiming for and landed on its outskirts, on a huge and perfectly horizontal branch of an oak tree that was probably almost as old as she had dwelled on that land. At the center of the clearing was a small western styled cottage, it had two stories plus an attic inside its disproportionately tall and steep roof topped with a multitude of small and crocked metal chimneys and a single large brick one on one of the extremes of house.. It was almost shapeless in its asymmetry, with blatant difference on color and material of parts of its vine-covered showing that it was built, rebuilt, and modified multiple times with parts added and removed over the years; she saw how much it had changed. The house had an unkept appearance with trash all over the external walls and on the front yard that except for a small cobbled path was being slowly but steadily reclaimed by the dark forest around it, some of the windows were broken and covered with planks; it was as if it was a ruin, but the smoke coming from its chimneys told otherwise.
From her branch, just below the canopy of the forest, the winged woman was concealed but had a poor vision so she had to stay on a crouching position to watch the house. It was slight uncomfortable but better than soil her pristine clothes with the dirt of the tree bark and moss, or not to be able to get a good picture of her subject of interest, but above all if she needed she would have the impulse to launch herself into the air in case it was needed as her hiding spot was too low to start her flight by gliding away. She then began to wait for her moment.
While she waited and time passed by, the spectacle of mist dancing in the wind through the forest accompanied by the perpetual dance between light and shadow made she remember of her crow days, simpler days. The smoke coming from the collection of chimneys started to come out in greater volume and intensity, and in a somewhat pinkish tone of grey. The preparations for the show had started inside the witch's dwelling and it would soon start, but soon to witches may even take longer than soon to a millenary youkai.
Mid-day came and mid-day went away, night was getting close as the intensity of the blue light faded away and its shade grew darker and darker. She checked her camera to see if the film was ready, and with the proper focus and exposure for the shot she was hoping to get. Unsurprisingly like herself the camera was dry, at this point in her life to create a blanket of air to keep her dry was already an automatic reflex to rain and mist; anything less would be inexcusable to a crow tengu, specially the Wind God Girl. As she was finishing o adjust the setting of her camera the soon happened. A faint golden light started to shine from the whole set of windows of the second floor of the cottage, and from one that was wide open the silhouette of the witch with her pointy hat could be seeing projected on a wall. And along with her shadow spots of more intense light were dancing and flicking on the walls like tiny stars, not long after they appeared it seemed that they started to detach from the wall and float in the air inside the room, pouring down from the open window and disappearing shortly after. After some time a second shapeless shadow appeared besides the witch's.
The reporter pointed her camera to the window and zoomed in, but kept on watching and waiting for the right moment with her keen eyes, better than any camera that the Kappa had ever made; she only hopped she picked the right side of the house. The source of the shadow became clear from the next window; it was a big lump of what seemed to iron with a few pieces of scrap metal. It was floating in the air, with the slightest up and down movement, and after a few moments it started to change color from black to a dull but luminous red and soon it was glowing with a strong yellowish white light. It lost its shape and become an amorphous blob of molten metal. "Almost there." Mumbled the crow, mirroring the words the witch just said.
Out of the molten metal and object started to take shape. A stream of sparks started to fly from it and poured down from the open windows, chimneys and cracks on the walls, and after a sudden flash the object revealed its new shape, still illuminated by the magic. It was incredible, but not what the reporter was after, in reality she had already witnessed and recorded that magic in all its steps a few times already; she was after the perfect shot to star her article.
The witch picked the object, now already cold, an irregular, lumpy chain connected to a pyramid of polished metal in one end a and a multi limbed star on the other. "What a useless pile of junk! Well, it is a beginning at least." The crow repeated the faint words of the witch.
The witch put her head outside the window to catch some fresh air; she had long messy blond hair with a single braid on the right side, tied with a white bow. Her forehead was dirt and sweat just like her clothes, and plastered on her face was a subtle bite wide smile and her hazel eyes were shining with joy; that was the moment. Aya took as many photos and as fast as her camera would allow and making slight adjustments to the focus and zoom to make sure she would get at least one perfect shot, one that could accurately transmit the joy and accomplishment she had just witnessed.
Out of the nothing the metal object began to glow again, now in a purplish eerily luminescence and in an instant it returned to its original shape, crumbling away from the hands of the girl now with a devastated expression. Well, nothing that a little "reinterpretation" of the fact won't solve; she will thank me for that. The reporter said to herself, already thinking on the final version of her article. She then noticed the witch was staring directly to where she was, and her face was red and twisted with rage. "Oh! The lens…" She mumbled, realizing their reflex gave her position away. Without thinking twice she jumped straight up and with the help of her wind pierced the canopy without even touching its branches or leaves, just in time before the wide multicolored beam of light put an end to the ancient tree.
After a short glide she landed with the utmost grace, almost weightless on top of the cottage's roof. "Aya! You freaking bitch! It's the goddamn third time this week, what do you want?!" The witch screamed from the window, trying in vain to get a glimpse of the tengu, she them could be heard frankly running down the stair and slamming open her front door.
"Ayayayaya! Don't you have the least consideration for such illustrious and dedicated guest like myself, who waited half a day in the rain and cold just to witness your work? You break my heart, but I forgive you." Aya shouted back, but maintained the sweet and calm tone of her voice. Then she added. "Oh! And besides, it's the tenth time this week. You're not the most observing of humans are you, Marisa?"
"Yeah, yeah, yeah! Aya is your name, now shut up and go to somewhere I can shoot you! Or to hell, whatever is better to you." Marisa shouted back, running through the tall grass, trying to get a good shot of the tall tengu perked at her rooftop.
Aya was starting to enjoy that little game; she always did as that was half of the fan of being a reporter, so she startled the witch a little more. "Well, it seems that the noble work of the media isn't as respected as it should by some individuals, but don't worry. That was the last batch of pictures. You won't see me again… that is until I deliver the newest edition of the Bunbunmarum staring none other than… you, Kirisame Marisa."
That worked splendid well as the usually charming and calm girl had deranged into a mad fury, Aya could almost imagine the foam that she would be spurting in a few moments, and shot of adrenaline run through her slender body. "Y-You! You dare not make another one of those slanderous pieces of shit you call a newspaper! If you do I promise I will kick your fucking ass and then roast you, even if I have to drag you out of that damn Youkai Mountain." She is even better than Reimu, you just need to push her a little more for her to shine. But that was not enough, she wanted her to explode, that would make the apology when she reads her article even sweeter.
"Then why don't you try it now? I think I have some extra time today to play." The gaunt tengu arrogantly rested against the chimney challenged the witch.
"Oh, now we're talking. Just wait for me to get up ther-" Marisa stopped halfway through her sentence, and started to look around herself.
Aya calmly put back the lens-cover on her camera and asked Marisa. "Forgot something? Your broom, I suppose. Go ahead, go inside and pick it, just make sure you're fast. Otherwise I might fly away if you take too long."
"How about I just shoot you?" Marisa asked, already with her octagonal Hakkero on hand and for Aya.
Aya laughed back to her. "Go ahead, but again, don't take too long." She knew very well she wouldn't fire and risk hitting her house in the process. Just one little more push.
Marisa then began to walk around her house, trying to get the better angle to take her shot. To counter that, Aya simply started to move to the other side of the house, to put the roof in the way of Marisa's Master Spark. Marisa kept on circling and Aya went back to the main brick chimney. The moss covered spine of the roof was slippery and fairly round, making a very narrow and hard path to anyone to cross, anyone but a Tengu. Even with her single tooth geta crossing the roof and dance through the metal chimneys was as easy to Aya as lying on a bed. "Just tell me something." Aya asked as she reached the safety of the brick chimney again. "Why are you so angry?"
"There are a few reasons. Mainly the fact you're an annoying bitch that has nothing better to do than bother me and to write lies. And there is also the fact you won't fucking stay still!" Marisa said.
"Lies? What lies?!" Aya said with fake surprised face and a poorly concealed smile. "Sure there is some unique interpretation of the facts and educated speculation from my part, but I never write lies. Take for example your kleptomania." Marisa didn't answer, but her face showed Aya was pushing the right button. "But even though you do have your reasons to dislike the scrutiny of my work, I think there is a little more to your attitude than the blessing of my presence." Marisa stopped exactly where she began to circle the house, in front of the cobbled path and in front of the shredded oak tree. "I guess you tried to play, so did I. Well, it was a pleasure as always Marisa but it is already high time and I still have a lot of work to do. Expect an especial delivery to you, Reimu and the rest of Gensokyo in a few days."
"I am warning you, Aya. I won't hold back if you start spreading lies about me again." Marisa said in an angry and grave voice.
Aya got off the chimney and squashed, ready to jump in the air. She stopped and said one last thing to Marisa. "You really should calm yourself, only because of that redundant failure and you're already raging. It's not good for your health and your whole training, at this pace that other witch… Patchouli, will recover much sooner than expected her stolen-" And she swallowed her own words as she launched herself in to the air with incredible speed, barely avoiding the Master Spark that obliterated the brick chimney and half of the house's roof.
Marisa screamed like mad and shot again and again trying to take down Aya, but the tengu avoided the pillars of light with the same easy as she had danced over the now collapsed roof. As a final taunt Aya flew just a few centimeters to the side of Marisa with such speed that the wind threw her into a puddle of mud and she lost her Hakkero. She screamed and she cried, and as she raged over the puddle trying to get up only to fall on it again.
Aya looked back to the destroyed house and the pitiful scene on its front yard and mumbled to herself. "You ungrateful brat, you are going to thank for all this effort." She then slowed down, rose to just below the clouds and calmly flew away and began to appreciate the beautiful land that she lived as she became one with the night and the growing rain.