I just realized how much of my story is watery dialogue. Like, 90% of the story is just...conversation. So I figured, why not make a whole chapter full of it?

Enjoy. Hopefully after this week I have more free time. Studying for tests, sports tryouts, math competitions (yes, that's a thing)...eek. Sorry about the lack of recent updates.

-InstaBlimp

P.S. MERRY THANKSGIVING BOIS, ENJOY THE ZERO EDITS


Chapter Eight

"It's about time he actually had a somewhat normal spell card," Reimu muttered as she watched Blackquill's latest addition to his arsenal fill the area with red, impossibly thin projectiles.

"But there's not enough firepower, ze."

"Not everyone's attacks are as flashy as yours, Marisa. You just don't know what strategy is."

"That's not true!" Marisa protested. "Being flashy is my strategy!"

"Which isn't even a strategy..."

"Whatever," Marisa grumbled. "Let's watch Blackquill da ze."


For a second, Blackquill wondered if he'd made some sort of mistake.

I said I needed more strength! How will this help!?

Indeed, his opponent was similarly confused. "You think you can harm me...with that? It seems more like a rainstorm than an attack."

Blackquill shrugged nonchalantly, not betraying his frustration to his enemy. "You won't know until you test it for yourself."

And with that, he charged once more. Luckily, the blades of wind seemed to pass through him harmlessly, allowing him to focus solely on dueling with the wolf.

Steel met claw for the umpteenth as the two clashed in the moonlit clearing. Duck, parry, jab, step back, thrust

Blackquill winced as he felt the wolf scrape his side. Had he not leaned away, the swing would probably have reached his rib cage. Fortunately, before the wolf could follow up with another blow, a red projectile sliced into his arm, disorienting him. Another flew into his left leg, causing him to trip and fall.

"What's the matter?" Blackquill taunted. "Can't you handle a little rain?"

The wolf snarled. "Grr...just you!" He suddenly paused, a confused expression on his face.

"Why isn't he getting up?" Reimu whispered to Marisa.

Marisa's eyes widened. "I...don't think he can...!"

Everyone watched as the formidable wolf youkai flailed about on the ground, desperately trying to get up.

It took Blackquill but a moment to put the pieces together. "Stop. This duel is over."

"No it isn't!" The wolf hopped up on his right leg, one arm hanging limply at his side. "I can still"

"No, you cannot. Fear not, your honor is not on the line. Even I had no idea that my spell card would have such" Blackquill gestured to the incapacitated leg and arm. "effects."

"This cannot last forever!"

"You forget that it need not last forever; I could slay you this very instant. I have won the duel; clear out of here and see to it that my request is met."

The wolf nodded reluctantly. "As the loser, I suppose I have no choice." Turning to the other wolves, he said, "Let's get out of here."

Murmurs could be heard before the entire pack retreated into the forest, leaving no sign (save for some blood on the ground) that a spectacle had ever occurred.

Reimu was too stunned to formulate an actual sentence. "Did...did that just happen?"

Marisa shrugged. "Eh. That wolf wasn't strong or anything, ze. But still, Blackquill, good job! You've won an actual duel."

Blackquill pocketed the spell card as it flew back to him. "I'll have to get used to this new...system." I'm not faring particularly badly, though, it seems. For now, this minor victory was enough.


Blackquill woke up to the sound of Reimu once again complaining about the presence of someone apparently unwelcome. Briefly glancing toward the corner of his room, he noticed that Taka was still asleep on his new perch. Suika was nowhere to be found when he'd returned last night, and, much to his disappointment, Taka was hungry. Evidently some/most simple tasks couldn't be left to her.

On the bright side, Taka seemed to like the little oni girl.

"Who told you that you could drop by my shrine this early!?"

"Sorry!" someone squeaked. "I heard from Aya that there was an outsider staying here, so..."

"...Wait, what? Aya knows?"

"Uh...apparently."

"How the f"

"Now, now, a shrine maiden should hardly resort to such language," another older, unknown woman interrupted, a hint of amusement in her voice.

Blackquill rubbed his eyes blearily before hastily putting on his suit and jacket...cloak...thing. Opening, the bedroom door, he stumbled out and into the main gathering space. "Hakurei-dono, it would be much appreciated if you could...complain in a slightly quieter manner..."

Reimu looked sheepish. "Er...sorry..."

"No problem." Noticing that the shrine maiden's hair ribbon was slightly off center, he leaned over and...

Reimu squeaked, turning red. "What—what are you doing!?"

"Fixing your hair," Blackquill responded absentmindedly. "I did this for Athena when she was a little girl, too. I have experience."

Reimu made no further comment, though her blush persisted until Blackquill removed his hand from her hair.

"Aww. They're so cute! Aren't they, Kanako?"

Blackquill looked at the source of the comment, a girl with green hair who seemed to share Reimu's occupation. Next to her was an older, taller woman with blue hair.

What was it with Gensokyo and hair colors? Akyuu's was already odd enough.

Blackquill raised an eyebrow. "What are you implying, precisely?"

"Wait, what? You and Reimu aren't..." she trailed off.

"...Aren't what?"

"Never mind." To her companion, she grumbled, "Stupid gossip crow."

"Alright then." Blackquill still looked askance. "What is your name?"

"Oh! Uh, I'm Sanae Kochiya. I'm the shrine maiden at the Moriya Shrine..." Blackquill thought he heard Reimu mutter something under her breath"...and this is Kanako. She's a goddess of climate and sky." She looked over at said goddess. "That's about right, isn't it?"

The blue haired woman chuckled. "Yes. Technically, Sanae, you could become a goddess yourself. You are Suwako's descendant, after all."

"Well, I'm not one yet."

"So deities exist here too?" Blackquill rubbed his forehead. "Good. As if I needed even more proof of how abnormal this place is." The Wright Anything Agency would probably have a field day here.

"Actually, a long time ago, gods and goddesses existed in the outside world. However, due to lack of faith, they were unable to maintain a corporeal form and eventually drifted into obscurity. No one really believes in the gods of Mount Olympus anymore, for example. But they did, in fact, exist, and still do. They simply have no influence over worldly affairs."

"I'm assuming faith is a divine being's lifeblood."

Sanae snorted. "'Divine being' isn't the same thing as 'goddess' in Gensokyo. Celestials fall under that category too, and"

"You're talking about Tenshi, right?" Reimu sighed. "What a selfish b"

"Anyway," Kanako continued. "Who are you?"

"My name is Simon Blackquill. I am a prosecuting attorney. Or rather, 'was.'"

Sanae nodded thoughtfully. "Yeah. We don't really need those here. At least I haven't seen any yet."

"Ah, so you come from the outside world as well?"

"Yes. There was no faith in the outside world, so I transported the shrine here. It's on top of Youkai Mountain, should you ever consider dropping by. I would appreciate the faith."

"You...what?" Immediately after this outburst, Blackquill mentally facepalmed. He was talking to a deity, after all. He'd be surprised to learn of something remotely realistic she couldn't do, in all honesty. "Never mind. So, did you come all this way just to see me? I'm honored, but I don't quite see the point."

Sanae looked down awkwardly. "Well, there's been a lot of rumors about you."

"Such as...?"

"Your arrival here. Aya saw it."

Blackquill turned to Reimu. "Is that the tengu reporter you mentioned?"

"Yes. She's annoying. Her newspaper is mostly speculation and, like, 10 percent outright lies."

"Harsh."

"So, did that really happen?" Sanae interrupted. "And also, is it true that you can"

"Manipulate others? Yes, I can." Blackquill's lips twisted into a smirk. "Very helpful in court, I must say."

"Oh, tell me about your adventures!" Sanae's eyes were practically glowing with excitement. "Did you catch any really shady criminals? And crime lords? And"

"You remind me of someone I know very well. Annoyingly cheerful. But I will oblige..."


"You didn't give them the full story," Reimu commented after the visitors had departed.

"I felt no need to. In due time, and only if necessary, I will tell them about my experiences in prison. Knowing I unjustly spent years languishing there seems to have caused your friend enough heartbreak."

Having little to do, the two current residents of the Hakurei Shrine were simply on the porch, sipping tea. Admittedly, this description is somewhat mundane, but truthfully they were doing little else.

Reimu yawned. "Eh. Today's a boring day. I almost wish there was an incident or something..."

"Truth be told, I wish the same. Resolving these incidents seems quite intriguing."

"You'd probably be good at it."

"Hakurei-dono, your hair ribbon is slipping. Would you like me to"

"I'm fine!" Reimu said hurriedly, her cheeks turning red again. "Really, though, why'd you do that?"

Blackquill gave her a sidelong glance. "...What, exactly?"

"You know, touching my hair! That was embarrassing!"

"Was it now? I assumed you would find it more embarrassing to leave the asymmetry..." Blackquill smirked. "Unresolved, so to speak."

Reimu glared at him angrily.