Chapter 10: 3, Part 5

"Gensokyo is really pretty at night," Renko said as she trailed after Mima. A creek glittered with starlight as they crossed over the valley it twisted through.

"It is. I love the stars," Mima said. Alice and Satori nodded in agreement.

It's beautiful. More than I remembered. It's a bit of a shame I probably won't be able to see it again for a very long time. Satori telepathically sighed. I'm going to enjoy it as much as I can for now.

Renko purposely stayed quiet so Satori could pay attention to the night sky and moonlit treetops, and focused on the calming sensation of the air parting around her as she flew. Somewhere in the night, an owl's soft call rang out.

Quite suddenly, though, there was a rush of air, and a dark silhouette plummeted from above, colliding with Satori and knocking her down several feet in the air. Satori cried out in pain and alarm. Renko acted on reflex, and fired a danmaku bullet at the shape. It twisted to avoid it, only to take a spray of blue bullets from Alice and a laser from Mima. Satori tore herself free and darted away, arms wrapped around her stomach.

"Satori! A-are you okay?!" Renko called. Rather than words, she simply received a sensation of sharp pain and urgency.

"I, I offer a spellcard duel," Satori hastily said.

"I refuse! Die, you treaty-breaking bitch!" the shadowy shape snarled. It shifted into a monstrous, ill-defined beast with what looked like a mass of tentacles extending from its back. Inky jaws snapped shut on the air where Satori had been an instant ago.

Mima snapped her fingers. Six orbs in different colors, marked with alchemical symbols, materialized around her. Each one immediately started to fire a nearly blinding amount of brilliant star danmaku bullets in matching colors, with slightly different patterns, but all focused towards the monster. It was zipping after Satori so quickly that most of the bullets grazed past it.

"Don't worry, Usami, it'll dissipate instead of harming you if you're hit by my bullets. I would be no archmage if I couldn't avoid friendly fire," Mima said. Renko nodded, but floated back a bit anyways. There didn't seem to be much she could do to help. She couldn't shake the image of Marisa so badly injured by a friendly youkai, and this creature was most certainly not friendly.

The monster fired a spray of danmaku after Satori, but she expertly weaved around the attack. Alice's doll dove into its path, and before it could stop, the doll slashed at it with a gleaming razor blade. It tumbled aside to avoid the attack, only for Satori to whirl around.

"Light of Truth!" she declared, and fired a focused barrage of gold-white bullets that peppered the creature. The youkai screeched in pain and the shadows melted away under each strike—first, it appeared as a monstrous monkey-faced tiger, then a humanoid wolf-beast, then a youkai girl in a short black dress with strange mismatched red-and-blue wings, and finally a simple brown and white bird youkai girl.

The bird youkai glared defiantly at Satori even as she weakly fluttered her wings, burns from the light marring her face and body.

"…I'm not going to kill you, Houjuu. You tempt me, but I'd rather leave well enough alone. As should you," Satori said.

"Gods-damn three-eyed bitch," the bird said, and she turned to try and flee. She ran straight into a sealing amulet, and froze in place, twitching slightly.

Reimu flew over, hair sloppily tied in its usual ponytail and arms crossed, orbited not only by her yin-yang orbs but by several sealing amulets.

"You said you weren't going to cause an incident, damnit!" Reimu said. "Ugh. This is going to be an enormous mess, I hope you know that. If anybody shoots one danmaku bullet I swear to gods…"

Mima hastily dispelled her orbs, and Alice and Shanghai both held their hands up innocently. Renko glanced at Satori, concerned.

Houjuu stabbed me in the stomach. It hurts, but thankfully, she didn't get my third eye. I'll be okay in a few hours, Satori thought to Renko. Her mental voice was shaky, and Renko could almost feel the pain through the message.

Reimu grabbed the bird youkai by the collar.

"Alright, everyone follow me. Don't try and run off, I will bludgeon you with these things until you stop," Reimu said, gesturing threateningly at the yin-yang orbs with her free hand.

"It's generally a bad idea not to listen to Hakurei on occasions like this. I suggest compliance," Mima said. Alice nodded in confirmation.

"O-Okay…" Renko said.

She couldn't help but wonder exactly what sort of mess they'd gotten themselves into.

"This is probably the closest thing Gensokyo can have to an international incident without having the moon or Makai involved," Alice commented.

"I know," Satori said. She gingerly poked at her stomach, and winced. Her blouse and skirt were streaked with dried blood from her stomach down.

"And you and that nue are both going to be on trial for breaking the treaty between Youkai Mountain and the Ancient City," Alice continued.

"I know," Satori said, looking up from where she was lying on her back on the floor. Alice was seated on a wooden chair, while Renko was curled up on the floor, trying and failing to take a nap, and Mima was lying on the ceiling for no real reason other than that she could.

The room wasn't too uncomfortable, aside from the fact it was guarded by several armed tengu, and the youkai who had tried to murder Satori was in the next room over.

Renko hadn't even known there was such a tall mountain in Gensokyo until Reimu led them to it and handed them off to several tengu. Apparently Reimu was going to be there at the trial, as well, and she was not happy.

"All I'm saying is, I'm really glad I'm not you right now," Alice said.

"Thanks," Satori said dryly. She coughed once. "My throat still hurts. Apparently this makes me more tolerable, at least."

Renko sighed, and sat up. She figured she had gotten as much rest as she was going to.

Are you sure you're okay, Satori? I mean, you were stabbed in the stomach, and nobody's looked at it… she thought.

Yes, I'm fine. It's actually pretty hard to seriously harm a youkai. Many will have a specific weakness, but even then, my weakest point—my third eye—will recover from injuries much faster and more thoroughly than anything a human takes. Satori sent a wave of reassurance through the mental link.

Well, that's good. Renko couldn't help but feel faintly jealous. She quickly shook that off and reached into her bag, and pulled out one of her two notebooks and a pencil. This was not the Sealing Club journal. This was her sketchbook. She turned to a blank page, and idly started drawing to pass the time. After all, Satori was just lying there in a position where Renko could easily reference what her facial features looked like.

Satori's third eye shifted to face Renko more directly as she lightly penciled in the shape of Satori's face and started to frame it with soft curves to represent the youkai's wavy hair. This drew Alice's attention, and seconds later, Shanghai was on Renko's shoulder, peering down at her work. Renko ignored the doll's weight and moved on to the shoulders.

"I didn't realize you could draw so well," Alice said.

"Well, um, I was mostly a physics student, but I took art classes too," Renko said. She lightly scribbled in basic placeholder shapes, working out a position for the arms in her drawing. "I stopped when I met Merry, but I would still do sketches for our journal. People are hard, but practicing is important…"

"Any reason you decided to draw me?" Satori asked. Renko glanced up, slightly surprised she had asked aloud.

"Well, um, you were right there," she said. Satori nodded, and watched in silence. After several minutes, Renko finally had a presentable sketch of Satori with a smile on her face, and her hands held in a cute heart shape around her third eye.

"Okay, I think I'm done," Renko said.

"Wow, Komeiji, if you did that you might actually be cute," Alice said.

Satori sat up, and proceeded to mimic the drawing as well as she could. The smile was forced and didn't reach her eyes at all.

"…Nevermind," Alice said.

Mima giggled, and floated down to inspect Renko's work.

"How cute. I want one as a pet," she said.

"I think I make a better owner than pet," Satori said. "After all, I have my own flock of hell ravens."

"How impressive," Mima started. Before the banter could go on, the door opened. A white-haired, wolf-eared tengu surveyed the room with her gaze.

"Follow me," she said in a stern, even voice.

Satori stood a bit shakily. Renko scrambled to her feet, closing her notebook, and offered Satori a hand for balance. She took it, and they followed the tengu out. Mima drifted after them, and Alice walked along as well.

The tengu led them outside. Now that it was day, Renko could see the village, built in and around the peaks and dips of the mountainside. All sorts of youkai, mostly crow and wolf tengu, were seated around the flat center of the area, on roofs, balconies, and rocks. This open square was occupied by an imposing male tengu with silver hair and large crow wings, the feathers slightly faded and edged in silver, holding a staff with feathers hanging from the tip and seated on a woven, bright red mat. Beside this tengu, Reimu was seated, yin-yang orbs lazily orbiting her, and across from them were three smaller mats. On one to the side, the youkai who had attacked Satori was sitting, arms crossed, glaring viciously at the other youkai. Her appearance had become the final illusion Satori had torn away in the fight—a black-haired youkai in a black dress with asymmetrical red and blue wings.

As they walked, all eyes followed them. When they got close, Satori let go of Renko's hand, and the wolf tengu gestured for Renko and the others to stop. Satori gracefully took her place on the opposite side.

There was silence. Renko shuffled back slightly to stand beside Mima and Alice.

Just as the silence started to become unbearable, the tengu leader calmly looked up, inspecting the youkai seated before him.

"This trial is now formally in session, under witness of the Hakurei Shrine Maiden, and myself, Lord Tenma. Both of you, state your name and affiliation," he said. His voice was calm and even, and he didn't break composure for an instant.

"Nue Houjuu. I live on the surface, but I answer to nobody," the youkai sitting across from Satori said.

"Satori Komeiji. I manage the Palace of Earth Spirits just outside of the Ancient City," Satori said.

Tenma nodded, taking this in.

"Komeiji. You are aware that simply being here will weaken whatever case you make," he said.

Satori nodded.

"Houjuu, please give an account of what happened," Tenma said, looking to Nue.

Nue straightened herself up.

"I was flying around in the sky south of the Bamboo Forest of the Lost, when I saw this three-eyed bitch—"

"Please refrain from using highly subjective and derogatory titles, Houjuu," Tenma interrupted.

Nue rolled her eyes.

"—when I saw Komeiji, a human, a magician, and an akuryou flying in a group. I know that all the living satori were banished underground, so there was no way she could be up here without breaking the treaty. So I attacked her. Nothing stopping me, and all. Of course, the rest of them attacked me, and that damn satori nearly killed me. She let me get away, but Hakurei caught me," Nue said.

Several of the tengu onlookers started to whisper to each other.

"I see," Tenma said. He was quiet for several seconds, before looking to Satori.

"What do you have to say, Komeiji?"

Satori met the Tengu leader's gaze evenly. She started to speak, and winced before going on properly.

"Apologies, I have a bit of a sore throat. I'll make this short. I was at home in the Palace of Earth Spirits, when a human turned up on my doorstep. After some time, she challenged me to a spell card duel, the terms of which were that if I lost, I would not be allowed to put up a fight if she chose to kidnap me. I lost this duel, and was taken to the surface. In fact, when Houjuu attacked me, the reason for my kidnapping had been resolved and I was being escorted home," Satori said.

Nue glared daggers at Satori, wings bristling.

"Prove it, you little—" Nue hissed.

"Houjuu, refrain from breaking form, please. That said, I do find it strange that a human would kidnap a satori and then return them home. If there is truth, let it come forth," Tenma said.

Renko. That's an open invitation for witnesses. Just walk up and sit down, Satori's mental voice said. Renko shuffled nervously in place. There were a lot of youkai watching, and this would put her right next to Nue.

It was important, though.

Renko took a deep breath to steel herself, and walked up. The crowds of tengu watched her, whispering among themselves, and Renko was almost certain she saw a camera flash go off. She sat between Satori and Nue, legs folded under her, and tried to ignore the almost tangible hostility Nue was radiating.

"Someone has come forth, it seems. Please state your name and affiliation," Tenma said. Renko looked up timidly. The tengu leader's posture was perfect, but his gaze was warmer than Renko would have assumed. She tried to pretend she was just talking to him, instead of the entire crowd.

"Renko Usami. Um. S-student of Lady Mima," Renko said.

Tenma raised an eyebrow.

"You are a human, and yet you associate yourself with a power other than the Human Village? Intriguing. Tell us your side, Usami," he said.

Renko, this is important. Whatever you do, don't lie. You can bend the truth to make us seem more sympathetic, but I'm a youkai that embodies truth. If you outright lie, I'll reflexively call you out on it and that would be bad for both of us, Satori quickly said.

I wasn't planning to, Renko thought. She took another deep breath. The crowd was getting to her a little.

"A friend of mine was injured, and I was told a satori could help her recover. So, I ventured underground, and found, um, Komeiji. I did challenge her to a duel on the terms she mentioned, and I won, so then I brought her here… and, she helped my friend. We were taking her back to the underground when, um, Houjuu attacked her," Renko said.

"Ob-fucking-jection!" Nue said, raising her hand.

"That isn't the proper procedure, Houjuu," Tenma said.

Nue rolled her eyes again.

"Fine, just objection, minus the obscenity. Do you seriously expect me to believe this weenie singularity could take a satori in a fair duel? I've eaten stronger kids for breakfast," Nue said, gesturing at Renko.

Renko's stomach turned a bit at the mental image that conjured up.

Before anyone else could speak, though, Mima silently glided forwards, took a place just behind Renko, and placed her hand on Renko's shoulder. Shadows flickered around her in a warning display of magic.

"You are in the presence of the archmage Mima Akagane, Usami's teacher. My previous students include Marisa Kirisame and Yuuka Kazami. Do you doubt that my apprentice could be far more dangerous than appearances would lead you to believe?" Mima said.

Renko idly noticed the obvious logical fallacy in Mima's words, but also noted that at the same time, Mima never actually said that she was strong. She only implied it.

She also noted that about half of the gathered beings, including Reimu, flinched at the mention of Yuuka Kazami's name.

"I see no reason not to believe Akagane—" Tenma started.

"Mima, if you would," Mima said.

"I see no reason not to believe Mima and her student. Hakurei?"

Reimu looked up from where she was inspecting a bit of dirt on her sleeve.

"I thought Komeiji was pretty easy to beat when I fought her, and Mima is good at magic, even if she is completely insufferable. I guess her troublesome student could manage it," she said. She sounded bored.

"So then. If Komeiji was kidnapped, the question becomes whether or not the treaty was truly broken," Tenma said.

"She's still up here! I say it was," Nue said.

"For what it's worth, if a surface youkai were brought to the Ancient City by force, I do not think they would be treated as a criminal. I personally would welcome them as a guest, if they would be willing to accept hospitality from me," Satori said.

"Um, can I say something?" Renko said, a bit nervous. She wasn't sure if she was breaking whatever traditions stood here.

"Certainly, Usami," Tenma said.

"Well, um, I don't want anything bad to happen to Satori because I kidnapped her. It really isn't her fault she's here. I mean, she was perfect for what I needed her for… so please don't blame her, except for being really good at being a satori?" Renko trailed off into hesitancy, and glanced at Satori. Satori flashed a faint but warm smile.

Tenma chuckled so quietly Renko wasn't entirely sure he had.

"I think that's fair. Indeed, Komeiji was not the one who broke the treaty. If anyone did, it was Houjuu, by attacking a resident of the underground who was not in violation of the treaty, and Usami, for kidnapping Komeiji," he said.

Renko fidgeted nervously. Satori had told her she was safe, but she didn't feel safe, surrounded by all these youkai.

"And of course, Usami is out of the treaty's jurisdiction," Tenma said. He paused, before going on. "…Though if there is another incident like this, it may be prudent to look into changing that."

Renko relaxed, but not for long, as Nue growled.

"Hey! What's the big idea, blaming me?!" Nue protested.

"Houjuu. You were in fact out of line with the treaty. Perhaps the other youkai that weren't attacking Komeiji should have given you a clue that the situation was more complex than it appeared? You should apologize for trying to harm Komeiji," Tenma said.

Nue leaned around Renko and flipped off Satori.

"Over my dead body," Nue said.

Tenma let out a long, slow sigh. Renko caught the sounds of giggling from a group of tengu.

"I don't suppose you'd be willing to pretend in order to make things easier on all of us, Houjuu?" he asked.

"It wouldn't work," Satori said helpfully. "I hate lies."

"…Right, yes, of course. If Houjuu won't apologize, you are still owed something. Do you have a reasonable request?" Tenma looked at Satori.

Satori smiled.

"Can I request that I be allowed to visit the surface without violating the treaty, once each season for the major festivals? I promise I'll only be a little bit insufferable," she said.

Tenma chuckled, and glanced around at the gathered tengu.

"To be honest, times have changed since this treaty was made. We should perhaps look into better communication with the Ancient City, and allowing travel for festivals both ways. I'm sure the journalists are dying to get a chance at a visit. Your request is reasonable," he said.

Nue grumbled, not even bothering to hide her scorn. Satori, meanwhile, maintained her smile.

"Houjuu, you didn't know you were breaking the treaty, even though there were signs. You will be excused, but do not expect to get off lightly if you do so again," Tenma said. Nue rolled her eyes so hard it was practically audible, but didn't complain aloud.

Tenma looked over at Reimu.

"Hakurei, do you have any comments?"

"Can I go home now?" Reimu asked.

Tenma chuckled again and shook his head.

"Well, I believe this matter is settled. I will arrange an escort for Komeiji to the underground, and for Usami, Mima, and their magician friend home, and—"

"I can take myself home, thanks," Nue said.

"Alright, then. This trial is concluded," Tenma said. The moment he spoke, Nue took off flying. Nobody bothered to chase after her.

Renko dearly hoped that would be the last she'd see of her.

Author's Notes

And that's the ACTUAL end of section 3. Intermission will... probably be up on Thursday, I may have to delay it to Monday due to summer classes starting this week.