Reimu rushed around the house to collect her things, and make sure she had whatever she needed, as the morning passed in relative silence.

It appeared that her friends weren't going to bother her this morning, and she was mildly concerned it might have something to do with their Tenshi duties forcing them to bail on the girls.

After staying the night at Kourindou, Reimu and Youmu woke early to find the shopkeeper already hard at work on breakfast for the two girls. Both were understandably grateful to the man.

"Good morning Tenshi-San," The man quickly greeted, helping to calm down Reimu, who wasn't sure if the man was in on their secret, or if they would have to make a quick excuse in front of the shopkeeper. Her memories of Youmu talking to the man the previous day regarding Rumia's case should have tipped her off, but her sleep-addled mind wasn't working very fast.

The two girls thanked the shopkeeper profusely for the use of his bed, and for breakfast, before they went their separate ways, needing to run home and collect their school supplies before first bell rang.

On their way out the door, Reimu caught Rinnosuke calling to them, "Don't hesitate to come to me for information regarding a case, I'm always hearing things," Which made the girl wonder if that was where his true business ventures lied, and his shop was just a front.

Sighing in relief as she finally stepped outside, Reimu was surprised to find Letty and Cirno waiting for her across the street, and both gave the girl a casual wave while she locked up her house, before hurrying across the street to meet up with them.

"Good morning Letty-sempai, Cirno-chan," Reimu offered with a small smile that she was pleased to see at least Cirno return, though hers was huge.

"Morning Reimu-chan, how was the rest of your night?" Letty asked as the three began their walk to school, Cirno running ahead when she realized it was going to be boring girl talk.

"Fairly uneventful, I took a look through that book that I bought from Suzunaan, and ended up falling asleep early," Reimu lied easily, scratching the back of her neck in faux embarrassment.

"Using your book as a pillow again Reimu-chan, what are we going to do with you?" Letty laughed, making Reimu huff, "Hey, at least I read a book every once in a while," "Yes, but nothing school-related."

Rounding a corner, Reimu noted the lack of someone from their group, "Hey, where's Marisa-chan?" Reimu asked her Sempai, who shook her head in response to the impromptu question.

"Cirno-imouto and I never met up with her this morning, and there was no response at her place, so I would imagine she fell asleep in her research again," Letty admitted with a small laugh, "I know we nag you about your studying habits, but Marisa must be just as bad, if not worse than even you are."

It was well-known among the students that Marisa was a fanatic towards the occult and supernatural world, Reimu mused. If the girl wasn't spending her time studying fantastic things online, then she most likely had her nose in a book reading about it, though she was much more responsible with her studying than Reimu, and she could pass for fairly normal at school, where her tendencies usually were pushed aside for more harassment of those around her, and her kleptomania, which the three girls had to keep track of.

"I'm sure that she'll be waiting at the gate for us, same as always," Reimu waved off the girl's disappearance, "Marisa might be fairly crazy, but she's at the very least dependable." Most of the time, she kept to herself.

"True, true," Letty replied, and the two sunk into a casual silence watching Cirno, who now appeared to be hopping on one foot towards the school for only a reason that the 9 knew.

The towering building came into view shortly, and, true to Reimu's words there was a blonde-haired girl wearing the all-girl's school uniform standing outside, one hand holding her opened phone, while the other held her bag behind her back, looking surprisingly normal for once, if Reimu had to be honest. She also found her cheeks growing warm for some reason, as she looked at her oldest friend, but quickly shook her head and put on an easy smile.

At least, the girl appeared normal until she spotted the three, and started waving to them frantically, "heeeey!"

"Marisa-chan!" Cirno cheered, rushing up to the blonde, while Reimu and Letty took a more leisurely pace, knowing the girls wouldn't go anywhere until they started their morning conversation.

"Yep, still cute as a button Cirno," Marisa claimed, poking the younger girl on the nose playfully with that same cocky grin on her face that Reimu couldn't help smiling at. She was sure that if she stopped seeing that smile, that something would be up with her long-time friend.

"Hey, so what's with you running out on us yesterday Reimu-baka?" Marisa asked, putting her hands on her hips girlishly, and glaring up at her friend. Reimu tried her best not to laugh at the tomboyish girl's attempts at looking tough, and cleared her throat.

"Sorry Marisa-chan, but the call of knowledge was just too strong to resist," The girl replied, causing Marisa to huff.

"Bah, could have at least waited till the end of the day, we ended up just drifting home after we finished at Kourin's and playing video games for the rest of the evening," Marisa admitted.

Ah yes, Reimu remembered with a groan, Marisa's other hobby, video games. She probably should have blamed the girl's previous guardian, as well as Morichika-San for getting the girl into them, as she knew the two encouraged her into the fantasy worlds that games offered her, and never thought about the consequences, such as her sticky fingers. She heavily blamed video games for that, along with a second source.

"And I'm sure that you beat Letty-chan and Cirno-chan into the dust in one of your millions of fighting games," Reimu commented, receiving a confirming wide grin from her friend.

"Ya bet! Besides, you're the only one I ever can get a real challenge out of," Marisa admitted, "Letty would rather play adventure games, and Cirno likes the puzzle games."

"Yes, yes, I'm sure you'll talk me into a match or two yet," Reimu said condescendingly, adding insult to injury by patting her friend on the head and causing the girl's temper to flare. She stamped her foot in indignation at the girl, and her cheeks puffed up comically and adorably.

"You don't have to sound so damn resigned about it," Marisa announced, but went ignored as Reimu walked past her, onto school grounds, and gestured for the three to follow.

"Come along dears, we should get going before first bell," Reimu stated mockingly, only furthering Marisa's anger, but the three did follow obediently, Cirno laughing at the pair's antics as she followed her big sister.

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Lunch once again found Reimu sitting together with Youmu up on the roof of the school, but the pair were quickly interrupted just before they began to eat lunch by the intrusion of a familiar blonde-haired girl, as well as a tall green-haired woman who was gently encouraging her forward.

Reimu immediately recognized Rumia, though she had to admit the girl looked a hell of a lot better than she had the previous day. Her eyes were no longer sunken in, and her hair had returned to a naturally vibrant blonde colour, and her eyes, which she noted were bright red, were full of life.

"I'm sorry to interrupt you dears during one of your "meetings," Yuuka announced with a slight mocking tone along with a set of air quotations, "But I'm afraid our newest recruit has apparently thought of something that she needs to say to you, and was quite adamant about me bringing her to speak to you today."

"What is it Rumia-chan?" Reimu asked, looking up at the surprisingly small girl, startled by just how much trouble she'd been able to cause for someone so tiny.

The blonde haired girl shuffled her feet nervously at first, but then her eyes shone with fresh life and she quickly blurted out her message, "Domo Arigatou (thank you very much) Reimu-sempai, Youmu-sempai!" Before taking cover behind their sensei. Reimu thought she could see the girl's cheeks turn bright red, but brushed it off as unimportant.

"Do not think anything of it Rumia-chan," Reimu said with a small smile.

"We did what we had to in order to protect everyone and complete our mission, and that included helping you," Youmu explained, making Yuuka smile down on the three.

"Is that so?" The girl asked, apparently finding her courage, and peeking out from behind their sensei, a smile playing at the corners of her lips.

"That is so," both girls echoed good-naturedly, to the amusement of the pair, before Reimu spoke up, "So Kazami-sensei, how is Rumia-chan doing now?"

Yuuka reached down to rest a hand on top of Rumia's head, probably in order to keep the girl from running off, which wouldn't have surprised Reimu, while she answered, "She is doing fine, after resting for a while, and having everything explained to her by Yukari-chan, Rumia is almost ready to begin accepting missions, as soon as we find a suitable partner for her."

"You mean Yukari-sama doesn't have one ready for her yet?" Youmu asked in surprise, and Yuuka shook her head.

"We have a rough idea, but in order to go through with it means splitting another team. Thus Yukari-chan is hesitating, but I'm sure that she will go through with it in the end, since the Senior member of that team doesn't really need to teach the Junior anything else," Yuuka explained.

"So Rumia-chan, remember to work hard and get good at using your powers," Reimu told the girl, which she thought made Rumia's face light up in joy.

"Don't Worry Reimu-sempai, I'll do my best to become a powerful Angel of Darkness!" Rumia announced, before rushing down the stairs without waiting for their Sensei.

"My, quite the spirited young thing she is," Yuuka commented, before regarding the pair, "Don't stay up here too long girls, you don't want to be late to your next period," She warned, before taking her leave after the Youkai of Darkness.

Once they were once again alone, Reimu was startled as Youmu began to laugh loudly and openly, holding her stomach, "What's so funny?"

Youmu, unable to answer through her laughter, had to wait for it to die out slightly before she could respond to the girl's agitated question, "It's just you, and your amazing ability to inspire people."

"Inspire...people?" Reimu echoed, feeling completely lost.

"You didn't notice Reimu-chan, the minute you told Rumia-chan to work hard, her eyes lit up like a brilliant Christmas tree, and she got so animated from only your words," Youmu explained, before devolving back into laughter.

Reimu blushed in embarrassment at the girl's rather true statement, she had noticed the way the girl's eyes had lit up, but brushed it off as that childlike energy all girls had at that age. She really didn't think her words did all that much.

"Though, I do wonder who Yukari-sama will pick to be Rumia's partner," Youmu admitted, "It's not often a team is split just to give a new recruit a partner, and from how it sounds Yukari-sama trusts these two will work well enough together to make up for the lost manpower."

"You don't have any ideas based on the Tenshi roster?" Reimu asked, but received a shake of the silver-haired girl's head.

"There is no Tenshi roster, and I believe only Yukari-sama knows about every Tenshi in the area," Youmu stated, "Well, and Ran-sama as well...and I suppose Yuyuko-sama, since she is the woman's best friend," The girl amended sheepishly.

"Then couldn't you ask Yuyuko-san about the matter, since she is so close to Yukari-sama?" Reimu asked, "I'm sure since you are her servant that she will give you the information freely."

Reimu was startled as her partner's back straightened, and her joking tone abruptly cut out for a horrified tone, "Y-you don't ask Yuyuko-sama things," Youmu warned with haunted eyes, which only made Reimu more curious, "Not if you want to keep your sanity intact."

"Oh ouch, your mistress sounds like a nightmare," Reimu said casually, and was thankful that Youmu became calm once more.

"There are some things I have learned over time you should not involve Yuyuko-sama in, and things you should not do in Yuyuko-sama's presence, if you wish to remain unscarred," Youmu admitted.

"Mind giving me a short list of those "things" some time?" Reimu asked. Youmu was quick to nod, "Trust me, you will want to know these things in case of an encounter with the angel of death."

"Good advise," Reimu muttered.

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The rest of the day passed in relative normality for Reimu, and thankfully no calls came in regarding Youkai attack, to the girls relief, since she had to admit (though she hid it quite well) her body felt incredibly sore after their battle the previous night.

Unfortunately it appeared that she had encouraged Marisa's competitive spirits that morning, and was therefore dragged back to the thief's house, along with Letty and Cirno, in order to sate the girl's bloodlust.

And, somehow in the mix, they had managed to pick up a pair of moochers, by the names of Patchy and Alice.

"I don't see what's so great about video games," Patchy admitted mutely, "If it is a test of skills, wouldn't Chess, or for the less refined, checkers suffice, rather than play a silly game of moving pictures?" Reimu couldn't help but think that the girl's comment had been aimed at her blonde friend, who had her tongue sticking out the side of her mouth as she focused on the game.

"I think it might just be how Marisa is," Alice answered, "She doesn't like losing, and she's very direct and tomboyish, therefore spilling blood, even if it is only virtual, in an attempt to defeat her opponent is the only way for her to prove her worth to herself."

"Oi, enough out of the peanut gallery, and let's go for another round!" Marisa cried, as Reimu sat beside her friend, both now wearing casual clothes, and sitting in twin bean bag chairs, Reimu holding her controller in a relaxed grip, while Marisa was gripping hers tightly.

"Oh, but didn't you want us to offer commentary and criticism on how bad you are at your own game," Alice teased, causing Marisa to bristle. "Oh Shut up you crazy seamstress!"

"Temper, temper," Alice chided, but returned to working on the doll she had been mending while speaking with Patchy, keeping half an eye on the two girls as they went about selecting their characters.

Letty and Cirno were sitting nearby, playing cards quietly, well, Letty was at least, while she allowed Cirno to beat her senseless in an attempt to keep the younger girl's attention.

All the while, her eyes followed the impromptu shrine maiden with a trained eye, along with two other girls in the room.

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Chapter 11 complete

I'm cutting chapters back again for the foreseeable future, down to a single update a week, due to some complications I've found while trying to work on a future chapter, and the need for more time to try and get it finished.

If I can get things settled relatively quickly, and resume my normal productivity, updates should return to a Monday-Thursday schedule within (I'm hoping) one or two weeks.

On a separate note, I'd like to offer thanks to Wolfsbane706 for some behind-the-scenes help and troubleshooting, and everyone else for their kind words and suggestions so far. I really appreciate how much you guys have been enjoying the story, and how helpful and dependable you've been when I've asked for help while writing this. Ja Ne (See Ya)!

Stay tuned for Chapter 12