.

.

This is how Nana escaped from heaven.

"Allow me to purchase her," Ebisu said.

"Young Master!" Kunimi said. He grabbed the boy by the arm. "That girl is the renegade hafuri. You would be committing high treason by allowing her to stay outside!"

"High treason was already committed when she was released. She's already served more than enough time in that box. Can we not offer her probation?" Ebisu said. The high cleric's mouth turned upward at the corner.

"Young Ebisu, this happened before your time. But that girl tried to lay waste to Her Majesty."

("It's okay," Nana said to Bishamon, who stood beside her and held her hand protectively. "Before they seal me, I'll just kill myself. Thank you for releasing me.")

In the courtroom, Ebisu stepped forward.

"How much is in Heaven's coffers?" Ebisu said.

"Young Master!"

"How about if I double it?" Ebisu said.

The crowd murmured. Ebisu stuck his chin out defiantly.

"Guide Kunimi, re-direct your god!" the high cleric said. "He is obviously traveling down a forbidden path!"

"Kunimi," Ebisu said, looking up toward him. "I thought money would be enough?"

"It is," someone said. The crowd turned. Kofuku stood, a vision in fishnet stockings and bunny ears, while the crowd parted around her carefully. "You're just not using it right."

"Binbougami," the high cleric said. Kofuku smiled.

"You won't let Ebibi-chan line your coffers? That girl's already served more than enough time. It seems like a pretty good deal to me," Kofuku said, smiling. "I could just as easily deplete all the savings in Heaven's accounts. It wouldn't be an act of treason, it would just be me following my nature!" She batted her eyes innocently.

"How dare you," the high cleric said. "You would openly defy the will of heaven?"

"You forget," Kofuku said, smiling. "I am not officially part of heaven."

The crowd stirred. Behind her, Daikoku swallowed.

"I grant no wishes and I have no stake to claim. I am not beholden to heaven's rules." She walked forward, Daikoku trailing behind her. "It would be a shame if I called my Kokki and used him," Kofuku mused.

"Callous reprobate!" the high cleric said, shaking. "You would openly threaten Her Majesty and defy the will of Heaven?"

"Did you know, high cleric, that other than the sorcerer, there are only three gods who rightfully control ayakashi?" Kofuku said. "There is Lord Tsukuyomi, whom no one has heard from in a thousand years. There is Lady Izanami, who lives alone in the Underworld. And then there is me."

The crowd fell silent. Kofuku took a step forward.

"But do you know the difference between Lady Izanami and myself?"

Kofuku's smile stretched, bright and wide and mean.

"Lady Izanami is trapped exclusively in the underworld. I, on the other hand, am not."

"GUARDS," the high cleric said. Kofuku laughed softly.

"Kokki," Kofuku said, and Daikoku opened his mouth to protest before he flashed into a beam of light, landing into her hand.

"Kofuku-dono, I must protest! You cannot wield your Kokki in here!" Tenjin said.

"Bisha sure did a number on heaven, didn't she?" Kofuku held out her fan, musingly. "But if I opened a vent in heaven, I wonder how much damage there would be?"

"Lady Kofuku, I beg of you!" Kunimi said, sweating. "This isn't right! You know not what you do!"

"I know exactly what I do," Kofuku said, smiling. "Let Ebi-chan pay for that hafuri, or else Kokki and I may decide to play." She flipped open her fan, showing them.

"I wonder how quickly your guards can get to me, when all I have to do is flick my fan?"

The high cleric frowned, a bead of sweat forming at her brow.

xXx

.

"NANA-CHAN!" Kofuku said. She threw her arms around Nana and dragged Bishamon in from the courtyard. "I'm so glad you and Bisha are moving in here, Nana-chan!"

"I'm still hesitant about this arrangement," Bishamon said. Kofuku waved her hand.

"Nah, nah, you're worrying too much, Bisha! Me and Kokki's got this under control!"

"I would hate for something to happen to you because I defied the will of heaven," Bishamon said. Kofuku twirled.

"Didn't you know, Bisha? I don't have to follow Heaven's rules!"