Far below the surface of Gensokyo, there was a labyrinth worth of connecting tunnels and burrows. These caverns beneath the earth were dark, and the air itself seemed to carry an unwelcoming sensation in it. For anyone who dared to step foot within these dark caves, the space itself somehow would feel like it was enclosed on them from all sides. At the same time, the caverns were startlingly large, as if something could be lurking in any given corner.

But for a celestial, there was nothing to be feared in these caverns, no matter how spacious or cavern. That was Hinanawi Tenshi's belief, as she hopped from stalagmite to stalagmite, sliding down slopes and generally weaving through caverns with a spring in her step. She came to a stop, looking ahead to the distance, but it just appeared to be an endless chasm of rocks and darkness to even her capable eyes.

"I can't make sense of where we're going at all." Tenshi said, not the least bit tired after all the trekking so far. "Shion, are we really getting close to Former Hell?"

Catching up shortly from behind was Tenshi's company for the day, who floated closely. She had so far been vaguely directing them in what was hopefully the right direction.

"I'm pretty sure this is the right direction?" Shion stopped mid-air as she tried to gauge their current position. "I think this is close to the entrance, but I'm not one-hundred percent certain. …Uh, sorry in advance if I get both of us lost. Actually knowing my luck, getting lost might be inevitable..."

"I'm sure I would have gotten lost about five times before now if you weren't here." Tenshi stated as she turned around to face Shion, without a worry in the world on her face. "So I'm glad to have you accompanying me."

"I'm happy to be here! I was really surprised when you suddenly said you wanted to head to the underworld."

For a long time now, Tenshi had been spending most of her days in Gensokyo alongside Yorigami Shion, the poverty god who has been described as one of the most despicable, most disastrous gods of all. For as different as a celestial and a poverty god might be from each other, they had hit off soon after their first meeting, and had been close ever since.

Earlier today, Tenshi had rather suddenly brought up that she wanted to head towards the Underworld, a realm far beneath the surface of Gensokyo, where the most despised of youkai resided. Since Shion had visited before, Tenshi asked for her assistance in leading the way. When asked for her reason for wanting to visit, Tenshi nonchalantly said she was feeling a whim, which wasn't unusual for the impulsive, delinquent celestial.

"And I was surprised when you told me you've already been to Former Hell before. You say it's a fun place?"

"I know I had a lot of fun the last time I was there! ! I really got to live it up there while I was still a billionaire god." Shion practically shivered as she remembered the rush of wealth she experienced in the past. "Ah, I miss when money was practically dripping from my pores. Before that black water ran dry, I was absolutely going to treat you to a feast for once, Lady Celestial."

"Dripping with the stuff sounds a bit gross. Is that kind of wealth really hygienic?" Tenshi just hoped everything she heard Shion said about leaking money was some really abstract metaphor, but she didn't feel compelled enough to ask for clarification. "Either way, we can still feast all we want soon, now that we're on our way there!"

"To be honest, I'm having a hard time imagining someone from Heaven like you, hanging out in a place like Former Hell." The sudden interest in the place had caught Shion off-guard earlier. Even in just these caverns below the Earth, Shion couldn't help but think Tenshi, as radiant as the sky itself, looked out of place.

"That's exactly why I've decided to pay a visit." Tenshi said with a boastful tone, still feeling proud of the great idea she had hatched upon. "I'm sure those who reside down there have never even glimpsed a celestial before, just like I'm sure no other celestial has the guts to travel so far away from the heavens. I'll be blessing all those underground youkai with my presence."

"I don't think I entirely get it." Shion briefly tilted her head, but still smiled at Tenshi. "But I'm happy to follow you anywhere!"

Shion turned her attention back to the caverns ahead of them, and she looked between two deep-looking holes along the cavern floor. A lot of the surrounding features were blending together in her mind into indistinguishable rock, dirt, and more rock. "Hmm... I'm really not sure which one of these is the right one."

"They both lead down, don't they? Seems like either's as good an option as any."

"I remember the caverns can be pretty complicated, so we could end up at a dead end."

"If it comes to that, I'll use my power to break open the way! Either way, there's nothing to do but go with our gut, right?"

"My gut is feeling a little empty, so I want to reach the capital as soon as possible..." Shion said, rubbing her stomach which was already starting to growl.

"Then let's trust my divine gut to lead the way!" Without any hesitation, Tenshi marched forward and picked a hole at complete random, before jumping down into it.

"...Wait, Lady Celestial, I just remembered-"

Tenshi thought she might have heard Shion say something or the other, but she was already falling quickly down through a dark pit. Judging by the amount of light and amount of wind blowing from beneath, she had a good sense of how much time she had before nearing solid ground and would be ready to soften her landing in time.

Which was why she was surprised when she found herself suddenly stopped, having collided feet-first with some sort of elastic, sticky surface. Tenshi felt herself bouncing up and down with it for a few seconds before the bouncing settled, whatever she had collided with had stopped with her nested in it.

"Gah! Who put this net here?!" Her inelegant collision and attempt to adjust for balance had gotten her firmly stuck in the middle of the 'net'. With some glancing around, Tenshi quickly realised her limbs were firmly stuck in place by the sticky strings. "Wait, this is… a spiderweb?"

"Hehehe!" From a dark corner came a giddy-sounding laugh. A figure with neat, blonde hair and wearing a brown dress slowly showed herself to Tenshi, happily crawling along the surface of the web. Once the figure was close, she looked down at Tenshi with a satisfied grin. "I didn't think something this big would ever fall into one of my traps!"

"A tsuchigumo?" It took Tenshi another second or so to put things together. "So this web is your doing? Then I must be on the right path towards Former Hell after all!"

"You're right on all counts. Unfortunately for you, you won't be making it to Former Hell, now that I've caught myself a wonderful snack!"

"I might be wonderful, but I'm no snack." Tenshi was only mildly offended, all things considered. "Maybe you can't tell because your eyesight is poor from spending so much time in the dark, but I'm not some butterfly that you can just catch for a snack."

"You sure look as helpless as one right now." The tsuchigumo said with a snicker. "You don't realise your life is already over, because I've been seeping a deadly disease through this web, and into your body!"

"You are?" Tenshi glanced around herself and at the web. Now that she tried to pay it more attention, she actually did barely notice some sort of power flowing through the strings. "It's making me feel a little tingly…"

"It'll do more than that! In just a few moments, you'll feel your breath stopping, your throat losing all its moisture, and then your skin will turn purple as your limbs fail you! Finally, your entire respiratory system will shut down! Spend your last moments cursing your foolishness!"

"It's really tingly, I guess." Tenshi said while shrugging her shoulders, looking unimpressed.

"...Huh? Uh, give it just a little bit longer then." The tsuchigumo waited in silence for several long, awkward moments, expecting the disease's full effects to kick in any second. However, Tenshi did not become even a little bit ill, and the two simply stared at each other expectantly while nothing happened. "...What the heck? Why isn't it working?"

"Sorry, I guess." Tenshi tried her best to shrug. "What happens now?"

"What's supposed to happen, after you succumb to my disease, I was going to wrap up your shrivelled corpse in my web, then bring it back to my home. From there, I'd first remove your-"

"Ew, nevermind. I don't actually want to hear this."

"You asked! Ugh, it's really hard to just eat an unprepared human on the spot like this, but I guess I have no choice..."

"Hey, just for your information, I'm not just some pedestrian human! I'm a celestial, hailing from Heaven and headed to Former Hell. Someone like myself is far too rich for a youkai's lowly palette. If you try even taking one bite out of me, you'll be the one succumbing."

"I have no idea what you're talking about, and I don't care if you're a human or something else. I just know that right now, I'm hungry enough to eat a horse!"

"Who are you calling a horse?!" Tenshi had more choice words to give, but before she commented further, a voice from further above called out

"Lady Celestial...!" It was Shion, descending from above in a hurry. "What's going on here? And who is that...?"

"Oh, Shion! This silly youkai here was thinking she could eat me of all people. Can you believe that?"

"What?! You want to eat Lady Celestial?! Even I could never be that desperate...!" Shion glared at the youkai.

"Ack!" The tsuchigumo flinched at the poverty god, not from the dirty look she was giving, but the thick miasma of pure misfortune radiating as she got angry. "What's with this unpleasant aura? Now I'm the one feeling sick..."

"Wait, Shion, you're leaking again-" Tenshi had called out, but already too late as Shion's aura already went to work on their surroundings. In the next second, the web supporting her and tsuchigumo instantly snapped apart at every end.

Both of them were sent tumbling down screaming, while Shion watched from above. "Ah! Whoops..."


"Waaaah! This sucks!" After all was said and done, the tsuchigumo, bruised from the long fall, sat on the cold, hard ground and was left with no option but to hold her face in her hands and cry up a river. "My trap failed utterly, my power over disease failed spectacularly, and I still haven't had anything to eat!"

"Gosh, she's so loud..." From a short distance away, Tenshi was dusting off her hat, and was otherwise unharmed despite the hard landing.

"I'm really sorry about that just now..." An embarrassed Shion said from beside her. "And I completely forgot to warn about the youkai that might be sneaking around too. You could have gotten eaten!"

"There was no chance of that happening." Tenshi said. "Though I have to say, the first person I encounter in the underworld trying to eat me doesn't speak well for this place's manners."

"Hey, don't say that!" The tsuchigumo, having overheard, spoke up. "It's not like we'll just eat anyone who passes by, but anyone foolish enough to fall for our traps is fair game!"

"Hey!" Tenshi turned around, offended. "I did not fall for your trap! I jumped in of my own will!"

"That's better? …Whatever! If you're not a prey animal, you shouldn't ruin people's plans to get food!" After that outburst, the tsuchigumo lowered her head again and resumed her pitiful sobbing.

"Geez." Tenshi contemplated for a moment, before taking a few steps towards the crying youkai. "What's your name, anyway?"

"...Huh?" The tsuchigumo looked up with teary-eyed confusion. "...It's Yamame. Why?"

"Well then, Yamame, if you're hungry, why don't you just head to Former Hell instead of trying to catch flies that pass by?"

"First of all, I don't eat flies, that'd be a waste of my abilities." Yamame quickly said, still holding onto a little bit of pride in her. "Secondly! … I've been low on money lately, so I thought I'd be frugal and try catching my own food for a little while."

"Catching something around here? What kind of diet do you live on?" Shion suddenly said, uncertain at such a prospect. "There's no way you'd find anything good to eat that way. It'd be much more productive to squeeze out iron filings from the rocks, and use that to compliment the mold between cracks in the earth."

"...What kind of diet do you live on?" Yamame stared at Shion, flabbergasted. "I think I'd rather just starve at that point."

Listening to all this, Tenshi sagely nods in supposed understanding. "In that case, you should consider yourself lucky after all, because your web landed you with a meeting with me, the Underground Celestial."

"Underground Celestial?" Shion asked. "When did you come up with that?"

"I've been wanting to announce myself like that for a while!" Tenshi giddily admitted, before addressing Yamame again. "We're on our way to have fun down below. Since you're the first I've come across on my new journey to the underworld, how about I treat you to a meal once we've reached the capital?"

"For real?!" Yamame shot up to her feet.

"For real!" Tenshi said with a grin. "I'm a celestial of my word, you know?"

"Wow! I think I might actually believe you came from Heaven!"

"Wow." Shion couldn't help but be a little surprised. "That's really generous, considering she was planning on eating you."

"I'm telling you, she was never going to get a chance. And besides, I was already thinking earlier that I wanted to make a good impression on the locals." Tenshi said, as she looked at Yamame staring back at her with eyes full of renewed hope. "And I think I'm off to a good start. Now let's head down to the capital already!"


It didn't take long after arriving in the streets of Former Hell, for Tenshi's group to get right into the swing of the place. Compared to the dark caverns from before, everything here was brightly lit with lanterns or signs. It was a bustling, crowded place, with all sorts of youkai filling up the roads and going in every direction. The buildings themselves were old and decrepit, yet maintained just well enough that people probably didn't have to worry about any roofs collapsing on top of them.

In every direction, shops and stalls of all sorts lined the districts, selling a wide variety of foodstuff and trinkets. Like any excited tourist, Tenshi was eager to try a little bit of everything, and fried foods were perfect for the cool weather.

"...Hey, I just had a thought." Tenshi spoke while they all walked down the streets. "How can there be any weather down here if it's all underground?"

"Huh? Why are you asking weird questions like that?" Yamame responded, in-between nibbling on a hot bun.

"Is it that weird? Okay…" It wasn't as if Tenshi was that curious anyway, so she soon discarded the thought as she looked out to the horizon of stores ahead. "We've passed by so many different shops that sell sake. The competition must be fierce! And yet, every single one we've stopped by seemed to have something unique."

"Well of course." Yamame said with a bright smile. "If you're going to run an establishment here in Former Hell, you gotta have your own spin on things or you'll totally get washed away in the crowd."

Floating from a little bit behind them was Shion with a bag full of goods under her arm. She stuffed snack after snack into her mouth one after the other. "Mmm! Every single store really has their own special qualities. Not a single ingredient tastes like it was undercooked, or that it's gone bad...!"

"Are your standards for food that bad?" Yamame laughed, though unsure if that was a joke or not. "Normally I could only splurge on so many maybe once every few months. I feel like I might be doing something wrong by having you treating me to so much…"

"I'm glad you're aware that you've been blessed by me." Tenshi happily proclaimed. "My very presence has improved your quality of life, hasn't it?"

"Hmm, but this feels unfair though!" Shion declared from above. "I'm feeling left out because both sides of Lady Celestial are occupied! Even though I came here with her first..."

"Aw, Shion, you don't have to feel-" Tenshi started to say, before realising something. "Wait, both sides?"

Tenshi was confused for a moment, and she turned to glance to one side of her. She saw Yamame smiling back at her. She then glanced to her other side, and saw someone else quietly walking alongside her, staring back at her intensely with deep, green eyes.

"Wait, sorry, who was this again?" Tenshi couldn't help but draw back from the intense stare. "I don't know if I caught your name."

"I'm sure my name isn't important to someone like you.. I've been with you all since you crossed the bridge to get into the capital." The apparently not-recent hanger-on said in a gloomy voice.

"That's Parsee." Yamame said, earning a pout from the hashihime named Parsee. "I didn't want to point her out because I know she likes lurking around people."

"I'm not surprised you didn't notice me." Parsee said to Tenshi. "It's natural that I would lack presence compared to a frustratingly radiant girl like you."

"Frustratingly radiant, huh?" Tenshi smiled at that. "Don't think I've been called that before. I don't dislike it."

"You accept praise so easily and without any humility... Being that thickheaded, it's enough to make me jealous..." Parsee said, narrowing her eyes.

"Oho? Well, don't feel too bad. It's only natural for anyone to be jealous of a celestial like myself!"

"I've actually been jealous of you for a while now, and I was wondering how long I could leech onto you before you noticed. But that wasn't enough to even earn your notice, was it? A lively girl like you, with her head in the skies."

"I admit I was pretty focused on looking at all the shops, but you really ought to have spoken up if you wanted to be noticed..."

"Lady Celestial..." Shion spoke up, eyeing Parsee with uncertainty. "I didn't say anything before because I thought you were okay with it, but she feels like bad news."

"Really?" Tenshi asked, a little surprised to hear that coming from her. "Honestly, she... reminds me a little of you, Shion."

"That's a bad thing! Being similar to me should be your first clue that she's really bad news." Shion urgently said.

"Hold on a second. I resent any comparison between me and her." Parsee quickly added. She looked over her shoulder at Shion, and found herself smirking. "I can tell with just a glance what a pitiful being you are. I have zero reason to be jealous of you."

"That's so rude?! Though I guess I was rude to you first..." Shion admitted, before smiling boldly in return. "But you do have a reason to be jealous of me! I was the first to come here with Lady Celestial."

"Oh, don't take anything Parsee says too personally." Yamame said, reassuringly. "This is just her way of getting along. …Though maybe do be a little careful she doesn't get you with her hashihime's curse. If she starts giving off some really bad vibes, just try to avoid making too long eye-contact with her."

"Hey, Yamame!" Parsee yelled out, looking past Tenshi and frowning at Yamame. "Why are you sabotaging me right now? I don't mess with you when you're doing your tsuchigumo stuff, do I?"

"This one has been treating me to a nice time today! I'd rather you not drive her insane with jealousy."

"Haha! It's not a problem!" Tenshi suddenly exclaimed from between the two, drawing stares from both. "Parsee, right? You're invited to do whatever you want. As an invincible underground celestial, nothing can bring down my festive mood."

"Is that a challenge? Grr..." Now feeling offended on top of everything else, Parsee put on a nasty expression and stepped right in front of Tenshi, the green glow in her eyes even more intense than before. "For someone like you to come all the way down here, your life must not be as wonderful as you act. Truthfully, you must be jealous of those living freely, aren't you?"

"I guess it does look like the folks here have a lot more fun than even I do."

"There it is. I only need that scrap of envy to latch on. Just keep looking at me, and I'll shred your mind with a burning jealousy like no other!"

"How interesting!" Tenshi didn't turn away, and simply stood with her hands at her hips, curious as to how this would play out.

"That you can be so brazen to underestimate me... Aah, I haven't been this jealous in a long time!"

"Should… either of us be concerned?" Yamame sheepishly asked, looking over to Shion for assistance.

"I think it'll be fine." Shion casually stated, before chewing more on her snacks.

Everyone, including a few confused youkai who passed by at an urgent pace, could feel a menacing sensation radiating from Parsee, as the hashihime focused every bit of her current grudge, and used it to practically glare a hole in Tenshi's face. Tenshi for her part, simply stared back expectantly into Parsee's eyes.

After several long, uncomfortably silent seconds, Parsee eventually drew away and turned her back to Tenshi.

"Ah. Did I win?" Tenshi eagerly asked. "...That was a staring contest, right? I wasn't sure what else I should have been doing."

"Gaaah!" Parsee suddenly let out a shrill, frustrated yell, and held her hand in her face. "Yes, you won, whatever! My curse isn't working on you, even a little bit. The way you just stared at me for so long without flinching. I'm so jealous! ...And embarrassed!"

"Wow." Shion remarked. "She really just always speaks her mind out loud, huh?"

"I don't really get it, but it's only natural I would win!" Tenshi happily exclaimed as she walked up beside Parsee and pulled her closer. "But honestly, if you want to hang around us, you just have to say so!"

"H-H-Hey!" Parsee weakly flailed about at first, before directing her annoyed expression towards the ground. "...I was going to stick around even if you didn't ask. I'm going to keep trying to curse you, even if you try to drive me away!"

"Don't worry, Parsee." Yamame added. "This whole time, I've been trying to infect her with my diseases. It's been pretty fun seeing how much stuff just bounces off her!"

"No wonder I was still feeling tingly… Well, you both can keep doing whatever." Tenshi nodded to both Parsee and Yamame. "I'm really liking this underworld where everyone's having fun in their own way, which is exactly what I want to be doing too. Let's keep moving, I haven't seen half the stores in this district!"

Tenshi marched ahead with Yamame and Parsee practically clinging to her, and Shion chuckled as she followed from closeby. "Eheh… Maybe I spoke too soon when I said she doesn't fit here."


After the long shopping trip came to a lull, Tenshi's group found themselves sitting with a gathering of youkai having a modest, outdoor drinking party. Either there was some sort of special occasion being celebrated, or there was a clearance of alcohol from several nearby establishments going on. Tenshi heard a few different explanations, but the ones telling them to her were very drunk. Either way, this gathering of friendly youkai were open to sharing drinks with anyone passing by, so Tenshi's group took the invitation to sit down and relax.

"If only…" An unsteady Yamame slurred her words, while helping herself to yet another drink. Since this was someone else's treat today, she saw no reason to avoid letting herself go. "If only… I could enjoy myself like this every day. I wonder… if I wrap up and eat that celestial, will I get a bit of her good fortune?"

"I'm still so jealous. I hate this so much." Sitting across from Yamame was a similarly drunk Parsee, attempting to drown her current frustrations. "That girl's head is either too thick or too empty for me to take apart. Has she ever felt jealousy in her life? Does she even know the meaning of the word? …It's frustrating! Way too frustrating!"

The two continued drinking and talking, barely registering what the other was saying. Having someone else pay for them meant they wasted no time in becoming completely sloshed. After a little bit longer, they both dozed off where they sat.

Tenshi and Shion were closeby, also enjoying themselves at a considerably more moderate pace. Against all odds, Tenshi felt like the day was finally slowing to a more relaxed pace, now that she was just sitting and drinking peacefully with Shion. She looked over to Yamame and Parsee, and couldn't help but laugh.

"Hasn't anyone ever told those two that drinking while half-drunk is the worst thing you can do? Their lack of moderation is going to lead to a horrible hangover." Tenshi gave a small laugh at the sight of them, before looking towards Shion beside her. "How are you holding up, by the way?"

"Honestly, I feel like I've barely gotten started." Shion said, indifferently. "These dishes hold so little, I keep finishing before I know it."

"...Actually, I think that's because your cup is broken? Look underneath it."

"Huh?" Shion raised the sake dish, and only then noticed the large crack running underneath it. "Oh! All this time the drink was trying to escape me..."

"Here, use mine." With a charmed expression, Tenshi handed her sake dish to Shion, who happily took it.

"Ah, thank you so much! I'll cherish it." Shion eagerly took a swig of the sake. The moment she raised the dish, a crack opened up on the underside, and sake was dripping onto her clothes. Not that Shion noticed, too satisfied with her drink. "Ah... The sake they brew around here is on a class of its own. Don't you think so too?"

"The sake? It's not bad, I suppose. Has a little bit more oomph than most of the surface's stuff, at least. But for how much the locals were hyping up this side of the capital's trademark alcohol, I was expecting a lot more of a punch."

"That's too bad. But at least sharing it with Lady Celestial instantly makes any drink and occasion sweeter."

"Thanks…" Tenshi said, with a decidedly mixed expression about that. "Speaking of, what is the occasion for all this anyway? Some kind of underworld holiday?"

"From what I hear, the residents in Former Hell are always good at finding a reason to celebrate. Doesn't it get you in the mood too?"

"Maybe." Tenshi answered, half-heartedly. "Maybe I need some time to adjust though. It's been fun and all but all these folks are… exceptionally rowdy."

"Wow, too rowdy even for you, Lady Celestial?" Shion chuckled, a little surprised at that reaction. "I was expecting you to say that you felt right at home, among people who love to party."

"I thought I would too. But I don't know, there's something pretty inelegant about all of them!" Tenshi said, either not aware or uncaring about sounding like a snob. "But I suppose I thought the same for those on the surface at some point. Once I commit to it, I'll surely have everyone here bending to my will!"

"You make it sound like you plan on living down here from now on?"

"Hmm… Maybe I am? This musty underworld could really benefit from me taking up residence, don't you think?" Tenshi explained, like she was trying to convince herself. "All you ever heard about Former Hell is how it's the home of the most despicable youkai around, and never anything good. It'd be like a blessing for them, to have a shining beacon like myself in this world without a sun."

"Actually this place already has one of those. She's a scary raven who tries to incinerate anyone she sees." Shion explained, before addressing the more important topic in her mind. "Are you really considering moving in here? Even for a whim, that's a pretty big thing to just decide on!"

"It's not entirely based on a whim." Tenshi sighed, and wordlessly leaned against Shion's bony side, who did her best to stay upright. "When you think about it, for a 'delinquent celestial' like myself who has been kicked out of Heaven… Staying in the underworld, which as far from the heavens as you can get, seems pretty fitting, doesn't it?"

"Oh…" Shion adjusted herself ever so slightly, just so she could turn to face Tenshi properly as they spoke. "So this is about that?"

"I haven't talked about my exile from Bhava-Agra very much, have I?"

"I know it used to be a sensitive subject, but I know how upset it made you at the time Your dream self went on one heck of a rampage about it, after all…"

"Yeah, I still don't entirely understand what you mean by that, other than I apparently got into a daze while half-asleep, and made a fool of myself in front of you and your sister."

"I didn't think you were a fool though! I thought you were pretty cool." Shion said, recalling the vivid memory of when she first encountered the celestial. "Especially when you majestically rode that giant catfish!"

"Uh, right..." Tenshi definitely still didn't understand the finer details, but what she gathered was that in the past, in a vulnerable moment of hers, she let her emotions get the better of her and was practically yelling to anybody who would listen about how unfair her exile from heaven was.

She would have chalked it up to being just a dream, if she didn't so clearly remember those bitter feelings at the time. She stared down at her cup, catching just a glimpse of her reflection in the overly-diluted alcohol. She imagined what kind of sour face she must have been making, shortly after being thrown out of Bhava-agra.

Yet at the same time, those bitter feelings have since dulled. She dared say those feelings had completely passed. "...It did sting, and maybe I did throw a tantrum or two about it. But I think in the long run, it was for the better that all of that stuff happened. I even think this is what Chiko would have wanted."

"Chiko?" The name wasn't familiar to Shion.

"That used to be my name, before I was a celestial. It was the name of a young, simple girl who one day ascended to Heaven with her family. To anyone else, it might have looked like a great blessing, and a wonderful opportunity, but the Hinanawi clan only got to ascend to Heaven thanks to being in the good graces of Naw-no-Kami, so we weren't really considered 'proper celestials' among everyone who got there the 'old-fashioned' way."

"Ah, I bet they were jealous of your good fortune!"

"They sure were! But honestly, that was only half the problems that Chiko went through. Most people would tell you that Bhava-Agra is supposed to be the highest summit that those seeking enlightenment reach for. But seen through a child's mind? It's just a boring place with nothing to do. It's no wonder anyone would get bored out of their mind and start an incident with the surface dwellers just for fun!"

"So you didn't like it there? But you were so upset about being exiled…"

"Yeah…" A resigned Tenshi admitted. Shion had apparently already seen her true feelings on the matter, there was no sense in pretending that her exile didn't sting greatly at the time. "That's because Chiko decided she wouldn't become a boring celestial like the rest of them, satisfied with doing nothing but singing, dancing and eating peaches every day. She'd be better than all of them, and follow her own path as a celestial, no matter what anyone else had to say about her! And so she'd become Hinanawi Tenshi, the celestial who sits at the highest sphere of Bhava-Agra!"

With that, Tenshi let out a small, wistful sigh. She distinctly remembered the day where she had made that resolve, and practically shouted it towards the uncaring skies above Bhava-Agra.

"...I guess I thought being kicked out of Bhava-Agra meant that I had failed. But you know what? I think it was for the better. After spending more time on the surface, I've been able to figure out how to be a better celestial on my own terms instead of just living by Heaven's mandates."

"I think I get it!" Shion nodded. "You've always wanted to be different from other celestials. Just the fact that you're down here with us instead of up there makes you more unique than the rest of them, doesn't it?"

"That's right! My previous way of thinking, that I could only be a celestial while in Bhava-Agra, was far too rigid. Compromise truly does make completeness. I'll continue bending my ways as I see fit, and my life will be more complete for it.

"That sounds really smart…" Shion made a mental note of another of Tenshi's smart-sounding quotes. "I'm not surprised you've come to that conclusion. You've never been the type to let anything get you down for very long!"

"Of course I'm not. Everything always works out for me, after all." With a renewed air of confidence at being favoured by the universe, Tenshi finished what remained in her sake cup in one gulp, and flashed a cocky smile towards Shion. "I've made good progress on taking over Gensokyo, so it's a good time to start spreading my influence down here in Former Hell too! This is surely the start of my reign as the Underground Celestial!"

"That title is starting to catch on with me…" Shion returned a similar smile. "Alright, if you've decided on it, then we should celebrate by drinking ourselves into a stupor today!"

"Sounds good! Though I don't know if we'll ever get to that point with the mediocre sake around here."

"Don't give up yet! I know the oni around here carry some really strong, really special stuff." Shion said, as she hovered from her seated position and up to full height. "I know some names so I'll go ask around. Don't go anywhere before I come back, Lady Celestial!"

"I won't. You're my guide today, after all!" Tenshi said, as Shion floated off somewhere else, presumably to get some better alcohol for them.

Momentarily left by herself, Tenshi let out a relaxed sigh and looked up to the 'sky'. Or at least, what passes for it in the underworld. Tenshi couldn't help but imagine that she could see through all the rock, and to the skies far, far above. Although Bhava-Agra was out of sight, she found herself envisioning a younger version of herself, the lonely Earth-born girl named Chiko stuck among the heavens, unable to be like other celestials yet also unable to break free from being the same divinity as them. Tenshi wondered if the young Chiko were to see herself as she is now, how would she feel? Proud? Happy?

…She chose to believe Chiko would be delighted to see how she rebelled against expectations of her. It certainly didn't matter to Tenshi one bit if every other celestial up there would look down at her with anything from derision or disapproval, and that she'd never be welcome in Heaven again. She insisted to herself again, that it didn't matter to her one bit.

So far away from the source of those worries, she doubted that she would ever be made to think about any matters relating to Bhava-Agra. When one looked above, they could only see a far expanse of rocks and cavern walls. Tenshi had no way of seeing the actual sky, or to know the state of the weather above. In that sense, she was currently ignorant to the state of the heavens, perhaps even immune from their judgments and biases while so far beneath the surface. There was after all nothing to see above her other than stalactites.

…That is, until she spotted a very familiar silhouette, flying high in the air, swiftly moving through those stalactites. Among the expanse of rocks, the silhouette stuck out greatly, as it left behind a beautiful trail of scarlet flowing wherever it went. It paused in the air, having spotted Tenshi as well, and proceeded to head straight for her. Not that Tenshi had any confusion about who it was, but as they moved closer, the striking silhouette changed into the sharp form of a figure dressed in luxurious cloth.

"There you are, Eldest Daughter!" Once close enough to be heard, the figure slowly descended down to the ground just a few steps away from Tenshi, and offered a polite bow. "Good day to you."

"You're the last person I expected to see in this place." Tenshi remarked, just a little perplexed, but this wasn't necessarily an unwelcome surprise. "I suppose it has been a while since the last time you checked in. Hasn't it, Iku?"

"Indeed it has, and apologies for that. I would have liked to come visit more often, but you know how my duties keep me busy."

Tenshi shrugged at that. "Why would I know anything about your boring work?"

As an envoy for the highest beings among the clouds, Nagae Iku could be said to live in a world between dragons and humans, while serving both. Her position as messenger oarfish for the Dragon Palace has often had her work with the Hinanawi clan in the past, and although Iku usually tried to take an easygoing approach to her job, she sometimes had to take more forceful approaches in some past instances, especially when they involved clashing with Tenshi over something or the other. Against all odds, those instances only made them closer and better acquainted.

During Tenshi's exile from Bhava-Agra, she had received irregular visits from Iku, usually with some inconsequential update about how business back home was. The answer was always predictably boring, since Tenshi already knew nothing actually happens in Bhava-Agra, especially if she wasn't there.

Still, Tenshi didn't dislike Iku's visits, and she believed it benefited them both. Surely, Tenshi believed, Iku liked the excuse to travel all the way down to Gensokyo anyway to get away from her regular duties in the sky.

"Clearly, it doesn't keep you busy enough, if you have enough time to come goof off all the way in this underworld." Tenshi said with a coy smile, believing she's happened upon Iku in one of her lazier moments.

"I'll have you know I've spent a lot of time today looking for you." Iku answered with all her utmost professional pride. "Thankfully someone informed me about your trip to Former Hell. I was at quite a loss at first when I didn't find you at your usual loitering spots, like the shrine or the inchling's castle."

"I don't 'loiter' anywhere! All those places are under my protection, and now I'm going to extend my influence to Former Hell as well." Tenshi boasted, confidently swaying her nearly empty cup. "Before long, everyone here will be eternally grateful for my very presence."

"Oh dear, your reign of menace is expanding its range…" Iku said in a grave tone. After Tenshi tried, and failed to splash her with droplets of sake, she instantly shifted back to a cool smile. "I'm kidding, I'm kidding. If anyone can handle your presence, it should be these folks."

"What do you know about the folks here? Have you been to Former Hell before?"

"I've heard plenty of things, and the journey down here was about what I expected."

"Yeah, it was pretty treacherous, right? You don't look like someone who could make the trip."

"I'll have you know I'm certainly capable of braving through any weather or habitat." Iku said proudly, hands on her hips. "In fact, I did run into some troublesome underground youkai who thought they could make a meal out of me, but a bit of lightning taught them otherwise!"

"Hah, if you were running into trouble like that, I bet you got lost on the way here, right?"

"My sense of direction is peerless. …Ah, but that's not important right now!" Iku suddenly interrupted herself, her expression and voice suddenly taking on just a hint of urgency. "I have a very important message from Bhava-Agra. One that I'm sure you'll be thrilled to hear!"

"I doubt that." Tenshi said, preemptively unimpressed. Nothing newsworthy ever came from Bhava-Agra. "But you're here, so go ahead and tell me about how my family's gardens are flourishing, or whatever."

"It's not about the gardens, though the peaches are in fact flourishing."

"Whatever it's about, just come out with it. Then after that, come have a drink with me! Two of my companions are already unconscious, but I know you'll last longer."

"I don't see why not. Very soon, we'll both be toasting to celebrate the news." Iku said, with a strangely pleased tone. She was in fact imagining Tenshi's gratitude and preemptively satisfied.

"...You're starting to weird me out. How 'good' can this news be?"

"Right, enough stalling." Iku cleared her throat. It was an official message, so Iku believed it should be delivered with some professionalism. "Eldest Daughter, you'll be pleased to hear that your exile has been lifted."

"What did you just say?" Tenshi blinked, clearing having misheard.

"I said your exile is finally being lifted. You are free to return to Bhava-Agra anytime."

"... What did you just say?" Tenshi asked again, wondering if Iku was speaking in code or something.

"Everybody wants you to come back!" Iku said with increasing liveliness. "Should I put it in writing and hand it to you?"

"...Huh?!"

"Okay, message delivered." Iku clasped her hands together, and walked past Tenshi. "Now I'll take you up on that offer. Do they serve any shrimp or squid around here?"

As Iku headed on to seamlessly insert herself into the partying atmosphere, Tenshi remained sitting right where she was, staring saucers at empty space with her mouth hanging open. After a few moments, she finally managed to turn around and find the words she was looking for.

"What did you just say…?!"