The blue skies high above the lands were like a completely different world from being on the surface below. This high up, there were only peaceful thick clouds as far as the eye can see, and any landscape below only appeared like a distant silhouette.
Those who regularly flew at this high altitude would consider the skies to be a particularly tranquil experience. However, Tenshi was feeling far from tranquil at the moment.
She flew through the air whilst sitting on the edge of a large keystone, and her face had been wearing the same pensive expression, deep in complicated and uncertain thoughts, since she left for the skies that morning.
Flying alongside her was Iku, whose cloth trailed behind her like a streak of scarlet. They flew at a steady pace, heading towards Bhava-Agra together, and there was plenty of time for Iku to take notice of Tenshi's odd mood.
"Eldest Daughter?" Iku drifted closer to Tenshi, matching her pace exactly as she spoke. "You've been unusually quiet all morning. I'd even say the atmosphere around you feels tense."
"You use that line way too often, you know that? …I've just been racking my brain since yesterday." Tenshi admitted, and crossed her arms while thinking. "About why they'd suddenly lift my exile like that."
"I thought I explained it quite succinctly the other day? Twice even. The Hinanawi clan will be hosting the summer banquet in Bhava-Agra this year, and they want you to be a part of it."
"I know, I know. But if anyone is expecting me to suddenly start acting like some 'proper celestial', then they're in for a rude awakening."
"I don't know if anyone is that optimistic."
That elicited a snicker out of Tenshi. "...How optimistic are you, then? You're not getting your hopes too high about me attending this banquet, are you?"
"It's not as if I have any stake in the matter. I just want you to be aware of your standing among your fellow celestials."
"I've been aware for a long time, and I've spent too much time in my life being controlled by what they think."
Iku didn't say anything more, not having a response for that in mind, and so the conversation faded into silently flying together.
Before long, the two of them were navigating the many natural floating landmarks that came into sight. Soon after, they reached their destination, and set foot onto Bhava-Agra proper, the highest part of Heaven.
Just as Tenshi expected, it was exactly as she remembered since she last saw it, with nothing having changed whatsoever. There was perhaps a tinge of nostalgia for the luscious grass that spread across the lands, the ornate buildings in the distance, and the very air itself that carried a wonderful, inherent pleasantness not found anywhere on Earth, but Tenshi couldn't truthfully say she missed any of it that badly.
There were a few other celestials strolling about as well, which Iku pointed out. "This could be a good chance to greet anyone you haven't seen in a while."
"No thanks." Tenshi had no interest in greeting anyone. She in fact wanted to avoid talking to anyone who was curious enough to ask what she's been up to. "Where is the banquet taking place?"
"By the peach garden. Over there, in fact." Iku pointed in the direction of where the preparations were taking place, and Tenshi headed there immediately.
The banquet was to be held in a large open space deeper into Bhava-Agra. A lot of the preparations were already in place, including decorations for the festivities, baskets to hold the food which Tenshi already knew to be mostly peaches, and prominent seats for everyone from the hosting family.
The celestials in charge of preparation were currently on break, so it was just Tenshi and Iku surveying the area. Neither said anything as Tenshi walked up to what she knew to be her own prepared seat of the banquet. After all, these formal positions for her family at the table have never changed for as long as she could remember. Purely on a whim, she sat in the chair.
Iku waited patiently as Tenshi just appeared to simply stare at nothing in particular while getting comfortable in her chair. In truth, Tenshi was deep in thought, envisioning herself being a part of the gathering of celestials.
Tenshi wondered if perhaps one day, she could get along perfectly with her fellow celestials after all. Perhaps one day would come where she too would be satisfied with living a tranquil life where she did nothing but sing, dance, and eat peaches every day. The fact that the thought instantly didn't make her recoil was in of itself startling to her.
Tenshi could very well envision herself as a 'proper celestial' after all. …And at the same time, she also envisioned her old self, Chiko, looking at who she would become with the same bitterness that she used to look at others with in Bhava-Agra.
"This sucks…" She slumped in her seat, with a sullen look on her face. "Is that the only kind of celestial I'm destined to become?"
Tenshi stood up, and walked away, past Iku who watched curiously. "Eldest Daughter? Have you made a decision?"
"I've decided that I don't want any part of this." Tenshi didn't stop walking as she spoke, prompting Iku to hurriedly catch up. "I'm getting some things from my room and then I'm out of here."
"I see. That's too bad…" Iku thought to say more, but decided against it for now.
With that, Tenshi made a beeline straight towards her house, striding forward at a hurried pace. Once the home of the Hinanawi clan was in sight, Tenshi slowed down. "Say, Iku, is any of my family home right now?"
No, they're busy discussing logistics for the banquet elsewhere. But I think they'll be back before sundown."
"Then I better make sure to be done here before sundown then." Tenshi said, quickly heading into her house.
"Are you really that uncomfortable with the idea of seeing them?" Iku asked, following her inside.
"I won't be uncomfortable, they will. So I'll be doing them a favour by getting out of here quickly."
After entering the Hinanawi household, they soon reached the front door of Tenshi's quarters. Beyond the door just in front of them would be her room and all her belongings. Just as everything else in the house was the same as she remembered it, Tenshi expected her room to also remain virtually identical to when she last saw it. When Tenshi first left for the surface, all perishable goods were either brought with her or kept in special containers. Nobody ever had any reason to visit even while she still lived there, so everything would be untouched.
Tenshi was about to step forward to open the door before Iku stepped ahead of her. "Ah, let me."
"Huh?" Tenshi was naturally confused as Iku started politely knocking on the door.
After knocking, Iku called. "Hello! It's Iku, and Eldest Daughter is with me too."
"Who are you talking to? You told me nobody was home. And why would they be in my room-"
The door then opened from inside, and standing in the room to greet them was not anyone from the Hinanawi clan, not even another celestial, but a short, familiar oni who greeted them both with a friendly, slurred voice. "Oh, hey! The delinquent celestial has finally returned!"
"What?" Tenshi blinked several times, unsure if she was seeing things right. "...What?!"
"What?" The oni tilted her head. "Don't tell me you don't remember me? It hasn't been so long, that you forgot your old pal, Suika?"
"That's not the problem here!"
Tenshi obviously recognised Ibuki Suika. She was an oni from Gensokyo who had visited Heaven on numerous occasions before Tenshi was exiled, usually to laze around or bother people by making a ruckus. What Tenshi had trouble understanding was why Suika was presently in her room, among several other questions that instantly popped into her head.
"Oh, don't just stand there. Come in, come in!" Suika turned around and headed back in. "I was just thinking I could use some company."
"Better us than you bothering the neighbours again." Iku said with a chuckle as she went inside as well, followed by a stupefied Tenshi.
Even before entering, Tenshi already noticed the scent of alcohol that emanated from the room. It was almost dizzying, how sharply it contrasted with the pure air from outside the building. After stepping into the room, Tenshi was no longer bothered about the scent and more about the fact that she had no idea what she was looking at.
Tenshi was expecting to find her things where she left them, be it her books, her plants or other trinkets, but they were all gone. In their place were piles of unrecognisable junk strewn about, and the corners of the room were occupied by crates of alcohol. The only remaining item of her room she still recognised as her own was her bed, but the sheets were torn to shreds, not to mention there were also some distinct horn-shaped dents in it.
After staring in complete shock for a few more moments, Tenshi's stunned daze at her surroundings finally faded completely in favour of irritation, and she pointed aggressively at Suika. "Hey! What are you doing here?! What have you done with my room!?"
"Eh...?" Suika turned around and tilted her head, oblivious. "Of course I'm here. Did you forget that you gave me a share of space here in Bhava-Agra?"
"What? That was years ago, and I'm sure at no point did I ever mention anything about that space being in my own house, or giving you permission to throw away my things!"
"A deal with an oni is for life, you know! As for your stuff..." Suika continued. "I'm not so inconsiderate that I just threw it all away! I stored it someplace… somewhere. I was extra sloshed at the time though, so I'm having a hard time recalling..."
"Recall it right now!" Tenshi heatedly responded, but Suika was already staring off into the distance, in no rush to think very hard. Thus, Tenshi quickly shifted her ire onto the other person in the room. "Iku! Why didn't you tell me about this?!"
"I assumed you always knew?" Iku gave an unassuming smile, which only served to further irritate Tenshi. "You did give her free reign of the place."
"I. One-hundred percent. Did not ." Tenshi said through gritted teeth. "The spot of land I gave her was on the other side of Bhava-Agra!"
"Well, that land wasn't yours either, technically. But in any case, you did make that agreement with her, so I didn't think it was a problem." Iku explained in a comparatively relaxed tone. "Not to mention that the space you originally lent to her has been renovated, and nobody objected when she took up your quarters since it was going unused."
"And why didn't you object?! Better question, why didn't you stop her at any point!?"
"Don't give the messenger too hard a time." Suika said with a jovial tone. "A bunch of the celestials around here have tried to get rid of me one way or another, but I'm immovable when I want to be!"
"Honestly, Miss Suika's quite the amiable resident when she wants to be." Iku said with a shrug. "For one thing, we meet up and exchange pleasantries, and she listens to my woes about the difficulties I face in my work."
"Woah, hold on." Tenshi abruptly cut in. "Complaining to my family about me is one thing, but I don't like the thought of you gossiping about me with this oni."
"What, I mention the difficulties I face, and you immediately assume I would be talking about you?"
"Well, do you talk about me with her?"
"...Yes. Quite often, actually." Iku said, nonchalantly avoiding a shove from Tenshi. "Anyway, Miss Suika does sometimes help with some of the remodelling work around here, so it's not as if she spends all her time menacing everyone."
"I don't care about that. She's menacing me right now."
"Oh, and sometimes she accompanies me to fever nights at the Dragon Palace. She can do a really good Electric Slide'."
"No way!" Tenshi exclaimed in disbelief. "It's not better than mine, is it?"
"A little bit, yes! The way she swings naturally with the rhythm is very mesmerising."
"Hahaha!" Suika laughed from on top of the bed, having climbed on top and lounged on it like she owned the place. "Face it, compared to a free-spirited oni like myself, your body is as stiff as an iron washboard."
"I'm plenty free-spirited!" On top of every other offense against her, Tenshi was nearly at her limit now that her rhythm was being insulted too. "Why are you here right now?"
"Eh, no real reason. Heaven is one of my vacation homes I like to relax in sometimes. It's almost as nice as the dens I have in the Underworld."
"Then go there instead!" Tenshi could feel a headache coming on, but made an effort to take a deep breath and calm herself. She was moderately successful. "...Oh, do you have to do that on the bed?"
While lying on the bed, Suika reached her arm over to the counter on the side, and grabbed a sake dish, which she then proceeded to pour herself a drink from her gourd right there and then. "Lounging around and drinking is the best! I feel like royalty when I do it like this here."
Tenshi shut her eyes and rubbed her temples. "Okay, if you don't know where any of my things are, I'm seeing less and less reason to stick around."
"You're not sticking around?" Suika rested one arm under her head, and her horns were poking into the backrest of the bed, making even more dents there. "What about for the big banquet coming up? I heard this one's organised by your family. They probably all think it'd feel weird if you're not there."
"Oh, don't you start talking to me about this too." Tenshi huffed and wanted badly to toss the oni out, but she was already mentally exhausted, and looking over the state of what used to be her room drained her will to argue any further. "...Agh! Move over! I'm tired."
Tenshi threw her hat off onto a nearby rack, and then stomped over to the side of the bed to climb in. Suika hastily moved to one side just as Tenshi laid herself flat on her back, legs straight out and arms crossed, the expression on her face stern and serious as she reclaimed at least some of her own space. Suika for her part, was content just lying on her side on her smaller share of the bed.
"Why does everyone care so much whether I ever come back to Heaven or not?! Nobody acted like they would miss me before!" Tenshi started going off, one hand gesturing angrily at the air as she spoke. "If anyone wants to find me, they can come find me while I'm conquering Gensokyo, or all those underworlds."
"Oh? You went down to the underworld?" Suika asked in interest. "Did you visit the former capital? I bet they'd like you. I'll let you use my other dens down there if you want."
"Pass! I was already on my way to making the whole place my newest, personal playing field."
"Haha, I don't know if the folks down there would put up with that!" Suika laughed while taking a swig. The sake naturally spilled down on her cheeks and onto the now damp sheets. "You'd probably end up getting beaten up by everyone before being thrown into one of the fiery lakes."
"That would never…" Tenshi started to say, but her words awkwardly trailed off. "...Well, whatever, it was just an example. I'm a celestial no matter where I am. I don't need this banquet."
"You don't sound very convincing." Iku said, as seated herself on a chair near the bed. "I've been wondering what's been hanging over you, and I think you just don't want to admit that you were happy to hear you were welcome back home."
"Oh, so you can read minds along with the atmosphere too?" Tenshi sardonically asked.
"You're not exactly a closed book."
"I gotta say…" Suika chimed in as well, while topping off her cup with her gourd. The mattress proceeded to become even more damp. "...seeing you all wishy-washy like this is really weird! I'm not used to seeing you overthink things like this."
"You wouldn't get it…" Tenshi said. "I give up trying to understand what other celestials think."
"Of course I wouldn't get it." Suika proudly responded. "For the two of us, using our heads doesn't suit us! If there's something bothering us, we always just go right up to it and crush it!"
"I'm not really in a 'crushing mood', right now. …Also what do you mean using my head doesn't suit me!? I use my head all the time!"
"Maybe to smash rocks…" Iku muttered, glancing away when Tenshi directed a pointed glare in her direction.
"Tell you what, I'll do you a favour." Suika hopped off the bed and to her feet. "I got the gist of things, you're all sulky because you're invited to that banquet right? In that case, I'll go ahead and just solve the problem for you!"
"Wait," Iku felt compelled to ask. "Solve how, exactly?"
"Whatever." Tenshi meanwhile, just dismissively waved her hand at Suika. "Do what you want, I don't care."
"Then just leave it to me!" After that cheerful exclamation, Suika's entire body then dissolved into mist, and she proceeded to disperse towards the nearest window until she was gone, leaving just Tenshi and Iku in the room.
"Hmm, I wonder if I should do something about that…" Iku mused aloud to herself. "…Ah, it'll probably be fine."
She turned her attention back to Tenshi, who was stubbornly trying to relax on her bed in spite of the sake-soaked sheets. Iku had to agree with what both Shion and Suika had said, that seeing Tenshi like this didn't suit her at all.
"...I feel like I should apologise, Eldest Daughter." Iku started, offering a remorseful bow. "I believe I'm partially to blame for your troubles, and I'm sorry for that."
"You didn't do anything, Iku. I'm the one with the stupid hang-up over all this. …I want to be a celestial on my own terms, and prove I don't ever need to be like those 'proper celestials'. But if I start to think it wouldn't be so bad to be accepted by everyone else, it's like I'm betraying the old me, who made that decision in the first place."
"I was wrong, you're not as much of a closed book after all. I seemed to have completely misread you before."
"Yeah, I use my head plenty!"
"Not about that." Iku continued. "I used to be confident that you would be thrilled to return to Bhava-Agra and return among your peers. I never thought it would cause you so much distress instead! Now I feel bad for the part I've played in it…"
"Not like you had anything to do with it. You said they all thought I had 'matured' and wanted me to come back in time for the banquet, right? It's not like you're the one who decided for them."
"...I might have been embellishing things to you a bit." Iku said, suddenly glancing away as she scratched at her cheek.
"What are you talking about?" Tenshi propped herself up from the bed, raising a brow at Iku.
"I always made sure they all heard reports about how you were doing, the connections you were building and the work you've done to improve yourself. But…But they never cared about any of that!"
Iku frowned, and started gesturing angrily at the air as she went on.
"They were so stubborn! Truthfully, they were always focused on how it sounded like you were making a ruckus on the surface. The good deeds you've done all went through one ear and out the other, and all they heard was that you were making trouble for everyone. Always saying they were glad it was someone else for once."
"Huh? That's not what you told me the other day!"
"I know, I know. I wasn't being entirely honest… With the banquet coming up, I talked to your family repeatedly about making an exception for your exile, since it really would have been a shame for you to miss, but they weren't nearly as concerned about it as I expected! I had to spin it into how your absence would only further remind everyone of your rap sheet, and it'd be better for their standing if you returned."
"...Waaaaait a minute." Tenshi sat up on the edge of the bed, and her lips slowly curved into an exceptionally arrogant-looking smirk. "You mean the reason why my exile was lifted was because you begged them to do it? You wanted so badly for me to-"
"Don't get the wrong idea! My duty as a messenger includes making sure everyone receives a full understanding of my reports, so it frustrated me that nobody in Heaven would realise the good work you've done."
"You expect me to believe you were going out of your way because you were dutiful ? Oh please." Tenshi laughed at the idea that the Iku she knew cared that much about relaying an accurate message, considering how lazy she could be with even weather reports. "...You did it for me, didn't you?"
"...When you were exiled from Bhava-Agra, a lot of us, myself included, thought you would throw a tantrum on the surface. I was even worried you'd keep rampaging until those in Gensokyo got fed up and locked you away somewhere."
"Well, some of that did sorta happen. But there's no way any of the rabble on the surface could stop me from doing what I want!"
"I was concerned exactly because you say things like that! And certainly, there were some concerning things I heard about you every now and then. But as time passed, you really ended up making the best of things during your forced stay in Gensokyo, cultivated all sorts of connections, and even became a hero a few times."
"Did you expect anything less of me?" Tenshi smirked.
"I couldn't tell you what I expected." Iku returned a similar, wry smile. "But I'm happy how it turned out. "But I'm happy how things turned out for you. That's why it was frustrating for me when the others in Bhava-Agra didn't see it the same way I did. Your family ought to be proud of you."
"...You know what your first mistake was?"
Despite her best efforts, Tenshi couldn't stop the sincerity in her own smile from beaming through.
"You care way too much about what they all think. It doesn't matter to me whether or not my family, or other celestials approve of what I do or not. Because-"
Because hearing all that from Iku, made Tenshi realise she already had all the approval she would ever need, from the people she truly cared about.
"...Because I am a celestial, the highest of beings from Bhava-Agra! And that won't change no matter where I am or where I go. I will always have the shine of the heavens behind me!"
"That arrogant attitude really is a much better fit for you."
"Punk. I'll get you for that later." Tenshi hopped to her feet, and reached for her hat. "Right now, I'm going to make sure nobody in Bhava-Agra has forgotten who I am. This is also one of the realms I plan to conquer one day, after all!"
"Ah, does that mean…?"
"Yeah. I suppose just this once, I can deign myself to stick around to see how the banquet is." Tenshi reached for the coat rack where her hat was, purposefully turning her back to Iku in order to hide the glee on her face. "And if it's really that important to you… Then for just a moment, I'll be the celestial you want to see, okay?"
"It's embarrassing if you say you're doing it just for me…"
"Yeah, well, how do you think I feel?" Tenshi put her hat on, and turned around to face Iku with a smirk. "I'll take part in the boring festivities, as a reward for your service to me."
"You know, if you're going to give it a chance, it might turn out more enjoyable than you think."
"I haven't forgotten what parties in Heaven are like. The chances of anything interesting happening around here are one in a-"
A million, is what she was going to say. But Tenshi's sentence was cut off when she felt a huge shake along the ground, nearly tumbling some of the furniture around them.
She and Iku shared a bemused look, realising they were sharing the same suspicion, and quickly hurried outside the building.
Once outside, they then heard the distinct sounds of screaming in the air. She and Iku looked into the distance, where several celestials appeared to be running from the other were also shouting similar things to one another.
"We're under attack! Run!"
"The oni's on a rampage! Get away…"
It was followed by the sound of a great ruckus from somewhere further ahead. Tenshi shared another look with Iku, the former looking rather unamused by these proceedings.
"Amiable, is she?" Tenshi's voice was dripping with sarcasm.
"I said 'when she wants to be'. Very important distinction!" Iku replied with an awkward smile. "Anyhow, I recall you were the one to give her the go ahead just now, so-"
"Let's just go find her, okay!"
Soon after, they quickly reached the site of the banquet preparations. A lot of the decorations were now strewn about, flipped over or had been crushed from above. It didn't take long after that to find Suika herself. It was especially easy to spot her, considering she had enlarged herself to giant-sized and was towering over the nearby buildings. She stood with hands to her hips, looking left and right with a carefree smile as if wondering what to step on next.
Once the giant oni was well in sight, Tenshi stamped her feet into the ground and called out as loud as she could. "Hey! What the heck are you doing?"
Suika slowly turned around, and it took her a moment of glancing around before she spotted Tenshi and Iku low to the ground. She greeted them, her speaking voice carrying echoes through the air. "Oh, hey you two! I said I would go and solve all your problems myself, didn't I?"
"And how is this solving anything!?" Tenshi shouted in response, less so because she was mad, and more so because she felt it was the only way the giant Suika would hear her.
"I figure I'd just wreck the banquet, then you'll have nothing to stress over anymore" Suika explained, like it was obvious. "That'll solve the problem in one fell swoop, won't it?"
"Miss Suika!" Iku chimed in just as loud, in a reprimanding tone. "You're being a really inconsiderate neighbour right now!"
"That's seriously all you have to say?" After briefly balking at that weak retort, Tenshi turned her focus back on Suika. "Nobody asked you to do this! And what would you know about my problems, anyway! They're complicated, and you can just flatten and toss aside!"
"There's no problem that can't just be crushed, especially for someone like you, right?" As Suika's words echoed, she gave a wry smile down at Tenshi. "Someone as dense as you doesn't take well to complicated thoughts, or messy feelings. Why pretend otherwise?"
Suika reached down to something near her feet and picked it up. It was one of the large, ornate chairs for the banquet, specifically the one designated for Tenshi.
"You don't really need something like this, do you? Just toss it out of sight and forget about it!"
Suika winded up with the ornate chair in her hand, preparing to chuck it hard through the air like a softball.
Meanwhile back on the ground, Iku clicked her tongue and stepped forward. "Seems like I'll have to administer some punishing currents after all-"
Just as Iku was about to take flight, however, a strong gust of wind blew by her, causing her cloth to trail wildly and nearly making her stumble.
"Ah!?" Iku only realised half a second later that the wind came from the keystone that had instantly shot out from the ground near her, carrying Tenshi with it up high into the air.
"Hm?" After hearing an odd sound, Suika glanced over to one side, only to be immediately hit in the face by several bright red beams. She dropped her throwing stance and shielded her face. "Ow, ow…!"
Standing tall on top of a keystone with crossed arms was Tenshi. Surrounding her were several smaller keystones, all with their tips pointed at the giant oni. She met Suika at eye-level with a frigid gaze. "You've got a lot of gall, saying all that nonsense to my face!"
"Hmph. And which part of it was nonsense?" Suika looked between the chair in her hand, then back to Tenshi. "Don't tell me you really care about being a prim and proper celestial after all?"
Tenshi made a gesture with her hand, and the keystones surrounding her all fired more red beams at Suika. The oni reflexively raised her hands to defend herself, and the ornate chair in her hand was promptly blessed into wooden splinters by the beams. Suika looked to Tenshi in confusion, who wasn't the least bit bothered.
"I don't care about some stupid banquet, or whether anyone thinks I'm 'proper' or not! Because I'm already a perfect, heavenly celestial! And whatever thoughts or problems I have swirling in my head, no matter how stupid or pointless they are, they're still mine alone!" Tenshi declared, with a thumb towards herself, before then pointing right at Suika. "And I won't tolerate you or anybody making light of them! Now, for making a mess of my property…"
An eager, excited smile cracked across Tenshi's features as she pulled out her trusted Sword of Hisou, its fiery blade igniting to full length. At the same time, Suika wore a similar smile, and cracked her fingers. "That's more like it…"
"...I'll cleave you in two!" With an energetic shout, Tenshi leapt off her keystone and straight towards Suika with her sword in both hands.
Back on the ground, Iku let out a sigh as the battle unfolded. She briefly wondered once more if she should get involved somehow, but the atmosphere of the battle between the different-sized titans didn't seem worth disrupting.
"She called her out for making a mess of the place, but…" The loud sounds of cataclysmic and destructive brawling filled the air, with debris and projectiles flying in every direction across the air. "...There's not going to be much of a 'place' left after she's done."
Despite it all, Iku waited patiently as Tenshi and Suika let loose, deciding not to comment on the fact that they were both clearly enjoying themselves.
After a long struggle on both sides, what used to be a field of luscious grass was not just a series of large craters.
Tenshi was panting, with the tip of her sword against the ground for support, but she was still standing. Suika, on the other hand, was lying on her back near Tenshi's feet, and utterly defeated. The oni let out a strained chuckle before speaking. "A-Ahaha… You know, for a moment today, I thought maybe you had turned all soft."
"Of course not." Tenshi slowly straightened herself, and puffed out her chest. "I'll always be perfect, and nobody will disrupt the festivities while I'm around,."
Iku approached the two of them, with a small show of clapping. "Congratulations on your victory, Eldest Daughter, but I do wish you could have refrained from making the mess even bigger."
"Eh." Tenshi turned to Iku and shrugged her shoulders. "It'll all be looking good as new in no time. Nothing ever changes for long in Bhava-Agra."
"Only because someone has to clean everything up…"
"The important thing is that I've defeated the troublemaker." Tenshi gave a confident nod, and an equally confident, bright grin without a worry in the world. "Now I'll attend that banquet, and face everyone as a proud celestial."
…Or at least, that was the plan, but the other celestials had different ideas. After the commotion had fully passed, Tenshi and Iku were eventually asked to explain to the entire community just what had transpired, and why there was a huge trail of destruction in the middle of Bhava-Agra.
It was a long back-and-forth of panicked defences and nonchalant statements. Though Iku offered some excuses and explanations, Tenshi had candidly insisted that everything turned out just fine so there was no longer any need to worry.
It didn't take too much time afterwards before a consensus was reached. Tenshi was to be held responsible for the rampaging oni's actions, and was being re-kicked out of heaven once more, her exile beginning fresh.
"Geez, those stiff-necks sure love to go on and on." Tenshi complained aloud, a bored expression on her face as she walked out of the ministry building and back out to the breezy outdoors of Bhava-Agra.
"Eldest Daughter…!" Iku exited the building some time after and hastily followed Tenshi, panting after having caught up. "I'm so sorry, you must be so upset!"
"Eh, it's a little annoying that they didn't give me any credit, I guess." Despite her exile from her home to be freshly resumed, Tenshi's gait was relaxed and carefree. She spoke with complete nonchalance as well. "But it's not a big deal."
"You don't have to put on a brave face in front of me!" In sharp contrast, Iku almost sounded like she was going to cry. "They were far too hasty in their judgement. I doubt they've thought this decision through entirely!"
"I don't know, they seemed pretty certain." Tenshi said, and couldn't help but smirk as she thought back to the grumpy faces on all of the other celestials.
"I can't believe Miss Suika had to go and disappear at the worst moment! If she would just take responsibility, this wouldn't happen…"
Iku frowned. She made a mental note to chastise Suika the next time they went to fever night together at the Dragon Palace.
"Just wait, Eldest Daughter. I'm going back in to try and convince them to-"
"Don't, Iku." Tenshi stopped, and turned to face Iku. Seeing how distressed Iku was over the community's verdict, Tenshi couldn't help but crack an amused smirk "Quit bringing down the mood! I mean it when I say it's not a big deal."
"...And just why aren't you more upset about this?" Iku pouted, now feeling embarrassed.
"So they kicked me out again. Big deal! I already proved today that I'm the greatest celestial there is, no matter where I am or what anyone else has to say."
"But…" Iku wasn't entirely sure, but seeing Tenshi's renewed arrogance felt comfortably familiar. Just like Tenshi said, Iku felt like she would just be bringing down the mood by lingering on it.. "...Maybe it is okay to leave it at that for now?"
"Of course it is. Whenever they think they're ready to handle me again, I'm sure they'll have you send me a message, right?"
"...Right." Iku nodded, and smiled. At this point, it was hard for her to remain upset.
"It's just as well, I want to head to the surface again. This whole excursion has inspired me, and I've thought of some new ways to have fun down there!"
"Oh? That sounds… concerning." Iku stopped in place, tilting her head at Tenshi. "Where are you headed first?"
"Wherever I feel like, obviously!" Tenshi exclaimed, and flashed a cocky grin over her shoulder. "The whole of Gensokyo… No, every world is my playground, after all! If you ever feel like following along, you better be able to keep up!"
"I don't know if anyone can keep up with- Hey, wait!" Iku shouted, but Tenshi was already running in the other direction.
With an energetic spring in her step, Tenshi ran right for the end of the grassy plains and to the edge of the landmark. Tenshi didn't wait for Iku or hear her call out, before making a great leap off the edge and diving into the skies below heaven.
She let herself simply freefall, laughing to herself as she felt the winds rush up past her from below. This was the only thing she had missed about living among the clouds, the ability to just let herself go from high in the air.
Watching the drifting clouds in her vision zooming by, it made Tenshi's own thoughts drift elsewhere as well. During this very moment, she truly felt as free as those clouds. It turned out that Tenshi really only needed to charge towards her problems head-on, and as far as she was concerned, she had definitely come out on top. It was a nice reminder that if anything ever weighed on her mind, she would simply crush those weights below her feet.
As she enjoyed free-falling, she felt silly for ever worrying about why the young Chiko would ever be disappointed with her. After all, the celestial that was her current self is the best at everything, and free to accomplish any goal she set her mind to. Who wouldn't be overcome with awe and admiration at that?
Perhaps one day, her family and all the other celestials in Bhava-Agra would come to understand that, and by extension, come to understand her. Tenshi knew she wouldn't mind if that were to happen. For now though, she set her sights on all the other worlds below the clouds and along the surface. Everyone should get the chance to learn how amazing she is, and be given the chance to bask in her glory, and she would have a ton of fun in the process.
"Wherever I go, I'll make my own paradise. That's the kind of celestial I am."
With that new resolve, she closed her eyes and peacefully enjoyed the remaining minute or so before she had to prepare for landing. And after that, it would be time to resume having her run of the place, and to enact her next ambition.
