It was probably a quiet evening in Heaven. It might even have been peaceful in Former Hell right at that moment. But there was at least one place that Tenshi intended on being loud and bustling that evening, and it was the spot she had picked out for her own, personally-hosted banquet.
The location she had picked out was an ideal outdoor space, atop a hillside and along the dirt path leading away from the Hakurei Shrine. Any closer to the shrine itself would probably be considered encroaching on the shrine maiden's territory, and while that in of itself didn't concern Tenshi, she wanted tonight to be without incident if she could help it.
The grassy field surrounding the area used to be more uneven just earlier that day, before Tenshi cleared out the space using her power of the earth. Now it was all perfectly even, and Tenshi now had a large spot situated perfectly for a nice view of both the flowering trees ahead, and what would be the star-filled sky later that night. Should the weather prove uncooperative for such activities, Tenshi also had the tools on hand to force the skies to be clear, should she need to.
In this little out-of-the-way space, Tenshi had also finished the preparations for the cuisine to be provided at this banquet. Plenty of pots and bowls full of food were placed together in an aesthetically pleasing fashion, ready for anyone to come and dig in. In her humble opinion, although it looked simple at first glance, truly elegant people would be able to see the wonder in the arrangement.
"Perfect! I do believe everything is about as ready as can be! If that shrine maiden could see this now, I'm sure she'd cry from how inadequate her shrine's own parties are in comparison. Hahaha!" Tenshi let out a victorious laugh. As far as she could tell, the premature boasting was entirely warranted. "What do you think, Shion?"
"It all looks amazing!" Shion said, hovering over the dishes and practically drooling as she admired the display of pickled peaches, peach cobbler, and more peaches as far as the eye could see. "Was this what you were growing all those seeds for all this time?"
"Not really." The ingredients for the dishes, consisting of nothing but peaches, were grown in a garden Tenshi had been tending to on the surface as a side-hobby, since she always had some leftover seeds.
Although she had gotten tired of heaven's peaches, Tenshi wanted to try experimenting with any and all ways to add variety to the familiar fruit. She then decided tonight's banquet was as good an opportunity as any to show off her efforts to others as well.
The only thing that wasn't made from peaches was the sake, which Shion helped to procure.
Shion was asked by Tenshi to give everything a quick look before they got started, and she was already prepared to declare tonight's banquet a grand success.
"And to think you told me you were getting tired of peaches, but you're actually some kind of expert, peach wizard!"
"I figure if I'm going to keep eating them, I might as well put some twists on it. Aren't I just the most innovative?"
"The best there is! I feel bad that this time I just sat by and watched while you prepared all the food..." Shion said, feeling just a bit pensive. Her contribution of providing the sake tonight felt so small in comparison. "But I'm glad you got to do this. I know you worked so hard on growing these peaches, and now you get to share the literal fruits of your labour with others too."
"...Well, I don't really care that much if other people like it." Tenshi said, the slightest hint of a blush on her face.
"Maybe I should try growing my own crops again too. I lost a lot of enthusiasm for it after my last garden got eaten by moles, but seeing all this is starting to inspire me…"
"I think you should! You're much more knowledgeable about surface edible plants than I am. Between the two of us, we'll never be lacking for variety!" Tenshi said with a confident nod, before looking towards the setting sun in the sky. "...That said, everyone sure is taking their time to show up. They didn't all forget the place and time I told them, did I?"
"You invited all the people we met underground, right? It probably takes a long time to travel to the surface."
"Still, I want them to show up before the food gets cold! Because if it does and they complain about it, then I'll force it down their throats!"
Just as Tenshi was wondering whether she should go looking for guests, she finally spotted someone familiar flying through the clouds. A striking silhouette with a flowing trail of scarlet. The figure flew closer and closer, descending towards all of them, and called out once she was in full view.
"There you are, Eldest Daughter." Iku landed just in front of Tenshi, and offered everyone present a polite bow. "Good evening. And to you too, Miss Shion."
"Ah, Iku! Don't you dare try to claim you're just fashionably late! I don't care if you're a trendsetter, you better not claim to be fashionably late!" Tenshi pretended to be mad, ready to chastise Iku for a good bit. However, she had a sudden realisation a moment later. "...Wait, I don't remember inviting you. Did I even tell you about tonight's banquet?"
"Banquet? Is this what this is?" Iku asked, looking past Tenshi and seeing only Shion present, who gave her a friendly wave. "It looks more like it's just you two having a picnic."
"I wouldn't mind that." Shion said with a happy grin. "If anyone fails to show up, I'll happily take their share."
"This is a banquet! One hosted by a great celestial!" Tenshi indignantly corrected."I did go prepare all this for a bunch of guests, but none of them have shown up yet. I have to say, as the host, I'm pretty annoyed right now. If those underworld youkai don't show up in the next five minutes, they better have a good explanation for me!"
"...I see." Iku had listened intently, and answered in her usual matter-of-fact tone. "Eldest Daughter, I don't believe these guests you have in mind will be showing up. Most likely, they're already occupied with another banquet."
"...Come again?" Tenshi stared blankly at Iku for a good few seconds, before narrowing her eyes. "What are you talking about?"
"Well, you see…" Iku began to explain.
"Ah… Isn't this just the best?" Suika sighed in satisfaction upon finishing another cup of sake. With the sun currently setting, the skies above Bhava-Agra featured a beautiful orange tint. "The atmosphere in this paradise is really one-of-a-kind! Oh, let me get that…"
"Thanks. And yeah, it is pretty different." Right to the side was Yuugi, offering her dish so that Suika could pour her another drink. The two currently sat on a sheet among the pristine grassy plains of Bhava-Agra. As Yuugi took a swig, she candidly glanced around at their surroundings. "But I don't know if I'd take it over the parties in Former Hell. It feels like it's too clean around here."
"A change of scenery every now and then can't hurt! I know by tomorrow that I'll be drinking at the shrine. And then the day after that, maybe I'll check out some other place."
"You really get around, don't you?" Yuugi commented. Though she didn't always understand Suika's reasons for wanting to party anywhere other than the capital, she was still impressed by her amount of experiences. "Still, Heaven of all places? Just doesn't seem like we fit here."
"Everyone else seems to have taken to it quickly, haven't they?" Suika said, gesturing over to the ones occupying the sheet next to her as an example.
It was Parsee, who heard herself being addressed. She glared at Suika with intense green eyes. "Who's taken to it?! This entire 'heaven' is driving me insane with jealousy! The fact that there are people who enjoy parties in such a beautiful place like this, where the air is so refreshing and the weather is always perfect. Aaaah…!"
"See? She's having the time of her life." Suika gleefully said.
"I'm back…!" From across the plains they were sitting on, Yamame appeared in the distance while running towards them, her arms completely full with a great pile of peaches she had collected. "These fruits are absolutely amazing! I don't think I'll have to make traps for food for a long time, biting into one of these is like having a full-course meal!"
"Did you pluck every tree around here?" Yuugi asked. "Is that allowed?"
"Ah, it's fine!" Suika quickly reassured. "You all have free reign to take as much stuff as you want! I gathered you all here, after all."
"I guess I won't complain about an invitation to drink with you." Yuugi smiled, deciding she was better off just enjoying the occasion rather than questioning it. "So thanks again, by the way."
"If you're going to thank anyone, thank our mutual celestial friend for lending me this space while she's away. You know, I was even worried for juuust a moment that I might lose my vacation home here."
"Oh? Why is that?" Yuugi asked.
"Well, that delinquent celestial only gave me land here because she has no common sense. Nobody else would have considered it! But a little while ago, I thought there was a chance she might start thinking like all the other celestials who are way less fun. If that happened, she'd definitely throw me out of here! But that didn't happen, so cheers to her half-empty head!"
After topping her own drink, Suika personally made a toast to Tenshi, wherever she may be.
"Pwah… I really hope one day that her ilk can appreciate her for who she is. But until then, it's best she doesn't go thinking she has to mingle with folks who only want her to change her ways. I'd say it might be for the better that they booted her back in Gensokyo. More time among us youkai will do her good."
"...Didn't you have something to do with that?"
Yuugi only really heard the gist of what had occurred from Suika so far, about a big fight and then the celestial they were talking about getting kicked out of Heaven. For the second time, in fact. And as far as Yuugi was aware, it all favoured Suika in the end.
"...I can't help but wonder, if you didn't set that all up, screwing her over so that you'd keep your vacation home here."
"You really think I'm the type to ever think that far ahead?" Suika chuckled, already pouring herself yet another drink.
Yuugi shrugged her shoulders, nonchalantly answering in-between drinking from her dish. "It's not my business anyway, but you and I both know you're not as forthright as a typical oni."
"How rude! I just did whatever I felt like at the moment. I always just do whatever I think will be most fun. That's something me and that celestial have in common, and it's why I know she's doing just fine right now!"
"And that's about it." Iku finished explaining. "I thought I'd come down to look for you, just to check whether you were aware they were partying in your backyard."
"No, I wasn't!" Tenshi angrily shouted, and she was practically shaking with bottled-up rage.. "Why didn't you kick them all out!?"
"I doubt I could even if I wanted to!"
"And you don't want to?!"
"Honestly, I wouldn't want to disrupt the nice atmosphere their gathering had going."
"Unbelievable! You're unbelievable, and so is she!" Tenshi stomped away a few steps to the side, clenching her fists and fuming to herself. "I swear the next time I see her, I'm going to split her head like a watermelon…!"
While Tenshi was muttering darkly to herself, Iku casually approached the array of peach dishes, which was also where Shion was. "So then… Eldest Daughter prepared all of this? It is most impressive."
"That's right!" Shion cheerfully answered. "Lady Celestial's been tending so carefully to her peach garden all this time. The way her eyes lit up when she was plucking them to cook the other day, she really put all her heart and soul into these. So I have to make sure to eat all of these if nobody else will!"
"Wow, is that right? The only time I can recall Eldest Daughter working so earnestly, is when she was still learning to master her celestial tools. I bet it was similar to how her face brightened after she finally learned how to activate her sword by will."
"Hey!" Tenshi suddenly yelled out. "What the hell are you two talking about!?"
The celestial marched right over to them, having overheard most of their exchange. Her face was still red with frustration, and perhaps some other emotions as well.
"How can you be chatting about nonsense so happily right now? You should both be angry for my sake too!"
"Eh? I don't know if I can do that, Lady Celestial... I'm actually really happy right now." Shion sheepishly admitted. "Even if there's not enough people here to call this a banquet, I'm still about to enjoy all this party with you, one you personally prepared…"
"But that's…!" With one look at Shion's face full of bliss, Tenshi was finding it increasingly difficult to hold onto her frustration towards a certain oni.
"...And I mean, this also means I get to help myself to what would have been everyone else's shares, right?"
"I don't think you needed to add that last part." Iku commented. After that, she clasped her hands and smiled brightly at Tenshi. "But there's quite a nice atmosphere here as well thanks to you. If you'll pardon my intrusion, I'd like to join in on this banquet of yours."
"You're just looking for an excuse to slack off, aren't you?" Tenshi asked, with a dull tone.
"That doesn't sound like an objection." With that, Iku began to help herself to one of the dishes, just as Shion was already doing.
As much as she wanted to be stubborn about the matter still, Tenshi eventually found it in her to laugh about this whole occurrence. "...Fine, fine. I suppose a celestial like myself has better things to do than let something so trivial bother her."
This was far from the reception Tenshi had envisioned having tonight, but somehow she didn't find herself minding whatsoever.
"It's only natural you'd want to be here, after all!" Tenshi stated, quickly falling back into her grandiose, confident tone. "Any moment spent with me is better than being stuck in a boring place like Heaven anyway!"
"Cheers to that!" Shion nodded in agreement, as she poured herself a cup of sake and raised it to the air. "Going anywhere with Lady Celestial goes is practically heaven already."
"I don't know about that, but…" Iku let out a soft laugh, before raising a cup of her own. "I'll agree that there's rarely a dull moment spent with Eldest Daughter, for better or for worse."
"Don't act like I'm not the best thing in your life." Tenshi grabbed her own cup and joined in on the toast, just because. "A toast to me just feels natural. Oh, but you two can feel free to keep praising me until the sun rises!"
As the evening continued, there was indeed plenty of praise to be had from both Shion and Iku, along with some embarrassing anecdotes from both that Tenshi would rather not have been shared between the two. Regardless, the mood became surprisingly lively even with just the three of them. They ate peaches, drank sake, and laughed among themselves well into the night.
Although it wasn't a grand party that could ever match the scale seen in either the heavens or in the underworld, everybody present had no trouble enjoying themselves. And as far as Tenshi was concerned, that made it as good as any paradise.
