Kanzaki didn't know how lucky she was, she took a train and departed to the Yatsugatake mountains. She remembered there was a shrine at the top of Aka mount, maybe Sanae would be waiting for her there. The climb was easy for her, it took her around four hours however the top was now different, there were stone steps surrounded by trees, and the shrine now looked bigger. She went up the stairs wondering if she was on the right place, this wasn't Akadane shrine, it looked old and abandoned. Sitting in front of there, a blue and white shrine maiden with green hair, she had a face that would make many women envy her, a snake hair ornament and a frog pin, she followed the same asymmetry spell Kankaki did.
–I was getting worried you wouldn't come! –the shrine maiden got closer to her and gave her a big hug –Y-you haven't aged… why? –Sanae shrugged –Gensokyo has a strange effect in magicians, follow me, don't look behind –Sanae stepped inside of the shrine, which wasn't at all how it looked on the outside, a pond with a big turtle on the side, Sanae waved at the turtle –Genji thanks! Take care please –Is that the god of this shrine? –Haha! No, it's an old friend of the shrine maiden –a robotic maid with green hair was sweeping on the front of the shrine, this place wasn't old, what she looked was a spell, a decoy so humans would stay away, Akadane shrine was a decoy too, for humans not to wander inside of this place.
–Ruukoto don't take it too seriously bye! –Sanae flown up, Kanzaki could fly to but avoided to do so since people would always be shocked by such sights she floated and followed Sanae closely –What is this place? –Gensokyo! A land made specially for youkai and other demons to live happily in peace… –Sanae stopped –Look there we were –she pointed at the shrine –That's the border with the human world… Sorry you didn't get to meet Reimu, she is out doing some errands. She takes care of the border, the shrine maiden of paradise. –Sanae smiled happy. Kanzaki noticed a yellow patch behind the shrine, that place should be in the human world, it meant Gensokyo was indeed in another universe –What is that place? –Garden of the sun… –Can we go there? I want to see some flowers –Sanae petted her friend's shoulder.
–That is a place I wouldn't recommend you getting in… –Why? –That is Kazami's garden, right now her gatekeepers are taking care of it, though they are way more brutal than she is –Kankaki just needed to hear the word Kazami to turn around –Where are we headed? –Sanae saw the fear on Kankaki's eyes –Youkai mountain, the Moriya shrine is on top of there –Kankaki nodded, she was calm again, what kind of monsters would Yuuka have as gatekeepers? She would ask later, when she could hear that name without feeling her skin crawl.
They kept flying towards the mountains, she turned her head to see that flying was indeed something normal in this place, crowds of fairies, many animal youkai. They were cut by a girl with green hair, dark clothes with red ribbons but the most noticeable trait in this girl was that she was spinning on her own axis –Greetings Kochiya! How has life been? We haven't seen each other in quite a while! –Kagiyama! Hello there! –Erhm… Greetings –Kanzaki bowed, the girl laughed –Aren't you going to introduce us shrine maiden of miracles? –Sanae nodded –Kanzaki Kaori, a priestess of the outside world! Kagiyama Hina doll goddess of curses… Don't let that deceive you she rather than giving them she takes them –Mostly what the mishaguji leave upon the humans –both green haired girls laughed. Kanzaki was starting to understand Yuuka, saints, monsters, majin were completely common in this world.
–Alright girls I'm going to keep spinning, you take care, today is full moon so the tanuki and wolf tengu are starting to get drunk earlier than usual –Sanae nodded –Maybe I should take her with them, she needs a bit of relaxation –Any curse I should take off? –Kanzaki answered this one –I… challenged Kazami Yuuka –She must like you then! You are still in a piece –Kanzaki shook her head –She thinks I'm a nuisance –Then you are really strong! –Maybe… Or maybe a friend asked her not to hurt me –Hina shook her head –Still my dear, she only holds back with those who will give her an interesting fight –Hina waved and went away spinning.
They passed a river on the mountain where many girls dressed in blue were testing a submarine –What is that? –Kappas… They love doing those kind of things. One time they built me a mecha! –The heck? –It was fun Kanzaki don't judge me –Sanae giggled and kept flying. They could see that t bruly there were tengu in that mountain, white wolf youkai were drinking and playing shogi in various part of the mountain. Kanzaki stopped asking about everything she saw after a while, there were many youkai to go through.
They finally reached the Moriya shrine in which Kanako was outside drinking tea –Miss Kanako I'm back! –did she got lost? –She climbed up by feet –Ohh… Kaori don't overdo it! Welcome my child! –Kanako gave her a hug and many kisses on the face –Too tight please! –Hehe sorry I'm so happy to see you again! You have grown into such a fine tall lady –Kanako was 1.80m long though –Suwako isn't coming out in a while… She's watching her favorite show, go join her if you want her –Sanae pushed her in. Inside the shrine Moriya Suwako was sitting and watching a show recorded in VHS tapes in an old television. She was singing along the opening sequence completely into it –it's time to put on makeup! It's time to dress up right! It's time to… –Uhm… Miss Moriya? –Eh? Kaori you are here! So long! –Suwako jumped and hugged her. –Hey let's watch this together –she nodded and sat next to Suwako.
–Your clothes look like Sanae's –Suwako giggled –Of course a shrine maiden always looks like god they represent… even when they try not to fate makes them end up looking oddly close to them –I'll keep that in mind… –Suwako went crazy when the frog appeared on TV once again.
–Kaori please get cleaned up and ready for tonight, Sanae told me you are going with the tengu –She wasn't used to this kind of treatment, she was always adored but these people spoke to her like family –Yes… Is Kochiya really a descendant of Suwako? –Turned to see the young goddess watching a TV show about a frog and a pig –Of course! A very long story but in the end I came back with her –Kanako nodded –I see… –Kanako hugged her again –Catholic church dear? My child you should be a shinto shrine maiden like your mother –she giggled.
–Shinto is nearly forgotten now, Japan is following mainly science –Kanako sighed –I know… That's why we are here in the first place. I don't think it's wrong what you did –Kanzaki enjoyed the hug –Kochiya when is the event starting –Please cut the Kochiya deal off… We are family, call me Sanae –But we aren't related –You are related to me and that is enough to call Sanae family! –Kanako puffed her chest in pride –Was that serious? –Goddesses are always serious my dear Kaori!
–Wait I nearly forgot. This is what's left of Shichiten Shichitou –She left the shards and the handle in the middle of the shrine, Suwako paused the TV and turned to look at it –Doesn't surprise me, I forgot to add carbon to the structure… I always do –Sanae nodded –Do you think Kogasa can fix this? –Suwako answered –I'm certain but we have to test it for vines. Kanako will you do us the honor? –Of course! It is a dangerous liability if this is her prime weapon –Hihi'irokane maybe? – Sanae spoke calmly –Wait isn't that a bit too much for a simple sword? – Suwako answered –Nothing is much if that's what defines yourself –Isn't that orichalcum? –Yeah and? –Suwako was calmed –They make walking churches with that thing!
–Was I that impressionable when I first got here? –No dear you were worse, more nervous and more proud –Sanae blushed, Suwako was right about her –Then it isn't that difficult to get magic ore and mix it with steel? –Suwako spoke –It is not… making a sword out of pure hihi'irokane is tough –she hopped back to her TV and kept watching her puppet show. A hihi'irokane sword, surely vines could not turn it into dust this time, her family was taking great care of her now, she was small, helpless, afraid, ignorant, she was a child for the first time.