She was not wounded, but every muscle of her body arched, she could barely walk. She fell on the ground of the shrine panting, her lungs were screaming for air, the high altitude of the mountains made it worse –It's your turn to sweep –she looked at Sanae who was drinking tea calmly –Seems fair, give me a minute –Sanae nodded and handed her an orange –Thanks… I need the sugar –she got up and started sweeping.
She thought Momiji would be as carefree as she seemed to be the first time they met. The wolf tengu was completely different –Bagua means 8 trigrams, they represent and embody all natural phenomena as it is written in the book of changes the Yi Jing (pronounced e-ching). It follows change, you have to be fluid Kaori, to change during battle to win with skill rather than brute force. That is the true way of the tengu, to overcome power with speed and intelligence!
–You learned it from humans? –I find that offensive, every martial art has been developed by youkai or gods… as a gift to humans to defend themselves. –Gifts… –Even your precious kendo. Amaterasu was the true author, the first samurai, again humans offend her by banning it to women –I-I have found that offensive as well –We will go with the basic forms and positions, then we will make some physical training –How hard could it be? Kaori didn't know tengu had such strength and speed, true demons exactly in the middle of humans and gods.
Now she was back at the shrine, more tired than she was in her life, but she still had to do some chores at the shrine. She was part of the family and she was a guest, but letting the gods living with them work was an offense to their ways. –So how did Kanako got the vines to break Suwako's weaponry? –Her boss gave them to her… She didn't know Yuuka crafted them –The what? –A gift from her to her boss… She is a war goddess so I guess you should know who it should be –General of generals… Katikeya –He prefers Hares… –You know him personally?! –Kanako came into the room yawning, waking up from a nap –Only I know him personally… Only seen him two times in my life.
–Why did he had some vine Yuuka made? –He said it was a gift –Not a tribute? –Just a gift… Nothing else to be asked in return –You seem to think that those two are related –… Kanako thinks she is his daughter. She is even rude to gods –That would make her granddaughter of God, she would have the right to –Kaori started sweeping the stair –Which god? –Yahveh, Jehovah, Eli, Siva, Chronos, Uranus –Forgot you were a catholic… I'm not used to monotheism –Sanae got up from the table and went to clean the teapot.
–Please stop talking about her… We all know she is creepy but giving faith to youkai only makes them stronger –I'm not worshiping her –You are fearing her, that is practically the same thing, and specially your fear makes her particularly stronger –… I wish I could stop this –Befriend her… She is very nice once you get in her good side –Kaori turned her head, a voice from the top of the shrine, there was Reimu but the answer did not come from her, another girl was sitting besides, a witch, the most common witch one could think about –Sanae is right, by fearing her you only make her stronger.
–Marisa? –How did you know? –Sanae always speaks of Reimu and Marisa as a pair –How is that nose doing? –Still hurts when it's co… You knew of this?! –What did we say about talking about youkai? –Don't change the subject! –We want to go to Makai, I think she would like it there –Reimu ended the debate –Makai?! You know she is a catholic?! –Calm down Sanae she will be fine –Marisa was petting Kaori's back –What is Makai? –Oh no big deal cousin… just the DEMON REALM! –Let me go… Marisa let me go –You will like it there Alice lived there –She released Kaori anyway.
–I-I will go if you promise to stay there with me… –Are you crazy? –Maybe, but what better way to face my fears? –Therapy! Not walking into your enemy's den! Shinki will get you killed if she finds out you are a catholic saint! –What about Alice coming with us? –Shinki? You mean… –Yes Mephisto… And I think her daughter will not be of much help –Don't worry Sanae we defeated her once –Yes with Mima and Yuuka by your side! –Not by our side… We did it separately –Reimu puffed her cheeks. –Give us some credit Sanae, Shinki is weaker than she seems –Well Michael defeated her pretty easily… –Kaori tried to be on Reimu's side, she had fought not against Shinki but Gabriel himself… She had another older fear to fix too.
–I will go too then! –If Kanako finds out about it she will try to go and save me –Kaori… Don't make me stay, I'm scared –Don't worry if they are right I will come back unharmed –Sanae nodded and went inside cold and shivering –I think you should go get Alice… I will call you in case she is needed –Marisa nodded, and parted to the forest –What kind of spell do you use for talking? –My orb and her hakkero… –You two carry swiss knives… –The what? –Forget it Reimu… Let's go before I repent from doing this.
–Makai was not what she expected, she thought demons were sent there to suffer but it was the opposite, demons escaped there to live a peaceful life. Though a world fill with demons is somewhere humans would never like to go, a reason why western religions considered it hell.
–You know some humans come here by will? –Trying to slay the prince of darkness? –It's funny how you refer to her as a male… And no, guess –Female? Alright… There is gold in here –Yes but they don't come for it… –Better their health? –There are poisonous gases… By the way mind that cloud –Eeep! Learn… –Train Kaori, to train. Magicians become particularly strong if they train here –Isn't it just a rumor? –Byakuren and Alice are both proof of it… –Why don't you all train here then? –Sometimes the boost is not worth it… And depends on what kind of magic you handle. It does nothing to us –Makes sense… –I wanted you here because maybe we can convince a certain someone Kaori.
–To do what? Are you sure demons are trustworthy? –Depends, if you ask them nicely enough. Your friend, Marisa told me about him, though fire magicians are rare –I thought about it too… Mokou would help? –Mokou is an immortal, he will only learn how to kill himself eventually –And who do you have in mind? –Reimu pointed at a gate leading to a cold circle of hell, she didn't think Dante was so right about his depiction of hell –I think we can challenge them, in exchange to accept your friend –aren't they supposed to hate catholics? –Not really, tell me what do you do against Makai exactly? –… –Exactly! There is no reason to really hate each other.