Rumia smirked. Renko had caught her alone; without Maribel around.
Renko had just asked her to take her to the Hakurei Shrine to see Mima.
"What made up your mind Renko?" Rumia asked.
"Shades attacked again last night. And while that happened; I thought. I'm Mary's best friend. I shouldn't have to hide behind her when she is in danger. It should not be down to you people to defend her. As Mary's friend; I should be able to help her! It dosen't matter if Mary thinks it's dangerous; I'm willing to take the risk; for both of our sakes!"
Rumia just laughed at first; a cheerful laugh; before she grabbed Renko's arm. "Well said!"
With that; the youkai took off towards the Hakurei Shrine.
The Hakurei Shrine felt... different. It usually felt like a cheerful place; but today it felt gloomy. It was clear there had been battle; there were claw-marks of shades around. Reimu was sitting on her donation box; looking worn out and upset. However; when the miko noticed visitors; she hid her sadness.
Rumia already understood why Reimu would be depressed; however. She and Yukari were close. Yukari would frequently visit Reimu; and Reimu was one of the few who would put up with Yukari for any reasonable length of time.
"Hello Rumia... hello... uh... Renko; isn't it?" Reimu asked.
"Yes." Renko said.
"I guess you are here to take up Mima's offer? She's out the back; talking to Genji about the 'old days'." Reimu said.
Renko walked around the shrine to the pond at the back; while Rumia looked at Reimu.
"Are you OK Reimu?" Rumia asked.
"Yes; it's just hard. Without Yukari to help maintain the barrier; there is more strain upon me. I don't mean effort.. I mean strain. I am tied to the Hakurei Barrier. Although Ran's helping; she's not as strong as Yukari was; and the power she has is not her own." Reimu said. "That and... Genji's not well. I fear the old turtle is approaching his final days quickly. After losing Yukari so recently as well... Genji says he'll be as stubborn as he can to give me time to recover... but the way he speaks; he knows it's his time."
"I'm sorry..." Rumia said.
"There is nothing you could have done." Reimu said.
"Reimu... I know you're not feeling well; but I need to ask you something while I am here. The shades; Yukari told me when Eiki took me to the Netherworld that the cause is in Tenkai. You went to Tenkai during that Scarlet Weather Incident; didn't you?"
Reimu sighed.
"Yes; I did. If the cause is in Tenkai; however; I can't do anything. The only reason I was able to go up there was because Tenshi had opened the way so anyone who wanted to try and stop her could... and Iku was in Gensokyo at the time as well; warning people."
"So... you can't get me into Tenkai to stop this?" Rumia asked.
"I can't... but the freeloader on the roof can. Somehow during that mess she got herself a plot of land in Tenkai. Which means she can come and go as she pleases." Reimu said; before she shouted. "Oi; Sukia; someone wants to talk to you!"
At that point; behind Rumia; the little Oni rolled off the roof in a drunken stupor and crashed onto the floor.
"I was listin' the whole time Reimuuuu..." Sukia slurred; clearly drunk. She took another swig of sake after she got up; swaying back and forth.
"So... can you get me into Heaven Suika?" Rumia asked.
"Depends. Can you tell me what you're hiding?" Sukia asked.
Rumia was shocked. "I'm not hiding any..."
"Rumia don't!" Reim said too late.
Sukia's eyes opened a little wider; and she grinned; before she punched Rumia across the shrine through several trees.
"I didn't know if 'ya were hidin' something or not. It was a test. The look on 'ya face told me you are. And you lied. I hate liars." Suika said.
Rumia got up. Her whole body ached from the impact. Sukia certainly didn't pull her punch; although she didn't use her power of density either.
"I made a promise..." Rumia said. "I can't tell you. Sorry Suika."
Suika looked puzzled.
"Hmm. What's worse; lyin' or oath-breakin'." she mused. "Can you give me a hint?"
"I can't Suika; I promised." Rumia said.
Reimu looked confused.
"Fine then." Suika said. "We're at an impasse. So I'll just have to beat it outta ya. I'm sure whoever you promised will forgive ya if you tell them one of the Deva beat it out of you!"
Reimu sprung into action; and Sukia was suddenly restrained by seals.
"Suika; don't! You'll wreck the shrine!" Reimu said.
"Get out of my way Reimu! I get the feling I HAVE to know this!" Sukia said; before she escaped Reimu's seals by turning herself into mist; which rushed at Rumia; before forming back into Suika; who swung her chains at Rumia; wrapping around her.
'Crap she's serious!' Rumia thought; as Suika reared her head back for a headbutt. Rumia brought out the wings of Dark Energy; which folded like a barrier between her and Suika. Rumia felt an immense impact against the wings; which buckled but took the impact; before they exploded in Suika's face.
Suika looked happy. "You're not weak! This should be fun!"
The Oni released the chains around Rumia; before she swung her fists wildly. Rumia was easily able to evade the drunken; clumsy; punches. However; each punch caused a shockwave; and it looked like the very air was being cracked where Suika's fists made impact.
'Is she using her power over density to disperse the air? What would happen if that hit me?!' Rumia thought; before she quickly dove through Suika's shadow; right in front of her; too close for her swings; before she fired a Moonlight Ray at point-blank; blasting the Oni back a few feet.
It didn't seem to have done any real damage; but that wasn't the goal.
'Yuugi is physically the strongest of the Deva; and even she felt the imperfect version of this attack! I didn't want to hurt Elly too much; but Suika should be fine...' Rumia thought; gathering both Chi and Dark Energy into her right fist at the same time; before flying at Suika; Rumia's fist turned black; crackling with not dark blue; but rainbow energy.
"Moonlight Fist!" Rumia cried; just as her fist was about to hit Suika.
The fist impacted; Rumia felt it; and Suika at first looked impressed. Then; the impressed face turned to shock; and Suika turned into mist; Rumia passing right through. Suika then re-formed; sweating a little.
"That's.. dangerous..." she said.
"Huh?" Reimu commented.
"That attack would have actually hurt..." Suika said. "Like; really hurt. That woulda been like taking a punch in the gut from one of the higher Oni..."
Rumia kept the energy swirling around her fist. It hurt having so much concentrated energy around her fist; but it hadn't released; the fish hadn't made contact long enough. But now she knew that Suika felt the attack dangerous enough to not want to get hit.
Suika then collected energy from around her; forming a black sphere' before hurling it towards Rumia; who easily dodged it; and the small fireballs it burst into; only to see a Giant Suika in the air above her; coming down as if to body-slam her.
"Suika!" Reimu shouted "That's too far!"
Rumia just reacted with instinct; and threw her fist at the Giant Suika. The two collided and Rumia was driven into the ground under Suika.
"Owie... that still hurt even in this form." Suika said; turning back to normal; and sitting on top of Rumia.
"Uuuuggh..." Rumia groaned. She was in agony and had a significant bloodstain on the ground where she was. Luckily; Reimu had protected her with a barrier; and the ground was soft. In addition; being under Suika allowed her regeneration to kick in. She had a feeling Suika had increased her density just enough to put her into this state; however; since Suika seemed to shrink a little after she got through Reimu's barrier.
"So; I win." Suika said; gingerly rubbing her stomach; which had a sizable scorch mark on it. "So tell me."
Rumia groaned. "Kanakuma." she said.
Sukia blinked.
"I must be hearing things. You sure ya' not lying again? Wait; no; how would you even know that name..."
"She's ill. She can't leave the mountains so is hiding in the range. She didn't want you to see her like she is; so she told me to keep her a secret." Rumia groaned.
Sukia frowned.
"Stupid Kana! If she was ill she shoulda told us and we'd make someone fix her up! No-one would refuse me and Yuugi! They'd be suicidal to refuse two of the Deva!" Sukia roared angrily; before she took a swig from her gourd; and calmed down.
"But then again; maybe she also doesn't want her to find out. She thinks Kana's dead after all..." Suika said. "Wouldn't put it past that sly girl."
Suika thought for a moment.
"I'll take 'ya to Tenkai. But you gotta try and convince Kana to see me and Yuugi. I'm sure she'll understand if ya tell her I beat it outta ya." Suika said. "Then take us to see her... we gotta see her. It doesn't matter if she's ill or whatever. It's been so long..."
Rumia struggled up. Suika had kept her in her own shadow; so she healed quickly.
"Did you have to be so rough beating it out of me?" she asked.
"Well you gotta be telling the truth when you tell Kana that ol'Ibuki beat ya' up good. She probobly won't get mad if she hears I crushed you in my giant form."
Suika paused.
"Although I gotta admit; that was a pretty heavy blow you gave me at the end there. I dunno what you did to ya fist but that was impressive." Suika said.
"Heh; Yuugi asked me for my best punch; and she was moved back a bit by it. I worked on it since then; and I figured if the imperfect version made Yuugi move back a step; you should at least feel that punch."
"Has Yuugi gone soft or something? You're tellin' me she felt a punch weaker than that?" Suika said; before she winced. "Actually; maybe she's not gone soft. Owchie."
Suuka took another swig of sake; and then flexed foward and back.
"That's better! Just needed a little more sake. We fight; we get hurt; we drink; we heal!" Suika said happily.
"Wait; you heal from alchohol?" Reimu asked.
"Of course! Booze is like our blood!" Suika said.
"Did you expect anything else from an Oni Reimu? I mean; when did you last see one hurt?" Rumia asked.
"I... am not sure. Well; you two get going. I'll take Renko back to the village when she's done. I'm in no state to go incident-resolving right now; especially not with Genji in the state he is. I should be with him; you know?" Reimu said.
"Yes; I understand." Rumia said.
"Tell the turtle to stay alive 'til I get back!" Suika said. "That old fool can't die 'til I'm there too!"