[Note: This happened in the RP before the chapter of WAHH where Kasen produces her box which gives medicinal properties to sake poured into it, but makes the drinker more 'oni-like'. So Kasen's box in WAHH Volume 4 is non-canon, as is her borrowing of Yuugi's dish. In fact, a lot of WAHH is non-canon for this story due to a lot of it being released/translated after the RP happened.]
Oni were not great company to anyone but other Oni in most circumstances.
So attempting to guide two of the strongest Oni to have ever existed, both of whom were excited and had been drinking incredibly heavily beforehand, across Gensokyo from Reimu's shrine and the Blowhole, all the way to the mountain ranges on the opposite side of Gensokyo, was a disaster waiting to happen.
Indeed, at least twice Rumia had to nudge Yuugi back onto course, rather than her getting distracted and breaking something, or someone with her strength. Rumia was impressed at how the Oni was not spilling a single drop of sake, even while flying in an incredibly imbalanced way, even as she drunk it from her dish.
However, upon nearing the Youkai Mountain, Rumia had a more daunting task than simply keeping the Oni on the right track. She knew what would happen if the Tengu patrols, or worse, Aya, saw two of the Deva flying so close to Youkai Mountain. It would incite panic. Rumia had no idea how Sanae, Kanako and Suwako would react to the Tengu panicking either.
So she had to convince Suika to create a mist around them so they could blend into the clouds.
Which was a lot easier said than done, as Oni were not the type to take commands, and Suika was especially tipsy due to the occasion.
"Uh... Suika, we're getting near the Youkai mountain." Rumia said.
"What was that?" Suika slurred.
"If the Tengu spot you guys it could cause some trouble, can you make a mist around us so we can blend into the clouds?" Rumia asked, before Suika glared angrily.
"That sounds like hidin'! That's not what Oni do!"
"Yes, but Suika, if we cause trouble now, remember, Kanakuma's weak and ill! You may be able to fight off the Tengu with Yuugi if they feel threatened by your presence, but she won't be able to do so!"
Suika was quiet for a few moments, before she sighed.
"I guess I'll lay low, just this once for her then. Don't tell no-one that me and Yuugi hid from the Tengu, OK?" Suika said, forming a thick mist around the three.
The trip to the mountain of the Nyuudou took longer than usual, since it seemed Suika was unable to move too quickly while holding the deep mist around the others.
At first, the Nyuudou seemed aggressive, until they realized who was within the fog, at which point they parted and allowed the three through.
Kanakuma was standing up, outside of the cave, looking annoyed.
"I told you not to bring them yet!" she said. The Oni had a charm around her neck that Eirin had made, which contained a mixture of scent-based medicine and magical charms which served to thin the air around her. She no longer more or less looked like a skeleton, but it was still clear that the Oni was a shadow of her former self. She coughed a couple of times, swaying a little. "I wanted a couple more weeks... I don't want them to see me like this."
Yuugi and Suika walked in front of Rumia.
"Well maybe we couldn't wait any longer! We're been thinking you were dead for the last century! More than that!" Yuugi shouted. "Strength is important in Oni society, yes, but your strength was always different!"
"Like I have the strongest power, and Yuugi has the strongest muscles, you have the strongest mind of the Oni!" Suika slurred. "And besides, anyone who tried to beat you up in your weak state wouldn't be a real Oni either!"
Kanakuma smirked, before she pointed at Suika's gourd and Yuugi's dish. "Well, I'm sure a bit of sake would go a long way. I ain't had any for years."
"Are you sure you should be drinking when you're in this state?" Rumia asked.
"Foolish girl. Alchohol is to an Oni what blood is to you. I'll recover faster with good quality sake. And there's not any better than the sake that is produced from the three treasures! That which comes from the Ibuki Gourd, poured through my Montra Funnel, and served in the Hoshiguma Dish."
Suika waved her gourd around, before giving it to Kanakuma. "My gourd can produce an endless amount of sake, but it's not great yet. It's average sake, with great potential."
"My pouring funnel removes impurities from the sake, making it pure sake, nothing else. The alcohol content is incredibly high. It would be enough to knock most youkai out. Removing the impurities from the gourd produces the highest quality of sake possible."
"And my dish raises the quality of any sake poured into it, by releasing the true magical power hidden within it." Yuugi explained, as Kanakuma poured sake from Suika's dish through the funnel and into Yuugi's dish. "It improves any sake, but in regards to this perfect sake, the magical power released is incredible. It is the most potent tonic for an Oni! Even if an Oni would have lost both arms, if they drank this, they would recover in days!"
"So how long do you think it will take for your strength to return after drinking this?" Suika asked, as Rumia watched the sake pour into the dish. The liquid was crystal clear, and sparkled as the sun glistened on it. The star on Yuugi's dish even seemed to be glowing faintly, giving a faint yellow tint to the liquid. Rumia never thought she would think a drink could be an art form, but this was beautiful.
"The tonic repairs wounds, it cures illnesses, although not my genetic one. It will not grant strength to those who have lost it. However, it will help. I should be able to leave this mountain in a couple more weeks, and be returned to my former strength in a few months, although it would probobly require more of this 'Deva Treasure Sake'." Kanakuma said, before she picked up Yuugi's dish, and downed the drink. Despite being somewhat smaller than Yuugi, closer to Suika's height than Yuugi's, discounting horns, she handled her large dish like she was accustomed to it.
Rumia looked in amazement as Kanakuma began to glow faintly as she drunk. All sorts of particles came off her. After she finished drinking, she coughed violently, and some sort of gunk came out. After this, she stopped coughing, and her breathing sounded less laboured... normal even.
"Ah, there's the mucus that was clogging my lungs that built up." she said clearly. "Being able to breathe a lungful of thin air like the old times... this will help."
Suika suddenly grabbed Kanakuma, hugging her.
"It's been so long! Get better soon will ya? We all missed you!"
"Ah Suika, you're gonna make me tear up." Yuugi said.
"An Oni? Cry? Do your tears taste like sake?" Rumia teased, leaning in front of Yuugi with a cheeky grin.
"I don't know! Oni don't cry!" Yuugi retorted.
"It has been a long time since all three of us have been together." Kanakuma said, before Suika let go, and she spoke in a far more serious tone.
"Have you seen the other one?"
"No." Yuugi said angrily.
"She's hiding I think." Suika said.
"Good. Then that coward at least has a brain." Kanakuma said. "I swear by the peak of youkai mountain, if I ever see her, I will kill her for what she did to us, to all of the Oni."
"I wouldn't go so far as to kill her." Yuugi said.
"Why not?" Suika asked.
"Well, an easy death is too good for her, right?" Yuugi said offhandedly. "No, I'd keep her just alive enough and bind her in chains, and let all the Oni have a go at her like a punching bag. Why should only we have the fun of making her pay?"
Rumia felt like an outsider in this conversation. However, she was able to figure something out.
The fourth Deva, whoever it was, must have done something terrible to earn the wrath of the other three.
"So... what happened?" Rumia asked. "What happened with the fourth Deva?"
Suika looked away.
"I'm not too sure we should tell you. You're pals with Tenma, and... well..."
"Do you think I believe that he managed to drive you off the mountain with his power over Air Pressure? There's no way he could have nearly suffocated you like he claims. Your power is over Density itself. It would be like me attempting to make something dark that Yukari wanted to be light. Your power is of a higher order. Control over all density is stronger than just Air Pressure, right? Especially coming from an Oni rather than a Tengu."
"Smarter than I thought you were, child. Very well, if you see the fault in Tenma's cover story, I shall tell you the truth of our exodus from Youkai Mountain. On a condition: You do not think any less of Tenma for it. He did what he had to do, and he himself was used as a pawn. As far as Tenma knew at the time, he was doing the right thing. He lies now simply to keep the peace, and the honor of all parties involved."
"I know Tenma would have a good reason to lie if he was lying, Kanakuma. Tengu are prideful and hate liars almost as much as Oni. I'm more amazed hearing from an Oni that lying can be tolerated."
"We hate liars who lie for their own selfish gain. Tenma lies because there is a need, and because it helps far more than just him. We Oni can respect that selflessness, Tenma is one of the few who knows the truth, and keeping it to himself must make him feel great guilt every day for his part in our fall. Yet he bears that pain because he must. Now sit, and listen, to the truth of the War of Youkai Mountain."
Author Notes:
HOLY THIS TOOK TOO LONG.
Planning for the extended arc this is now took time. Then I had coursework. Then I had other commitments. And finals are coming up. I apologize. I cannot guarantee another update in a regular pattern for a while because of finals, at least until the end of May.