Blossom of Bodhisattva (Touhou)

*Byakuren POV*

My eyes flick to the right, there, in the corner of 'my' room, was a shadow that wasn't truly there. So she had returned at last. Several hours after she had disappeared. "Where have you been?"

"New Hell." Nue replies, her voice all around me from every shadow and every corner. "It's where your brother went."

I say nothing for several moments, processing that. "Why? Why has he gone there?"

"He had business with Shinki," Nue replies, still not leaving the shadows. It was a habit she had adopted whenever she was worried about something. "I got out of there really damn quick when Shinki showed up. So I don't know what happened after that."

I didn't understand. I didn't understand much of anything at the moment. "So you don't know if he's still there then."

The shadows flicker. "... No."

I say nothing for several long moments, and in time, Nue speaks once more.

"I can go che-"

"I hate him." I say with venom.

The shadows fade, and Nue's head appears out of the wall.

"I hate him." I repeat. "I hate that he left me behind, then came back to chastise me for something that happened lifetimes ago. Then he just ups and leaves after… after tearing everything I am apart. He's perfect, he's achieved Nirvana."

I look at Nue. "Does that mean he can't even be my brother anymore?"

Nue says nothing, staring at me.

"He won't even tell me why he's here, but it's not for me. I was just… conveniently in the way."

I ignore the heat coming down my cheeks. "Maybe I'm not good enough to leave Samsara, but… can't I still just have my brother? Is… is that too much to ask? I don't need this… this puppet in the shape of him."

I close my eyes then, and feel a hand rest on my shoulder.

Why was I never good enough, brother?

[Cirno, solve this]


View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ehF9lvl6aME

Thanks to @Armoury for the beta!

—

The… devil (?) screeches with anger and indignation as she descends upon her… former comrade? As she approaches, the ceramic teacup shard in her hand twists and warps and grows, reshaping itself into an oddly organic looking sword, black veins streaking across bone-white porcelain.

For her own part, Sariel does not even bother to summon her own weapon, instead simply sidestepping the thrust and redirecting Koakuma straight into the closest wall - where the supposed devil's blade cuts slices through brick and mortar and defensive wards alike like soft butter.

Amidst the commotion, Patchouli gingerly levers herself off the ground, magic starting to flow through her. No doubt she intends to trigger the defensive spells scattered throughout her sanctum - but with an irritated aside glance, her former assistant makes a gesture of her own, and Patchouli-

"M… Mukyu…"

-falls to the floor unconscious.

Shinki is simply leaning back, an expression of deep irritation upon her features, but she is making no move to interfere.

…

You could leave the two of them to settle their differences on their own, but this is, you believe, a teaching moment. "Cirno, solve this."

Cirno looks to you, confusion, shock, more confusion, consternation, then finally… confusion settles on her face. "W-what?"

You step to the side as a book goes flying past with enough force to lodge itself into the brick wall. The wall survives, the book… doesn't. "They are fighting, they do not need to be-"

"Oh, I have good reasons!" Koakuma shouts.

"They do not need to be," you continue. "Handle this."

Cirno's eyes, wide as saucers, pan across the destruction, but slowly, slowly… determination starts to grow within her expression. This might be the first time someone she respects as much as you has shown faith in her ability to solve a problem.

As the two combatants disengage for a moment, Cirno darts between the two of them, her arms spread out towards both of them, her eyes locked on Koakuma. "Wait wait wait - you said you had reasons! Tell me! Why are you even fighting each other?"

Well… she had it in her after all.

"You should be fighting… me or something!"

… Baby steps. "Cirno, you should be asking them to cease fighting altogether."

Cirno looks back at you, confusion writ large on her face. "But… it's fun?"

You step forward, moving closer to your newest student. "Fighting for fighting's sake is never fun, it only leads to destruction."

"Move you stupid girl, this isn't fun. I want to kill her." Koakuma(?) hisses, sidestepping away from your approach.

"Like you even could in a thousand rematches sccccccrub." Sariel drags the strange word out, a smirk growing on her face as she taunts her opponent.

Cirno blanches, dropping her hover to land on the ground, as her gaze rapidly switches between looking at Koakuma and looking up at you. "What, like… um. The thing humans do where they just stop moving… forever?"

You kneel down, placing a hand on Cirno's shoulder. "There are those who wish to fight for more… pri-" No, not primal, she wouldn't know that word. "They want to fight due to emotions, not for… joy, as you do."

"But… why?" Cirno asks.

Beyond her, Koakuma(?) dives, wielding the book Patchouli was holding just moments ago in an attempt to bash Sariel's head in. Sariel, as was becoming tradition, neatly steps aside. "Your acc is shit. What even is your iLvl?" Sariel comments, now grinning completely.

"I will fucking destroy you!" Koakuma(?) howls.

"They seem… really mad." Cirno says quietly.

"Indeed," you reply.

Koakuma reaches down, picking up Patchouli by the leg.

"That is quite enough," you say quickly.

Koakuma's eyes snap to you. "I don't think it's anywhere near enough. Do you even know what she did to me?"

"No," you reply honestly.

Koakuma opens her mouth.

"Nor do I care." you continue.

Koakuma closes her mouth.

"I am not here about petty grievances, past daliances, or current rages. I have come… to seek your aid."

Koakuma drops the librarian. Hands moving to her hips. "What?"

"He's not lying to you, he's just an idiot." Sariel replies.

"Indeed," Shinki says, finally speaking up. "Now will you two children sit down so that he might explain why we've come all the way out to this…" Shinki looks around. "Hovel?"

A light tapping sound emanates from just outside the guest room, as someone new steps into view. "... a hovel, is it?" The voice is refined, aristocratic, and… young. The master of this manor has arrived at last, and the maid by her side gives some clue as to how she appeared so suddenly. She was dressed in white, with red frills and ribbons all over, with blue hair running down to her shoulders and batlike wings jutting out of her back.

The vampire countess glances around at the damage and destruction, then at Koakuma, then at the other visitors. Her posture stiffens minutely when she looks at Sariel, but she's able to keep her expression even - she must have been forewarned about who exactly was paying her a visit. "What exactly is happening here?"

"People fighting for… bad reasons!" Cirno yells.

"Very good," you reach over and lightly pat the ice fairy on the head. "Greetings Lady Dubois."

"Scarlet," Remilia says quickly. Then her eyes narrow. "And you are?"

You nod your head. "Myouren Hijiri, my apologies for intruding."

Shinki takes the opportunity to step forward, looking down on the vampire - both metaphorically and literally. "It has come to our attention that one of your staff was operating under false pretenses, as one of my devils. For a variety of reasons, Makai finds that unacceptable. We seek no quarrel with you, but wish to -"

"Remilia, remove this bitch." Koakuma points to Sariel. "From this place before I do."

Remilia stares blankly at Koakuma for a moment, before her gaze flicks to the literal angel being pointed at, and back to her supposed staff member. "Koakuma. Why are these people here?"

Cirno darts forward, but Remilia puts her hand over the fairy's mouth without breaking her gaze on Koakuma. "Up-bup-bup. Koakuma."

Remilia is truly powerful.

The silence stretches for a moment, Koakuma not responding, before you finally step forward. "I came to speak to Koakuma, unfortunately at the sight of Sariel she took offense and they had it out."

Remilia's eyes flit to you. "Myouren… you are… related to Byakuren?"

You smile. "Her elder brother."

"And you sought Koakuma why?"

Shinki speaks. "As I was saying - 'Koakuma' is not from Makai, and is not one of my devils. And Makai has a reputation to uphold with our summoners. That is my primary interest here. Hijiri and his backers, however, have some concerns of their own."
Remilia makes her way through the room, looking Koakuma over from each angle. Stepping on Patchouli a few times as she does. You aren't sure why, but you don't comment on it. "Is that so? I do try and vet all my employees, but I never gave thought to Patchouli's hireling. Why would you… lie?"

Koakuma blinks, then smiles. "Oh, mistress Remilia. I have no idea what you are talking abo-"

"Do you take me for a fool?" For the first time today, legitimate anger can be heard in Remilia's tone. "Do you truly expect me to believe that the Buddha and Makai and Heaven itself have all simply decided to play a prank? You've endangered the interests of the Scarlet Devil Mansion with your trickery, and I demand to know why."

"To answer your first question," Koakuma says, straightening up. "Yes. For not seeing what your friend was doing in the depths of this library. As for why, that is… none of your business."

Remilia nods. "Very well. Consider yourself fired, your contract severed, and all protections, rights, vacation time, and payment due null and v-"

"No you fool!" Sariel shouts.

It was too late.

Koakuma was grinning as her wings extended, shadows deepening around the room, dancing, laughing in the dim light. Then she was gone.

You leaned down, cupping Cirno to you as the mansion evaporated. Shadows flared, erupted, encompassing all. Then they were gone, and they left behind… nothing. A perfect sphere was cut out of the mansion now, dozens of feet in either direction. Floors collapsed, no pillars left to support them, bookshelves toppled over, falling freely to the ground. An entire, large chunk of the library was completely gone as if someone took a spoon to it. You caught sight of what appeared to be a blonde girl with a black hat poking her head around a bookcase in alarm.

Then you heard it, a grumbling, tired sound. Patchouli was picking herself up from the dirt that had been, only moments ago, tiled floor. "Koakum-" Then she goes very quiet, her eyes widening. Then, without another word, she pitches back onto the floor again, her eyes rolling back into her head.

"Aaaand she hearthed." Sariel says with a sigh.

Remilia was croaking, her hands twitching, looking at the missing chunk of her mansion with alarm. "Wh-what!?"

"You told her to leave, you outrank Patchouli. So she did, she fled."

"Where'd… where'd she go?" Cirno asks.

Sariel goes quiet, looking out into the distance… to the west. "She's still in Gensokyo, but she's hiding." She raises a hand, pointing towards a mountain now visible through the mansion. "Somewhere around… there. What is… there?" Sariel asks, looking at Shinki.

Shinki glances at it. "... it's a mountain. But… hmm." She pats down her pockets, eventually pulling out what looks to be a tattered old tourist guide. "If I recall correctly… there was a shrine being built there in a few months?"

"That was five years ago." Remilia says. "That's Youkai Mountain, Koakuma went there?"

"Is that an issue?" you ask.

Remilia shakes her head. "No, but there's three groups living there. If someone went to hide and you didn't want to just level the forest you would need to seek her out."

"Yeah!" Cirno cries. "There's, um. The uh… weird machine people, the angry log lady, and the hotsprings people!"

"The Kappa, the Moriya Shrine, and New Hell." Sakuya says.

Remilia looks to her maid, frowning. "... Yes."

"So we shall find her," you reply.

"Yeah? Where are we scrying?" Sariel asks.

You assume that means searching, and you answer.

—

[] [The Kappa]
A contentious lot in your day, but rarely truly malicious. They tended to make neat crafts of woodwork and water, you doubt much has changed.

[] [The Moriya Shrine]
You didn't know of them, but a shrine was a shrine, you were used to dealing with that.

[] [New Hell]
You weren't even aware there was an 'old' one.