Blossom of Bodhisattva (Touhou)

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WO_tBNvV7z4

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

Thanks to @Armoury for the beta!

—

"We shall go to the shrine," you say after a few moments. "I do not know these Moriya, but I do know shrines and am used to dealing with them."

Lady 'Scarlet'… doesn't quite wince, her self-control is too great for that degree of reaction. The hastily aborted motion draws your eye, and with all attention on her, she finally sighs. "Is that wise? The Moriya have a certain… reputation, when it comes to dealing with the other religions in Gensokyo. Including the Buddhists."

You smile. "Would the day come that the various beliefs could stop arguing with one another, the world would know peace in moments. I presume they shall attack me?"

Remilia smiles back, though hers is a narrow and sharp thing. "Or attempt to convert you, or other such nonsense. We've not been involved in their affairs, but news of various incidents does make its way to the mansion eventually."

"They're great! They are always giving out cookies and stuff, and sometimes there's explosions!" Cirno says eagerly.

You ponder both the lady and the fairy's words, before coming to a decision. "I thank you for the advice, but this remains the best course of action. I have experience acting as an envoy to other faiths, and regardless of any eccentricities, I'm certain I can reach a reasonable accord with these Moriya."

You hear a sigh behind you, and Shinki muttering. "Oh this shall end delightfully poorly."

Sariel finally looks up from her amusement box, stirred by hearing Shinki talk. "You done planning? Where we droppin'?"

"What does tha-" you begin.

Only for Sakuya to speak up. "I believe she is asking when you are leaving?"

You stare at the maid for several moments, "as soon as possible, preferably." How she managed to understand Sariel was beyond yo-

Then you had her hand in your own, stopping her. Cirno's mouth was open, as if to speak, Remilia was mid-blink, and Sariel was bending down to poke Patchouli. Nobody was moving, nobody was breathing. Except for Sakuya, who was now staring up at you in alarm. The world had gone… gray, how very interesting.

… she takes a step back. "Oh. Er, hello again?"

You smile. "Hello Sakuya. You have stopped time?"

"Yep, she has." Sariel says, crossing her arms. "It's cute."

The maid whirls in place, looking at the angel. "I…" She considers Sariel for a moment, then slumps in place. "Oh, it's all ruined now. With an opening line like 'as soon as possible', it just seemed appropriate, but now… oh well." She pauses, then perks up a bit. "Hm. Lady Angel, Lord Bodhisattva, could you help me carry everyone else up to the mountain?"

You nod, then hoist Cirno underneath your arm. While Sariel grabs Shinki underneath the armpits and begins moving her outside the room like one would carry a box… and smacks her into the doorframe. Sakuya herself hoists Remilia up onto her shoulders, then picks up Patchouli in a princess carry.

—

Sakuya squints down at the arranged still forms of the others. "A few more inches to the left on Shinki, I'd say," she says, moving to shove the goddess as she does so. She gazes back up at the two of you. "Are you certain that you don't want to take your own places for when I resume time? It would make the transition look more natural."

Indeed, the relative positions of everyone else prior to the move have been replicated with exacting attention to detail.

"I am fine, thank you," you reply with a smile. Sariel simply ignores her.

Taking this as permission, Sakuya smiles, and takes up an odd pose, a silver pocket watch in her hand. "Time has resumed once more!"

"Wha-what where am I!? Where is this?! What happened to the library!?" Patchouli shrieks as she falls back onto the ground.

Sakuya puts on an expression of confusion, but you can see the hint of amusement in her eyes. "Why, this is the Moriya Shrine, of course. As was discussed!"

Patchouli screeches up at the maid. "That doesn't tell me anything!"

Sakuya nods, agreeably. "Well. It turns out that Koakuma was playing you for a fool the whole time, and then when Remilia fired her she ran away and took a big chunk of the library with her. And now we're hunting her down, and I thought you might be useful."

"You fired my servant!?" Patchouli shrieks, looking at Remilia.

Remilia… takes a step back. "She insulted me!"

"So does everyone else in Gensokyo, but you don't break my things over it!"

"I didn't brea-" Remilia starts, then stops. "People are insulting me?"

"You're a pretty small target. Admittedly." Shinki says.

Remillia sighs, slowly, her anger at the goddess warring with her desire to maintain propriety. "... so many centuries, and nothing changes. Still with the height insults."

"Hello Remilia! Are you finally here to convert?" a bright, chipper voice interrupts.

Remilia's eyes widen. "Oh someone kill me again."

A young shrine priestess, garbed in white and blue, has stepped forward. She must be around the same age as Reimu, but her carefree expression makes her look years and years younger. Her hair shimmers with the green of new plant growth, and that is only the most obvious of the divine blessings she carries. This, then, is Sanae Kochiya, the priestess of the Moriya Shrine.

You knew of her, if only by name and deeds. She was… an eager girl, with no true parents to speak of. But she had a family… and a drive. Beyond her, of course. Was the Moriya Shrine itself.

You were not fond of it.

It was situated atop a mount, paved with gleaming white stones of the finest marble. Many, many buildings lay about, selling charms, tokens, readings and divinations. Sacred arrows, paintings, statuettes. The main shrine building was gargantuan, easily twice the size of the destroyed Myouren temple, with large Onbashira surrounding it like flagpoles. Behind it, inexplicably, was a gleaming white wheel of some variety, small… carriages? Within it, rotating slowly. While in front of the temple itself, not fifteen feet away from you and behind Sanae, was a glinting statue of gold, perhaps twenty feet tall, depicting a woman in a long dress, short hair, standing atop a snake. She had a large shimenawa hanging behind her back, and both of her arms were raised as if to demand supplication.

How…

How very…

Different.

"Greetings… Sanae, your shrine is… lovely." You say as politely as you might.

Sanae's eyes lock onto you, in a way reminiscent of a hunter spotting their prey. "Oh, it's so wonderful to see that you appreciate our temple. But all of these wonders were only made possible by the Goddess's blessing - a blessing that can also be shared with you, if you only just permit it! This is a fantastic opportunity for you, sir!"

You smile, patiently. "Is it now? Do tell."

"Indeed! Wealth, prosperity, success, all of these things and more can be yours, with the aid of the goddess! Tell me, what is it that you desire? Power, money… no?" She seems to notice your unmoved expression. "Perhaps what you seek then is… love? Such things, too, will appear to those who follow the Goddess!"

Remila has taken several steps back, her hands kept in a warding gesture, as the enthusiastic shrine maiden has begun to approach ever closer to you, nearly invading your personal space by the end of her spiel.

"I wish for all to achieve Nirvana," You say simply. "I wish for peace between man, and for the cycle of suffering to one day cease for all."

Sanae's smile remains undimmed. "Ah, a Buddhist! No worries, we have a variety of pamphlets and resources to make conversion as easy and painless as possible for those following Gensokyo's other paths! Would you like to take a look at them?"

"I'm afraid such a thing would be… quite impossible," you say. "Though I do appreciate your enthusiasm."

"He can't prestige." Sariel mutters.

You feel a tug on your sleeve and look down to see Cirno staring up at you. "What's Neervana?"

Your smile becomes a touch more genuine. "Something I shall explain to you in detail later."

"... 'kay." Cirno replies, then looks at Sanae. "Sup."

Sanae finally seems to notice the fairy, a slight frown finally cracking her facade. "Cirno, I've told you not to hang around here too often. It scares away potential converts." Her head tilts. "Although… this gentleman seems fine with you being around, so I suppose I can let it slide just this once." Her attention drifts back to you. "Actually, sir, I don't believe I know your name?"

You open your mouth.

"I've heard she had an ego but she seems blind to the fact that a vampire, her servants, a fairy, the Lord of Hell, and a bitch are also here." Shinki notes neutrally.

You close your mouth.

Sanae's pleasant expression doesn't change, as her eyes never even leave your face. "None of you are humans, and none of you are going to convert, are you? So why should I pay attention to you?"

"SANAE! What did I tell you regarding being rude to guests?" a female voice booms.

A tall woman appears between you and her, a tad taller than you were, with purple hair and a very sure aura about herself. A glance shows her to be the same woman the golden statue is depicting. "My apologies human, and welcome to the Moriya Shrine." The woman greets. "I am Yasaka Kanako, Goddess."

"Good morni-" you start.

"It is wonderful to see you appreciate the beauty of our temple, enough that you sought it out despite your company. But all of this was only made possible with my blessing. A God's blessing. A blessing that could be shared with you, if you only just permit."

Oh, we're doing this again.

"This is a fantastic opportunity for you, human."

You smile thinly. "So they tell me, I am searching for someone at the moment, a fema-"

"Ah, you seek love, the Moriya shrine offer many blessings for tha-"

"He's lookin' for Koakuma ya big dum dum!" Cirno shouts.

Everyone pauses, then looks at Cirno.

"Why is everyone talkin' all fancy! He can't join yer silly shrine, he's already a nudist!"

"Buddhist." You correct.

"That's what I said!" Cirno argues. "But you, big booby wind lady. We're looking for Koa, where's she!"

Kanako pauses. "A Buddhist, hmm? Well th-" The goddess then pauses, looking you over as recognition flits across her face. "Oh. You aren't going to convert, are you?"

You smile. "Unlikely. We have arrived here looking for an escaped devil, not to convert to Shintoism."

She nods, slowly. "I see. Well, this entire mountain is indeed within the purview of our shrine, and so we could undoubtedly assist you in this quest of yours." Her gaze turns calculating. "So what are you willing to offer me in exchange?"

"I don't burn this place to the ground and leave your corpses as an effigy to god." Sariel says tiredly.

Kanako's attention shifts to the angel. "Perhaps you could try, and perhaps you might even win, but that wouldn't grant you our assistance in searching this mountain, now would it? Making a threat you can't carry out is an amateur mista-" Then, she pauses again, staring at Sariel.

Sariel, whose gaze has shifted from the goddess, to the shrine maiden.

Silence fills the air. Then, the goddess slowly turns her head to look at the shrine maiden next to her. "Sanae, get your things, you are searching the mountain."

"B-but she… the threa-"

"Sanae, that wasn't a request." Kanako growls. Then crosses her arms, glaring as the shrine maiden takes off towards the main building. "I do not appreciate threatening her."

"There's a fallen angel running around, I don't care." Sariel replies. "I'll be an avenging angel if I have to."

"And if we find this… angel," Kanako replies. "What shall you do to her?"

"Speak with her," you reply. "We require her assistance."

"We're… still talking about Koakuma, right?" Patchouli asks.

"Be quiet." Remilia growls. "I'm mad at you."

"Then in return for you leaving, we shall aid you." Kanako continues, glaring at Sariel.

"Wasn't planning on staying," the angel says with a shrug.

"Such diplomacy, truly you are your father's make." Shinki titters.

Sariel says nothing.

"I'm back?" Sanae calls out, now carrying a gohei as she jogs up to you. "What um… what are we doing?"

"We're looking for Koa!" Cirno shouts.

"Koa… is… who?" Sanae replies.

Sakuya holds up a hand to just shy of her own head. "Koakuma. Devil, red hai-"

"Not a devil," Shinki growls.

"-woman, red hair, wings jut out of her back and the side of her head. Black eyes… used to be red, kinda clumsy. I used to think she had a thing for Patchy, now I'm not sure."

"Her true name is Samyaza," Sariel drawls out. "If that helps with the search."

"It might." Sanae quietly says, keeping her distance from the angel.

And so your search began, where you did, indeed find her…

--

[] In the lower levels of the Tengu village.

[] Terrorizing a pair of minor goddesses.

[] Getting smashed with Shuten (Suika) Douji

[] [Vandalizing a living Jizou statue]

—

AN

Erien : For those coming from AFiP, yes, the Moriya are this annoying!
Redshirt : Classic Touhou nonsense gives me joy in life.