[COMPLETE] Rumia Quest VI; Cont: Reaching for the Sky

[Hanzo K.]

>"The one with three horns is also a Deva. Meet Kanakuma, the lost Fourth Deva, and the de facto leader of the group. And let me tell you, she's a damn good fighter when she works herself up to it."
>Grin. "This here's Rika, I guess you could say we're vitriolic friends. We get along, but we fight too."
>Slip into a shadow, and poke our head out of Rika's shadow, positioning ourself so we're directly below her. "She's fun to play with too. Really Tsundere too."
>Then slip back into, and then out of a different shadow, before she does something tsundere like whacking us over the head.

[Raikaria]

>"The one with three horns is also a Deva. Meet Kanakuma, the lost Fourth Deva, and the de facto leader of the group. And let me tell you, she's a damn good fighter when she works herself up to it."
>Grin. "This here's Rika, I guess you could say we're vitriolic friends. We get along, but we fight too."
>Slip into a shadow, and poke our head out of Rika's shadow, positioning ourself so we're directly below her. "She's fun to play with too. Really Tsundere too."
>Then slip back into, and then out of a different shadow, before she does something tsundere like whacking us over the head.

> "What happened to the third Deva?" Rika asks, before she clicks her fingers. "Oh wait, my scanners say this 'hermit' as actually an Oni."

> "Oh really?" Kanakuma says with a sly smile.

> Rika shoots a small danmaku at you where you resurface, and you swear she mutters 'baka'.

[Hanzo K.]

>Give a sort of cat-that-ate-the-canary kind of grin.
>We're still underneath Rika, aren't we?

[Raikaria]

>Give a sort of cat-that-ate-the-canary kind of grin.
>We're still underneath Rika, aren't we?

> No, you popped out of another shadow to avoid her smacking you, or kicking you. Of course, the danmaku didn't hurt at all, due to Rika's complete incompetence with danmaku.

> "Well, I came to help. Oh yeah, and I saw that wicked hermit taking those kids to the Moriya Shrine." Rika says.

[Hanzo K.]

>"Seiga, huh? What's she up to now I wonder...Well, either way, I'll have to keep a closer eye on Maribel and her little friend. especially since Maribel will be the one to surpass Yukari. Who knows what that student of mine will get up to."
>Look to Kasen. "If you're wondering why I refer to her as my student, it's because I made a deal with her. She taught me how to control and refine my powers back before I was fully unsealed, and in return, I would teach her more about Dark Energy when I regained my full power."
>We've taught her just about all we know of that we've come up with, haven't we?
>"Look back to Rika. "She's the one that indirectly gave me the idea for the Dark Armor I use you know. She used this awesome trick with Dark Energy to send that one Shinigami packing. I think her name was...Uh, Komachi? Well, either way, I'm pretty sure she survived that little debacle. Made a nice twinkle in the sky though, I really gotta figure out the trick to making folks do that."

[Raikaria]

>"Seiga, huh? What's she up to now I wonder...Well, either way, I'll have to keep a closer eye on Maribel and her little friend. especially since Maribel will be the one to surpass Yukari. Who knows what that student of mine will get up to."
>Look to Kasen. "If you're wondering why I refer to her as my student, it's because I made a deal with her. She taught me how to control and refine my powers back before I was fully unsealed, and in return, I would teach her more about Dark Energy when I regained my full power."
>We've taught her just about all we know of that we've come up with, haven't we?
>"Look back to Rika. "She's the one that indirectly gave me the idea for the Dark Armor I use you know. She used this awesome trick with Dark Energy to send that one Shinigami packing. I think her name was...Uh, Komachi? Well, either way, I'm pretty sure she survived that little debacle. Made a nice twinkle in the sky though, I really gotta figure out the trick to making folks do that."

> "I know, the other Taoists already told me." Kasen says.

> You've not, Seiga's still 'mastering' what you've taught her, although she says she is proceeding a lot quicker than she expected.

> "You need to hit them really really hard. It's easier to do when they've accumulated a lot of damage beforehand." Rika says.

> "Speaking of hitting..." Yuugi says, before looking at Sukia.

> Both of them give Kasen a heavy punch to the face.

> "That's for betraying us all them years ago. You had that coming." Yuugi says.

> "Yeah... I was wondering when you'd do that." Kasen groans, on the ground.

> You recall Yuugi did say if she met Kasen she'd punch her in the face.

[Hanzo K.]

>"Hey, next Shade we see, I'm gonna make it blast off! Gotta practice somehow after all."
>Let's go pull Kasen to her feet again. "It really hasn't been your day today has it? Maybe you should get some rest and have a nice bowl of soup or something, a nice little comfort food."
>Sigh. "If this weren't another crisis incident, Mysty'd probably be running the shop right now. And she's got some of the best food around."
>Fistpalm. "Say, you guys like spicy food? Okuu came up with a real doozy of a dish, and Mysty has it as a regular meal item. For all the rocks that are clattering around in her head, Okuu's a genius at coming up with recipes like that. I gotta remember to visit her sometime and tell her how awesome it was!"
>Grin a bit. "Oh, and don't worry Kanakuma, they have take-out, so you don't need to leave home."
>Beat.
>"Ah, once this is all wrapped up, I'll see about bringing some food from Mysty's. We can all get together to celebrate the incident resolution with good food and drink!"
>Wince. "Just, ah, nothing from Yuugi's dish for me. I don't wanna know what'll happen if I get fall-down-drunk like Cirno did that one time. And with what I have locked-up, I really don't trust her."

[Raikaria]

>"Hey, next Shade we see, I'm gonna make it blast off! Gotta practice somehow after all."
>Let's go pull Kasen to her feet again. "It really hasn't been your day today has it? Maybe you should get some rest and have a nice bowl of soup or something, a nice little comfort food."
>Sigh. "If this weren't another crisis incident, Mysty'd probably be running the shop right now. And she's got some of the best food around."
>Fistpalm. "Say, you guys like spicy food? Okuu came up with a real doozy of a dish, and Mysty has it as a regular meal item. For all the rocks that are clattering around in her head, Okuu's a genius at coming up with recipes like that. I gotta remember to visit her sometime and tell her how awesome it was!"
>Grin a bit. "Oh, and don't worry Kanakuma, they have take-out, so you don't need to leave home."
>Beat.
>"Ah, once this is all wrapped up, I'll see about bringing some food from Mysty's. We can all get together to celebrate the incident resolution with good food and drink!"
>Wince. "Just, ah, nothing from Yuugi's dish for me. I don't wanna know what'll happen if I get fall-down-drunk like Cirno did that one time. And with what I have locked-up, I really don't trust her."

> "I'm OK with spice, but I prefer sweeter things." Kasen says."Honestly, I kinda earnt a punch in the face at least."

> "Who's Okku?" Kanakuma asks.

> "Hey, remember that was a barrel and a half of the strongest oni sake, made stronger by my dish!" Yuugi says.

> "Do you eat anything but lamprey?" Rika asks.

> "Let me know when we're heading off." Sukia says.

[Hanzo K.]

>"Okuu's a Hell-Raven who ate a dead sun god. Needless to say, she's a bit of a dimbulb, but she's powerful. A right genius in anything involving reactors or spicy food though. Yuugi knows her relatively moderately because they both live in the Underground."
>Look at Rika with a playful smirk. "Hey, I eat beef, and chicken when I want to. What, do you want me to eat you instead?"
>Ah Rika, always fun to tease.

[Raikaria]

>"Okuu's a Hell-Raven who ate a dead sun god. Needless to say, she's a bit of a dimbulb, but she's powerful. A right genius in anything involving reactors or spicy food though. Yuugi knows her relatively moderately because they both live in the Underground."
>Look at Rika with a playful smirk. "Hey, I eat beef, and chicken when I want to. What, do you want me to eat you instead?"
>Ah Rika, always fun to tease.

> "Ah, so Okku's that moron Yuugi mentioned that runs the fires."

> "Yeah, I dare you to eat something you can't even break with your fists." Rika says.

> "Her diet's more diverse than mine." Sukia says. "Sake, sake, sake, sake.... more sake."

> "I forgot you basically live off that stuff." Kasen says, looking repulsed.

[Hanzo K.]

>Sigh, and slump. "I expected you to go all Tsundere, given the implications."
>Then unslump. "Yeah, Okuu's a bit of an idiot, but at least she tries."
>Chuckle. "Damn near made the mountain's reactor go critical because she wanted a day off though. The crazy kid."
>Pause. "Hey Kasen, what do you know about the legends and myths of other worlds? You seem like the sort who might know that kind of thing."

[Raikaria]

>Sigh, and slump. "I expected you to go all Tsundere, given the implications."
>Then unslump. "Yeah, Okuu's a bit of an idiot, but at least she tries."
>Chuckle. "Damn near made the mountain's reactor go critical because she wanted a day off though. The crazy kid."
>Pause. "Hey Kasen, what do you know about the legends and myths of other worlds? You seem like the sort who might know that kind of thing."

> "I dunno, that seemed like the 'Tsun' part." Kasen comments.

> "So that;s why Satori was so mad at Okku back then." Yuugi says.

> "Nothing. I'm born and raised in Gensokyo, even before the border." Kasen says.

[Hanzo K.]

Is it wrong that I think Asuka from Evangelion would get along great with this version of Rika? (Nevermind that I can't stop reading her dialogue in Asuka's voice.)

>"Well, she's kinda cute when she gets all flustered."
>Nod. "Well, let's get going Suika, we'll grab the others who might be helping out as well."
>TO review, who all was gonna handle the Enkura problem personally, aside from Rika, Suika, and ourself?

[Raikaria]

Is it wrong that I think Asuka from Evangelion would get along great with this version of Rika? (Nevermind that I can't stop reading her dialogue in Asuka's voice.)

>"Well, she's kinda cute when she gets all flustered."
>Nod. "Well, let's get going Suika, we'll grab the others who might be helping out as well."
>TO review, who all was gonna handle the Enkura problem personally, aside from Rika, Suika, and ourself?

[I don't know much about Asuka so I can't say if Rika and her would get on, but I just watched something so I could hear her voice, and yeah, I can see Rika sounding like that]

> "D-Don't say such stupid things!" Rika says, blushing and looking away. The oni chuckle.

> Rika comes over. The others do not.

> "I gotta make sure Kana dosen't have some reaction to the meds or anything." Yuugi says.

> "Not right for me to go." Kasen says.

> "You'd never get me off Youkai Mountain." Kanakauma admits.

> It's just you three going, unless you pick up people from the Moriya Shrine or elsewhere first.

[Darkoda]

>"Okay, good luck then, we'll be back after dealing with that cranky celestial."
>Of to the top of the mountain! We should probably check in on Maribel and Renko too.

[Raikaria]

>"Okay, good luck then, we'll be back after dealing with that cranky celestial."
>Of to the top of the mountain! We should probably check in on Maribel and Renko too.

> You head off the the Moriya Shrine, to check on Maribel and Renko.

> By this time, it is night-time. The only one outside the shrine is Kanako, who is standing on one of the lake's Onbashira.

[Hanzo K.]

>Fly on over. "Hey. Any news?"

[Raikaria]

>Fly on over. "Hey. Any news?"

> "Maribel and Renko have arrived, Suwako's gone to fix those mountains that blew up just a short while ago, I've been blasting some shades, and this totally isn't in any way the fault of the Moriya Shrine." Kanako says. "It's certainly not a scheme I'm masterminding."

> "That's suspiciously specific." Rika says.

> "N'awww she's telling the truth. Oni get mad at liars. We're like livin' lie detectors." Sukia says. "It's just 'cause she was the root cause of like, 5 incidents in a row or something."

[Hanzo K.]

>"Those mountains exploding were due to the Four Devas reuniting and having a fight. Massive brawl, hell of a show. Suika can give you the details while I go see how Maribel's doing."
>Let's head on into the shrine and find Maribel.

[Raikaria]

>"Those mountains exploding were due to the Four Devas reuniting and having a fight. Massive brawl, hell of a show. Suika can give you the details while I go see how Maribel's doing."
>Let's head on into the shrine and find Maribel.

> "We figured that." Kanako says.

> Sukia starts giving the goddess a history lesson. You head inside the shrine, and, sure enough, Sanae, Maribel and Renko are there.

> "Hi Rumia!" Sanae says, before her face falls when Rika shows up. "What's she doing here?"

> "Oh, it's the figure we saw earlier!" Renko says.

[Hanzo K.]

>"She wanted to help knock Enkura down too."
>Wave to Maribel and Renko. "You guys doing okay? Seiga didn't do anything untoward did she? I heard she helped you guys get here."

[Raikaria]

>"She wanted to help knock Enkura down too."
>Wave to Maribel and Renko. "You guys doing okay? Seiga didn't do anything untoward did she? I heard she helped you guys get here."

> "She probobly wants to stab you in the back." Sanae says.

> "No... well... maybe later. Not now." Rika says.

> "She was a little creepy... but not anything bad." Renko says.

> "She said you have something evil sealed inside you." Maribel says.

[Hanzo K.]

>Sigh. "Yeah, that's the truth, but I've been working to make sure it can't cause trouble again."
>Let's go find someplace to sit. "You guys up for a story? It's a bit of a long one, but it's the story of my origin, and it ties to that little thing Seiga told you about."

[Raikaria]

>Sigh. "Yeah, that's the truth, but I've been working to make sure it can't cause trouble again."
>Let's go find someplace to sit. "You guys up for a story? It's a bit of a long one, but it's the story of my origin, and it ties to that little thing Seiga told you about."

> You sit where Sanae, Renko and Maribel are sitting.

> "Oh, yes!" Sanae says, getting a look from Rika, Maribel and Renko.

> "We're with green-hair." Maribel says after a moment of thought.

[Hanzo K.]

>Nod. "Alright, then I'll tell you."
>"Long ago, in the world where Yumemi came from- She was behind one of the more recent incidents that threatened to destroy both Gensokyo and Makai alike-, there were beings called 'Valkyries', embodiments of nature much like the fairies here are. One such Valkyrie, whose name I have yet to learn, attempted to take the life of Shinki, creator and goddess of Makai. She paid for her efforts with her life."
>Frown, and sigh. "However, the story doesn't end there. Her body and will somehow reached the very core of Makai, a jewel known as 'The Heart of Makai'. A powerful magic gem with a will of it's own. Her will resonated with the Heart of Makai, and she was reborn as a twisted and altogether evil being, hellbent on killing anything in her path. This being very nearly succeeded where her former self had failed. But, due to some timely intervention on Yumeko's part, Shinki was able to repel her, and send her to another world."
>Nod. "That world was Gensokyo. Naturally, this sort of thing didn't escape Yukari's notice. So with her own impressive power, and the aid of many others, the being was sealed into the form of a little girl at great cost. Many died, including Reimu's Grandmother. That girl was me. The seal they used created a new personality, me. With that, and having made many friends, I was able to attain the power to mostly suppress the inner darkness, and become able to protect Gensokyo."
>"...And now you guys know my story. I still haven't fully put away the inner darkness for good, but someday I'll find a way to. Essentially, I had a Heel Face Turn of epic proportions."

[Raikaria]

>Nod. "Alright, then I'll tell you."
>"Long ago, in the world where Yumemi came from- She was behind one of the more recent incidents that threatened to destroy both Gensokyo and Makai alike-, there were beings called 'Valkyries', embodiments of nature much like the fairies here are. One such Valkyrie, whose name I have yet to learn, attempted to take the life of Shinki, creator and goddess of Makai. She paid for her efforts with her life."
>Frown, and sigh. "However, the story doesn't end there. Her body and will somehow reached the very core of Makai, a jewel known as 'The Heart of Makai'. A powerful magic gem with a will of it's own. Her will resonated with the Heart of Makai, and she was reborn as a twisted and altogether evil being, hellbent on killing anything in her path. This being very nearly succeeded where her former self had failed. But, due to some timely intervention on Yumeko's part, Shinki was able to repel her, and send her to another world."
>Nod. "That world was Gensokyo. Naturally, this sort of thing didn't escape Yukari's notice. So with her own impressive power, and the aid of many others, the being was sealed into the form of a little girl at great cost. Many died, including Reimu's Grandmother. That girl was me. The seal they used created a new personality, me. With that, and having made many friends, I was able to attain the power to mostly suppress the inner darkness, and become able to protect Gensokyo."
>"...And now you guys know my story. I still haven't fully put away the inner darkness for good, but someday I'll find a way to."

> Naturally, after this Maribel and Renko ask 'Who's' repeatedly, but Sanae explains these.

> "And then one day she died holding back the evil." Maribel adds after.

[Hanzo K.]

>Nod, with a sad look. "Yeah...I've got a lot I owe to her. And it was one of her last requests that I keep tabs on you, Maribel. And since you and Renko are practically inseparable, that indirectly means I've got to keep tabs on her too. Not that I mind."

[Raikaria]

>Nod, with a sad look. "Yeah...I've got a lot I owe to her. And it was one of her last requests that I keep tabs on you, Maribel. And since you and Renko are practically inseparable, that indirectly means I've got to keep tabs on her too. Not that I mind."

> "Yeah, I know that." Maribel says. "And right now the best way to protect us is to go sort this mess out."

> "Actually, I think you need to come." Sukia says, waddling in.

> "A Celestial cannot die except by the hands of the Yama's underlings. That means she's gonna have to be re-sealed, and the only one who can do that is you." Sukia says, pointing at Maribel.

> Maribel and Renko look terrified of the Oni. You guess the real world still has horror stories about them.

[Hanzo K.]

>Grin a bit. "Don't worry, the Oni here are all pretty awesome people. Sure, they love a good brawl more than the next person, but they're content to just sit around and drink to their heart's content too. This one here's Suika, one of the Four Devas, pinnacles of the Oni race. She's never sober, thanks to that gourd of hers, the Oni's Treasure Gourd, an artifact of the Oni race that never runs out of Sake. Two of the other Devas have a treasure as well. There's the Treasure Dish, owned by Yuugi, which increases the quality of any drink poured into it. And the Treasure Jar, owned by Kanakuma, which refines sake put into it to the point that, if poured into the Treasure Dish, actually heals and strengthens the drinker. Only an Oni can take that powerful an alcohol though. I saw it in action firsthand earlier today."
>"Word of advice, don't ever lie around an Oni, they hate it. Even I find the Devas to be a bit out of my league, and I'm one of Gensokyo's Big Five, of which Yukari used to be a member of."

[Raikaria]

>Grin a bit. "Don't worry, the Oni here are all pretty awesome people. Sure, they love a good brawl more than the next person, but they're content to just sit around and drink to their heart's content too. This one here's Suika, one of the Four Devas, pinnacles of the Oni race. She's never sober, thanks to that gourd of hers, the Oni's Treasure Gourd, an artifact of the Oni race that never runs out of Sake. Two of the other Devas have a treasure as well. There's the Treasure Dish, owned by Yuugi, which increases the quality of any drink poured into it. And the Treasure Jar, owned by Kanakuma, which refines sake put into it to the point that, if poured into the Treasure Dish, actually heals and strengthens the drinker. Only an Oni can take that powerful an alcohol though. I saw it in action firsthand earlier today."
>"Word of advice, don't ever lie around an Oni, they hate it. Even I find the Devas to be a bit out of my league, and I'm one of Gensokyo's Big Five, of which Yukari used to be a member of."

> "Ah, you don't need to flatter me you know." Sukia says.

> Maribel and Renko calm down.

> "Anyway, are you two gonna come with us above the clouds to heaven, and help us fight some bad woman, or am I gonna have to use my secret technique?" Sukia says.

> "Secret Technique?" Renko asks.

> Sukia breaks down into many little Suikas and picks up the two.

> "Oni Kidnapping!" the Sukia's chant together, before laughing as they carry off the two.