~A Ghost of a Chance~

Summary

On probation after a few misdeeds too many, Mizuchi has been sent to the Moriya Shrine on probation. Kanako, Sanae and Suwako are trying their best to reach this stroppy criminal phantom, but Mizuchi doesn't stick her neck out for any poor saps... Does she? A strange encounter on a shopping trip may chance the course of Mizuchi's life forever...

This story was a Touhou Secret Santa present for Spear-Gsun.

"D'you think we should have something hot for lunch?"

"Yes, it's turned very cold all of a sudden. How about if we make soup with the rest of that bacon?"

"Sounds delicious!" Wearing a green and white apron, Sanae wandered into the Moriya Shrine's kitchen. "I'll chop while you soup, yeah?"

"You do that." Kanako strode in after her, wearing a blue apron embroidered with the charming image of two muscular warrior-women wrestling above a ferocious bear-sized frog and a poison-spitting serpent.

Kanako crounched in front of the white panelled cooker to light it, only to pause with her hand over the knob. "Actually, hold that thought."

"What's wrong?" Sanae held that thought while she held back the avalanche of plates trying to slide out of the dresser. "Aargh, come onnnn, there shouldn't be a chopping board in here in the first place...!"

Leaving Sanae to wrestle with gravity, Kanako grabbed the broom and gave the ceiling a few swift bangs. "Mizuchi! We're preparing the luncheon! Could you come down and help?!" she called.

"Mizuchi? Can she cook?" Sanae had extracted the chopping board and was now setting about some shiitake mushrooms, her knife thwacking on the wood.

"I hope so. Since it's going to be an extended stay, she really should start pitching in," Kanako explained. "Not too many of those mushrooms, Sanae."

Sanae rolled her eyes. "Oh, heaven forfend, they're three hundred yen for a bite!" she quoted, before plucking the smallest mushroom from the basket and giving Kanako a wink. "I'll add a cheap one too."

Kanako knew she should fire something back, but no witty remarks popped into her head, so instead she stuck her tongue out at Sanae. Satisfied, she got to work in front of the cooker.

Kanako soon had a saucepan bubbling soupily away, ready to receive its first dose of onions and daikon, at which point their guest finally made her appearance.

"I see you muffins made a start without me," Mizuchi said dryly as she flounced into the room, her ghost tails drifting across the floor tiles. She was not wearing an apron, because what was she, some kinda wet smack? "Certainly looks wet, whatever it is you're cooking."

Kanako stared at her. "It's soup, Mizuchi! I need you to, um..." That was a point. For what vital purpose did she require the presence of a freshly-laundered Mizuchi?

"Stir the soup, please," decided Kanako, stepping back so Mizuchi could access the saucepan.

Mizuchi drifted in front of the cooker and picked up the plate Sanae had left, piled with white daikon discs and curving slivers of onion. "Are these meant to go in?"

"Yes, slide them in there."

"Oh, be still, my beating kegare." With a bored expression, Mizuchi tilted the plate and let a small avalanche of vegetables plop into the boiling water.

"Not having fun?" Sanae was chopping a pile of cold bacon into what were supposed to be thin strips, but came out in varying shapes and thicknesses. "Do vengeful spirits do much cooking, Mizuchi? I've seen you eat hundreds of times, but you've never cooked!"

"Well, we certainly don't mind a good dinner, but we don't have to eat like you crumbs do. I used to just eat out whenever the urge came over me, see?" explained Mizuchi. "So this is pretty far outside my wheelhouse."

"Oh, you don't need to eat?" Kanako raised her eyebrows. "Then I suppose we wasted our time, making you all those delicious meals while you've been here!"

"Hey, I never said that! You put words in my..." Mizuchi scowled. "So I'm your slave now, is that the picture? I get nothing but a dog's soup unless I work my ectoplasm off all day?"

"No, I didn't mean-!" Kanako took a deep breath, holding back her frustration. "How can I explain, Mizuchi? People who aren't evil and twisted do this sort of thing for each other! If we were enslaving you, we'd have put you to work from the day you started on probation, not waited a whole week to ask for help making lunch."

Mizuchi continued scowling. This Kanako bearcat clearly thought she was better than her, and not even the smell of vegetables starting to cook was enough to sweeten that malarkey.

"You know that was an olive branch, don't you?" Sanae pointed out. "Take the branch. You could be so much more than a spirit of hate and resentment... You could be a spirit who stirs soup! It's sticking, Mizuchi! Hurry!"

With a jolt, Mizuchi stopped scowling and started stirring. A few of the radish slices were clinging to the bottom of the saucepan, but the wooden spoon pried them from its embrace, and soon Mizuchi was stirring a steady circle through the soup.

"Is that how you stir?" Kanako peered down at Mizuchi's circling spoon. "The soup gets mixed better if you stir in a figure-of-eight. It'd help the ingredients mingle."

Mizuchi stared at her. "The mind boggles. And d'you want me to breathe in a different time signature? I can do three-four, four-four or five-six, maybe six-eight? Or maybe you could mind your own business!"

"Gosh, Mizuchi, was that a smile?"

"I don't know, was it?"

"Come on, that was clearly a smile!"

"Look, just back off, frogspawn! It was an adequate soup, see? That's as far as I'm going."

"Did she like the soup?" asked a full Suwako, stopping on her way to the kitchen with a stack of empty bowls.

"She loved it!" a warm and satisfied Sanae confirmed.

With a heavy sigh, Mizuchi tapped on Sanae's head. "Empty. See? It's completely hollow."

"So..." Still smiling, Sanae brushed Mizuchi's hand aside. "Now that we've eaten, are you ready for an adventure?"

"Adventure?" Mizuchi's eyes widened. She tried not to look too excited as she regarded Sanae. "It depends. What's the low-down?"

"Well, we-"

There was a loud crash and a scream from Suwako. A couple of seconds went by, then "It's all right! They landed in the water!"

Sanae shrugged, her green hair spilling over her shoulders. "We buy most of our food here on the mountain, but we stock up on human-made stuff in the Human Village every month," she explained. "And this month's every falls on today!"

Mizuchi gasped melodramatically. "Murder! We're going shopping?! And here I thought this day couldn't get any better! Wait, did you say Human Village?"

Sanae nodded.

"Ah." Mizuchi winced. "Normally I'd blow my wig at the chance to carry your shopping home, but sadly I ain't flavour of the month in the Human Village right now."

"Why not? What did you do?" asked Suwako, wandering back into the hallway with her hat down over her eyes.

"Uh... Nothing at all, chief, and that's a Miyadeguchi guarantee! The story is, some genius's been possessing cats in the village, and the word 'possessing' in any context makes me a prime suspect. But I'm on the level, and I wouldn't wanna be a cat! Not much." Mizuchi scowled, her cheeks reddening. "Maybe a coupla days to see how it felt."

"I see," Suwako said with a smile. "I do recommend being a frog if you ever get the chance, now."

"Yeah. Right. So you can dig how it's best for all of us if I sit this one out, can't you?"

With a smile, Suwako shook her head, making her blonde hair fan out beneath her enormous wedged-on hat. "It'll be fine."

"Wh-?" Mizuchi's brow furrowed. "Weren't you listening? The villagers all think I'm possessing cats! Cat cats, not people cats, but same difference! It could turn ugly if I show my face on their patch."

"But you haven't actually been possessing cats, right? I think that's what you said," Sanae interjected with a curious look on her face. "Could you possess a cat? I mean, would you be able to if you wanted?"

Mizuchi gave her a look. "I don't know!"

"Well, Mizuchi..." Suwako said, pushing up her hat so Mizuchi could see her twinkling eyes. "As much as we'd love to have you along, no-one's forcing you to come to the village? No-one can just force you to do anything, can they?"

"No?" Mizuchi puffed out her chest. "I mean, no, no way!"

"So are you really going to let the villagers bully you out of coming shopping with us when you haven't even done anything?"

"Eeeeh...?" Mizuchi's eyes crossed for a moment. "Wh-what?! No dice! I'd never let a pack of mortal crumbs frighten me off their turf!" she exploded.

"So do you want to tag along, even though the whole world's against it?" Suwako smirked, leaving Sanae giggling with a hand clamped over her mouth.

"You shred it, wheat! No-one and nothing in the world's gonna stop me!" ranted Mizuchi,

"What's going on?" Kanako came over with the air of somebody who definitely wasn't EXPECTING trouble, but would start throwing onbashiras the very second trouble arrived.

Sanae was bent double in the throes of laughter. "It's Mizuchi," she squeaked. "She's a little bit excited about our shopping trip!"

Kanako shut her eyes and breathed a deep, heartfelt sigh. "Of course she is. Listen, Mizuchi, we want to help you become more than just an outcast- no, you DESERVE to become more than just an outcast, but that needs some effort from you as well. So I'm going to have to put my foot down. You're coming with us, as part of society, and that's final."

"...Final?" Mizuchi put her hands on her hips and glared sassily up at Kanako. "I'll tell you what's final, doll-face. I'm tagging along on your little trip for biscuits, and there's nothing you or anyone can do to stop me! Got it?!"

"Don't mistake my kindness for a soft touch, Mizuchi! If I have to, I'll-" Kanako froze in mid-berate, her gaze softening. "What did you say?"

"If I wanna go shopping, I will, and I do, so I will! If you wanna make this a problem-" Mizuchi froze in mid-berate, her gaze softening. "Did you say you WANT me to tag along?"

"Did you say you could speak Tagalog?" Kanako smiled awkwardly. "Um... Good! It's nice to see some enthusiasm from you!"

"I ain't used to being wanted! Gee, thanks." Mizuchi's smile vanished abruptly, giving way to a look of dull horror. "Wait, wh- why'd I say all that baloney? I just wanna stick it to the woman! And go shopping."

"Right... Come on, we should get ready before it starts snowing again."

It took ten seconds of walking down the corridor for our heroines to reach the front door, before which a rack of jumbled coats hung beside them and a row of footwear stood to attention on the genkan.

"It certainly looks chilly today. Do you want a coat, Mizuchi?" asked Sanae, dithering between two of hers.

Mizuchi glanced out of the window. A few snowflakes were whirling in the breeze while the sun glared out from behind dense banks of cloud, turning the ground into a bright sea of white where the light could reach. A day ripe for a haunting... Or shopping.

"Don't worry about me, kitten. My heart's already colder than ice," Mizuchi decided, although she sounded a little unsure.

"Good for you," Sanae said diplomatically. "Some of us want to keep our hearts at a comfortable thirty-seven point eight degrees Celsius, though, so please watch warmly!"

Sanae slid into her green bomber jacket and tall froggy wellies. Kanako armoured herself in a dark double-breasted trenchcoat with a red capelet and belt, followed by tall blue boots with wedge heels, three buckles on each side and images of golden snakes curling up their waterproof shafts. Suwako threw a blanket around her shoulders and laced up her trainers.

"Cute," said Mizuchi, leaning sullenly on the wall. Her own stripy white t-shirt and skirt were as comfy as ever, sitting loosely on her slender frame. "So, ladies, shall we?"

A biting cold wind nibbled our heroines as soon as they left the shrine, ruffling their clothes and chilling their noses, so they hurried across the front plaza to where the car slept with her back against the trees. They bundled into the blue 1985 Honda Today with Mizuchi and Suwako in the back, Kanako riding hakkero and Sanae in the driver's seat.

"Before we start, Sanae, the roads have been very icy recently," Kanako pointed out, sitting on her hands to warm them up. Why had she forgotten her gloves? Leather gloves were a vital part of her winter look! Anyway, "Don't treat this like another rally stage, all right?"

"Worry not, Mother, our journey shall be the smoothest car trip since Sailor Moon got her 2017 Ford Fusion!" Sanae cracked her knuckles and took hold of the steering wheels.

"Check your seat belts, everyone," said Kanako heavily.

Suwako giggled. "Mine's perfectly comfortable!"

Sanae turned the key, making the car thrum into life. It lurched forwards as she steered them across the snowy courtyard and out onto the rutted road.

"Should Sanae really be driving?" Mizuchi whispered to Suwako, even though the others could definitely hear her. "Is she kind of a lead rainboot?"

"Lead foot, yes, but unfortunately she is the only car pilot among us," Kanako said loudly.

Sanae's eyes widened. "The imposter is sus! Call an emergency meeting!" she burst out. "Sorry, couldn't resist. My feet are a perfectly healthy weight, Mizuchi, so there's no need to worry. Hold tight!"

Mizuchi held tight as they bumped down the windy mountain road, taking tight corners at a cautious pace and ploughing through frozen puddles. Snow fluttered past the steamed-up windows, but it was warming up inside the car and the slim leather seats were comfy enough. Ten minutes of driving saw them leaving Youkai Mountain and motoring across the fields below.

The Human Village was an island in the grey weather. Dozens of lamps were glowing warmly beneath cloudy skies, enough to reveal the shape of the village despite the snow blanketing everything.

Sanae drove carefully through the half-frozen mud in the north gate, waving to the confused and frightened guards. She backed the car onto comfy straw in an empty stable and turned off the engine.

"Okay, how was that? Smooth enough for you?" Sanae stretched her back, leaned over and pushed open the door. It clacked against the stable wall, leaving barely enough room for her to squeeze out.

"Very smooth, thank you. Now, er..." Kanako tried her door and relaxed when it swung all the way open. "Right, that should be fine. We'll stock up on food first, then see if we have room for any extras in the car cupboard. All right?"

"It's called the boot, but sure." Sanae smiled even though she was wedged at a tricky angle between the scratchy stable wall and the smooth automobile bodywork. With a groan of effort she ploughed through the narrow canyon and stumbled out across the snow.

Mizuchi glanced at Suwako. "Am I allowed to use that door?" she asked, pointing at the right passenger door.

Suwako shook her head, looking horrified. "No, they'll haul you in front of the automotive tribunal and have you executed for deviant vehicular disembarkment!"

"Don't confuse her, Suwako. You can use whichever door you want, Mizuchi, as long as it's open," Kanako reassured her. "Although, actually, wouldn't you be able to pass through walls since you're a ghost?"

"I can," confirmed Mizuchi. "But it feels like my skin's full of gelato sliding around like... How can I put it? You know when you rub against something smooth?"

"Oh, yes! I certainly have experienced that once or twice!" said Sanae, peeking in through the boot.

Mizuchi raised an eyebrow at her. "Well, it feels like that, but all the way through you."

"Coooool!" breathed Sanae. "And is it different for different substances? Like, does phasing through bricks feel different from phasing through wood or metal or, or...?"

The discussion about ghost biology continued while Kanako led her retinue through the snowy village. They crunched through snow and slush, or in Mizuchi's case floated over it, passing well-wrapped villagers on their way to this and that.

First on the agenda was Hideyoshi and Son's kosher butcher's shop. They turned onto a wide road about halfway along the high street, but before they reached the familiar triangle of painted wooden signs offering delicious cuts of meat, a furious teenage girl ran out to confront them.

"You!" the bespectacled girl yelled, pointing an accusing finger at Mizuchi. "When are you going to answer for what you've done?!"

Mizuchi grit her teeth. "Oh... Just peachy, it's the little book girl," she growled. "Listen, you dizzy little doll, I don't know what your beef is-"

Kanako nudged Mizuchi, silencing her. Mizuchi scowled, but stayed quiet as Kosuzu halted in front of them, a five-foot-one tower of rage.

"Every cat in the village is in a blue funk thanks to you!" Kosuzu accused. "I don't know what you did or how you did it, but you must have done it! And look!"

To the growing bemusement of those watching, Kosuzu turned around and picked something up. Staggering under the heavy weight, she turned back to reveal a limp, glassy-eyed Akyuu cradled in her arms.

Sanae gasped. "The Child of Miare is your cat?!"

"Just look what you've done to Akyuu!" ranted Kosuzu, glaring daggers at Mizuchi with sweat rolling down her youthful face. "Another victim of the cat Incident, and she isn't even a cat!"

"Oh, my mistake," said Sanae.

"Listen, lady, I'm not the villain in this picture. I haven't possessed your filly or any cats, I'm telling you!" With a nervous laugh, Mizuchi looked around at her companions. "You guys believe me, right? I've been toeing the line all week! Not necessarily with my big toe, but at the very least... I don't got any toes, do I? Damn it!"

"It's all right, Mizuchi. We believe you." Kanako gave Mizuchi a pat on the shoulder, for once not getting an angry glare in return, and addressed Kosuzu with calm sensibility. "Nobody wants to see their fiancé get cursed, Miss Motoori, but being upset doesn't give you the right to blame the first vengeful spirit you see. Do you understand how you might have been too harsh?"

"But she's possesed people before!" Kosuzu plonked Akyuu down in the snow and continued to argue frantically. "Mizuchi brought Gensokyo to the brink of ruin, apparently! Who else is there who can possess peoeple?!"

"Mima?" suggested Kanako.

"Another ghost?" suggested Sanae.

"Well, yes, but... Akyuu's been like this for days! She doesn't eat, she doesn't sleep, she doesn't do anything! Someone has to take responsibility for it!" Kosuzu continued.

"Hmmm... Is that so?" Suwako folded her arms and regarded Kosuzu coolly. "Seventy-twelve and a half percent of disasters in the Human Vilage over the last six years have been caused by you, Kosuzu, reading a cursed book or waking up some tricksy youkai. Why should we believe you didn't curse Akyuu by Akyuucideeeh... I mean by accident?!"

Kosuzu's jaw dropped. "Wha... WHAT?! How could you say that?! Akyuu's my dearest sweetheart! How could you blame me just because I-! I sometimes-!" Kosuzu's voice caught in her throat. "Did you... Did you really not do this, Mizuchi? But... I- I'm sorry, I was so worried about her! It's like she's dead even though she's clearly still alive."

Kosuzu sank to her knees behind Akyuu, exhausted of anger and brimming over with tears. "They've all given up, her retainers and guardians... They think it's time for- for a new Child of Miare! But I know she has years more to go."

"Oh, Kosuzu..." whispered Mizuchi. She could feel a weird ache where her heart used to be and it was not a pleasant sensation. "You're just dizzy with that little tomayto, aren't you?"

"I- I don't understand. Akyuu isn't a vegetable!" said Kosuzu, clinging to Akyuu's non-plant-based shoulders while she stared in disbelief.

"Tomatoes are fruits," Sanae pointed out.

"Um... To tell you the truth, I haven't been bold enough to ask if she's one of those." Kosuzu blew her nose on Akyuu's baggy sleeve. "She's behaving just like the cats who were posessed, sitting in one place all day... I don't know what to do."

A heavy silence fell over the snowy road. Mizuchi realised with a jolt of panic that she'd been feeling sympathy- sympathy, of all things! It was unthinkable for a vengeful spirit, yet she'd thought it. So concerned was Mizuchu that she failed to notice Kanako and Suwako sharing a long, meaningful look.

"Sorry, Kosuzu," Kanako said after a few seconds. "We all know how much Akyuu means to you, butt here doesn't seem to be anything we can do. Suwako and I are warriors, Mizuchi clearly isn't an option and as for Sanae, she didn't bring anything for a healing ritual."

Sanae suddenly seemed very interested. "Oh, actually, I could try to heal her-"

Suwako nudged Sanae in the hip. "No, no," she said urgently. "You were veeeery clear before we left about how you didn't bring your paraphernalia for exorcising an evil spirit or curing a curse-related illness, because you probably wouldn't need it in the human village, right?"

"Um, wrong! I can totally give her-" Sanae's brain caught up with her mouth, eliciting a gasp of realisation. "Oh. Ohhh, right, silly me! I used up all my third- and fourth-level spell slots! All I have left is Healing Word," she said slowly. "Which means, regrettably, I cannot do a blessed thing for poor little Akyuu. What a tragedy!"

Kosuzu was staring at her in horrified fascination. "Are you just taking the piss now?! Because this isn't funny!"

"No, Kosuzu, I promise no piss is being taken." Winking at Kosuzu, Kanako took Sanae and Suwako by their hands. "I'm afraid there's nothing we can do-"

"Not so fast, chief. I might be able to do, uh, something."

All eyes except Akyuu's turned to Mizuchi, who looked surprised to have heard her own words.

"I mean, uhh..." Mizuchi cleared her throat. "I'm a ghost, as you can see. And even though I didn't do anything to this kitten, I could help her, potentially."

"Mizuchi, what are you saying?!" cried Suwako.

"I'm saying... I must be totally loco, but I'm saying I could un-possess her." It was too late to change her mind, so Mizuchi took a deep breath and launched into her explanation. "You can hold a finger of giggle juice in your mouth without swallowing, right? Then maybe I could possess someone without draining their energy, or even give them some of mine! Gods know it ain't a sure shot, but it could work."

"Ain't a sure shot?" Kosuzu's eyes were wide with fear. "You want to cure Akyuu's possession by possessing her?! That's like curing a headache by bonking someone on the head with a mallet!"

"It sounds much too risky," Kanako said grimly, her brow furrowing. "I'm sure you want to help, Mizuchi, but possessing her again can't possibly make anything better!"

"It can!" Mizuchi was fired up now, backing up her argument with wild hand gestures. "Things that get done can get done in reverse, see? Like untying a knot or squeezing out a sponge! Sanae could save Akyuu if she had her spell slots, whatever those are, so why not me?! Why not possess a girl backwards?!"

"Because you'd be risking an innocent girl's life for something you don't even know is going to work! I'm sorry, Mizuchi, but I won't allow it," Kanako said firmly.

Mizuchi simmered for about five seconds before responding. "Until now, I thought you were the good kind of selfish broad who makes it her business to look after everyone else. But no, you're just an Abercrombie who thinks she's queen of the freaking world!" She spat at Kanako's feet and turned away, her fists clenched in front of her chest. "Gimme the all-clear, Kosuzu, and I'll fix your little miss!"

"Wh-wha-?!" Kosuzu's mouth fell open in horror. She was about to say something unprintable when she noticed Kanako and Suwako, both looking right at her and nodding furiously over Mizuchi's shoulders.

"U-um..." Kosuzu bit her lip. "You can try it?"

Mizuchi's eyes widened, then she came out in a manic grin. "All right! You're about to see the world's first unpossession!"

"Mizuchi, don't do this!" Kanako stepped forward, her arm reaching out for her defiant ward. "Think, you imbecile! If you end up harming her while you're on probation, there could be dire consequences! Reimu might not spare your undeath a second time."

"Oh, so I get the kiss-off for tryna save someone's life?" Mizuchi laughed bitterly. "Sounds fair. I'll drag that shrine moron to Hell behind me if she wants! Stay outta my way!"

Without another word, Mizuchi turned and lunged towards Akyuu. Kosuzu dove onto the snowy ground with a scream. Mizuchi became a whirlwind of steam and light, pouring into Akyuu's round nose like steam from a kettle going the wrong way. Akyuu's eyes flashed red, then she stood up with a strangled gasp.

"G-get me a drink!" Akyuu stumbled forwards on unsteady legs, moving stiffly and jerkily like a puppet in need of some oil. "This girl's throat feels like a pile of cinder blocks! And gods, her tummy's going nuclear in here!"

"Mizuchi, is that you?!" cried Sanae. There was no mistaking the absurd jumble of American words and Chicago gangster slang spluttering out of Akyuu's normally gentle mouth. "I- I brought some cereal bars! Will they do?"

"She needs a drink first! Fortunately..." Kanako pulled a thermos flask from under her coat. She unscrewed the lid and poured out a measure of steaming green tea, which she held out to the purple-haired girl.

"Thanks, chief!" Mizuchi, piloting Akyuu deftly, took the cup-lid and gulped down the liquid within. Akyuu's elegant throat bobbed wildly as she swallowed. "Ahhh, that... That's kippy."

"Akyuu... No, Mizuchi, are you... Is she..." Her clothes damp with snow, Kosuzu took Akyuu's small hands in a tender grasp. "Are you all right? She'd better be all right, Mizuchi!"

"Relax, doll-face. Whatever funk this little number was in, it's no match for the Jailbreak King!" Mizuchi laughed proudly and coughed miserably. "Bloomers on toast, this body's Joed. She needs about fifty of those cereal bars and a week dossing in bed."

Kosuzu squeaked delightledly. "Ohhh, what a relief! Thank you so much, Mizuchi!" she cried, dancing with joy. "When can you give her back?! Do you need to stay in there for a while?"

"She should be okay, emphasis on 'should'. But lemme get one of these inside her first," said Mizuchi, beckoning Sanae over.

Mizuchi took the proffered cereal bar and tucked in, chewing the paper wrapper with a scowl. "Thish shtuff'sh overrated," she growled, forcing down the last bite. "Okay, little Akyuu can have her body back now. I'm giving her my energy, enough to stay on her feet for a few hours anyway. Here we go!"

Mizuchi, or Akyuu, clamped her hands over the sides of her head and let out a long, low scream. Abruptly she looked up to the sky and blew out a cloud of steam, which broiled and shook in midair for a moment before coalescing into Mizuchi.

Kanako, Sanae and Suwako cheered while Mizuchi slumped wearily against the wall. Kosuzu grabbed Akyuu as she staggered backwards, blinking blearily in the faint afternoon sun.

"K-Kosuzu?" breathed Akyuu, peering up at her as best she could. "You carried me."

"It's all right, Akyuu! I've got you!" Kosuzu spun Akyuu around and kissed her on both cheeks. "Oh, Akyuu... I was so worried! I thought you'd be like that forever!"

"And the day is saved." Mizuchi's clothes were rumpled and her hair all over the place, but she wore a proud smile as she floated towards them. "Hieda no Akyuu, how are we feeling?"

"I was so cold..." groaned Akyuu, leaning on Kosuzu and holding her tight. "I wanted to move so desperately, I was screaming at myself from within, but my body refused to listen! Then she..."

"You're safe now, Akyuu." Kosuzu wept with relief. "M- Mizuchi, thank you so much! And you!" She looked up at the proud Kanako and Suwako, standing on the other side of the road with a confused Sanae. "Now I understand why you were encouraging me to say yes while Mizuchi couldn't see you!"

Kanako and Suwako's smiles vanished. They shared a brief guilty look before bracing themselves for the worst.

"I beg your pardon?" Mizuchi turned around slowly, brushing a strand of hair off her forehead, and whispered the sheepish goddesses her question. "What did the snappy young bookseller just say?"

"Right, Mizuchi, I should perhaps mention one or two things now," Kanako tried to stay on top of the situation. "Suwako's idea was about uncovering the real you, seeing whether you'd do the right thing even if it might come at a cost, and she convinced me to go along with it- OW!"

Suwako withdrew her foot from Kanako's bruised shin. "Sorry, Mizuchi, but we had to see if you were making progress. So when we saw this situation with Akyuu, we decided to give you a little push in the right direction. Except we made it look like a push in the wrong direction... You see?"

Mizuchi glared at her for a few more moments, then she burst out laughing. "Oh, for the love of rainbows! Reverse psychology?!" she scoffed. "Well, joke's on you, I only did the 'right thing' 'cause I felt like it... Wh-which doesn't mean I'm nice!"

"Don't say that! You are nice, Mizuchi." Kosuzu took Mizuchi's hand and smiled up at her. "You're a hero! You saved Akyuu's life!"

"Guh?!" Mizuchi could hardly bear such a radiant smile. Akyuu was up on her plates, leaning on a bollard and looking fine thanks to the magic of tea, cereal bars and...

"Damn it, I was kind, wasn't I? Well, fine, get your snaps! Extra, extra, read all about it! Vengeful spirit turns out to be capable of upstanding behaviour... Big deal." Mizuchi stuck out her tongue. "Can we go shopping now?"