Blue Blood

Authors note: Added in the previous chapter a sentence about why he didn't tell Aya about Kanshou and Bakuya, he want's to face Meiling and her combination of Yin and Yang in Tai Chi before his swords get stronger.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Finished putting the last book to bribe Marisa and Alice in my magic bag, (I want to spread knowledge of magic and learn more with them, maybe due to my traits as a raven? As long as I enjoy it.) looking through my Ravens eyes I control It to fly straight up and once I reach 2 miles high I glide diagonaly down towards Marisa's house, speeding up as I see Marisa come towards me from the direction of my Inn's in the distance.

I stand up with my real body and take my magic bag I've filled with a good combination of books, they're all copies afterall. I then head towards Marisa's home as fast as I can on foot, using my mana sense to know my path perfectly before I come within a mile of it. Running at full speed without damaging the ground around me while holding all of my mana in using the Ravens atribute of flying without sound, they wont notice me until I'm close since I'm not affecting the world around me.

As the controlled Raven I swoop down on Alice's shoulder gently. She knows I'm controlling a weak magical bird that can't harm her so she let's me.

Alice:"So fast? Did you do it from nearby through your familiars eyes?"

Arata:"Indeed, though I wonder if Marisa will put it together by the time she gets here."

Alice:"We wont know until she arrives since she's upset."

Arata:"You wont let her hurt my familiar until I arrive will you?"

Alice:"She wouldn't want to hurt your familiar, only bully it a little."

Arata:"Thats exactly what I'm worried about though! I've looked through the books I borrowed and most of the magic I've learned outside has differences caused by the lack of mana to use stronger magic. It's a mildly weaker more strategic and less wastefull way to use magic. I will give you and Marisa some books about it if you don't let her bully him." (there are literal gods of magic residing in Gensokyo)

Alice:"If it's outside magic it would be suitable payment, though you don't have to give Marisa any if it's just to protect your familiar."

Arata:"It seems you like taking jabs at Marisa, I'll need to calm her down with books. I don't wan't to get beat up afterall."

Alice:"You shouldn't belittle yourself, you're plenty strong yourself. You should be able to survive marisa?"

Arata:"What's with the questioning my survival, are you giving me a bad omen? I'm strong enough to fight Marisa, yes. But I've never fought with spell cards, and I'm a little injured. Look, she's here."

Marisa:"Arata! You coward face me! You shouldn't run from battle!"

The only think keeping her from attacking is my Raven being on Alice's shoulder.

Arata:"I've already brought them back, there's no need for a fight. You enjoyed the cake didnt you? It was one cake per robbery." I say as I return the books I used my familiar to nab

Marisa:"While the cake was good it doesn't excuse the two times you robbed me! I want proper compensation! My thieves pride demands you Fight me!"

Arata:"While we could fight, I'm currently half injured, you wouldn't bully someone like that right? I can pay you with books on magic from outside the barrier. Repayment for thieves pride should be taking something from me, not violence."

All of her anger and hurt pride are out the window, her eyes light up at the thought of new magic books. She just wanted to fight the new guy since only Reimu can fight her here and the only other vampire she know is strong, now that she knows I'm injured she doesn't want a fight.

Arata:"My real body is here with the books and some snacks so we can debate the new magic over tea."

I slow down far enough away from them that they don't think I'm attacking and send a messenger bird to Meiling at Scarlet Devil Mansion since I will visit tonight. Then we all go in Marisa's house. I pull out snacks and my own tea as we sit down and start brewing it, taking care to reinforce it as the two astute mages watch. If the food gets better in Gensokyo it's only a good thing. Their eyes first have traces of questioning, followed by considerations, finally before they ask I start speaking.

Arata:"I call it reinforcement, it can reinforce whatever you pour your mana in. Since mana is mental energy you can infuse it in things with certain thoughts or 'intents,' like increasing a swords physical sharpness with Ki. You can increase the conceptual sharpness of a sword with mana or food with deliciousness or sweetness. Meaning it's a waste to not use it with the thought of making food better."

Alice:"Is that why the cakes where so delicious? To have not known of such a wonderfull application of mana brings me sadness."

Marisa:"That means we don't need to go to his dumb Inn for desserts! Serves you right for stealing from me."

Arata:"While it's true anyone with enough control can do it, it still takes a lot of practice. So I have 200 more years of experience than you. My Inn also enhances the recovery ability of the hot springs under it with 'concepual' enchantments which I'll give you a book on shortly. I recommend you go to the Yokai Inn though since if the enchantments where too strong it would hurt the normal humans."

I say as I finish making the tea and bring out the first 10 books for them to look at.

I make two cups of tea without reinforcement and put enough leaves to make tea in two more cups so they can try. After trying the normal tea and tasting the difference they try it themselves, right before they start I tell them.

Arata:"You actually have an advantage over me, each food has a different intent, which helps you in using intent during different spells. If you imagine the feeling my tea gave you while doing it you will get a headstart since I've figured out the best 'intent' to use on this type of tea."

They do as I say and and Marisa is disappointed in her tea's ability to be compared to mine while Alice is thoughtfull.

Alice:"Such a weak but effective way of using mana, is the rest of the outside world's magic similar?"

Arata:"This one is my magic alone, I've never seen anyone else use it. The rest of the magic is more about mana efficiency and strategy, Reinforcement is the most usefull of any of the magic I'll give you since it helps you no matter what magic you're using."

We continue talking about magic and they go through the books I keep handing them, while I use familiars to read books back at my Inn's library I copied but didn't memorize and review and learn at the same time as them. They ask about 'conceptual' enchantment while I ask about spell card restrictions and integration of objects into them. Afterall, if I can use spell cards to summon copies of Kanshou and Bakuya, I can perform Triple Linked Crane Wings. The attack that the Archer version of Shiro Emiya said got him through many life and death battles.

You throw the first set of Kanshou and Bakuya with the intent of them getting deflected behind the enemy while charging them with the second pair. The first set of swords get attracted to the second pair through the swords connection to each other. Hitting your opponent in the back while you make them block their front. I would have to show my opponent the swords can fly to each other or call the spell card spell of magnetism though, otherwise people will get upset at 'dirty tricks.' Since danmaku battles here are supposed to be 'Fair Duels' (Says the priestess that was born a cheat.)

After we finish our talk over tea and they improve their reinforcement I leave 25 books behind for them and seperate with promises of continuing tommorow. Heading towards scarlet Devil mansion since my first robbery took 3 hours and lasted until 3 o'clock while we chatted with eachother for around 4 1/2 hours until it passed dusk.

Reaching Meiling whom I informed of my arrival before meeting Alice and Marisa with my real body (she'd probably be asleep otherwise, I don't want to fight her when she's drowsy.), I do a Chinese salute of one fist cupped over the other. Left hand over right fist, meaning my heart is over my fist. If it where the opposite, right hand over left fist, it would mean my fist is over my heart. Signaling a battle to the death.

She salutes back confused.

Arata:"I know your confused but before I go in I want to spar with you since it's rare to see someone that integrates Yin and Yang like me. What do you practice? Since your Chinese, Tai Chi?"

She looks like she's excited for the spar. (maybe her job is boring?)

Meiling:"Yes, Tai Chi Chuan. Hong Meiling! I look forward to sparring with you. Since we will be conversing with our fists and you're the callenger, make the first move!"

She says, barely keeping herself from making the first move in her exitement.

Arata:"Arata Shinohara, I learned swordsmanship by watching someone swing swords, so I don't think I have a style. Just keep in mind, they only cut what I want, so they will only leave line shaped bruises on you. En garde!"

Meiling:"Don't think just because you combine Yin and Yang you can face me! Your swordsmanship is nothing compared to 4000 years of history!"

We finish speaking as I pull out Kanshou and Bakuya, charging in with calm but forcefull steps. I lead with Bakuya, ready to catch her leading hand, she wants to counter my momentum but I want to do the same to her. It's the first time I've battled someone that fights like me and I have to say. It's a pain in the ass! I start getting used to it quickly but I based my use of Kanshou and Bakuya on the principle of perfect defence and offence simultaneously. Which the real Tai Chi of China does extremely well!

I've never fought such a skilled opponent! It's always people used to being able to turn everything to dust with one punch. I guess weakness is what creates d.e.s.i.r.e for strength? It's what lit my d.e.s.i.r.e to improve this life. All of the Vampires I've fought have fought like their ok with taking hits needlessly if something slips through. Like only someone that can die with one slash can have a strong d.e.s.i.r.e to not be cut.

We continue attacking and her fists reinforced with Ki meet my swords infused with a Similar ammount of energies. Instead of the clanging of metal that would resound when most did this though, it's light taps and the sound of the side of a sword sliding against her metal hard fists and wrists, absorbing the power in eachothers blows. We could easily destroy steel swords as we're going, but because of our delicatness and technique it looks more like a dance than a fight.

Like I push her back for 3 steps and she pushes me back two. Only for my to push her back two the next time and her push me 3. Looking like we're completing a walts dance we don't even realize Remilia and Sakuya are watching us through a window inside. We even have a certain peeper by the name of Yukari watching.

Remilia:"It looks like fine dancing doesn't it Sakuya?"

Sakuya:"Indeed mistress, different from the Oni that just throw muscle around. They carry a beautiful grace that only comes with refined technique."

We continue with eachother until we get used to the others attacks and stop learning from eachother. If we want to have another good spar we need to think about this fight later and improve after analyzing how we did today.

Yukari:"What did I tell you Ran? I said they will dance well together didn't I?"

Ran:"I don't get it though? How can two people trying to hit each other look so beautiful? How did you know they would dance?"

Yukari:"It's like Marisa's magic or Alice's dolls, any technique once refined enough looks beautiful. Their beauty is just amplified due to having similar movements, both soft and forcefull."

Ran:"I think I understand?"

Arata:"Prepare yourself, I'm making my attack!"

I announce the end of the back and forth, which will lead to either victory or defeat.

Rushing in I feint using Bakuya as the Yang sword, using the Yang inside of Yin and she catches it with a kick, trying to absorb the force and add it to her counter. I catch her forward momentum by changing the intent in Kanshou back to Yin and pull her foot in a way that doesn't bring me towards her, but her towards me. I swing Kanshou horizantaly over her stomach and hit her with both of our power combined as I pass her. It will probably leave a nasty bruise but shes on the ground, at least for a few seconds. Which in a spar I count as victory.

As she gets up.

Meiling:"It was a good spar, most people forget that Yin exists inside of Yang and Yang exists inside of Yin. Some people would say that one strike doesn't guaruntee victory but since you pursue the sword and I the fist I will call it my loss. I hope we can spar again after ruminating over this battle."

She looks disappointed her Tai Chi lost, though You can tell she just had fun even though she's panting. That sounded a little dirty didn't it?

Arata:"I hope to fight you again too, Know the swords that defeated you and the Intent I learned from them are Chinese as well. Kanshou and Bakuya, forged in the spring and autumn period. Almost forgotten due to time. I'll also speed up the healing of your bruise since you heal a lot slower than me."

I say as I walk past her into the gate, playing my flute. Noticing that after this time playing it I will heal completely in 5 more minutes.

Meiling:"You mean THE Kanshou and Bakuya!?"

I just nod, not suprised bot about her knowing them, they ARE a symbol for yin and yang afterall. Or that being a bomb big enough for her that she doesn't notice how powerful my healing is. I leave Meiling behind satisfied that her Martial Arts didn't lose to a younger one.