I sat cross-legged in front of a table, a warm cup of tea placed in front of me. Two more cups of tea had been positioned adjacent to my cup, and those corresponded to the two figures that stared at each other from opposite sides, each waiting for the other to make the fatal mistake of speaking first.

The silence rang deafeningly in my ears. My feet were numb, but I dared not move them for fear of making any sound.

How did it all come to this?

It had been a full week since we had returned to the Human Village, and the events that had transpired at the Furnace between now and then had occupied my thoughts fully, leaving no room for any other concerns. It was thus a great surprise to me when a sheepish and almost apologetic Mamizou Futatsuiwa showed up at the Suzunaan one day, asking to speak to me.

"I'm glad to see you are well," I said after shaking her hand.

"I heard about your efforts, and the efforts of Reimu Hakurei and Marisa Kirisame, to rescue me from the hermit's clutches. I appreciate your help greatly, though I am not sure how I might best repay you."

"Don't worry about it. I am just happy that you're safe, and I am sure Reimu and Marisa would say the same."

Mamizou bowed. "Then I must also apologize in advance, for I have another favor to ask of you."

"What would that favor be?"

"As you may have surmised from my presence here, Byakuren Hijiri has returned to the Myouren Temple. She is preparing for a second round of discussions with the hermit about how best to… split the difference, if you will."

"That is welcome news in itself," I replied. "I had been worrying that they might come to blows."

"They are not so uncivilized as to resort immediately to violence, though combat in itself can be as refined an art as any other. Nevertheless, the favor I am asking of you has to do with their negotiations. You see, they are in need of a mediator."

"And they want… me?"

The raccoon girl nodded. "Normally, discussions like these would be presided over by Keine Kamishirasawa, the one who holds knowledge over all of Gensokyo. But when I went to Keine, she told me to look for you instead. Her reasoning was that you, as a relatively recent arrival to this realm, would be best suited to the task, as you remain as yet free from the swaying of the winds of conflict, something that even Keine, in all her wisdom, lacks. Byakuren and Miko also agreed to this."

"I haven't actually agreed, though." I sighed. "But very well. When are these discussions taking place?"

"Tomorrow afternoon. Anyway, I have to go and tell Byakuren that you have agreed." Before I knew it, Mamizou was around the doorway and out. She turned to look at me, winked, and said, "You better be there."

"Yes, yes."

And so the following day, after I had my lunch at the tavern, I made my way up to the Myouren Temple. Upon mounting the steps leading up to the entrance, I was met by a familiar face.

"It's great to see you again," said Kogasa Tatara as she launched into a cute pirouette with the monstrous umbrella she always carried around. In the keen daylight, she seemed a much less menacing and more welcoming figure, though in truth she was never really that scary to begin with. A relief, but also a fatal flaw if she ever wished to satiate her hunger for the fright of others.

"Likewise." I patted her on the head, which elicited a surprised yelp. "I never got the opportunity to thank you for dragging us out of the Mausoleum."

"You can thank me by not treating me like a little kid." She rubbed her head, as if my hand had somehow scorched her, and pouted. "Boo!" she suddenly exclaimed.

"Ahh!" I yelled.

We stared at each other. It was apparent that I was now attempting to hold back laughter, as Kogasa's adorable features scrunched into a frown.

"Don't laugh!" she huffed, poking my stomach with the tip of her umbrella.

I looked away. "I'm not laughing. Really, I'm not."

"Liar!" she harrumphed, but ultimately she decided to let the matter go. "Byakuren is waiting for you. Come on."

"Along with Toyosatomimi no Miko, I'm presuming."

Kogasa shuddered visibly. "Let's not talk about that one."

"As you wish."

We weaved through the many corridors of the Temple, and soon found ourselves in front of a pair of paper sliding doors. Kogasa slid open one of the doors and gestured for me to enter.

"Aren't you coming in?" I asked as I dropped my voice to a whisper.

"Byakuren and the… hermit… asked for the two of them to be undisturbed."

"You mean I'm going in there alone with those two?" I hissed incredulously.

Kogasa placed a hand on my shoulder and shook her head. "Good luck." With a flash, she was around the corner and out of sight.

It was my turn to shake my head, but I knew what I had to do. I peered into the room and saw the two religious leaders, sat face to face, eyeing each other in stony silence.

"Excuse me…" I said as I closed the door behind me. The two of them turned to face me in eerie unison.

"Thank you for coming today," Byakuren Hijiri said, the first time I had heard her voice in what seemed like an eternity. She sounded hoarse and weary, as if she had just been engaged in a considerable number of bouts of verbal sparring. "I hope you have been well."

"I also appreciate you coming here, traveler." Toyosatomimi no Miko waved. "Please, sit."

A pang of dread struck my chest. I knew each of the people here well, and I knew they did not think ill of me, but I had never met them together in the same room for good reason. The scene before me took on the rather unsavory flavor of two mistresses fighting over the right to remain with the partner they had both been sharing, having tolerated each other's existence up until now. The situation had come to a head, and it was now time for the common link – me, in other words – to step in and cast judgment. I could not help but think that Keine Kamishirasawa had enjoined me to take her place for a more mischievous purpose than simply my status as a neutral and impartial observer.

I took a seat in front of them. A lukewarm mug of tea had already been prepared, and I wrapped my hands around it as I looked at each person in turn. Byakuren wore a tired expression, her timeless features beginning to show their age as her wavy hair collapsed onto her frame and her normally taut cheeks sagged; Miko, who squinted every time she cast her fierce gaze on her opposite number, was a paragon of focus, scrutinizing Byakuren's every motion, her fingers tapping impatiently on her elbows.

The awkwardness grew so unbearable that I was compelled to break the ice permeating through the air. But just as I opened my mouth, Miko also opened hers.

"Traveler, I must confess something." She looked unexpectedly contrite as she spoke. "The truth is, the majority of our negotiations were concluded in the Moriya Shrine. There is very little we have left to iron out with regards to our respective differences."

"Then what do you need me here for?"

"We just…" Byakuren blurted out, before falling silent again.

"It's a small matter, but the monk was set on making a mountain out of the proverbial molehill. You see, we had been talking about your abilities. Fascinating as they are, their range is limited – even more so now that Kanako Yasaka has been alerted to their potential – so I wondered if I would be able to teach you something, or at least draw out whatever other powers you might secretly be housing. I did not think much of it, but then Byakuren insisted that she would be the one to take you under her fold instead." Miko sighed. "In all honesty, I don't really mind, but ultimately you should be the one to choose. Don't you think?"

Yet another matter regarding me that had been decided without my knowing anything about it. "There's no third choice?" I asked tentatively.

"There are no better teachers of unlocking magical potential in the realm than the two of us, even if I do say so myself. After all, we've been doing this sort of thing for centuries, and I'm sure you wouldn't want to wait that long to find out what you can do."

Had this question been posed to me even a week ago, my answer would have been obvious and unwavering. Byakuren Hijiri had on many occasions gone out of her way to help me, a lost soul in need of guidance, and there were few others in this world filled with facades and lurking perils that I would put my full and complete trust in. But the inner voice that had urged me forward on my many adventures thus far was whispering again in my ear, urging me to take the path less traveled. The devil I knew would drag me to hell on the shortest route possible; the devil I didn't know might at least take me on a detour. In truth, my choice had been made for me ever since that one night where I had discovered that Toyosatomimi no Miko was far from the monster that I had made her out to be.

"Byakuren, you have been very kind to me these past few weeks," I said. "For that reason, I feel I cannot burden you any more than would be reasonably necessary. I would ask that you rest well, and return to your followers as energetic and enthusiastic as you have always been." I turned to Miko. "I'm in your care, if you'll have me."

Byakuren nodded, her expression serene even as her slouched shoulders betrayed her disappointment. Toyosatomimi no Miko beamed.

"Look forward to it," chirped the hermit.