Reinforcements.

A single word that was either the greatest of succors or the most grim of omens. To Anon, Hana, and Reimu it was a welcome sight, to the battered Yukari, it caused her stomach to churn and the grip on the blade to tighten. Yuugi had fought her almost to a standstill not long ago, even with an Oni-Slayer in her grasp it would not be an easy brawl, that was until she saw the rest of the party, and the perspectives of both sides flipped.

Hana immediately flicked her Gohei in the direction of those last to leave the backdoor, ready to strike. "Down you fool!" Satori shouted with a piercing gaze. So high had Hana's reactions and focused been raised that Satori, hearing her lethal thoughts, was just barely able to utter a warning.

The shrine maiden didn't strike, but she also didn't lower her weapon from the Amanojaku and her Partner, even though both carried a small babe in their arms.

"Not a bad look you have in your eye girly. Have you learned some honesty?" Seija asked her.

"Your with HER aren't you? Is that why you came here?" Hana replied, ignoring the question.

But before the Jaku could answer, Yuugi flew off and Hana turned, thinking she had made for Yukari, but was surprised to see her descending, down into the blackness, down to grab Kasen she realized. Hana turned back and saw the two were now gone and slowly floating towards Yukari. She made to point her Gohei at them again, only to have a small hand pull upon her arm.

"Relax! Take a moment now, you'll need to converse your strength." Satori says, gritting her teeth slightly. "A cornered animal is the most dangerous."

"They...did they have children?" Anon asked, finding himself even more terribly confused at the evolving situation.

Above the lake the two floated towards Yukari, they had never seen her so ignoble as they did then, with the Sage caked in blood, her clothing torn, and shoes missing. Yet, it also was a relief to Seija and Goro both. The had known her inner turmoil and how much her posturing had hid and now there was no longer a dissonance between her anguish and appearance.

"Excellent." Yukari breathed. "You've dealt with those other pests and now return to me hmm? Fortunate, for me and for you. Had the both of you come a minute or so later I'd have behead you two of you for incompetence. Now that you're here though, you can prove your loyalty: the Shrine Maiden has minutes, her daughter is exhausted but troublesome, distract her and I'll-" she stopped, her eyes narrowed and grew wide as she looked at the babes they held.

"What is this?" She asked, eyes shot pointedly at Goro.

"They're our children. Oiwa and Tsukuyomi." Seija answered, pointing to the raven-haired, sapphire-eyed child in her arms and the blood-orange eyed blonde child in Goro's. "They were born of the HSE. They're your Godchildren."

Yukari's eyes went wide and a thousand scenarios ran through her head. A lie, an illusion, time travel, parents leaving their twins at the HSE's doorstep as if it were a church, but even through her fatigue and insanity, she happened upon the truth: the construction of the HSE was flawed, their energies had spilled into it and coalesced into children.

Goro smiled at her, seeing the realization in her face, and tried to approach her, almost reaching out with his child to her, but Yuakri flinched, pulling herself back.

"This is...a test." Yukari uttered. "Yes, of course, a trial. To think that someone in this land would give me an ounce of consideration when I have known nothing but betrayal. Just like the old epics, one last temptation before the reward is-"

"We made a promise!" Seija yelled, holding her Oiwa close to her breast. "We swore not to leave you alone. You gave us these two, whether you meant to or not, so I'm going to make sure that you at least see that much, before you try to throw everything away."

"You think I'm tossing everything aside? You stupid Jaku, I am taking all that I'm owed! My Anon! My child!!" She said, a hand on her belly. "And all of Gensokyo, mine, as it always should have been! For all that I've suffered and endured! You believe I'll waver because some nobody Youkai and her peasant Human partner show me two...two..." She strained, face contorting as she saw innocent sapphire and blood-orange eyes stare back at her.

"Homunculi?" Seija asked, as she brushed Oiwas short black hair. "A Youkai who beds a human shouldn't say such a thing, not after all that you went through to have yours."

At this Yukari felt something within her snap. "I won't be lead astray, not after coming this far!" She screamed mustering her magic once more.

Breaking it down into smaller parts for sanities sake and to get back into the groove.