Naraka Yamaxanadu peered over the edge of the boat, her eyes scanning the Sanzu River. "Mommy, why can't I see any fish?" she asked.
"That's because this is the river in which the dead are ferried to Higan to be judged," Komachi answered without missing a beat in her rowing. "It's not like the other rivers in Gensokyo, so that's why you don't see any fish."
"But if it's the river of the dead, why aren't there the spirits of dead fish?"
Komachi paused for a bit. "You know, I wonder...maybe you should ask Daddy later." The shinigami gave a small laugh. "Though it's because they all sank to the bottom; after all, the Sanzu River only allows the shinigami and their boats to float."
"Does that mean if you and Daddy went swimming in the river, Daddy would sink?"
Komachi had to stop rowing as she had doubled up howling in laughter, causing several of the ghosts and spirits in the area to shrink away with fright. "Oh...oh my...Shikieiki sinking into the Sanzu River...oh gods, that's hilarious..." Wiping away tears of mirth, Komachi made an attempt to compose herself and promptly succumbed to laughter once again. "Though why she would go swimming in the Sanzu River in the first place..."
"Would I sink in the Sanzu River?" Naraka asked, tentatively touching the water's surface with her finger.
"Hm...I don't know...you're half-shinigami, so the Sanzu River should recognize that. On the other hand, you're half-yama as well...I wouldn't be too bothered by it." Her voice suddenly took on a stern tone, something that didn't happen too often with the shinigami. "However, don't go trying to find out on your own, alright? Those who sink to the bottom of the Sanzu River rarely come out alive, and those that do don't come out right..."
"What do you mean by that?" Naraka was shivering a little and she gave the surface of the silent river an apprehensive glance.
"It means that Mommy and Daddy would be really sad if something bad happened to you," Komachi said as she pulled her daughter into a hug. "Come on, let's head back home now." She quickened her rowing speed and the boat soon reached Higan where Shikieiki was waiting for the two of them.
"How was your day with Mommy?" she asked as Naraka ran to her.
"It was fun!" Naraka beamed.
"Good to hear," Shikieiki chuckled. "Komachi, what are you laughing at?"
"Hey Naraka, go on, ask her," Komachi grinned as she continued to snigger.
"Daddy, would you sink in the Sanzu River?"
Shikieiki could only stare at her daughter's curious face with disbelief before slowly turning her gaze up to Komachi, who lost any composure she had and began laughing hysterically once again. "Komachi..." Naraka, sensing her Daddy's lecturing mode surfacing, decided to make a quick getaway.