Magical Lotus, Mahou Shoujou Byakuren - Episode 2

[GuyYouMetOnline]

>Or perhaps we should investigate more. The enemy may be doing something to Satori, and if that's the case, we should help her.

[Oldmansour]

>"It's alright. I won't hold your thoughts against you."
>Or so we intend, anyways.

>Stray thoughts can hardly be held against those that have them. They're part of human nature. Or youkai. Whatever Lily is. Besides, it was tasteful, too.

>On the subject of patrolling, reconsider that one guy. Lily may have thoughts there.

>As your thoughts turn back to that giant of a man in an oilskin coat, Lily wonders aloud, "Ooh, he's a tall one! Wonder if he plays basketball. But I've never seen him before, far as I can remember." A quick glance back through her memories does not reveal any encounters with him. A parousal of your own memories yields a similar result. She searches through her friends and acquaintances for someone that might know, each of their faces appearing in her mind's eye, and thus yours. She lingers on a tall woman with short brown hair and blue earrings. You think you recognize her from school, which Lily confirms for you. Koyomi Sawatari, second year like Lily, member of the basketball team, plays power forward. Is surprisingly ticklish. "Well, if he DOES play basketball, Koyomi might know him. Nobody knows more about Bball than she does." Marissa's grinning face flits across her minds' eye as well. Marissa knows nearly everyone in town, or at least it seems that way.

>And how to disentangle Lily from Satori without causing issues...perhaps a letter of resignation? Or claiming need for a vacation?

>Or perhaps we should investigate more. The enemy may be doing something to Satori, and if that's the case, we should help her.

>"Oh, that won't be a big problem. People moving from one shrine to another isn't that uncommon at all! In fact, one of the other girls that worked here, Miho, switched to the southern shrine about two weeks ago." She frowns slightly then. "Then again, she went through Satori to do it..." An idea strikes her, and her eyes brighten as Youmu's image appears in her mind. "We could ask Myon-senpai! See if she has any more openings. Or Suika. I've heard it isn't as common as going through your own miko for transfers, but it's done." It occurs to you that Yuyuko or Reimu might be able to help on that front, if need be. Both their families are involved with at least two of the four shrines.
>The idea of investigating more makes Lily a little nervous. On the one hand, if something is doing something bad to Satori, Lily would like to help her, too. But from what the Tiger said, Satori herself may be a threat all on her own. The Tiger wanted to keep you both safe from HER, after all. Lily doesn't know the true nature of Satori's power, but if she can talk to animals, it stands to reason she might be able to do more. And if the God of the beasts of earth wanted you to stay away from her, Lily's inclined to believe Him.
>"At least... for now...." Lily wonders out loud. "You and I have power, Byakuren, that's for sure. Maybe we don't have the power YET to get to the bottom of this problem here with Satori. Maybe the Tiger wanted to protect us because we haven't mastered our powers yet- Well, I don't even know what the nature of mine is yet, or how strong I am, either. If the Tiger doesn't think we're ready to tackle this problem yet, then I don't think we should. Not until we're stronger, more capable of defending ourselves from... Whatever's here."
>Lily's mind then generates an image of the two of you, and Marissa for some reason, kicking down the main door of the shrine and confronting a green and black humanoid monstrousity, holding Satori aloft in its tentacles, and vanquishing the evil thing, saving the Metal Miko, with Marissa promptly planting a big kiss on Satori. It's what heroes do! And Marissa especially, oh so well...

[GuyYouMetOnline]

>Quite an active imagination.
>We'll see about a transfer for Lily, then. Maybe we should arrange for her to move into Moonside, too, so we don't have to go find each other if something happens. Much easier if we all live together. And we still have to tell everyone else about all of this; with Lily to give her account, too, it'd be easier for them to accept.

[Oldmansour]

>Quite an active imagination.

>Lily feels a swell of pride at that thought. And then blushes again slightly. "I'm, uh, actually trying to keep it under control about now..."

>We'll see about a transfer for Lily, then. Maybe we should arrange for her to move into Moonside, too, so we don't have to go find each other if something happens. Much easier if we all live together. And we still have to tell everyone else about all of this; with Lily to give her account, too, it'd be easier for them to accept.

>Lily laughs a golden laugh, but one tinged with a little nervousness. The Morning Star asking her to move closer to her? That's every teenager in Mayoiga's dream come true! She realizes it's for a greater purpose, but still. The thought makes her heart flutter. But she shakes her head, smiling softly. "I can't. I can't leave my home." Her smile brightens a little as she continues, "But I'd be happy to go with you to tell your friends, if you think that's wise. But this stuff's kinda heavy. Gods, demons, mikos in peril, couple teenagers trying to save the world? I mean, we're living it, but some folks'd think we'd seen one too many cartoons, or been going at- Uh, never mind!"

[Hello Purvis]

>"Actually, how do you plan to tell Kyouko?"

[Oldmansour]

>"Actually, how do you plan to tell Kyouko?"

>Despite the intimate connection between you both, Lily still seems surprised by that question, and she fidgets a moment before answering. "I hadn't... really thought about it. This is still pretty new to me."

[GuyYouMetOnline]

>"It's pretty new to me, too."
>"It would be best to think carefully about what to tell Kyouko. I'm going to tell the others because I know I'll need their help, even if they aren't able to stand with me in battle, but even though they won't be in combat as we are, it will still involve some level of danger. Kyouko could help, too, but that would put her in danger, and I don't know that you'd really like that. I'll leave the decision of what to tell Kyouko up to you; just be sure to think it through carefully."

[Hello Purvis]

>Don't say that. It's too utilitarian.
>"You're going to have to tell her something, I think. She wouldn't be very happy to hear you're just running around with me for no apparent reason. I've been debating who I should tell back home..."

[GuyYouMetOnline]

>"I think I'm going to tell all of them. I may need their help, even if they can't fight, but even if I didn't... well, they're my friends. I don't want to lie to them."

[Oldmansour]

>"It's pretty new to me, too."
>"I think I'm going to tell all of them. I may need their help, even if they can't fight, but even if I didn't... well, they're my friends. I don't want to lie to them."

>Lily nods and smiles at you, and you sense her first reaction to such a sentiment is to give you a big hug. But she thinks twice, not certain she can do that without seperating the jewels on your rings, which she feels reluctant to do unless you feel the desire to as well.

>"You're going to have to tell her something, I think. She wouldn't be very happy to hear you're just running around with me for no apparent reason. I've been debating who I should tell back home..."

>"Oh, I wouldn't worry.... Wait a second." Lily pauses, searching for something within you, then giggles a bemused giggle and grins at you. "Oh, you're worried because you thought she's my girlfriend?"

[GuyYouMetOnline]

>"Um... well, yes. Isn't she?"
>Seperating the rings is okay if she's ready to do it.

[Oldmansour]

>Seperating the rings is okay if she's ready to do it.

>Giving your agreement to seperate the rings, the both of you tense your hands, then hesitate but briefly. This experience is truly unique, and unlike most of the others you've had since you touched that doll, this one was purely good. For just a bare moment, the both you are hesitant about giving it up, but you can't stay here forever, and you both know it. Plus, nothing stopping you from joining this way again, if you so choose. It would certainly make life interesting, sharing a spirit with Lily, and perhaps others, and maybe the rings won't even be necessary at some point. And so the both of you lower your hands, seperating your jewels.
>You hear a distinct snapping sound, and a sensation you can only describe as being unplugged. Instantly reality rushes back to you, and you are left staring at simply Lily, no colors of emotion, no swirls of spirit, just the flesh and blood figure of pretty little Lily. You feel an obscure sense of loss, and a feeling of being rather alone now. But a moment's passing allows you to realize that your heart and Lily's are still connected, the connection is merely dormant now, background, if you will.
>The experience has also left you feeling a little.... different. More energetic, somehow. You find your mind isn't quite operating as it usually is, you're more... excitable, more efferfescant, somehow. It seems that sharing a spirit with Lily has allowed some of her emotions to rub off on you. For her part, Lily takes a couple of breaths but never takes her eyes off yours, smiling softly and blushing slightly. "Wow..."

>"Um... well, yes. Isn't she?"

>Lily smiles broadly. "Everybody thinks that! Now, it is true that we're close friends- I liked her the day I met her. And let's be honest, just about everyone in school knows that we... enjoy each other's company, to put it politely. But the term 'girlfriends' doesn't really apply to us; we're not monagamous with each other. We're just good friends. Who happen to be intimate with each other. Frequently."
>She pauses then, placing a wing under her chin, a gesture simultaneously cute and thoughtful. "I suppose you could call us girlfriends in that sense, but we're not married, and neither one of us minds the other spending time with another, in most senses of the term." The look in her eye leaves no illusion what she means by that.

[GuyYouMetOnline]

>...Okay, then.
>"I suppose I was worrying needlessly, then."
>"What do you think we should do now? Do you want to see about getting transferred to another shrine? Or should we head back to Moonside and see if everyone's awake enough to listen to our rather strange story?

[Oldmansour]

>...Okay, then.
>"I suppose I was worrying needlessly, then."

>Lily smiles, then ruffles her wings in a slightly dismissive gesture. "Happens all the time. Don't worry about it."

>"What do you think we should do now? Do you want to see about getting transferred to another shrine? Or should we head back to Moonside and see if everyone's awake enough to listen to our rather strange story?

>Lily checks her watch, her eyes going slightly wide. "I don't think being awake'll be an issue. It's after 4 in the afternoon."
>"Well, either way, we can settle the issue of my transfer first. I have the numbers for the other shrines on hand. I can get in touch with Konpaku-sama, and see if she can affect my transfer without having to cross Satori's path. It shouldn't take long, unless she's in a meeting, or something."

[Hello Purvis]

>"Alright, you can call her on the way back."

[Oldmansour]

>"Alright, you can call her on the way back."

>"Right."
>"I brought lunch with me, left it the equipment shed on the grounds. We could split it, if you like."

[Hello Purvis]

>"Hm, alright."

[Oldmansour]

>"Hm, alright."

>Lily nods, and the two of you turn and head for her shed. The connection between you no longer as strong, you notice that it's gotten a bit cooler, and the wind has picked up, blowing in from the north, you believe, carrying a rather sharp chill when it gusts. You find your eyes wandering a bit more, lingering on the colors of the fallen and falling leaves, the wildlife and insect life in an around the trees, the birds flitting and singing overhead. This must be how Lily sees the world; smiling at everything, seeing the world as a wonderful thing.
>The temple grounds appear a bit duller now, likely due to the sun's passing in the sky overhead, and a pair of children are now playing on the swingsets, overseen by a tallish woman who you'd guess is the pair's elder sister. You and Lily exchange greetings with her as you pass by.
>The shed is of better design than the name would imply, looking more a seperate part of the temple than an equipment shed. A pair of white and grey-clothed mikos stand beside the small stairs leading up to the entrance. The tall one is a bird youkai of some sort, with mottled brown and white wings and shoulder length brown hair, the other is a cat youkai, and has long pinkish hair and tail, with lavender streaks in both. As they see you approach, the catgirl sniffs the air, then looks rather dejected. Her companion snorts out a chuckle, then folds her arms across her flat chest, a smirk on her face. "Pay up."

[Hello Purvis]

>Quietly to Lily: "This must be a rather boring day if that's all people can worry about."
>Let's go get that lunch.

[Oldmansour]

>Quietly to Lily: "This must be a rather boring day if that's all people can worry about."
>Let's go get that lunch.

>Much to your surprise, Lily's face is rather hard as she looks at the pair, the catgirl producing a pair of bills, which the taller miko snatches abrubtly out of her hands. "'Worry' isn't the word I'd use, Byakuren." she replies in a terse tone, which you find rather out of place coming out of her lips.
>The two of you walk past the pair, up the few steps to the door, which Lily opens for you. The place is surprisingly organized, holding rolled up mats, a few sliding paper doors, planks of wood, various other implements used around the temple, including a banner and a couple paper lanterns you assume are used for festivals. The floor in the middle is bare, however, and you see a bit of cloth sticking out from behind a small stack of paint cans, likely the wrappings of whatever Lily came with.
>Lily gives a jerk of the head to the catgirl as she catches her eye, indicating she wants her feline co-miko to join the both of you. The girls' ears twitch and she smiles, bounding past the winged youkai and up the stairs, brushing past you on her way inside. The brown-winged girl pushes herself off from the wall with an arrogant smirk on her face, and turns towards you both, but Lily meets her eyes with that same hard expression, her blue eyes stormy. The two stare at each other for a long moment, then the woman makes a dismissive sound, spits on the ground, and lopes off towards the main temple. Lily watches her go, then sighs. "Sorry about that." before entering the shed
>As Lily reaches behind the paint cans, the pink-haired catgirl sitting much like an actual feline, her tail swishing, you wonder for a moment why Lily would have invited two people to share her lunch. Surely she couldn't have brought that much. Then she produces a blue cloth-wrapped box of some sorts. Then another. Then another. And then finally a sizable thermos. Finally a large white blanket, which she spreads out on the floor of the shed.
>Unwrapping the boxes, Lily opens them- most of them, as your catgirl companion, with some enthusiasm, opens a black box containing a trio of rice balls and immediately starts devouring it with even more enthusiasm. The remianing boxes contain what seems to be portions of a cheese omelette, three more rice balls, sandwiches, some with cold beef and the rest with a white meat, most likely turkey slices, and sausages cut into vaguely octopus-like shapes. Lily points at the box with two remaining rice balls. "Those just have salt on them, the other box have cinnamon as well."

[Hello Purvis]

>"Thank you, Lily,"
>Bow to Cattington.
>"Good afternoon."

[Oldmansour]

>"Thank you, Lily,"
>Bow to Cattington.
>"Good afternoon."

>Lily nods and smiles. "My pleasure. Food always tastes better in good company." She reaches behind the paint again and produces a quartet of cups, setting one back where she found it.
>The cat youkai pauses in her munching as you address her. With her mouth full of rice, she makes a slightly confused sound before looking at Lily. The blonde nods gently to her, and, taking a moment to chew and swallow, before standing and bowing in return. "G-good afternoon, ma'am" she says in a quiet, airy voice, sounding rather timid.
>"This is Byakuren Hijri, Chie. She's a friend of mine." Lily informs her. The pink-haired catgirl gives you a smile accomanied by a quiet, shy little chuckle, but says nothing else. Lily extends her arm out towards her fellow miko while looking at you. "And this is Chie Yoshinoya." She pauses for a moment. "I realize this isn't a standard introduction, and I hope you don't mind, but, Chie prefers me or Satori handle most of the niceties for her, when we can. She hasn't been a youkai very long, and interacting with people still doesn't come too easily for her."

[Hello Purvis]

>"Ah, I see."
>Bow to Chie again. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Chie."
>To Lily, since she wants to be the face, "Who was that other person with the wings?"

[Oldmansour]

>"Ah, I see."
>Bow to Chie again. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Chie."
>To Lily, since she wants to be the face, "Who was that other person with the wings?"

>"Lliekwise." Chie utters, taking a few seconds before seeming to remember to return your bow, which she does only moderately awkwardly before sitting next to Lily and returning her attention to her food.

>To Lily, since she wants to be the face, "Who was that other person with the wings?"

>Lily rubs the back of Chie's head, drawing a rather feline expression of contentment from her, as she replies, "That'd be the Eagle. Asuka Nagashima." Both name and title ring a bell in your mind; they're definately familiar to you, but you can't quite but a finger on from where. Noting the expression of thoughtfulness on your face, Lily supplies a little more. "I think you'dve been a first year when they were still in school. Do you remember the Manari?" That term makes your memory click.
>The Manari were a quartet of female youkai, who were in the third year during your first year at Mayoiga high. They took their name from an old Moscovich word meaning 'Predators'. They took the name literally. The four were a traveling thunderstorm, spreading trouble and mayhem wherever they went. A gang of bullies of the highest order, they made life miserable for everyone around them. They attended school at their leisure, up until principal Unzan challenged them all to a 4 on 1 wrestling match, and won. After that, they at least tried to clean their act up a little. From what you recall, they had little success. Rumor has it, not long after their graduation, the four of them had a run in with the law, but the details of which depend on who who you ask. You hadn't heard of them around town for the better part of a year now.

[Hello Purvis]

>"Ah..."
>Take one of the riceballs at random.
>"Does she often take your money, Chie?"

[Oldmansour]

>"Ah..."
>Take one of the riceballs at random.
>"Does she often take your money, Chie?"

>You grab one of the onigiri Lily mentioned was seasoned with cinnamon in addition to salt, and have a bite. The flavor of cold rice is never an entirely exciting one, but the combination of salt and cinnamon is an interesting mix, and you find the flavor is surprsingly enjoyable. The fact that you're hungry probably helps as well.
>Inquiring about Chie's monetary experiences with the Eagle, the cat youkai, her mouth again full of rice ball, replies with a "Smhphfff". Which Lily, with a smile, translates as "Sometimes. But not like your basic 'Give me your lunch money' bully, no. She usually makes bets that she can't lose. And not just with Chie; I think about the only one she hasn't suckered is Satori." Lily produces a pair of chopsticks and offers them to you, while snatching a turkey sandwich for herself. "I think she used to be the brains of the Manari, back when they ran together."

[Hello Purvis]

>Nod.
>"Is it just a hobby for for, or is she actually making a living on that?"

[Oldmansour]

>Nod.
>"Is it just a hobby for for, or is she actually making a living on that?"

>"Far as I can tell, she does it for kicks, at least here." Pausing a moment to nibble on her sandwich, Lily continues. "This job pays well enough to get by at our age, even for cons like her. ... I don't mean con ARTISTS, I mean actual cons. That's why she's here; community service." Another bite. "The four of them got stuck with community service last month, and the Eagle got assigned to Satori."

[Hello Purvis]

>Working on that riceball whilst conversing. "Has she done well here? Does the work agree with her?"

[Oldmansour]

>Working on that riceball whilst conversing. "Has she done well here? Does the work agree with her?"

>Inquiring furthur into the Eagle's status between bites, Lily responds in kind, as Chie starts in on her second onigiri. "That usually depends on what she's doing. Changes from day to day, depending on who else is on. Only ever seen her try to get one over when Satori's around, but, I guess that goes without saying." She pours a cup of what appears to be hot orange tea from the thermos, and extends it towards you. "Guess she doesn't wanna too much to get a bad review from her supervisor. Might get a worser job than this."