Magical Lotus - Mahou Shoujou Byakuren - Episode 2, part 2

[Hello Purvis]

>Nod to Doubles. "I won't force you, then. But I might recommend you go, anyways. I'm sure Miss Yakumo wouldn't want you limping around work."
>To Ran: "I shall keep it in mind. I feel I should warn you, the last time I managed to purify a youma, the item it drew from became a Tsukumogami after a few days, who had memories of her time as a youma. I am not sure if it will happen here, this locket clearly hasn't been forgotten. But if it does, do not worry. She wouldn't bear any taint from these events."
>Once Ran and Doubles have said their piece, approach Kiku. "Thank you again for your assistance."

[Oldmansour]

>Nod to Doubles. "I won't force you, then. But I might recommend you go, anyways. I'm sure Miss Yakumo wouldn't want you limping around work."
>To Ran: "I shall keep it in mind. I feel I should warn you, the last time I managed to purify a youma, the item it drew from became a Tsukumogami after a few days, who had memories of her time as a youma. I am not sure if it will happen here, this locket clearly hasn't been forgotten. But if it does, do not worry. She wouldn't bear any taint from these events."
>Once Ran and Doubles have said their piece, approach Kiku. "Thank you again for your assistance."

>The oni chuckles a wry chuckle, then pushes himself off the wall. "Yer concern warms me heart, girlie."
>Ran nods. "I understand."
>The kitsune surprised me. the doll sounds in your head. She held back against the youma, even before you arrived.
>The feline youkai nods in your direction. "I did my duty." she states simply. "Your powers are obviously different than mine. Was that the only bakemono here? I detect no others."

[Hello Purvis]

>"There are no others I know of."
>Do we know of religious types able to do those kinds of feats, or is this unusual to any degree?

[Oldmansour]

>"There are no others I know of."
>Do we know of religious types able to do those kinds of feats, or is this unusual to any degree?

>Kiku gives the area another weary glance, then seems to relax slightly, putting her ofuda away. "I must find out if this was an isolated incident or not. I need to know everything that happened before my arrival."
>You know of no one, religious type or not, capable to doing what Kiku just did, except maybe Lily, you're not sure what she can do yet. This definitely qualifies as unusual. Perhaps not as unusual as yourself, perhaps, but still, quite peculiar.

[GuyYouMetOnline]

>"The battle was already in progress when I got here. I can tell you, however, that this was not an isolated incident. I fought a weaker youma just a few days ago. The same being who created that youma also created this one."
>"How were you able to fight it like that? Such capabilities are not exactly common."

[Oldmansour]

>"The battle was already in progress when I got here. I can tell you, however, that this was not an isolated incident. I fought a weaker youma just a few days ago. The same being who created that youma also created this one."
>"How were you able to fight it like that? Such capabilities are not exactly common."

>"No, they are not. But I could ask you the same thing. I do not know you, nor do I know your power."
>"But that can wait. You say this 'youma', was created by another. Who? Where can I find him?"

[Hello Purvis]

>"I don't fully know, and I intend to find all that out myself."

[Oldmansour]

>"I don't fully know, and I intend to find all that out myself."

>"Tell what you do know. Please." she adds as an afterthought.

[Hello Purvis]

>"Before I do that, may I know a bit more about you?"

[Oldmansour]

>"Before I do that, may I know a bit more about you?"

>"I am a servant of the Gods."

[Hello Purvis]

>Nod.
>"All of them, or the Metal Tiger in particular?"

[Oldmansour]

>Nod.
>"All of them, or the Metal Tiger in particular?"

>Kiku takes a moment before answering. "I am a devotee of the Metal Tiger, in faith and magic."

[Hello Purvis]

>Smile. "Then I am glad you were at my back. I wasn't aware he could grant such gifts, have you been at this for long?"

[Oldmansour]

>Smile. "Then I am glad you were at my back. I wasn't aware he could grant such gifts, have you been at this for long?"

>"Few people outside the shrine are aware of that, and I must ask you not to reveal what you've seen here today." She looks from you to other other two, Doubles having crossed the room to stand near Ran, whose eyes are filled with unshed tears. "All of you." Kiku intones solemnly.
>Doubles gives the striped youkai a smile. "Ye've no secrets from us. Yakumo 'n I've known about ye lot for years." Ran nods gently, prompting a scowl from Kiku, but a hint of fear crosses her eyes for an instant.
>She exhales quietly, before turning her eyes back to you. "I have. It takes years to develop the skills I possess. I am the longest serving miko at this temple. And," she continues, looking back at the other two. "I have some questions for you two, later."

[Hello Purvis]

>Nod. "So, you've been anticipating this for some time?"

[Oldmansour]

>Nod. "So, you've been anticipating this for some time?"

>"No."

[Hello Purvis]

>"That's even more strange, then. If you were not expecting the youma to come, for what purpose were you granted such abilities?"

[Oldmansour]

>"That's even more strange, then. If you were not expecting the youma to come, for what purpose were you granted such abilities?"

>"To defeat evil should it ever arise."
>"Those that serve are aware of evil forces that lurk in this world and beyond. It is our duty to keep the mortal world safe from the spirits and dark powers that would do it harm. That is why I have to know everything I can learn about the force behind this incident." She pauses then, as if considering something, then adds, more quietly, "I've never sensed anything quite like what I felt here today."

[Hello Purvis]

>Make sure other people aren't overhearing.
>"I doubt that merely defeating it would solve the problem. And, I don't think you would have sensed this before. If I understand correctly, the one behind this is a being from another world that has been sealed off from our own for some time. Nor has it been the first time that they've tried this."

[nolrai2]

> We have reason to believe that Satori is..compromised, right?

[Oldmansour]

>Make sure other people aren't overhearing.
>"I doubt that merely defeating it would solve the problem. And, I don't think you would have sensed this before. If I understand correctly, the one behind this is a being from another world that has been sealed off from our own for some time. Nor has it been the first time that they've tried this."

>You glance behind you to check if Ran and her oni employee are listening in. The two do not seem to be paying attention to you both now, but from living with Rin, you know feline-type youkai have acute hearing. It's possible Ran will be able to hear you, even if she's not trying to. Nevertheless, you keep your voice down to try and keep your comment between you and Kiku.
>You know you have Kiku's full attention as you speak to her of what you know of your enemy. And she notes the caution you took before speaking furthur, and lowers the volume of her own voice. "We can speak more in private, if you wish. I can ask what I need of the other two witnesses later."

> We have reason to believe that Satori is..compromised, right?

>You do. When you met the Metal Tiger, it cautioned you that all was not well in the four shrines of the 4 great beasts. It warned you that some of the mikos who serve in the four shrines could be your enemies. And when Satori found you in the woods, the Tiger left. When Satori was in your presence, the Tiger blocked your memories of your meeting with him, until Satori had left you. And Lily spoke of Satori's odd behavoir, after you removed the 'veil of lies' from within her.

[GuyYouMetOnline]

>"That woud be preferable, yes."
>How much longer do we think we can keep the transformation without suffering any ill effects?

[Oldmansour]

>"That woud be preferable, yes."
>How much longer do we think we can keep the transformation without suffering any ill effects?

>The silver-skirted miko nods, then looks behind you to Ran. "Yakumo-san." Ran turns her head to look at you both. "Is there a room this individual and I might use to have a private word?"
>"We can use my office." Kiku gives the kitsune a curious look. "I think it would be benificial to compare notes. You two obviously have the power to combat these youma. And I've seen them before, long ago."
>Kiku lets out another one of those breaths of hers. "I concur." She glances at you to hear what you think about including Ran in your war council.
>Apart from battle-weariness and a couple aches, you feel no ill effects, certainly nothing like you experienced after the last fight. At least not yet.

[Hello Purvis]

>Do we still have our cell phone like this?
>If so: take it out, say, "Allow me a moment to confer with someone else," and call Lily again.

[Oldmansour]

>Do we still have our cell phone like this?
>If so: take it out, say, "Allow me a moment to confer with someone else," and call Lily again.

>Your cell phone seems to have gone wherever the rest of your normal clothes and possessions go when your transform. In your Magical Lotus state, you can only use your ring to contact Lily.
>Or.... so you thought, upon first glance. With a faint glow of white light and a dull popping sound, you cellphone appears in your hand. As though it responded to your desire to use it.
>"Neat trick." Doubles remarks. "Can ye pop us up a shot o' whiskey each?"

[Hello Purvis]

>"I didn't have any beforehand, I'm afraid."
>Call up Lily. Assuming she picks up, say, "Hey, it's me. The situation has been handled, there's nothing to worry about."

[Oldmansour]

>"I didn't have any beforehand, I'm afraid."
>Call up Lily. Assuming she picks up, say, "Hey, it's me. The situation has been handled, there's nothing to worry about."

>"Rain check, then."
>Dialing up your fellow magical girl, Lily answers this time on the second ring. And sounds much less energetic than the last time you spoke with her. In fact, she's actually trying to keep her voice down, you think.
>"I hope that's true."

[Hello Purvis]

>"Did something bad happen on your end?"

[Oldmansour]

>"Did something bad happen on your end?"

>"There's something.... wrong, here."

[Hello Purvis]

>Frown.
>"Go on."