Magical Lotus - Mahou Shoujou Byakuren - Episode 2, part 3

[Hello Purvis]

>"Not now, but perhaps tomorrow."

[Oldmansour]

>"Not now, but perhaps tomorrow."

>Lily sighs in relief, and sags against you again. Pretty little blonde's making a habit of that. But she collects herself after a second. "I just... don't think I could handle.... I'll be lucky to get to school tomorrow."
>School. THERE'S a thought after all that's happened today.
>At that moment, the door behind you opens again, and Kiku reenters the stairwell. Lily barely has the energy to jump.
>"That coin was indeed Kikuri's." Kiku informs you. "She was quite grateful to have it returned to her."

[Hello Purvis]

>"Well, if it manifests like Marigold did, then she'll be well equipped to deal with it."
>Yech. Do we have anything important to do at school tomorrow?
>"Speaking of Marigold, shall we see how she's coming along?"

[Oldmansour]

>"Well, if it manifests like Marigold did, then she'll be well equipped to deal with it."
>Yech. Do we have anything important to do at school tomorrow?
>"Speaking of Marigold, shall we see how she's coming along?"

>Very faintly, Kiku looks slightly abashed. "Ah. Yes, I had failed to consider that eventuality. We'll have to mention that on our way out."
>As a matter of fact, your math midterm is tomorrow morning. And the tennis club meets for regular practice after school, as well. Yech indeed.
>Lily nods faintly in agreement. Kiku, however, pauses. "I really should.... No, wait, Chie's still here, I think. Yes, I shall accompany you."

[Hello Purvis]

>Crapbaskets. Well, at least tennis can probably be blown off. Are we still confident in our maths, after all the crap we've been through lately?
>"Let's go, then."
>Upstairs!
>Is Lily still magicked out? If so, suggest it may be a good idea to covert back, since since can her normal-like.

[Oldmansour]

>Crapbaskets. Well, at least tennis can probably be blown off. Are we still confident in our maths, after all the crap we've been through lately?
>"Let's go, then."
>Upstairs!
>Is Lily still magicked out? If so, suggest it may be a good idea to covert back, since since can her normal-like.

>While you hesitate about 'blowing off' you responsibilities as tennis club captain, no matter the circumstances, you are certain that your vice captain, Shikako, can fill in your stead, though it would be courteous to at least inform her of your expected absence, should the need arise.
>As for your preparations for your math exam, you would say, should you manage to get a solid night's sleep, you should at least be adequately prepared to handle Wriggle's exam. She's not the hardest teacher, not by a longshot, although you would not be at all surprised if your marks took a bit of a dip. Trying to study when you get home would probably be an excercise in futility. You may want to make double sure Rin wakes you up in time for school, as well. The way you feel right now, you honestly believe you could sleep for the whole of tomorrow.

>You suggest to Lily that she might revert to her 'normal' form, and she nods, and looks at her ring. Kiku, however, advises against it. "At least for now." she cautions. "When we all went down there, and even before, you were Magical Lily. Seeing your other self come upstairs could be suspicious." Lily considers this, then nods again.

>Although you are slightly reluctant to stand again, Marigold ain't gonna come to you, so you drag yourself back to your feet, and Lily along with you, Kiku standing over you in the event either one of you lose your footing. But you both remain upright, and head back into the lobby, Kiku holding the door open for you both. Kikuri, now smiling quite contentedly, comes to her feet as you enter, and bows deeply to you and Lily.
>"Thank you very much for finding my coin!"

[Hello Purvis]

>"You're very welcome. But, we should inform you. After what has happened, there is a change it may manifest as a tsukumogami. I don't know what the odds are, but it has happened once before."

[Oldmansour]

>"You're very welcome. But, we should inform you. After what has happened, there is a change it may manifest as a tsukumogami. I don't know what the odds are, but it has happened once before."

>Kikuri's obviously surprised by your note. "That's a bit abnormal, why would it do that?"
>"'Abnormals' been pretty normal so far today." Lily murmurs.
>Kiku supplies, "The details are somewhat obscure, even to us. It is not a guaranteed change. Merely a possibility to be aware of."
>The secretary hmmmms thoughtfully. "What kind of timeframe should I be on the watch for?"

[Hello Purvis]

>"The one I observed happened after three days, I think? Perhaps four. So, within a week?"

[Oldmansour]

>"The one I observed happened after three days, I think? Perhaps four. So, within a week?"

>Kikuri nods. "I'll be careful." She clenches the coin on her hand tightly. "I'm not letting this one out of my sight again!"

[Hello Purvis]

>Kikuri nods. "I'll be careful." She clenches the coin on her hand tightly. "I'm not letting this one out of my sight again!"

>"I'm happy we found it, then."
>Can we recall how to get back to where Marigold was taken for private questioning?

[Oldmansour]

>"I'm happy we found it, then."
>Can we recall how to get back to where Marigold was taken for private questioning?

>No one actually told you where Marigold was. Only that Satori's sister Koishi, who is also your school counsellor, was the one speaking to her.

[Hello Purvis]

>Glance to Lily. "Do you know where to go to meet up with Marigold?"

[Oldmansour]

>Glance to Lily. "Do you know where to go to meet up with Marigold?"

>Lily thinks for a moment. "Unless she's already been given a room here, she should still be down the hall through there." she points at the double doors on the east face of the wall.

[Hello Purvis]

>Excuse ourselves from Kikuri and go that way!

[GuyYouMetOnline]

>As we go, un-transform as soon as nobody else is in sight. Can't have Marigold fail to recognize us, after all.

[Hello Purvis]

Might not be a good idea. Others might recognize us and put two and two together. And if Hironobu wants to talk with us afterward, which is highly likely, it would get awkward.

Easier to just tell Marigold who we are secretly when we can.

[GuyYouMetOnline]

Okay, sure.

[Oldmansour]

>Excuse ourselves from Kikuri and go that way!

>Kikuri thanks you again as you take your leave of her, and head towards the double doors. Kiku, however, pauses.
>"Would you know where to find Chie? The young cat youkai that was here earlier."
>"Yes, miko-sama. Hatoko took the young girl to her office after you went downstairs."
>Kiku frowns. "Why would she do that?"
>The secretary shrugs slightly. "You'd have to ask Hatoko. I was on the phone at the time."
>Kiku frowns again, then swishes her tail once sharply. "And where is Hatoko-san's office?"
>Pointing to the large double doors, Kikuru directs her, "Take a right at the end of the hall. You can't miss it, it's the one with the red and green door. And, she doesn't like to be called 'san', except my people she doesn't like."
>"Noted. Thank you." Bowing once to Kiku, the tiger youkai rejoins you and Lily.

>Your party complete again, the three of you pass through the double doors into the white hallway again. Lily points to the third door down on the right side. "That's where she was being interviewed."

>As we go, un-transform as soon as nobody else is in sight. Can't have Marigold fail to recognize us, after all.

>Wanting not to confuse Marigold upon seeing her, you prepare to transform back to 'Byakuren'.

Might not be a good idea. Others might recognize us and put two and two together. And if Hironobu wants to talk with us afterward, which is highly likely, it would get awkward.
Easier to just tell Marigold who we are secretly when we can.

Okay, sure.

>But then you reconsider?

[Hello Purvis]

>Let's not.
>Frown: "Is there a problem with Hatoko doing this, Kiku?"

[Oldmansour]

>Let's not.
>Frown: "Is there a problem with Hatoko doing this, Kiku?"

>You remain in your current form.
>There are a pair of women at the end of the corridor, engaged in a casual but quiet conversation, so you yourself keep your voice down as you pose your question to Kiku.
>"You mean taking Chie aside like she seems to have? I don't know... I'm simply not sure what she'd wish to speak to Chie about, save perhaps curiosity about my abilities."

[Hello Purvis]

>Keep voice low: "Well, it could be a general interview? But, I assume you'd know better than I do."

[Oldmansour]

>Keep voice low: "Well, it could be a general interview? But, I assume you'd know better than I do."

>Kiku nods slowly. "The CRA do sometimes interview former residents, and Chie did come through here nearly seven months ago. Although, I didn't think Hatoko handled those herself. I could be wrong, though, Komeji-sama usually handles that side of Temple affairs herself."

[Hello Purvis]

>Nod.
>Pass the gossips by and make sure they can't hear before continuing.
>"I see. Who is this Hatoko person?"

[Oldmansour]

>Nod.
>Pass the gossips by and make sure they can't hear before continuing.
>"I see. Who is this Hatoko person?"

>The door you are seeking is in front of you, and the gossips are down away at the end of the hall.
>Kiku gives you a curious look, but it is Lily that answers, "She's Hironobu's assistant, the pretty youkai with all the colors we met before."

[Hello Purvis]

>"Ah, right. That does sound unusual, then."

[Oldmansour]

>"Ah, right. That does sound unusual, then."

>"Ordinarily, I wouldn't expect a problem, but, I admit to being more... cautious, under the circumstances." Given the days events, Kiku's caution seems rather understandable. "But, I sensed nothing unusual from her before, nor do I sense anything out of the ordinary now. I am.... mostly certain that everything is fine, is somewhat out of the ordinary."

[Hello Purvis]

>Nod. "Hopefully, it is just irrational fear. We've had enough rational fear to last us, I think."
>Settle in to wait.

[Oldmansour]

>Nod. "Hopefully, it is just irrational fear. We've had enough rational fear to last us, I think."
>Settle in to wait.

>"Indeed."
>You lean yourself up against the right side of the wall to wait for the gossips to quit the corridor, Lily right behind you. Kiku situates herself on the other side of the corridor.
>It is several minutes before the two women part ways, one heading down the left fork in the corridor, the other heading in your direction, smiling pleasantly. She greets the three of you politely as she passes between you, making no comment about the battle damage or fatigue present on any of you.
>You find yourself slightly grateful that it took minutes only. Much longer, and you might have fallen asleep where you stood. Lily nearly did, and only a polite nudge from you kept her eyes open.

[Hello Purvis]

>Does this seem like a door we're supposed to just enter, or wait outside of?