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

[Hello Purvis]

>Nod and head thataway and hang a right.
>Try to see if we can hear once we reach the door.

[Oldmansour]

>Nod and head thataway and hang a right.
>Try to see if we can hear once we reach the door.

>Heading in that direction, Lily adds in a lower voice, as you round the corner, "Plus... I'm a little worried about Kiku, too. I know she's tough, but I can't get what Marigold said out of my head."
>Hatoko's office turns out to be near the end of the hallway, which has a fair sized window in the wall, revealing that night has nearly completely fallen during your battles here.
>Her office door is even more multicolored than Marissa said, red on top, green on bottom, with yellow and blue floral patterns painted on, and several different colors of feathers are attached around the top of the doorframe.
>You can hear a voice from the other side of the door. It sounds like Chie, but this door appears to be made of thicker wood than the room Marigold is in. The words are muffled.

[GuyYouMetOnline]

>"Well, you had a little... irrigularity in your own mind. Perhaps we should do with Kiku the same thing you and I did then."

[Oldmansour]

>"Well, you had a little... irrigularity in your own mind. Perhaps we should do with Kiku the same thing you and I did then."

>"You mean that...." She flicks her finger between her ring and yours.

[GuyYouMetOnline]

>"Yes."

[Oldmansour]

>"Yes."

>Lily whistles. "That was a heck of an experience. But, it got that.... like you said, irregularity out of me. If there's something like that wrong with Kiku, too, that would sure fix it."
>"If she agrees." Lily adds as an afterthought. "I didn't know her that well when I worked at the temple, but she seemed the real private sort."

[Hello Purvis]

>"I think she'd be willing to trust us, if we explained it to her."

[Oldmansour]

>"I think she'd be willing to trust us, if we explained it to her."

>"Well, we can try. We just wanna help, after all."

[Hello Purvis]

>Gentle place an ear against the door.

[Oldmansour]

>Gentle place an ear against the door.

>Placing your head against the multicolored door, you can discern more details about the voices within. You can now identify Chie's voice, as well as Kiku's, but the words are mostly indecipherable.

[Hello Purvis]

>Left head from the door and shrug.
>Then give Lily a questioning look, and mime knocking on the door

[Oldmansour]

>Left head from the door and shrug.
>Then give Lily a questioning look, and mime knocking on the door

>Lily gives you a nod.

[Hello Purvis]

>Knock on the door.

[Oldmansour]

>Knock on the door.

>A few seconds after your polite knock, the door opens, revealing Kiku's face. "Finished your business with Marigold, then?" she asks without preamble.

[Hello Purvis]

>Nod.

[Oldmansour]

>Nod.

>Kiku opens the door wider and steps back. The office is has a very lived in feel, with light green walls with red and purple stripes. A large desk occupies most of the north wall, a pair of chairs in front of it, bordered on the east wall by a bookcase and a yellow colored birdcage on the west. The west wall also features artwork of open skies at dawn, sunrise, and midday. The east wall sports a sizable couch with red cushions, and is rather comfy looking.
>It is on this couch that Chie sits. She gives you a wave, then seems a little worried. "Kiku's friends okay?"

[Hello Purvis]

>Step in.
>"We're fine, Chie. Things turned out better than we were hoping. We're just a bit tired."

[Oldmansour]

>Step in.
>"We're fine, Chie. Things turned out better than we were hoping. We're just a bit tired."

>"Chie believed things would work out good. Had faith in Kiku, and faith in Kiku's friends."
>Sure enough, your ring pulses in reaction to Chie's statement.
>Kiku is obviously unaware as she states, "We cannot guarantee what happened here today will not happen again, but if and when it does, we will be prepared to deal with it again."

[GuyYouMetOnline]

>I'm definitely getting a reaction from her, Kiku. I understand that you do not want her to get involved, so I won't involve her, but... well, keep an eye on her.

[Oldmansour]

>I'm definitely getting a reaction from her, Kiku. I understand that you do not want her to get involved, so I won't involve her, but... well, keep an eye on her.

>Kiku scowls for half a moment, then nods very slightly.
>"My sister and I will be returning to the shrine now." she says out loud. "However, I should caution you, I do not know if I will be able to keep your other names from our temple head. Komeji-sama is not one that secrets can be kept from."

[Hello Purvis]

>"Before you go, Kiku, there's something we should talk about, privately."

[Oldmansour]

>"Before you go, Kiku, there's something we should talk about, privately."

>Kiku looks you in the eye for a moment, then nods slowly. "Lily, Chie?"
>"Yeah, no problem." Lily replies easily. Chie, looking confused, merely nods after seeing the expression on the senior miko's face. Chie rises, and preceeds Lily out the door.
>"I'll make sure no one bothers you." Lily sends you before she follows Chie out into the corridor, closing the door behind her.
>"Something troubles you?" Kiku asks after you're alone with her.

[Hello Purvis]

>"A couple things. First, Lily and I worry about something. Namely...we are a little worried about you, Kiku. You stared long and hard into the void."

[Oldmansour]

>"A couple things. First, Lily and I worry about something. Namely...we are a little worried about you, Kiku. You stared long and hard into the void."

>Kiku twitches her head to the side slightly. "Save your concern, Lotus. My...." She trails off as she looks you in the eye. Her face, stern and defiant, falters briefly, then returns to its impassiveness. "I may have been.... unprepared for what I experienced, but, I'm still here. The demon is not." She stops, the corner of her mouth twitching once. "That is all that matters"

[Hello Purvis]

>Shake head.
>"No, quite a bit more than that matters. You matter. Whether you are going to be able to sleep soundly tonight matters. How badly this is going to haunt you matters. And do not think that I speak in terms of effectiveness of your duties, of this I have no doubt. I mean in terms of you, as a person."

[Oldmansour]

>Shake head.
>"No, quite a bit more than that matters. You matter. Whether you are going to be able to sleep soundly tonight matters. How badly this is going to haunt you matters. And do not think that I speak in terms of effectiveness of your duties, of this I have no doubt. I mean in terms of you, as a person."

>"I..." Kiku starts, before averting her gaze. She seems to be struggling slightly to maintain her stern visage. "I suppose I may have... reflection to do, when I return home." Her voice catches slightly when she says 'reflection'. "My... confidence seems to have been somewhat.... unfounded, after all..."

[Hello Purvis]

>"It's understandable. I've seen it too. Tell me about it, Kiku."

[Oldmansour]

>"It's understandable. I've seen it too. Tell me about it, Kiku."

>"You've seen-?" Kiku stops her question before it comes all the way out. "Yes, you would have, you've been fighting these demons longer than I. Then, who came to your aid, when you were lo-... under attack?"

[Hello Purvis]

>"I was lucky, the one who showed me wasn't really attacking me with it. It merely showed me what they desired."

[Oldmansour]

>"I was lucky, the one who showed me wasn't really attacking me with it. It merely showed me what they desired."

>"I... do not take your meaning."