Magical Lotus - Mahou Shoujou Byakuren - Episode 2, part 4 (Complete)

[Hello Purvis]

I am thinking, though, we can get more information. But stop me if you think I'm going too far. We can't look like we're just giving up, that's suspicious.

>"How she conducts her business is indeed up to her, but one hopes for a little insight into why she chose it."

[Oldmansour]

>She's affected, too. All the more reason to meet with Satori. This needs to stop.
>We'll have to guard ourself carefully when we meet with Satori.

>Memories flick through your mind as you dwell upon meeting the master of the White Tiger temple. Kiku's scowl, Lily's smiling face, the smell of rancid water, Marigold's gentle face.
>Your head feels heavy, like you've been awake for days straight.

>"How she conducts her business is indeed up to her, but one hopes for a little insight into why she chose it."

>Isumi grins slightly. "May I ask why?" she purrs.

[Hello Purvis]

>"To be honest, because I am curious. I hear such great things about her, and then to hear she seems to be having problems...piques my interest, so to speak."

[Oldmansour]

>"To be honest, because I am curious. I hear such great things about her, and then to hear she seems to be having problems...piques my interest, so to speak."

>You find yourself stumbling over the odd syllable as you answer Isumi's question, your mind continuing to jump from memory to memory, scattered, random. Seeking? Unconsciously, you press your hand against your head.
>"Are you all right?" Isumi asks you.
>"Byakuren have headache?" Chie asks almost immediately.
>"Perhaps you should sit down for a moment." Isumi offers. Something in her voice, a faint undertone.... No, it's nothing. Probably nothing.
>The parts of your mind still functioning properly realize that something is wrong here, terribly wrong.

[Hello Purvis]

>Keep a clear head, Byakuren. We've dealt with more than this, and we can come back tomorrow...
>"No, but perhaps I should think about heading home."

[GuyYouMetOnline]

>Focus. Don't let this take us, too.
>Let's leave. Surely we can hold out long enough to leave the temple. We can come back tomorrow, when we're not so worn out.

[Oldmansour]

>Keep a clear head, Byakuren. We've dealt with more than this, and we can come back tomorrow...

>Focus. Don't let this take us, too.

>You've dealt with worse? Yes, you have, haven't you. You've had a very busy day...
>Tomorrow, though. Yes, that will work, plenty of opportunity to get more answers tomorrow. Wasn't there something you were supposed to do, though....? Doesn't matter.

>"No, but perhaps I should think about heading home."

>Let's leave. Surely we can hold out long enough to leave the temple. We can come back tomorrow, when we're not so worn out.

>Your head settles down a little once you decide to leave. You can always come back tomorrow, after all.
>Isumi nods in agreement. "You do look very fatigued. That would probably be a good idea. Chie." she addresses the junior miko. "Escort our guest on her way."
>Chie smiles. "Chie will!"
>"Do you have transportation arrangements?" Isumi asks you.

[GuyYouMetOnline]

>Focus. Our business was stopping this mind-altering. Keep that thought in the front of our mind. Don't let it fade.
>"I can get home, yes."
>Keep the thought of the mind-altering in our mind as we exit the shrine.

[Oldmansour]

>Focus. Our business was stopping this mind-altering. Keep that thought in the front of our mind. Don't let it fade.
>"I can get home, yes."
>Keep the thought of the mind-altering in our mind as we exit the shrine.

>You try to gather your wits. It seems easier now, somehow. You're still very tired, but your mind doesn't seem to be jumping between memories anymore.
>"Very well." Isumi bows politely. "We thank you for your visit, and welcome you back whenever you have a need."
>Chie takes your arm as you and she exit the kitchen and head back the way you came. You try to tell her that this isn't necessary (which may not be 100% true) but is appreciated, but Chie shakes her head. "Safety of guests important to us shrine maidens of Metal Tiger." She smiles. "And Byakuren is Chie's friend." Her gesture brings a smile to your face.
>You exit the shrine, and the cold night air washes over your face and arms. To say this wakes you up would be an exaggeration, but it does help clear at least some of the haze from your mind. Risa and Koko are still standing in the middle of the walkway, and the dragonfly-winged shrine maiden has joined them in conversation. Anya and Maiko are standing on the temple veranda about fifteen feet or so to your right, a bottle of vodka next to Anya. You can smell it from here. There is still no sign of Kiku.

[DracoOmega]

>Where did we part ways with the snow leopard, relative to our current position?
>How far are we from the standard exit to the shrine grounds? And in what direction is this relative to the above?
>About how long ago did we part ways, anyway?
>What time of night is it?
>Did we exchange cell phone numbers with Kiku earlier?

[Oldmansour]

>Where did we part ways with the snow leopard, relative to our current position?
>How far are we from the standard exit to the shrine grounds? And in what direction is this relative to the above?
>About how long ago did we part ways, anyway?
>What time of night is it?
>Did we exchange cell phone numbers with Kiku earlier?

>In the woods across from where the trio of shrine maidens are currently standing, between 40 and 50 feet in, and slightly to your current northeast.
>The large staircase leading up the hill to the shrine is directly in front of you, around a hundred feet or so, at least. It is directly north of your current location. From where you parted with the leopard, it would be to the northeast, when facing the temple grounds.
>You're not certain. Your sense of time seems to be a bit off. But you would guess between half an hour and an hour.
>It is now 11:39 PM.
>You did not.

[DracoOmega]

After this much time has passed, I figure there's not a very large chance the leopard is still around and I really don't think we should lurk around and try to find it again, after what just happened. A shame that we never got to see whatever was sealed in its mind, but there may not be much that can be done about it now.

Also, in case the implication of this was missed, the fact that everyone's preparing a welcome back party for Kiku after she was "doing a hard job outside the temple" implies very strongly that something about her battles today has already spread, which likewise implies that Satori already knows. The full extent of what she knows is debatable, but I do wonder if even the Tiger offer much help in terms of concealment at this point; it's hard to keep someone from learning what they already know. Feels more than a little ominous to me.

>Presumably the tree cover is too dense to get a look at that spot from here, even if the leopard was still in the general area?

[Oldmansour]

>Presumably the tree cover is too dense to get a look at that spot from here, even if the leopard was still in the general area?

>It is both too dense and too dark for your human eyes.

[DracoOmega]

As much as I don't like potentially wasted opportunities, I think we should probably write off the leopard for tonight and slip out. We can try to contact Kiku and deliver/receive an update, but she may still be otherwise engaged - in which case, I think we should just text Marisa and get a ride out of here. Any objections?

[Hello Purvis]

In theory, just about any local varmint could transmit the message.

[DracoOmega]

I think I may have lost you - what message is that?

[Hello Purvis]

The one you wanted to give to the leopard, which I am presuming you want to have transmitted to Kiku. Unless you had some other reason for hunting it down?

[DracoOmega]

The reason for caring about the leopard is that I wanted to see the memory that was sealed away in its mind, which you were in the process of peering into when you accidentally wandered off. I got the distinct impression it was something important related to Satori that it wasn't supposed to have seen (and thus can now no longer recall).

[Hello Purvis]

Ahar!

This said, getting a message to Kiku via some other critter is still valid, I think.

[DracoOmega]

Well, I am hoping that if she is done with the Tiger, we can contact her via ring. Of course, we don't know the range on those yet, but I am hoping it would work. And even if she still can't talk back to us via that method, we can deliver our cell phone info via ring and have her call us when she's free.

[Hello Purvis]

It's worth a go!

[DracoOmega]

Well, I had been thinking I'd wait until we got out of the shrine in case this takes a suspicious amount of concentration (and also because we probably don't want to receive a phone call from Kiku while we're with Chie at this point). So, unless there's some reason why we shouldn't....

>Continue onward to the shrine exit

[Oldmansour]

>Continue onward to the shrine exit

>With Chie still guiding you, you step away from Satori's temple and make for the steps.
>"Are you going to walk home?" Chie asks you, sounding quite concerned.

[DracoOmega]

>Give her a gentle smile.
>"No need to worry about me; a friend of mine offered me a lift."

[Oldmansour]

>Give her a gentle smile.
>"No need to worry about me; a friend of mine offered me a lift."

>Chie's relief is obvious.
>Risa the squirrel sees you coming and waves enthusiastically with the hand currently gripping her sign. Koko pokes her, and Risa looks up, only now realizing which hand she used. Blushing, her arms pinwheel manically for a moment, and she hides her sign behind her back again. Koko sighs once.
>Chie giggles briefly, then stops and raises her head slightly, her nose twitching as she sniffs the air.

[DracoOmega]

>Glance at Chie
>"Smell something odd?"

[Oldmansour]

>Glance at Chie
>"Smell something odd?"

>"Chie smells Kiku."

[DracoOmega]

Well, this might be convenient. Or not.

>"Really? Where?"
>Glance around for her, or in a specific direction if indicated.

[Oldmansour]

>"Really? Where?"
>Glance around for her, or in a specific direction if indicated.

>Chie points with her tail towards the forest, rather close to the area you exited from. Risa and Koko follow her glance, and the winged youkai does a moment later. You hear her say, "She's right, it's Kiku." although you cannot see anything at present.
>Exactly twelve seconds later, the tiger youkai herself enters your field of vision, stepping through the treeline with measured steps.

[DracoOmega]

>How does she look?