Remilia Quest Dh?

[Oldmansour]

>Nod. "Mmh. This had best work, otherwise I may have to fall back on a gamble that I don't particularly want to use. It hurts me to have to force a sadistic choice on her like it will, but it's my only other option. She'll have to choose between the power Pride could grant, and lose the mansion in return. Or, give up Pride, and return to how things were prior."
>Stare in a serious way. "The cost of the former however, is far, far greater than it seems. I don't want to go through with it, but she'll have to learn that if she wants that power, she had best be prepared to lose everything she's ever known in the past. Such power must always come at a cost, I know this fact quite well myself."
>Let's make for the room! Hopefully we aren't late..

>Meiling hesitates. "Please don't push her TOO hard, Remilia. We just need her a little off-balance, not too far. Well, hopefully, anyway."
>Leaving Meiling and the otehrs behind, you reenter Sakuya's room. She is currently lying down upon the bed, her arms behind head, staring at the ceiling. The window has been repaired, showing no sign of damage.

[Hanzo K.]

>Raise an eyebrow. Magic certainly has it's uses. Perhaps we could benefit from putting a similar spell on the Mansion then. After repairs of course. We'll have to ask how they did it.
>"Well, still not given up on that folly of yours?"

[Oldmansour]

>Raise an eyebrow. Magic certainly has it's uses. Perhaps we could benefit from putting a similar spell on the Mansion then. After repairs of course. We'll have to ask how they did it.
>"Well, still not given up on that folly of yours?"

>"I have been contemplating my present situation."

[Hanzo K.]

>"And what conclusion have you reached? Will you forsake everything for power? Or give up on that power to reclaim the important things you've already had?"

[Oldmansour]

>"And what conclusion have you reached? Will you forsake everything for power? Or give up on that power to reclaim the important things you've already had?"

>"At the moment, I have reached no conclusion. I have not had sufficient time yet to consider all the possibilities and consequences of what I am becoming, and the role that I felt was mine."

[Hanzo K.]

>How does she sound? Contemplative? Is there any unease, any regret or hesitation in her voice?

[Oldmansour]

>How does she sound? Contemplative? Is there any unease, any regret or hesitation in her voice?

>Her voice is very hard to read. Very measured, precise, formal. The clipped, practiced tones of a very dutiful person speaking with another.

[Hanzo K.]

>Come to think of it, did she ever speak this formally prior to Pride's influence?
>"In my opinion, you don't need to absorb Pride to refine yourself. The main thing Humans have going for them is that while they start off poor at something, they can grow far superior at it with sufficient practice. And you yourself were already skilled enough that you have no need for Pride's augmentation. If anything, it would actually weaken you in a way. It would essentially lock you in one spot, stagnant, and unchanging....Just as I ended up when I became a Vampire."

[Oldmansour]

>Come to think of it, did she ever speak this formally prior to Pride's influence?
>"In my opinion, you don't need to absorb Pride to refine yourself. The main thing Humans have going for them is that while they start off poor at something, they can grow far superior at it with sufficient practice. And you yourself were already skilled enough that you have no need for Pride's augmentation. If anything, it would actually weaken you in a way. It would essentially lock you in one spot, stagnant, and unchanging....Just as I ended up when I became a Vampire."

>Only on excessively formal moments, such as when you were entertaining especially prim and proper guests.
>"You have never expressed regret at your present life status before." Sakuya observes.

[Hanzo K.]

>"Well, I am using it as a comparison. As a Vampire, I'm stuck as I am. Merging completely with Pride would do the exact same thing to you, except you would no-longer be the Sakuya that everyone cares about. You wouldn't even be the you that you are now. You, and Pride, would completely cease to be. No soul to recall, nothing, only the memories within the hearts and minds of those who knew you. What would replace you two, I know not. But, that would not be anyone I would allow contact with Flandre, or the Mansion."

[Oldmansour]

>"Well, I am using it as a comparison. As a Vampire, I'm stuck as I am. Merging completely with Pride would do the exact same thing to you, except you would no-longer be the Sakuya that everyone cares about. You wouldn't even be the you that you are now. You, and Pride, would completely cease to be. No soul to recall, nothing, only the memories within the hearts and minds of those who knew you. What would replace you two, I know not. But, that would not be anyone I would allow contact with Flandre, or the Mansion."

>Sakuya rises to a standing position. "The uncertainty you must be facing is not unknown to me. From your perspective, what is happening to me is, indeed, not unlike what occurs when a human becomes a vampire. However, I am still Sakuya Izayoi. The Countess and her servants would have told you by now, my pride in my role as your servant is what allowed me to overcome Pride's possession of me. That hasn't changed since I overcame Pride. It won't change once I absorb the Sin completely." Sakuya smiles. "I'm still Remilia Scarlet's perfect servant, and you are still the perfect master, despite what has transpired here tonight. I say, without hesitation, that you were proud of me before. You will be even more proud of me once this process is complete. I ask only your patience, and your faith in me."

[Hanzo K.]

>This should be the right time for Hong to cut in, yes?
>"For now, you are. But once you fully absorb Pride, I will no-longer consider you Sakuya, or even my servant. So you can understand that I have no faith in you as of current."

[Oldmansour]

>This should be the right time for Hong to cut in, yes?
>"For now, you are. But once you fully absorb Pride, I will no-longer consider you Sakuya, or even my servant. So you can understand that I have no faith in you as of current."

>Seems like it to you.
>"I do understand, and I had hoped that you would be able to overcome your selfish nature to see things from my perspective. To overcome your short-sightedness to see that all that would be gained would far outweigh anything that might have been lost." Despite the only slight change in the tone of her voice, you have the distinct impression that she is disappointed in you. She opens her mouth to speak again, but the first syllable comes out as a strangled sound, and her eyes drift to the doorframe behind you.

[GuyYouMetOnline]

>"Ah, yes, Meiling is here as well."

[Oldmansour]

>"Ah, yes, Meiling is here as well."

>"Meiling?" Sakuya says, her voice finally sounding a bit less measured and practiced.
>Sure enough, Hong has chosen this moment to make her presence felt, her body now framing the door, her vivid eyes fixed gently on Sakuya's face in a gaze full of naked adoration. "Yes, Sakuya-san. It's me." She tilts her head just a touch, lowering her eyelids. "I've been worried about you."
>"You seem... different." Sakuya's eyes look Meiling up and down. Then do so again. You can sense the power growing in the air, flowing from Meiling. It is a force unlike anything you've ever felt before. You wouldn't call it any form of attack, at least not any kind you can identify.
>Meiling gives Sakuya a slow nod, before taking a step forward. "I'm not really 'different', but I have changed a little. You see, Sakuya-san, for a long time, I was afraid. Afraid of what I really felt, afraid that it was wrong, that it was unwelcome, that it would only bring chaos to the mansion." Her gentle, loving smile shadows, a bittersweet twinge. "That I would only get hurt. But more than that, I was afraid that YOU would get hurt, Sakuya-san."
>"What are you talking about?" Sakuya demands as Meiling takes another step forward. Sakuya takes a half-step backwards. You're not sure she even realizes that she did. Her eyes haven't moved from Meiling once.
>"I know how you feel, Sakuya-san. About more than you think I do. I always thought that, if I told you what I really wanted to, what I've wanted to for years, that it would make you feel awkward. That it would hurt how you do your job, and I know how much it means to you. But right now, Sakuya-san, I'm not afraid." Meiling says confidently, pressing forward, her loving gaze pinning Sakuya in place. For the first time in a very long time, your maid seems... flustered. Nervous. Maybe even scared. She's a calm and collected person normally, and has been even more so tonight, but that seems to be unraveling now. On an impulse, you pull in your focus to analyze Sakuya's line of fate. It's working. The bond between Sakuya and Pride is fluctuating. Not only from the external force of Meiling and Lust's efforts, but it seems to be pulsating from the inside as well. Whether this is the work of Pride or Sakuya herself, or maybe even both, you can't tell.

>"I don't want to hide the truth from you anymore, or lie to myself." Meiling presses on. A gentle and warm aura of pink light surrounds her. Sakuya takes a sharp breath and tenses her legs, like one about to bolt, but she can't seem to finish the motion. Just in case, you ease back a little and put yourself between Sakuya and the door, just in case she tries to make a run for it, should she break her near-paralysis.
>The red-headed youkai stops right in front of Sakuya. "I'm only sorry that it's come to this here, instead of home, but I hope you'll forgive me for that." The skin under her eyes flushes. "Honestly, I can think of a lot of places I'd rather have said this than a stranger's guest room, but..."
>Sakuya's mouth works for a moment before she manages to blurt out, "Say what?"
>Hong's response is not with words. She reaches slowly out and takes Sakuya's left hand in hers. Your maid responds with an expression you haven't seen on her in a very, very long time: she blushes. And not just a little touch of pink, her whole face flushes red, practically glowing in color.

>Your senses register a large disruption upon Sakuya's fate line. The connection between Sakuya and Pride is being assaulted from two sides and from within, and cracks are appearing between the two beings' fates. And Sakuya herself seems almost oblivious to your presence; Meiling has her attention completely diverted from you. The time is now!

[Hanzo K.]

>Alright, let's act now! Cleave the two fates apart! Cut Pride's Fate free of Sakuya's!
>...And while we're at it, let's look through the rest of her fate to cut down anything similar that would be deemed unfavorable.
>And to strengthen that, let's re-tie Sakuya's fate to the rest of the Mansion's residents. She's our maid, not some cheap village bike, and we'll be damned if some outside force tries to rob her from us again!

[Oldmansour]

>Alright, let's act now! Cleave the two fates apart! Cut Pride's Fate free of Sakuya's!

>With Meiling grasping Sakuya's left hand, you lunge forward and take a hold of her right. Physical contact affords you a clearer look at the fates in question. Meiling's love opened a crack between Sakuya and Pride, a form of attack Sakuya had not anticipated. Was not capable of dealing with. And that crack is the crack you can exploit.
>Metaphysically jamming your fingers into the gap between Sakuya and Pride, you work to pry the two of them apart. Despite the fluctuations up and down the line of fate, the mixture of the two resists your efforts stubbornly. It's still Sakuya, and she's still convinced she knows better than you. The sensation is like trying to crush a handful of diamond in your bare hands. The strain is horrendous, and you feel beads of sweat trickle down your forehead from the effort. Even with Meiling working from the other side, you think, for one fleeting moment, that even all of this won't be enough, so stuck together the two beings are.
>But you are Remilia Scarlet. The being you are trying to save is Sakuya Izayoi. There is no room for doubt. There is no time for hesitation. 'Determination' isn't quite the right word, as that implies the possibility of failure. You are certain, beyond any and all doubt, that you will succeed. You will have your Sakuya back.

>With a herculean effort, a strained cry escapes your body, as the connection between Sakuya and Pride weakens. Loosens. Tears. And finally, with a physical sound not unlike the tearing of rock, collapses completely.
>Sakuya herself stumbles and falls forward, into Meiling's arms, her eyes closed and her body unmoving. From out of her body, grasped in your hand, you pull the physical form of Pride, looking as it did in your vision: an 'idealized' Sakuya. Not only have you separated their fates, you have physically separated them, as well. Pride, like the real Sakuya, is unmoving, seemingly unconscious, and you have to catch her still form before she falls over and hits the ground.

>Meiling looks back towards the door and cries, "Tsumiko, now!"
>From behind you, you sense a surge in power and the Keeper's voice calls, "Pride, Return!" The false Sakuya in your arms glows a deep blue before her whole body transmogrifies into blue energy, the sensation very strange against your skin. The Sin's energy leaps forward out of your grip, and flies into the outstretched hand of Tsumiko the Keeper. The stripe on her face turns a matching royal blue.

>...And while we're at it, let's look through the rest of her fate to cut down anything similar that would be deemed unfavorable.
>And to strengthen that, let's re-tie Sakuya's fate to the rest of the Mansion's residents. She's our maid, not some cheap village bike, and we'll be damned if some outside force tries to rob her from us again!

>The dramatic separation of Sakuya and Pride has left your maid's fateline somewhat unstable at the moment. It is almost impossible to see her future at the moment, even for one as skilled as you. And while you CAN alter it, given its current instability, any alteration you make has the potential to have unforeseen side-effects.
>Do you wish to proceed?

[Hanzo K.]

>We'll hold off on shoring it up until later then, when it's stabilized.
>"Phew....That was rather taxing, I must admit. But we managed it."
>Beat.
>"Ah, you can get out of Hong now, Lust. I think we've had more than enough people getting possessed or inhabited for quite some time. I can certainly say that I've had enough of it."

[Oldmansour]

>We'll hold off on shoring it up until later then, when it's stabilized.
>"Phew....That was rather taxing, I must admit. But we managed it."
>Beat.
>"Ah, you can get out of Hong now, Lust. I think we've had more than enough people getting possessed or inhabited for quite some time. I can certainly say that I've had enough of it."

>Meiling holds the still form of Sakuya securely in her arms. Without taking her eyes off her, Meiling says to you, "It's interesting that you issue that command before asking about Sakuya at all."

[Hanzo K.]

>"I'm just tired of dealing with all this, alright? How is she anyhow?"

[GuyYouMetOnline]

>"Besides, her fate extends well into the future, so I know she'll be fine."
>Even if it's unstable at the moment, the fact that she still has a fate prooves that much.

[Oldmansour]

>"I'm just tired of dealing with all this, alright? How is she anyhow?"

>"Besides, her fate extends well into the future, so I know she'll be fine."
>Even if it's unstable at the moment, the fact that she still has a fate prooves that much.

>"You should be happy, Remilia." Meiling counters, smiling easily, looking fondly down at the maid in her grasp. "It worked. Neither one of us was sure it would, but... here she is. Safe and sound."
>Looking Sakuya up and down would seem to confirm that statement. Sakuya's hair has fallen out of its braids, hanging loose, and seems just a bit longer than normal, but there is no wounds you can detect at all. Considering the strain put on her being by the days leading up to tonight, and everything that's happened tonight, you would not be at all surprised if she woke up with the worst headache of her life, but at least she'll wake up as herself, not some abomination fusion between Sakuya and something else.

>"Looks like you didn't need me after all." Reimu's voice comes from behind Tsumiko, as the miko herself walks up to stand just behind ther Keeper. "Next time I get a possession incident, you three can handle it for me."

[Hanzo K.]

>Sigh in that relieved, but worn-out way. "This was a last-ditch method though. But at least it worked."
>Let's pull ourselves back up to our feet if we aren't on them. "Now then. Your job in this little matter has ended, Lust. Hong and I can handle things just fine from here. So if you would?"

[Oldmansour]

>Sigh in that relieved, but worn-out way. "This was a last-ditch method though. But at least it worked."
>Let's pull ourselves back up to our feet if we aren't on them. "Now then. Your job in this little matter has ended, Lust. Hong and I can handle things just fine from here. So if you would?"

>You have remained standing, though you do feel a touch on the fatigued side. You're glad that worked, as you'd hate to have to do it again.
>"She's right, Lust." Hong says out loud. "They'll all be all right now."
>The feathered wings that Meiling sprouted when Lust went inside her appear once more, and beat but once, now shimmering with pink and blue twinkling lights, preceding the form of the Sin spirit Lust departing Meiling, in a somewhat less 'intimate' manner than she inhabited her. Her own appearance has changed again, now appearing as a beautiful green eyed woman with long silver hair, a braid tied halfway down her back, clad in a navel-baring ensemble consisting of a blue crop-top and a long white, blue and pink skirt.
>Despite the loss of her supporting spirit, Meiling doesn't slump like the kappa at the Myoren temple did, remaining composed and upright, keeping her grip on Sakuya. She does, however, turn her head towards Lust, the hint of a blush under her eyes. "Thank you." she says quietly.
>Lust nods gently, her green eyes sparkling. "You take care of her now, sweetie."
>"You know I will." Meiling says confidently, hoisting Sakuya's sleeping form into what it called the 'princess carry'.

[GuyYouMetOnline]

>"Well done, Meiling. And Lust, I am grateful for your aid."

[Oldmansour]

>"Well done, Meiling. And Lust, I am grateful for your aid."

>Meiling simply smiles at your praise, while Lust nods in your direction, saying "Any time, Miss Scarlet. I live to help. And I'm happy that Miss Izayoi is back to her old self, as well. But, you might want to give her a day or two off. I'd guess this separation put a lot of strain on her, even if it doesn't show."
>"You sure don't act like a 'Sin'." Reimu comments dryly.
>Tsumiko, the stripe on her face turning from blue to white, says, "I told you, Lust is different than most of the others. She and Greed are a lot closer to a self-actualized entity than the other four."
>"Four?"
>"Wrath's an exception." Tsumiko says, mentioning that Sin in a tone slightly hushed. "It stands apart from the other six in nearly all things." The Keeper shakes her head, as if to banish that thought, and asks you, "If you don't mind me asking, Miss Scarlet, what did she mean about your sister? She said something about 'making imouto-sama whole'?"

[Hanzo K.]

>"...Let's just say that Rei's not the only unstable one. I had sent Sakuya out to find a means to remedy that, which is how she got into this mess. This time I'll personally take care of it. Sakuya's stubborn insistence didn't exactly go over well you know, and I'd like to avoid a repeat performance of this mess. We got lucky this time."
>Then sigh. "I might also have a guess as to where Greed might be, by the way. In the Forest of Magic resides a young magic-user called Marisa Kirisame. She's well-known for her fondness for casual theft, and penchant for blowing things up. So if there's anyone aside from Reimu that Greed would gravitate towards, it's her. I haven't seen her for about four months, but I wouldn't put it past Greed to be drawn to her."
>"As for Wrath, I might have a hunch on that, but I'm not certain. I might be able to deduce it easier by checking your fate, and using that to locate Wrath's. From there, I should be able to follow it to the current and see if my hunch is correct."

[Oldmansour]

>"...Let's just say that Rei's not the only unstable one. I had sent Sakuya out to find a means to remedy that, which is how she got into this mess. This time I'll personally take care of it. Sakuya's stubborn insistence didn't exactly go over well you know, and I'd like to avoid a repeat performance of this mess. We got lucky this time."

>The Keeper blows at the lock of hair that falls into her eyes. "Well, she wasn't wrong. A Sin can increase someone's power by magnitudes, depending on the nature of the fusion. Now that this problem is solved, it's possible that one of my Sins could help your sister. I'm willing to try, at least, once I get Greed and Wrath back. And if I can't, the Countess would be willing to try, I know for sure."

>Then sigh. "I might also have a guess as to where Greed might be, by the way. In the Forest of Magic resides a young magic-user called Marisa Kirisame. She's well-known for her fondness for casual theft, and penchant for blowing things up. So if there's anyone aside from Reimu that Greed would gravitate towards, it's her. I haven't seen her for about four months, but I wouldn't put it past Greed to be drawn to her."
>"As for Wrath, I might have a hunch on that, but I'm not certain. I might be able to deduce it easier by checking your fate, and using that to locate Wrath's. From there, I should be able to follow it to the current and see if my hunch is correct."

>"Whaddya mean, aside from me?" Reimu asks.
>"You DO sort of have a reputation." Meiling replies cautiously.
>Reimu folds her arms across her chest. "Greedy my ass."

>"I appreciate that, Miss Scarlet, but I don't think you'll have much luck at reading my fate."
>Lust adds, "The Keeper's fate is tied up with seven other beings. We cause interference. A scryer visited us about two hundred years ago, and trying to read the Keeper's future kinda messed with his head."
>"Regardless, I should be able to find those two on my own, once Gluttony and Envy are returned to me. And Miss Toramaru said she would attend to that, once she saw this incident resolved."

[Hanzo K.]

>"I think you'll understand that I'd rather not have the Sin Spirits meddling with her, they've already done enough as it is. Besides, her issue is no matter of power or spirit, but of the mind. I already have a lead as it is to begin with. I have Sakuya's earlier efforts to thank for that."
>Nod. "About that fate thing though, I was not intending to use Tsumiko's future, but rather, her past. Find the 'now', then work back to when the sins split away. Then locate Wrath's thread, and then use that to find Wrath's 'Now'. Besides, I am far superior to any mere fortune-teller. I can affect the very threads themselves. That, Sin and Sin-Keeper, is how I broke Pride free. Incidentally, once Pride's recovered, I intend to give Pride at least one good punch, on principle you understand. Nothing lethal I can assure you, I just have to keep up my principles. Pride did cause quite a lot of trouble for all of us after all, and I doubt this experience will be enough to teach Pride a lesson."

[Oldmansour]

>"I think you'll understand that I'd rather not have the Sin Spirits meddling with her, they've already done enough as it is. Besides, her issue is no matter of power or spirit, but of the mind. I already have a lead as it is to begin with. I have Sakuya's earlier efforts to thank for that."
>Nod. "About that fate thing though, I was not intending to use Tsumiko's future, but rather, her past. Find the 'now', then work back to when the sins split away. Then locate Wrath's thread, and then use that to find Wrath's 'Now'. Besides, I am far superior to any mere fortune-teller. I can affect the very threads themselves. That, Sin and Sin-Keeper, is how I broke Pride free. Incidentally, once Pride's recovered, I intend to give Pride at least one good punch, on principle you understand. Nothing lethal I can assure you, I just have to keep up my principles. Pride did cause quite a lot of trouble for all of us after all, and I doubt this experience will be enough to teach Pride a lesson."

>"I do understand." Tsumiko replies, though she does look a bit disappointed. "After everything that's happened, I would like to make amends to the people the loose Sins affected, though."
>"It wasn't your fault what happened, Tsumiko." Lust says quickly.
>"Just don't let it happen again." Reimu adds.

>"I wouldn't be sure of that, Miss Scarlet." Tsumiko says about Pride. "Nothing like this has ever happened to any of the Sins. Pride's been beaten before, but never like this. And Miss Izayoi's efforts did a lot of damage to Pride. I'll have to put him to sleep for a while to help him recover; right now, I wouldn't even want to channel his power, let alone materialize him."
>"He did ask me to pass on a message to you, though. If you wanted to hear it."