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

[DracoOmega]

>"It was meant with only innocent curiosity, I am sure. They seem like nice girls."

[Oldmansour]

>"It was meant with only innocent curiosity, I am sure. They seem like nice girls."

>Haruka nods. "Suika tends not to let women serve here unless they are good at heart. Not that this is normally an issue, as it's usually good people who want to serve in the first place."
>The tall youkai flexes her shoulders, setting her feathers rustling. "I have to ask, Hijiri-san, did this sort of thing happen to you at the Metal Tiger shrine as well?"

[DracoOmega]

>Shake our head
>"No, nothing quite like this, really."

[Oldmansour]

>Shake our head
>"No, nothing quite like this, really."

>"I imagine it must not be uncommon for you, though."
>Rin, however, looks a bit surprised. "Have you met my Mis- Byakuren before?"
>Haruka pauses a moment, a look passing between her and Rin. Then she nods. "We met last night, at the shrine of the Metal Tiger."

[DracoOmega]

>"Are you here on business today as well, by any chance?"

[Oldmansour]

>"Are you here on business today as well, by any chance?"

>"I actually don't know yet." Haruka admits. "I was summoned here by Suika. Well, 'summoned' isn't quite the right word for her, she's never that formal. Invited works better. Regardless, when I got here, she was enmeshed in an impromptu birthday party she decided to throw for a little boy. You probably passed them on your way in."

[DracoOmega]

>"I did notice her playing with some children, yes."

[Oldmansour]

>"I did notice her playing with some children, yes."

>"She does that whenever she learns that a young person is here on their birthday. Suika seems to be fond of nearly everyone, though I believe she has a special soft spot in her heart for children." With a brief chuckle, she adds, "And a special soft spot for parties of any kind."

[DracoOmega]

>"So I have heard."

[Oldmansour]

>"So I have heard."

>"Can I ask what brings you up to this shrine tonight?" Haruka asks politely. "It's somewhat rare for someone to visit two different shrines in two days."

[DracoOmega]

>"Somehow I found myself in the mind to pay a visit to the sacred flame. And, of course, the Tiger Shrine's was closed last night."

[Oldmansour]

>"Somehow I found myself in the mind to pay a visit to the sacred flame. And, of course, the Tiger Shrine's was closed last night."

>"And you?" Haruka asks Rin, an odd note in her voice.
>"My company was welcome." Rin replies, oddly formally.
>Haruka smiles. "I'm sure." she says quietly. If you didn't know better, you'd swear there was some kind of affinity between the two. Which is odd, since tall, somewhat imposing people tend to provoke a touch of nervous energy from the kasha, like you noted with Kanako before the woman won her over a bit.

[DracoOmega]

>"Well, I feel like taking a little walk, I think. Thank you for you help with the crowd earlier. I do appreciate it."

[Oldmansour]

>"Well, I feel like taking a little walk, I think. Thank you for you help with the crowd earlier. I do appreciate it."

>"Happy to help. I've learned a little crowd control can go a long way." To Rin, she adds, "I am pleased to have met you." After a moment's pause, she adds, formally, "Serve well."
>"Always." Rin's strong voice replies.

[DracoOmega]

>Take our leave of her and head off in the direction of the pond
>After a short distance, and if no one is immediately around: "Did I see Ayumi hand you a note before she left?"

[Oldmansour]

>Take our leave of her and head off in the direction of the pond
>After a short distance, and if no one is immediately around: "Did I see Ayumi hand you a note before she left?"

>Rin and Haruka exchange one last look before your slave follows your lead and makes for the front door of the shrine. The ponytailed blonde is still within earshot to your right, so you and Rin take a left turn and start to walk around the shrine, making for the cobblestone path circling the Tortoise shrine.
>After you put a bit of distance between her and you, you ask Rin about that scrap of paper Ayumi gave her. Orin nods, "Yup."

[DracoOmega]

>"I find myself curious as to what it says - assuming this isn't private, of course."

[Oldmansour]

>"I find myself curious as to what it says - assuming this isn't private, of course."

>Rin produces the scrap in question. "I dunno. She said it was for you, so I never looked."

[DracoOmega]

>"Oh, I see. May I have a look, then?"
>Take the note and have a look at it

[Oldmansour]

>"Oh, I see. May I have a look, then?"
>Take the note and have a look at it

>"Of course!" Rin says, handing over the scrap instantly.
>In a somewhat simplistic scrip, the note contains three words, and a series of numbers beneath. Clearly a phone number. The note reads 'Thanks for lookin'.'

[DracoOmega]

>Thanks for lookin'.... Well, then....
>Take a slightly self-conscious glance in Rin's direction

[Oldmansour]

>Thanks for lookin'.... Well, then....
>Take a slightly self-conscious glance in Rin's direction

>Pretty sharp eyes, that one has...
>Rin has not looked at what your note says. She merely appears curious. "Somethin' bad, Mistress?"

[DracoOmega]

>"....no, I suppose it isn't that, though I do find myself feeling slightly sheepish nonetheless."
>Turn the note in Rin's direction

[Oldmansour]

>"....no, I suppose it isn't that, though I do find myself feeling slightly sheepish nonetheless."
>Turn the note in Rin's direction

>This does nothing to alleviate the kasha's curious look.
>Rin gives the paper a quick look, then breaks out into a grin. "Didn't see dat comin'."

[DracoOmega]

>"I believe that makes two of us."

[Oldmansour]

>"I believe that makes two of us."

>"Think you'll ever call her?"

[DracoOmega]

>Pause a moment
>"Well... she did seem like a nice girl, and she was very talented...."

[Oldmansour]

>Pause a moment
>"Well... she did seem like a nice girl, and she was very talented...."

>Rin takes a moment to hum thoughtfully as you round the corner of the shrine. The area to your right is wooded pretty densely, and there is a small pond in the northeast section. There is a tracked trail leading into the woods, and a trio of quads parked not far from the pond. A miko with seafoam green hair sits on a large rock next to the pond, and is tossing a baseball back and forth with a ponytailed young man sitting on the smalled of the four-wheelers present. The cobblestone path continues on to the north.
>"Well, ya might have time, once we're done at dis lake here." Rin offers helpfully. "If ya wanted to... take care of her while you was here."

[DracoOmega]

>"If I-"
>Pause
>"...take care of her?"

>Is the trail into the woods the correct path towards our intended destination? At least as well as we can figure? Or is that pond in the northeast the largest body of water around here?

[Oldmansour]

>"If I-"
>Pause
>"...take care of her?"

>Is the trail into the woods the correct path towards our intended destination? At least as well as we can figure? Or is that pond in the northeast the largest body of water around here?

>Orin nods.
>No. You want to follow the stone path to the back side of the shrine, your destination is behind the shrine. The quad trail leads off to the east.