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

[Oldmansour]

>"Well, I think you both fought very spiritedly. At least to an untrained eye like mine."

>"Oh yeah, you've never seen one of these little displays, have you?" Reimu asks. "I guess it's a bit different than your usual fare."

>Sorry for the delay. Rin's voice returns. Had a couple of shrine maidens think I was a stray.

[DracoOmega]

>"A little. I hear this is a perennial sort of thing, though."
>I hope they didn't cause you any trouble?

[Oldmansour]

>"A little. I hear this is a perennial sort of thing, though."
>I hope they didn't cause you any trouble?

>Reimu blinks. "Was that a tree pun?"
>Her two aides chuckle. "I think Yuyuko-sama might have affected your sense of humor more than you think, Reimu." the pretty purple-haired woman says with a gentle smile.

>Naw. But if ya see em, they'll want a word with ya just to make sure my story checks out.

>"Reimu gives me a good fight." Tenshi says with a cocky smirk. "And that's the best kind."

[DracoOmega]

>"And one where both parties can walk away satisfied is perhaps, I think, the best of all."

>I'll keep it in mind. Did you figure anything else out about that other sensation you mentioned?

[Oldmansour]

>"And one where both parties can walk away satisfied is perhaps, I think, the best of all."

>I'll keep it in mind. Did you figure anything else out about that other sensation you mentioned?

>"You're too passive." Tenshi retorts, leaning forward and pointing at you quite deliberately.

>Not yet. I couldn't focus on that while I was talking to those two.

>"Satisfaction's all well and good, but ya gotta win, or at least give as good as got! More, even!"
>At this point, Reimu reclaims her blunted tachi, and pokes Tenshi firmly in her exposed ribs. The miko emits a sound halfway between a squawk and a meow, and straightens up immediately.
>"Don't scare people." Reimu remarks dryly.

[DracoOmega]

>"But couldn't one be satisfied precisely because they'd given it their all?"

>Very well. The match has concluded so I may join you in a little bit, but keep in touch.

[Oldmansour]

>"But couldn't one be satisfied precisely because they'd given it their all?"

>Very well. The match has concluded so I may join you in a little bit, but keep in touch.

>Of course.

>"Faugh! That's not how I look at it." Tenshi retorts, rubbing her poked-ribs.
>Reimu, resting her sword on her shoulder, says "Tenshi here doesn't like coming less than first."

[DracoOmega]

>"A demanding standard for oneself."

[Oldmansour]

>"A demanding standard for oneself."

>Tenshi puffs herself up again, but Reimu interjects "She's been that way for as long as I've known her."
>"And why shouldn't I be." Tenshi retorts.

[DracoOmega]

>"Even pride borne of effort and merit can bring its bearer suffering, I have found."

[Oldmansour]

>"Even pride borne of effort and merit can bring its bearer suffering, I have found."

>Tenshi responds with a boisterous laugh. "Aren't we philosophical."
>"You ought to listen to her, Tenshi." the brown haired man says. "Might save you a loss here and there."

[DracoOmega]

>"What's a loss or two between friends, anyway, hmm?"

[Oldmansour]

>"What's a loss or two between friends, anyway, hmm?"

>"Incentive for a rematch, is what." Tenshi decides, but as she turns back to Reimu, you note her leg waver again. "I'll give you another shot, Reimu."
>The tawny haired miko, who had been standing next to Tenshi and has now pulled her hood up, places her hand on Tenshi's shoulder. "Uh, Tenshi-sama, maybe you should put that off for now?"
>"What for?"
>"Well for one, because you're sweating worse than a kappa in a desert." Reimu answers.
>Tenshi starts to retort hotly, but at that moment, a bead of sweat drips into her eye. With that eye blinking, she, somewhat grudgingly, nods and says, "Might have a point. And I'm hungry." she adds as an afterthought.
>Neither Reimu nor the other shrine maiden bother to hide their relief, but Tenshi isn't quite finished yet, as she asks you, "How 'bout you, B.... Byakuren? You wanna have a go with the sticks after some lunch?"

[DracoOmega]

>Incidentally, do we have any experience with kendo? Or any other martial art, for that matter?

[Oldmansour]

>Incidentally, do we have any experience with kendo? Or any other martial art, for that matter?

>You do not. You once considered studying the martial art of tai chi chuan, but the idea of hitting people didn't appeal to you.

[DracoOmega]

>The tennis ball has a lot fewer feelings to injure, at any rate
>"I'm afraid I have no experience with any sword arts. I play tennis."

[Oldmansour]

>The tennis ball has a lot fewer feelings to injure, at any rate
>"I'm afraid I have no experience with any sword arts. I play tennis."

>Quite so.

>Tenshi's answering smirk almost reeks of confidence. "Well, you are in luck, because there's no one better to learn from than me."
>"How about the woman that just beat you?" the brown haired man jibes.
>"Or perhaps the man that taught the both of you?" the other suit replies.
>"Quiet, you!" Tenshi commands.

[DracoOmega]

>"Thank you for the offer, but I'm afraid I'll have to decline. I have an early day tomorrow and I can't stay for long."

[Oldmansour]

>"Thank you for the offer, but I'm afraid I'll have to decline. I have an early day tomorrow and I can't stay for long."

>"Your loss." Tenshi boasts.
>The hooded miko behind her clears her throat. "If you are ever interested, we do teach Yamato-style swordsmanship here at the temple. Free of charge."

[DracoOmega]

>"Oh? That's quite generous of your time."

[Oldmansour]

>"Oh? That's quite generous of your time."

>"Well, thanks, but it's part of the job." the miko says with a smile. "So to speak. The Blue Dragon Shrine is a place where people learn to defend themselves, if they ever have to. We may not have the best teacher in town, but we're plenty good."
>"Even if Remiu's still a bit better than Tenshi." the braided man says absently.
>Tenshi repeats her command of "Quiet, you!" over the quiet chuckles of Reimu and the purple haired woman.

[DracoOmega]

>Smile
>"A spirited sort of advertising that makes this then, I guess."

[Oldmansour]

>Smile
>"A spirited sort of advertising that makes this then, I guess."

>The woman gives you a knowing grin. "We like to call that a 'happy accident' whenever Reimu-sama drops by."

>"You gonna stick around for some lunch, Reimu?" Tenshi asks her.
>Reimu nods. "Might as well. I need a bath, as well."

>I'm having a bit of trouble making sense of this second feeling in here, Byakuren. Rin reports. I can't pin it down, but what I can say is that it feels like somethin' that don't mix with the bigger sensation.

[DracoOmega]

>Hmmm... hopefully it's nothing bad. But I shall be there in person soon.
>"Well, I think I shall leave you two to it and try to find where Rin went. She took a look around while I was watching the duel."

>Assuming we are not stopped, head in the direction Rin went at a reasonably brisk pace. If we can use our telepathic link with her to more specifically sense her direction, use that as an aid as well.

[Oldmansour]

>Hmmm... hopefully it's nothing bad. But I shall be there in person soon.
>"Well, I think I shall leave you two to it and try to find where Rin went. She took a look around while I was watching the duel."

>Assuming we are not stopped, head in the direction Rin went at a reasonably brisk pace. If we can use our telepathic link with her to more specifically sense her direction, use that as an aid as well.

>Understood.

>The white hooded miko gives you a slight bow, as Reimu says "Say hi to her for me."

>As you excuse yourself from the group, you hear Tenshi ask Reimu, "Who's Rin again?"
>"Friend of hers." Reimu says diplomatically.
>"She duel?"
>"I would doubt it."

>You return to the clay bricked path towards the shrine, passing by the rapidly dwindling crowd around the tengu. A glance at his face shows him to be in good spirits, though judging from the mood and stray comments of the people around you, that tengu just lost more than a couple bucks. Perhaps he simply enjoys the activity. But before you can take more than a few steps towards the shrine, the purple haired woman's voice catches up to you, "Excuse me, Hijiri-san?"

[DracoOmega]

>Pause and turn around
>"Yes?"

[Oldmansour]

>Pause and turn around
>"Yes?"

>The woman's hair bounces as she catches up with you, walking briskly. "May I walk with you for a moment?" she asks politely.

[DracoOmega]

>"Of course."
>Gesture for the woman to come alongside

[Oldmansour]

>"Of course."
>Gesture for the woman to come alongside

>You resume your course towards the shrine as Reimu's aide falls in next to you.
>"I merely wanted to say thank you on Reimu-sama's behalf."

[DracoOmega]

>"Oh?"