Wriggle Quest: The Value of the Small

[Hanzo K.]

>"Alright then, whenever you guys are ready."
>Let's tag along when they head off.

[Raikaria]

>"Alright then, whenever you guys are ready."
>Let's tag along when they head off.

> The duo are ready, and you fly off to the Hakurei Shrine.

> It's been a while since you've been here. The first thing you notice is, for some bizarre reason Sunny, Luna and Star appear to be cleaning the shrine. Sukia is loungeing out the front, as per usual. You cannot see Reimu, but knowing her, she's probobly lazing around inside.

[Hanzo K.]

>Guess they got a job as hired cleaners or something? Kinda surprising that those guys of all people would go into that sort of profession though.
>Well, let's head over to Suika. "Hey, you seen Reimu? I heard a few weird things, and wanted to see if she could figure anything out from it."

[Raikaria]

>Guess they got a job as hired cleaners or something? Kinda surprising that those guys of all people would go into that sort of profession though.
>Well, let's head over to Suika. "Hey, you seen Reimu? I heard a few weird things, and wanted to see if she could figure anything out from it."

> You figure this is the case.

> "Raymoo's inside being lazy since she tricked and threatened the local fairies into doing the cleaning." Sukia says. "Tricking and threatening at the same time... what to call that... uh... Trickening?"

[Hanzo K.]

>Figures that she'd do something like that. Probably aren't getting paid by her then.
>"I'll just head in and ask her then, it should be fine since this sort of puzzle is 'in the job description', you know?"

[Raikaria]

>Figures that she'd do something like that. Probably aren't getting paid by her then.
>"I'll just head in and ask her then, it should be fine since this sort of puzzle is 'in the job description', you know?"

> They are getting paid. In not getting beaten up. Sometimes you think Reimu is the 2nd most sadistic being in Gensokyo. Albeit, a long way behind Yuuka.

> "Just because it's in her job description *hic* doesn't mean she does it. She doesn't get paid either."

[Hanzo K.]

>"Well, if my hunch is right, it might lead to something she'll want to take care of. See, those two fall goddesses were being secretive about something weird, one of them mentioned it when I cautioned them against doing what Yuuka did as Titania. And there was a Divine Messenger looking for Hina too. I don't know, but I think they might be connected somehow. I think the root of it all was when Yuuka was Titania again for a little while."

[Raikaria]

>"Well, if my hunch is right, it might lead to something she'll want to take care of. See, those two fall goddesses were being secretive about something weird, one of them mentioned it when I cautioned them against doing what Yuuka did as Titania. And there was a Divine Messenger looking for Hina too. I don't know, but I think they might be connected somehow. I think the root of it all was when Yuuka was Titania again for a little while."

> "We had something that looked like a Tengu and weren't a Tengu visit about an hour ago. Said he wanted to talk to Hakurei, but he didn't want to talk to Reimu. Then he meditated for a little, then he grumbled about 'desertion' and flew off. It confused me." Sukia says.

[Hanzo K.]

>"Huh. According to what Medi said, that must've been a Divine Messenger. I bet it's got something to do with the Titania Incident."

[Raikaria]

>"Huh. According to what Medi said, that must've been a Divine Messenger. I bet it's got something to do with the Titania Incident."

> When you say 'Divine Messenger, Reimu, looking very, very grouchy, comes out of the shrine.

> "Stupid Divine Messenger. What does he mean 'Your goddess has left your shrine due to your incompetance as a Miko.'!?"

> "We've been telling you that for YEARS Reimu, why do you think I can come on this ground without being driven away by a youkai-sealing goddess?" Mima says. "Or what about Sukia, or that insect youkai right there?"

> "She knows they're not threats. She's a SMART goddess." Reimu protests, before she shoots a small danmaku at Sunny in anger. The fairy starts to panic asking what she did wrong and telling Reimu not to hurt her.

[Hanzo K.]

>Great, angry Reimu. This is going to end swimmingly.
>"Guess this means it's a bad time to tell her what little I've managed to find out now, huh?"

[Raikaria]

>Great, angry Reimu. This is going to end swimmingly.
>"Guess this means it's a bad time to tell her what little I've managed to find out now, huh?"

> Reimu looks at you.

> "Depends what that something is." Reimu grunts.

> Mima appears to be sulking about being deemed 'not a threat'.

[Hanzo K.]

>"Well, one of those guys was looking for Hina too. And when I met the Aki Sisters earlier today at the village, Shizuha was trying to say something when Minoriko told her to be quiet and got all scary. Made me feel about as small as an ant is in comparison to a human. I'm pretty sure that since she said it when I was advising her to not go and pull a Titania, that it's gotta be related to the Titania Incident a few months back."

[Raikaria]

>"Well, one of those guys was looking for Hina too. And when I met the Aki Sisters earlier today at the village, Shizuha was trying to say something when Minoriko told her to be quiet and got all scary. Made me feel about as small as an ant is in comparison to a human. I'm pretty sure that since she said it when I was advising her to not go and pull a Titania, that it's gotta be related to the Titania Incident a few months back."

> "And that would have anything to do with Hakurei and Hina and the Akis why?" Reimu asks, raising an eyebrow.

> "Titania's scary!" Star says.

> "I can't believe we fell for that black fairy's tricks." Luna says.

> "Well we'll find something else to put fairies as number one one day!" Sunny says.

> "Well, anyway, I guess it would be better to ask Sanae and her gods. I mean, her gods haven't abandoned the shrine." Reimu says, huffing.

> Mima still seems to be sulking. Sukia just takes a swig, and waddles over to Reimu.

> "There there Raymoo, we know why you're really so grouchy right now. It's nothing to take out on everyone *hic* else. You don't need to act all tough. We all noticed, even if you didn't tell anyone yet."

> "What do you mean..." Reimu asks.

> "Genji. He passed away." Sukia says. "His time came."

> Reimu suddenly shakes, before bursting into tears.

[Hanzo K.]

>What do we know about this Genji fella?

[Raikaria]

>What do we know about this Genji fella?

> You recall Genji from the Rika incident, when he got involved because he recalled Rika when Reimu didn't. He was a turtle, with the power of speech and flight. Reimu used to ride him before she could fly, and after, being very old, he just rested at the back of the shrine. He was basically Reimu's familiar and pet, as well as her oldest ally, and mentor to some extent.

> Despite him being wise, old, and being able to speak and fly, you don't think he was actually a youkai. Or if he was, he must have been thousands of years old.

[Hanzo K.]

>"...That old turtle was one heck of a guy. Maybe we need to figure something out to do in his honor. One last send-off, you know?"

[Raikaria]

>"...That old turtle was one heck of a guy. Maybe we need to figure something out to do in his honor. One last send-off, you know?"

> Reimu is still crying.

> "Genji was the pet of Reimu's great-great-grandmother, and has gone down the family line. It's not just Genji gone. Genji would tell Reimu stories about her family. Reimu's lost the only living memory of her ancestors." Mima says. "And when she lost her mother at such a young age... well, Genji was almost like an uncle to her."

[Hanzo K.]

>"I kinda figured it was something like that. But that just means that he deserves it all the more."
>Come to think of it, do we know where people of Genji's sort go after death? Presumably, since he was an animal of some sort, he wouldn't go through the same channels as a human or youkai, would he?

[Raikaria]

>"I kinda figured it was something like that. But that just means that he deserves it all the more."
>Come to think of it, do we know where people of Genji's sort go after death? Presumably, since he was an animal of some sort, he wouldn't go through the same channels as a human or youkai, would he?

> Well, I think Reimu did the burial and everything herself when she found out. There's no body or anything." Mima says.

> You don't know. You've not seen animal ghosts, or asked about it. You've not died to find out, although, since the Yama once lectured Mystia, who is also, technically, an animal, about risking going to Hell, you presume anything with human levels of intellect, enough to understand right and wrong, is treated the same.

[Hanzo K.]

>"I'm not sure, but if things work out, you might be able to visit him again somehow. Mystia got lectured once by the Yama about the possibility of going to hell, so there's a shot that since he was probably even better than a human in the intellect department, he might have gotten treated the same as a human or youkai."

[Raikaria]

>"I'm not sure, but if things work out, you might be able to visit him again somehow. Mystia got lectured once by the Yama about the possibility of going to hell, so there's a shot that since he was probably even better than a human in the intellect department, he might have gotten treated the same as a human or youkai."

> "It dosen't matter. He's gone now." Reimu says sadly, sniffing.

[Hanzo K.]

>"Well, the best thing to do then would be to honor his memory, right? I didn't know him that well, but he probably wouldn't want you sitting around moping when there's something to investigate. Not if he used to help you resolve incidents back in the day."

[Raikaria]

>"Well, the best thing to do then would be to honor his memory, right? I didn't know him that well, but he probably wouldn't want you sitting around moping when there's something to investigate. Not if he used to help you resolve incidents back in the day."

> "Back in the day? You're making me sound ancient."

[Hanzo K.]

>"Well, back in the day for him, and when you were a kid. You have to remember, all of us Youkai are old by human standards. Even me, I'd probably be old enough to be someone's grandma by now."

[Raikaria]

>"Well, back in the day for him, and when you were a kid. You have to remember, all of us Youkai are old by human standards. Even me, I'd probably be old enough to be someone's grandma by now."

> What? Like mine?" Reimu says.

[Hanzo K.]

>"Well, as an example of how it works, then yeah. But we know that's not how things really are."
>Sigh. "Now you're making me feel old."

[Raikaria]

>"Well, as an example of how it works, then yeah. But we know that's not how things really are."
>Sigh. "Now you're making me feel old."

> "There is no 'old' for youkai." Reimu says.

> At this point, a butterfly lands on your hand, and starts flapping to get your attention.

[Hanzo K.]

>"Ah, let me take this real quick."
>Let's see what the little guy has to say.

[Raikaria]

>"Ah, let me take this real quick."
>Let's see what the little guy has to say.

> The butterfly says that Hina was at the Higan for some reason. She was with other Curse Goddesses, but they seemed to be speaking in some foreign language, so the butterfly didn't understand.