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

[Oldmansour]

>"Even the vice principle could hardly fault a teacher for sleeping when off the job, could she? Class is clearly cancelled."
>To Kiku: "That being said, do you have any idea how much longer it might last on its own? And could you safely dispel it?"

>"Yeah, but remember when we came back here? China was watching the gate on that side." Lily points her wing at the sleeping rabbit. "What if Asara-sensei was supposed to be watching this gate, before Kaguya whammied her?"
>"That does make some sense." Kiku agrees. "To be honest, I myself have done that, though not for many years."
>"You've watched gates?"
>"No, employed sleep spells." Kiku replies. "When I needed to work unobserved. I knew there would be times I would have to deal with civilians in the vicinity of an exorcism or something else we shrine maidens did in secret, so I taught myself sleeping magic."

>Kiku takes a long look at the rabbit. "Somewhere between an hour and two, I would guess. I can't be more specific. And yes, I can dispel it."

[DracoOmega]

>"Then I think I would suggest you do so when you yourself ready to depart the vicinity."

[Oldmansour]

>"Then I think I would suggest you do so when you yourself ready to depart the vicinity."

>"Which I had planned to do now." answers Kiku. "I had planned to find an isolated place myself to work on the problem of my summoning."
>"Well, can't ya do that later?" Lily pleads.
>"As I said," Kiku replies, somewhat tersely, "I am on a deadline. I won't sacrifice-"
>"Uh, Kiku-san?" Rin interrupts, sounding a bit unsure. "I hate to interrupt, but, if you can break that sleep spell, how close do ya need to be to do it?"
>"A spell like this, I can dispel from a hundred...." Kiku trails off, then nods slowly. "A hundred feet away. Plenty of distance to conceal myself from her sight. Thank you, Ri...." Kiku starts, then pauses.
>"White Rose." Rin supplies.
>The ghost of a smile plays at the corner of Kiku's lips. "White Rose it is." She then turns to Lily, "Will that satisfy you-"
>The Metal Miko is interrupted by Lily giving her a mighty hug. "Thank you, Kiku!"
>"You are welcome. Now stop hugging me."

[DracoOmega]

>In Lily's general direction: "We do both have our respective businesses to attend to."
>To Rin: And thanks for the suggestion.
>Let's head on back to the school to look for Kaguya and Keine

[Oldmansour]

>In Lily's general direction: "We do both have our respective businesses to attend to."

>"Oh, right." Lily says, unwrapping her arms from the only slightly-relieved looking Kiku. "Hugs later." Rin chuckles.

>To Rin: And thanks for the suggestion.
>Let's head on back to the school to look for Kaguya and Keine

>It seemed like a good idea at the time. Rin answers as you resume your course towards the school, Lily's wings fluttering with a happy sound as she follows you. Kiku was worried about bein' seen, so I figured, if she could wake her up while hiding behind a car or somethin', that'd satisfy her and make Lily happy. And keep sensei outta trouble with Vice Principal Mima, of course.

>"Hey, Lily." Rin asks as Lily catches up to you and she. "Can I ask ya somethin'?"
>"Of course!"
>"What did you mean when ya said 'pulled a Malificint?'"
>Lily blinks. "You know. Did what Maleficent did to Sleeping Beauty." Your kasha seems no closer to understanding. This makes Lily drop to the ground and stop dead in her tracks. "Don't tell me you've never seen 'Sleeping Beauty'." she blurts in disbelief.
>Rin turns to face her, looking just a touch ashamed. "Well, I've heard of it..."
>"Oh, you poor thing!" Lily cries, sprinting forward and clasping Rin's hands. "That settles it. We're having a movie night tonight."
>"Uh..." Rin stammers. "Ain't we supposed ta grill the Water guy?"
>"Oh yeah. Hmmmmmmmmmm...." Lily screws up her face in thought, seriously weighing the weight of the two options. "Okay, tomorrow, then, sleepover at Byakuren's. I'll bring the movies."

[DracoOmega]

>Chuckle lightly
>"Well, we'll see what happens between now and then."

[Oldmansour]

>Chuckle lightly
>"Well, we'll see what happens between now and then."

>"Or tonight." Lily adds. "If we get everything else done first." She smiles. "Papa always taught me to finish your homework first."
>Despite herself, Rin laughs. "'Homework', eh. I guess that's one way ta put it."

>With a gentle prod, you get your energetic blonde friend back on track. Rin offers another suggestion, "If dat snake was right, and they're usin' the same stairs we went up before, we should use the same stairs." You agree, and three of you walk briskly that way.
>As you draw nearer to the door, however, Rin's ears twitch. "I can hear their voices, girls." She tilts her head slightly. "I think they're arguing."

[DracoOmega]

>Can you tell what about?

[Oldmansour]

>Can you tell what about?

>Rin listens for a moment, frowing in concentration. I think.... Keine-sensei's sayin' she's not happy about leaving, and Kaguya-sensei trying to tell her it's the right thing to do.

[DracoOmega]

>Well, we do need to see her nonetheless. Let's go.
>Head towards where they are. (If we aren't sure, have Rin lead the way)

[Oldmansour]

>Well, we do need to see her nonetheless. Let's go.
>Head towards where they are. (If we aren't sure, have Rin lead the way)

>Rin had been abreast of you, but you direct her and her ears to take point, which she does as your troop continues forward.
>"So they must me near an open window?" Lily asks her, quietly.
>Rin shakes her head. "Door." she adds with a point towards your destination. "Must be open a bit."

>Moments later, you confirm this yourself. The door you used earlier is in fact slightly ajar. From here, you can hear Keine and Kaguya yourself, though their voices stop just after Rin opens the door. As you enter into the school once more, you can hear heavy footfalls coming down the hall, from the staircase.

[DracoOmega]

>Are the footsteps approaching or retreating?
>And did it sound as though their voices fell silent in response to the sound of the door opening?
>Rough estimate of how far away they are

[Oldmansour]

>Are the footsteps approaching or retreating?
>And did it sound as though their voices fell silent in response to the sound of the door opening?
>Rough estimate of how far away they are

>They are getting louder, indicating they are coming down the stairs towards you.
>You don't think so. The door opening did not produce much noise, if any. Rin may have heard it open, but Keine and Kaguya wouldn't have, you would guess.
>The stairway they are coming down is nearly at the end of the hallway.

[DracoOmega]

>Well, if they don't seem to be defensive or retreating, let's just continue to approach

[Oldmansour]

>Well, if they don't seem to be defensive or retreating, let's just continue to approach

>Rin lets you take point as you re-enter the school. The extra footfalls from up ahead add a bit more life to the building, but there's still something utterly eerie about this place when it's deserted as it is, even virtually deserted. Still, the knowledge that a corrupted lycanthrope is no longer stalking through the hallway corridors lightens your step considerably.
>As you pass the second door to your left, Keine emerges from the staircase into the hall. Dressed now in her blue and white tracksuit, the tall teacher seems outwardly no worse for wear for her experience. She turns towards the door you entered from, and pauses when she lays her eyes upon you and your group.
>"What's wrong now?" Kaguya's voice asks from behind Keine, and the raven-haired woman, still clad in her mask, looks out from around the corner of the staircase. "Oh, it's you again." she remarks in your direction. "I wasn't expecting to see you so soon."

[DracoOmega]

>"Now that the immediate crisis has passed, I wanted to make sure you were both okay."
>Can we sense anything unusual from Keine?

[Oldmansour]

>"Now that the immediate crisis has passed, I wanted to make sure you were both okay."
>Can we sense anything unusual from Keine?

>Kaguya gives you a nod. "It pleases me to be able to say that we are... Keine?" she pauses, as the taller teacher takes step forward, a cautious step in your direction.

>You can indeed. Your othersight reveals currents of light coursing throughout her body.

>The teacher in question looks upon you curiously as she approaches you. "I.... know you. Don't I?"

[DracoOmega]

>Currents of light? Does it seem possible this was the remnants of our Violent Lotus in some fashion, like Lily suggested?
>"I was the one who freed you from the darkness that had taken hold of you. I guess I don't know how much of that ordeal you would have been aware of, at the time."

[Oldmansour]

>Currents of light? Does it seem possible this was the remnants of our Violent Lotus in some fashion, like Lily suggested?
>"I was the one who freed you from the darkness that had taken hold of you. I guess I don't know how much of that ordeal you would have been aware of, at the time."

>It does seem possible. The light within Keine isn't colored violet, but it does feel like your own.
>The teacher shakes her head slightly. "I don't remember anything. But.. I saw you. I thought I was... But you're no dream." she says with growing confidence.

[DracoOmega]

>Feel like our own in a way that, say, neither Rin nor Lily's power does? Or just reminiscent of our ring powers in general?
>There is nothing strange about her visually, yes?

>Smile gently
>"No, I am not. How are you feeling?"

[Oldmansour]

>Feel like our own in a way that, say, neither Rin nor Lily's power does? Or just reminiscent of our ring powers in general?
>There is nothing strange about her visually, yes?

>Smile gently
>"No, I am not. How are you feeling?"

>In your eyes, it feels more like your own distinct power. However, it does share some similarities to that of Rin and Lily's, and Kiku's as well, insomuch as you can tell all of them came from the same source. You can understand how the snake would have made the connection between that light and Kiku's light.
>Visually, she appears quite normal, though her hair is a bit frazzled in places.

>The history teacher takes a long breath. "Years ago, I got really sick once. I had a fever, and it laid me up for almost a week. I feel now like I did when that fever broke, and I woke up."
>"But you're okay now?" Lily asks, sounding quite concerned.
>Keine gives her a cautious smile. "I think I am. But I still don't know what happened to me."
>"Can we talk on the way to my car?" Kaguya asks as she catches up to Keine. "I was about to take her home."

[DracoOmega]

>"Yes, of course."
>Gesture for her to lead on and then follow

>To Keine: "What is the last thing you can remember, then? Before waking up here, of course."
>Does the power we can see inside her seem 'active' in any sense we can determine? Or does it seem quite plausible that it could just be residuals from what we hit her with?
>Did we detect any such traces of lingering power in the woman we cleansed down at the CRA, after doing so?

[Oldmansour]

>"Yes, of course."
>Gesture for her to lead on and then follow

>"Thank you." Kaguya answers, and walks past Keine and then you.
>"Uh... Your car...?" Keine calls after her.
>"It's all right, Keine. They already know who I am." the raven haired woman says, managing to sound only barely annoyed.
>Keine blinks in surprise, then gives her fellow teacher a hint of a grin. "How vexing that must be for you."
>"It is not a position I find myself in often." Kaguya retorts. You have a feeling something unsaid passed between the two teachers.

>To Keine: "What is the last thing you can remember, then? Before waking up here, of course."
>Does the power we can see inside her seem 'active' in any sense we can determine? Or does it seem quite plausible that it could just be residuals from what we hit her with?
>Did we detect any such traces of lingering power in the woman we cleansed down at the CRA, after doing so?

>Keine's head lowers as she thinks. "We were at home. My home. Kaguya, Mokou and me. I hadn't been feeling too well the last few days, and they were looking after me. I thought at it was just...." She bites her lip. "You... you all know about my... condition, right?" she asks in a small voice.
>Rin nods gently at her as Kaguya places a comforting hand on the shoulder of the history teacher. The woman sighs quietly. "You'll have to forgive me. I've kept that a secret for a long time. I don't enjoy talking about it."

>It doesn't appear to be doing anything other than lingering in her body, as far as you can determine. Given the similarity in sensations between your own power, and the energy coursing through Keine's body, it almost has to be residual energy from the light you used to restore her to normal. But if it is having any effect on Keine at all, you can't determine what.
>You didn't notice any such residual energy in the woman with the stripe on her face. Once you had destroyed the evil ring on her finger, she seemed a normal human again.

[DracoOmega]

>"I don't mean to pressure you into an uncomfortable subject, but I think it important if we can try to discern the events that led up to what happened today."

[Oldmansour]

>"I don't mean to pressure you into an uncomfortable subject, but I think it important if we can try to discern the events that led up to what happened today."

>"I know that." Keine replies quietly. "I just..."
>Kaguya offers her fellow teacher a comforting smile, before addressing you, "You understand this isn't easy for her to talk about."
>"It's all right, Kaguya. I can tell she isn't pressing, it's... Well." she straightens herself out and takes a short breath. "Nothing else for it. For the past few days, I had been- thank you." she says to Rin as the kasha pulls the door open for her. "I'd been experiencing some symptoms which I'd thought was my affliction flaring up. It does do that every now and again."
>"What kind of symptoms?" Rin asks with as much delicacy as you think she can manage.
>"Mostly increased aggression. Which is a fancy way of saying I've been in a terrible mood for days." She smiles somewhat shyly at Kaguya. "Looking back, I'm not sure how you put up with me."
>"You on your worst day is less aggravating than Mokou on her best." Kaguya replies.
>Keine gives the dark haired woman a tolerant look before explaining on, "Apart from that, I was hungrier than normal, and more fatigued as well. And this morning..." She shakes her head, pressing her hand to her temple. "I don't... remember a lot of this morning. I remember coming into the kitchen..." She frowns at Kaguya as she adds, "I remember the two of you arguing."
>"I am sorry for that." the masked woman answers contritely. "We... just couldn't help it."
>"Can you ever? Anyway, I think I shouted at them both. Then my head swam, and... Well, THIS happened."

[DracoOmega]

>"So, you don't remember anything that happened between then and now?"

[Oldmansour]

>"So, you don't remember anything that happened between then and now?"

>"I don't remember anything I DID. But... there was something, at the end. I can only describe it as a vision." She trails off, then shakes her head. "I don't... It was personal."
>"I think you should tell her." Kaguya says after a moment.
>"But-!"
>"She's the one that changed you back, and with a power I've never felt before. She might be able to help you make sense of it." Reaching up behind her head, Kaguya pulls off her mask, so she can look at Keine eye to eye. "Or more."
>Keine, still seeming hesitant, asks instead, "Just how DID you do that? How did you change back? No, no, first I have to know, what HAPPENED to me? How did I become that thing?"

[DracoOmega]

>"Some dark force had suffused you, filling your being with power and malice. The anger you felt was spurred on by this, and worse. I know not for certain where it came from, or how it came to inhabit you - in fact I had hoped your own memories of the past days would help illuminate this. But the feel of its nature is not wholly unfamiliar to me."

[Oldmansour]

>"Some dark force had suffused you, filling your being with power and malice. The anger you felt was spurred on by this, and worse. I know not for certain where it came from, or how it came to inhabit you - in fact I had hoped your own memories of the past days would help illuminate this. But the feel of its nature is not wholly unfamiliar to me."

>"Then you've seen this happen to someone else?"

[DracoOmega]

>"Not precisely, though I have seen objects twisted to malicious forms by similar dark powers. What I sensed from you was not exactly the same, but reminiscent of, the auras I have felt in the presence of demons and their youma servants."