Keine Quest (Part 4): Broken History

[Hello Purvis]

>"Good. You know about what happened to the Hakurei Shrine, yes?"

[DracoOmega]

>"Good. You know about what happened to the Hakurei Shrine, yes?"

>"More or less. I've heard the story a few times. Got no idea what actually happened to it, if you're gonna ask."

[Hello Purvis]

>"Not really, but we've been working on the problem. It's grown complicated."

[DracoOmega]

>"Not really, but we've been working on the problem. It's grown complicated."

>Komachi laughs. "Doesn't it always? What'cha bringing it up for, anyhow? Got something you're thinking I can help with? Other than keeping tabs on who's dead and who isn't?"

[Hello Purvis]

>"Really, that's about it. Trying to keep tabs on who passed on and who has just gone missing. Hmm. Know of an Alice Margatroid? I've not heard mention of her, now that I think about it."

[DracoOmega]

>"Really, that's about it. Trying to keep tabs on who passed on and who has just gone missing. Hmm. Know of an Alice Margatroid? I've not heard mention of her, now that I think about it."

>Komachi shakes her head. "Sorry. That name doesn't even sound familiar."

>Out of the corner of your eye, you see Youmu's form appear in the distance, approaching quickly. She lands next to you, an expression of barely contained emotion on her face.
>"I cannot even believe it is so," she says, "but you were right! It can be no one else but her! It should be impossible for her to be as she is, but I am certain my senses do not deceive me." She pauses, and look at the ground. "She... does not remember me."

[Hello Purvis]

>"You can fix that with a little time, tender care, and reckless endangerment, I think."
>Quick wink toward Mokou.
>"I'm glad I was right, though. It means I got at least one good thing done today."

[DracoOmega]

>"You can fix that with a little time, tender care, and reckless endangerment, I think."
>Quick wink toward Mokou.
>"I'm glad I was right, though. It means I got at least one good thing done today."

>Youmu looks at you curiously. "I'm not sure I understand what you mean."
>Youmu nods at you. "I owe you a debt of honor, Keine Kamishirasawa. And I owe this world even more for my mistakes. I... had not realized the suffering we had caused until I spoke with them. It is an error of the gravest order. I know not how I can atone."

[Hello Purvis]

>"My thoughts are that you may be well served in watching over those who survived. Note this is not the same as siding with Kanako. Not at all."
>Ponder for a moment. "What became of the Netherworld? Is there a new princess there now?"

[DracoOmega]

>"My thoughts are that you may be well served in watching over those who survived. Note this is not the same as siding with Kanako. Not at all."
>Ponder for a moment. "What became of the Netherworld? Is there a new princess there now?"

>"I will," Youmu says, nodding solemnly. "Though my life is forever pledged to Lady Yuyuko, I will do my utmost to ensure the safety of these people from anything else that might threaten them." She pauses. "...may I ask who this Kanako is?"
>Youmu shakes her head. "There is not. It is rare to find one suited to the task. In time I am sure they will find a... I am sure someone will take up that role. In the meantime, most of the spirits of the dead will carry on as they have always done. The Netherworld is a realm of little change."

[Hello Purvis]

>"Alright. If I need you, I'll look for you in the village."

[DracoOmega]

>"Alright. If I need you, I'll look for you in the village."

>Youmu bows deeply. "If you have need of me, I will be there."
>With that, she turns and departs for the village.

>"So..." Komachi says lazily. "suppose that means I've got no more excuse to be sitting here, does it?"

[Hello Purvis]

>"Unfortunately, no. But, would it be possible for me to come along, and present my case myself? Or is this strictly forbidden?"

[DracoOmega]

>"Unfortunately, no. But, would it be possible for me to come along, and present my case myself? Or is this strictly forbidden?"

>"That's uh..." Komachi frowns. "Let's just say that I don't want to get in trouble for trying it. I'll do my best to be convincing, though. Can't make any promises, I'm afraid."

[Hello Purvis]

>Nod.
>"I'll be here, if she wishes to ask me anything."

[DracoOmega]

>Nod.
>"I'll be here, if she wishes to ask me anything."

>"Might take a little while, you know." She sighs. "'suppose I can try to be quick."

[Hello Purvis]

>"Might take a little while, you know." She sighs. "'suppose I can try to be quick."

>"Thank you, I have really nothing else in mind for the day, so I suppose I can wait here."
>Look to the others. "You need not, though. I'll meet with you back at the mansion, if you prefer."

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"Thank you, I have really nothing else in mind for the day, so I suppose I can wait here."
>Look to the others. "You need not, though. I'll meet with you back at the mansion, if you prefer."

>"Suit yourself," Komachi says, moving towards the dock.
>"Unless you feel you need my aid for something," Ran says, "I think I may return and check on Chen. Perhaps consult with Patchouli and see if we can make some use of our new information about the outside world."
>"I'll stay," Mokou says. "Got nothing better to do, anyway."

>"Ok, folks!" Komachi calls out, to no one in particular. "Let's get moving!"
>At first you see no obvious motion at all, but then you catch a faint hint of something wispy moving out of the grass. It is insubstantial, and you might not even notice it were you not looking for something. A vague cloud of it follows after Komachi and into her boat. You can hear her chatting idly as she drifts away from shore.

[Hello Purvis]

>Wave to Komachi as she departs.
>Make self comfortable near Mokou.

[DracoOmega]

>Wave to Komachi as she departs.
>Make self comfortable near Mokou.

>You wave to Komachi as she sails merrily on her way, her chatter faintly audible across the water.
>You find a comfortable looking spot near a tree and sit down. Mokou sits down beside you.
>"Well, I'll leave you two be," Ran says, flying off.

>"You know," Mokou says, leaning back against the grass, "Since I met you, I've done an awful lot of waiting around."

[Hello Purvis]

>"Well, at least this time I'm waiting with you. That's a small improvement, right?"

[DracoOmega]

>"Well, at least this time I'm waiting with you. That's a small improvement, right?"

>"I'll take it," she says, grinning at you. "And hey, we're alone this time, too."

[Hello Purvis]

>"Mmhm."
>Snuggle closer, if she doesn't seem uncomfortable with it.

[DracoOmega]

>"Mmhm."
>Snuggle closer, if she doesn't seem uncomfortable with it.

>You smile at Mokou and snuggle closer to her. After a moment, she leans back into you.
>"You know," she says, "people can get used to almost anything, given enough time. After you live as long as I have, you sometimes forget that things can be different. I mean, you do the same thing for enough decades in a row, and... Well, I think I'd forgotten there were things I missed, you know? And hearing you talk about what we had together... well, what I could have had... I'm not sure I even realized I'd wanted it until then. You forget to see outside yourself sometimes, you know? Anyway, all I'm trying to say is... ah, hell, I don't even know what I'm trying to say. Just... thanks."

[Hello Purvis]

>"I understand. You've gotten so used to not having much to live for other than your feud that you more or less forgot there were other things."

[DracoOmega]

>"I understand. You've gotten so used to not having much to live for other than your feud that you more or less forgot there were other things."

>"Yeah, kinda," she says. "I mean, it's not like there's exactly many people around to talk to, either. And don't get me wrong, I like it that way. ...mostly. But... maybe a little bit more wouldn't be so bad."

[Hello Purvis]

>Nod.
>"Personally, I think you just have cycles like everyone else does when you want to be left alone and when you want to be with people. Just, they're on a whole different scale than most of us. But that's just me having theories."

[DracoOmega]

>Nod.
>"Personally, I think you just have cycles like everyone else does when you want to be left alone and when you want to be with people. Just, they're on a whole different scale than most of us. But that's just me having theories."

>She shakes her head. "Naw, you might be right. Maybe it's just getting time for a change."

[Hello Purvis]

>"Maybe. There's a lot more complexity in there than most people think, so I'm don't want to simplify too much."

[DracoOmega]

>"Maybe. There's a lot more complexity in there than most people think, so I'm don't want to simplify too much."

>"Yeah, but... well, you know me better than most people. Or, someone close enough to be me. Last seven years of my life... you aren't missing much. Pretty damn close to the seven before that."