Keine Quest (Part 4): Broken History

[Hello Purvis]

>"They'd have to be on their way here, or Komachi's boat would still be here."

[MysTeariousYukari]

> Wait warmly~

[DracoOmega]

>"They'd have to be on their way here, or Komachi's boat would still be here."

>"Oh, uh, good point," Orin says, looking a little sheepish.

> Wait warmly~

>The two of you sit and wait while the sun continues to descend. It looks like it's shaping up to be a fairly brilliant sunset; traces of deep orange burn themselves across the clouds and glisten off the water. Orin, for her part, frowns at the whole thing. There's a peaceful and cool breeze blowing off the water, and it would be the perfect kind of evening to simply take in the vista if it were not for what you knew was coming. After a little while, Orin starts to fidget, and then takes to pacing back and forth across the riverbank and around the trees near it. It's easy to understand how she feels; there is an unmistakable tension in the air from what looms over the horizon.
>There also appears to be something literally on the horizon, as the form of a boat comes into view. This time there appears to be a second occupant, in the unmistakable uniform of her station. She sits rigidly upright near the stern of the boat while Komachi guides it in.
>"That her?" Orin asks, looking towards the boat.

[Hello Purvis]

>"It seems to be."
>Wave! At least Komachi would appreciate it.

[DracoOmega]

>"It seems to be."
>Wave! At least Komachi would appreciate it.

>"...I'm kinda nervous," Orin says.
>You wave to them. Komachi returns the gesture enthusiastically. You think you may have seen Shikieiki nod slightly.
>Komachi docks the boat, and Shiki walks towards you while Komachi is busy securing it.
>"Keine Kamishirasawa," she says, inclining her head towards you, "I am Shikieiki Yamaxanadu. I believe you are the one who brought this petition before me."

[Hello Purvis]

>Bow in return.
>"Thank you, Yama. I am the one who brought this petition before you, yes. Thank you for favoring it with your time."

[DracoOmega]

>Bow in return.
>"Thank you, Yama. I am the one who brought this petition before you, yes. Thank you for favoring it with your time."

>You return the bow.
>"No thanks are necessary," she says. "I understand the seriousness of the charge, and while any judgement I make against Kanako cannot be binding, I feel it would be remiss of me to allow one of her station to miscarry justice as grievously as you claim. The influence she wields over her followers is considerable and I feel that she cannot be allowed to mislead them in what constitutes just behavior."

[Hello Purvis]

>"I am glad you agree."
>Gesture toward the Kasha. "This is Orin. I hope it will be no problem if she accompanies us? She knows Utsuho better than anyone."

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"I am glad you agree."
>Gesture toward the Kasha. "This is Orin. I hope it will be no problem if she accompanies us? She knows Utsuho better than anyone."

>"I will see Kanako's actions with my own eyes," she says. "And I will render my verdict. God or no, she would be wise to heed it."
>Shiki nods her head towards Orin. "Greetings, Orin. And it will not be a problem. I understand her investment in this."
>Shiki takes a closer look at Orin, who looks distinctly uncomfortable under her gaze. "Anger at injustice can sometimes lead to good," she says. "But when that anger makes further injustice palatable, it opens the door to sin. Retribution does not beget justice. Reflect on the motivation for your actions, and take care not to let your hurt turn to hate. Even those who tend the Blazing Hell must face their own judgement one day, and one injustice does not excuse another."
>"Uh.... well..." Orin fidgets.

[Hello Purvis]

>"It's alright, Orin, I'm sure she's not upset at you."
>Be happy we escaped a lecture for...essentially the same thing, really.

[DracoOmega]

>"It's alright, Orin, I'm sure she's not upset at you."
>Be happy we escaped a lecture for...essentially the same thing, really.

>"If I am upset," Shiki says, "it is only out of concern. One day I will preside over the fate of both your souls. When that day comes, I would prefer to be able to deliver a positive verdict. Those whose lives were lived in sin suffer a terrible penance. Escaping this is only possible by living virtuously. One cannot deceive the court of Higan, and the course of your lives shall speak for themselves. Take care that they share a worthy tale."
>You allow yourself a moment's sigh of relief that she hasn't decided to chastise you yet.
>"And you, Keine Kamishirasawa," Shiki says, turning to you. "While your intentions are just, take care you do not become too eager to judge the actions of others and inact this judgement upon them. Your own judgement is not impartial, and the freer you allow yourself to be with it, the greater your chances of perpetrating your own injustices. Take care not to slip into pride over what you feel is right. You, too, can be wrong."

[Hello Purvis]

>Nod. "True. But given some of the things I've seen I've the past couple days, I feel secure that I am on the side of right."
>"Shall we head out now?"

>_

[DracoOmega]

>Nod. "True. But given some of the things I've seen I've the past couple days, I feel secure that I am on the side of right."
>"Shall we head out now?"

>"That may be true in these cases," Shiki says. "But take care not to let yourself grow too secure in this. Therein lies the road to sin."
>"Yes, of course. I have limited time, I'm afraid, so we should tarry no longer."

[Hello Purvis]

>Toward Youkai mountain we go!
>Give Orin an encouraging smile.

[DracoOmega]

>Toward Youkai mountain we go!
>Give Orin an encouraging smile.

>You take off towards Youkai Mountain, giving Orin an encouraging smile as you do so. She attempts to return it, but the gesture is clearly half-hearted. Her eyes look distant, and preoccupied. She says nothing on the return trip. Shikieiki is silent as well, leaving you to your own thoughts. The sun sets along the way to your destination, and the sky is suffused with radiant red and orange for a time before falling towards darkness.
>Activity in the villages around the mountain seems more subdued than the last time you were here, although there is a small group of people clustered together in the tengu village along the path to the shrine. You recognize a few familiar faces in the gathering. Ran is speaking with a few of the assembled tengu, while Mokou is leaning up against the side of a building, a small distance from the group, and making a valiant attempt to ignore the tengu currently hovering by her. However, her reticence does nothing to curb the tengu's enthusiasm, and every time Mokou shifts to face away from her, the tengu is suddenly in front of her again. Mokou tries to grab something out of her hands, but the tengu deftly evades without losing a beat. You have a feeling you know who she is without actually being close enough to get a good look at her. Chen and Rumia are nowhere to be seen.

>As you fly closer above the gather, you note some of the tengu turn in your direction. The one by Mokou in particular breaks away; you see several bright flashes of light from her direction.
>"While justice is a matter of public record, Keine, it is not a circus," Shiki says calmly. "Your motives for this are as much selfish and they are noble. You wish shame to be brought to Kanako, not simply because you feel it would educate her, but because you would feel satisfaction to see her suffer under it."

[Hello Purvis]

>Consider trying to defend ourself, then drop it.
>"That be be so. Unfortunately, when it comes to spreading this information, we have only so many avenues available."
>Approach Mokou. Call out her name if she hasn't noticed us.

[DracoOmega]

>Consider trying to defend ourself, then drop it.
>"That be be so. Unfortunately, when it comes to spreading this information, we have only so many avenues available."
>Approach Mokou. Call out her name if she hasn't noticed us.

>You consider saying something, but then decide that it's unlikely you have anything to add that she hasn't already considered from her own perspective. Trying to win an argument with the Yama is generally a losing proposition.
>"I understand this," Shiki says. "But the right choice can be made for the wrong reasons. Culpability lies not only with actions but with intentions, and giving poor intentions purchase will inevitably lead to further sinful acts. Lose not sight of why you do what you do."
>You move towards Mokou and she waves a hand in your direction. Aya has separated from her and is circling around your group to get shots from other angles. You notice some of the other tengu milling about somewhat more respectfully.
>"Well, Ran found who she could," Mokou says, as you get close to her. "She's pretty good at sweet talking when she has to." Then she frowns, and jerks a thumb towards Aya. "Couldn't we just sic her on Kanako and call it a done deal? She'd never get a moment's peace again."

[Hello Purvis]

>"That might happen anyways. And thanks for putting up with It."
>Look around. "Where is Ran?"

[DracoOmega]

>"That might happen anyways. And thanks for putting up with It."
>Look around. "Where is Ran?"

>Mokou shrugs. "Eh, I do what I can."
>"Oh, she's just over there," Mokou says, pointing a small ways away where a few other tengu are gathered. "Probably was keeping them from packing their bags and going home before anything happened."

[Hello Purvis]

>"You did well, Mokou."
>Approach Ran's gaggle.

[DracoOmega]

>"You did well, Mokou."
>Approach Ran's gaggle.

>Mokou shrugs. "Eh, well... thank Ran if you really want to thank anyone."
>You move towards where Ran and a few of the other tengu have gathered. The tengu are watching the Yama with definite interest and some degree of trepidation. Ran nods calmly in your direction.
>"Need I remind you that I my time here is limited," Shiki says, "And that it should not be wasted conferring with reporters and offering explanations. They are free to witness as they wish, but I should speak with Kanako at once."

[Hello Purvis]

>"That is fine, I have no intention of wasting your time. I was simply gathering someone who may be valuable. But I apologize for giving the misinterpretation."
>Wave Ran over, head for the Moriya Shrine.

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"That is fine, I have no intention of wasting your time. I was simply gathering someone who may be valuable. But I apologize for giving the misinterpretation."
>Wave Ran over, head for the Moriya Shrine.

>Shiki nods. "No apology is necessary."
>You wave Ran over, and she walks towards you. "Good evening, Yama," she says, bowing towards her. "Thank you for gracing us with your presence."
>Shiki nods her head towards her. "Good evening you as well, Ran Yakumo. Your faultless loyalty in face of great trials is commendable. Do not forget, however, that we are still culpable for actions performed in the service of others. That it was done at your mistress's will cannot shield you from all that you do."
>"I am aware of this, Yama," Ran replies calmly.
>"I followed your instructions as best I could," she says, turning to you. "Although I suspect some of them would rather not accompany us too closely, given the circumstances. Though I think at least one of them will insist on seeing the whole story. Whether she reports it as faithfully...."

>You head off towards the Moriya Shrine, with Aya tailing you shamelessly. Some of the other tengu follow in a less obviously obtrusive manner. There are only a few worshipers at the shrine at the moment. Sanae looks towards your party as you approach, her expression changing from one of friendly curiosity to concern and disquiet when she spots the Yama's presence among you.

[Hello Purvis]

>"Thank you, Ran. You've done a great job!"
>Pay Sanae no mind right now. She's not the target.

[DracoOmega]

>"Thank you, Ran. You've done a great job!"
>Pay Sanae no mind right now. She's not the target.

>"I do what I can," Ran replies.
>You decide ignore Sanae for the moment. However, Kanako cannot be seen, and Sanae would doubtless raise an objection to you simply walking into the building to search for her.

[Hello Purvis]

>At this point, it is more or less the Yama's show. Let Yamada take the lead. She is the one with the authority.

>_

[DracoOmega]

>At this point, it is more or less the Yama's show. Let Yamada take the lead. She is the one with the authority.

>You decide to let Shiki take charge of things. She walks over to Sanae.
>"Good evening, Sanae," Shiki says, inclining her head towards her. "I would speak with Kanako."
>Sanae looks around uncertainly. "What is this about?"
>"She stands accursed of a serious miscarriage of justice," Shiki replies, "and I intend to address this with her."
>"A... what? I'm sure there must be some sort of misunderstanding." Sanae turns a disapproving glance in your direction.
>"If there has been a misunderstanding, I will set it to right with my own eyes. I cannot be deceived."
>Sanae surveys the assembled group, frowning once she takes notice of the reporters. Even the other worshipers have stopped what they were doing to watch. "She's inside the shrine, Yama," Sanae says eventually. "You may enter and speak with her if you wish." She turns to you, the undercurrent of her tone unmistakably different. "I think we should have a word."
>"Willful ignorance in the name of faith does not excuse a person's responsibilities, Sanae," Shiki says. "Take time to reflect on your own obligations; they do not start and end only with your gods." She turns and heads towards the shrine. "I will leave you to your selves, and address the matter at hand."

>Sanae turns to you. "Are you so fixated on your preconceptions that you would make a show of this? You know full well what some of these people will say of what happened here; in the end, Yasaka-sama's innocence won't even matter. This is nothing but a petty attempt to discredit her; why, I do not know." She shakes her head. "I'd thought you a better person than that, Keine."

[Hello Purvis]

>"It's an honest attempt to reveal to the world that she is lying to everyone about who and what she is. Even you, Sanae. There's many things she never told you out of, in her own words, desire to spare you from distress. Believe me or not, but think carefully on what she might have done that would cause you distress."
>"And now, I need to tend to this. I am a witness, as are Ran and Orin."

[DracoOmega]

>"It's an honest attempt to reveal to the world that she is lying to everyone about who and what she is. Even you, Sanae. There's many things she never told you out of, in her own words, desire to spare you from distress. Believe me or not, but think carefully on what she might have done that would cause you distress."
>"And now, I need to tend to this. I am a witness, as are Ran and Orin."

>"You already made your accusations clear the last time we spoke," Sanae says. "Conviction in their truth does not make them true. And please refrain from slandering her good name."
>Orin starts to laugh. "Good name? Oh, I'll give you 'good name'. Kanako is a self-righteous manipulative bitch who tore my family apart. And if you're too busy kissing her feet to see it, then you can rot for all I care."
>Sanae stares at you firmly. "Your words are poisonous and you surround yourself with it. I can respect the Yama's right to pass, but I am under no obligation to extend the same to you or your... companions."

[Hello Purvis]

>"I saw her, Sanae. She showed me Utsuho. Sealed away in a glass tube and buried under the mountain, there since the day Kanako captured her. She tried to tell me that Utsuho was fine. Go see for yourself, if you do not believe me. In the meantime, please move aside, so that we can work toward ending this equitably for everyone involved."