Keine Quest (Part 4): Broken History

[DracoOmega]

>Give Orin's shoulder a squeeze.

>You squeeze Orin's shoulder, and she jerks her head towards you, glowering fiercely. Her expression softens slightly, but anger and resentment is sternly etched across her face.
>"I'm trying..." she breathes.

>"So, she harmed one person," Shiki continues, "and even those injures were not so severe as to cause permanent damage. Certainly, her actions were without just cause and a punishment was warranted. You were right to act swiftly and avert further damage. But is it your honest belief that a life sentence of solitary confinement is in proportion to this transgression?"
>"It is necessary," Kanako states simply. "Were I to let her go, countless lives would be put in jeopardy."
>"That's a blood lie!" Orin yells. "Okuu's not like that!"
>Kanako turns to her. "Then explain what she tried to do. Explain why she has more than once threatened to destroy this entire settlement and everyone in it."
>"You're lying!"

[Hello Purvis]

>"Because you tempted her to take a great power, and did not sufficiently teacher her how to use it."

[DracoOmega]

>"Because you tempted her to take a great power, and did not sufficiently teacher her how to use it."

>"She needed no instruction on manipulating it," Kanako says. "She proved herself immensely capable of focusing her abilities and turning them to destructive ends."
>"Did you not consider that she was not mentally prepared to ascend to such heights so suddenly?" Shiki says. "Or did you forget that she was a person, and not simply a cog in your machine?"
>"Of course I considered it," Kanako replies. "She had proven herself an dedicated steward of the Hell of Blazing Fires. My choice, however ill-conceived in retrospect, was not at random."
>"But you had doubts," Shiki continues. Kanako does not reply.

[Hello Purvis]

>"I am curious. Did you not pay much attention to her, and not notice the signs? Or, did you watch over her, and try to ignore them out of hope you were wrong?"

[DracoOmega]

>"I am curious. Did you not pay much attention to her, and not notice the signs? Or, did you watch over her, and try to ignore them out of hope you were wrong?"

>"She seemed to be attending to her duty of restoring the fires well enough." Kanako pointedly does not avert her gaze from Shiki while she speaks to you. "Beyond that, how can I be held responsible for knowing the desires that harbored in her heart?"
>"That's because you never knew her!" Orin cries.

[Hello Purvis]

>"Orin, tell us about your experiences with Utsuho, before and after?"

[DracoOmega]

>"Orin, tell us about your experiences with Utsuho, before and after?"

>Orin takes a deep breath and tries to get a handle on her emotions. "Okuu was a good person," she says, her voice quavering a little. "Honest, straight-forward, a bit of a dunderhead... But a good person. She was like a sister to me. I... I love her. The Okuu I know would never do a thing like this. You changed her! You made her something else! Then you tore her away from us and buried her under the mountain so she can power it for you!" Orin is practically shaking.
>"I'm sure that cannot be wha-" Sanae begins. Orin rounds on her.
>"Stop defending her!" Orin cries. "Your god is a lying, self-serving, merciless bitch!" Shiki frowns severely at her. Sanae seems too shocked to respond.
>"I will not tolerate such behavior in my own home," Kanako says firmly. "The Yama's presence I accommodate out of respect. But I have no obligation to endure your spite as well."

[Hello Purvis]

>"Orin, let's stick to the facts for now, let's not sink to her level. That is the way we'll prove you right. You saw her afterward, right? Tell us about that experience."
>Okay that was an exaggeration, but it'll make Orin feel better =[

[DracoOmega]

>"Orin, let's stick to the facts for now, let's not sink to her level. That is the way we'll prove you right. You saw her afterward, right? Tell us about that experience."
>Okay that was an exaggeration, but it'll make Orin feel better =[

>Orin takes another breath and tries to steady herself. "I- I'm sorry...." she breathes, too quiet for anyone not standing next to her to hear.
>She turns to Shiki, pointedly not facing Kanako. "After she ate that god, Okuu was... different. At first I thought she was just excited at her new power and what she could do, but... something was wrong. She started having strange ideas. I... I don't know why. I was... scared. For her. Of her, even. Okuu was happy with her life. I know she was. She wouldn't have wanted to do this. She just wanted to bring the Hell of Blazing Fires back to how it used to be. You have to believe me..."

[Hello Purvis]

>Nod.
>"Do you think anyone would have noticed something was wrong with her? What of someone who had never met her? And, what did you do in response to this?"

[DracoOmega]

>Nod.
>"Do you think anyone would have noticed something was wrong with her? What of someone who had never met her? And, what did you do in response to this?"

>"Maybe... If they didn't really know her, maybe not... But family can tell these things, you know? And I... well, I tried to get someone to come help. I thought that if I got the attention of someone from the surface, they might be able to keep her from doing it, you know? But... no one came. It was a stupid, stupid plan. I don't know what I was thinking." Orin shakes her head. "And then she was gone, and I haven't seen her since."

[MysTeariousYukari]

> Who or whatever caused the disappearence of the Hakurei Shrine and Marisa has caused so much trouble in this Gensokyo...

[Hello Purvis]

>"So, to someone who didn't know Utsuho, it wouldn't have been apparently she was dangerously obsessed? What about someone who had met her once before?"

[DracoOmega]

> Who or whatever caused the disappearence of the Hakurei Shrine and Marisa has caused so much trouble in this Gensokyo...

>That feels like the understatement of your life, at the moment.

>"So, to someone who didn't know Utsuho, it wouldn't have been apparently she was dangerously obsessed? What about someone who had met her once before?"

>"Well, it probably might have. But, we're all just from hell anyway, right? I'm sure she thinks we're like this all the time down there."

[Hello Purvis]

>Glance to Kanako. "What are your feelings about the people Underground? I would assume you had some measure of respect for them, if you intended to give one such power."

[DracoOmega]

>Glance to Kanako. "What are your feelings about the people Underground? I would assume you had some measure of respect for them, if you intended to give one such power."

>"A hell raven was the most suitable vessel for that power," Kanako says. "That is why she was chosen. Beyond that, I have no strong feelings about the inhabitants of the underground."

[Hello Purvis]

>Glance to Shikieiki, to see if she intends to call Kanako out for being deceptive.
>If not. "This would lead me to think you had some basic measure of respect for them. At least enough not to think of them as mindless monsters. Yet, you had some basic experience with her beforehand, and some afterward, and you claim you didn't feel something was amiss?"

[DracoOmega]

>Glance to Shikieiki, to see if she intends to call Kanako out for being deceptive.
>If not. "This would lead me to think you had some basic measure of respect for them. At least enough not to think of them as mindless monsters. Yet, you had some basic experience with her beforehand, and some afterward, and you claim you didn't feel something was amiss?"

>Shiki does not appear to be about to speak, so you continue.
>"I would not have given her that power had I felt her a mindless monster," Kanako replies. She turns to Shiki. "But, unlike yourself, Yama, I cannot know what lies beneath a person's words. I misjudged Utsuho; it is a mistake I regret terribly."
>"And you will punish her for your error, then?" Shiki asks. "You sentence is grossly disproportionate to the damage Utsuho caused."
>"And of the damage she still might cause?" Kanako says. "I hold her not because I wish to punish her, but because she is too dangerous to be set free."
>"Why is she dangerous, Kanako?" Shiki asks. "Who made her that dangerous?"
>Kanako does not reply.
>"Refusing to voice the truth does not render it false, Kanako. Who are you seeking to deceive?"
>"I do what I do for the good of my people," Kanako says. "For their safety and peace."
>"You do," Shiki nods. "But you can also be wrong."
>"I already admitted the error that I made. I cannot reverse it. And it changes nothing. Judge me as you will for this, but I do what I must."

[Hello Purvis]

>"You've misjudged her once. Perhaps you are misjudging her again?"

[DracoOmega]

>"You've misjudged her once. Perhaps you are misjudging her again?"

>"I will not gamble others' lives on that chance," she replies.
>"Kanako," Shiki says. "You agree that, were her prior actions her only crime, Utsuho's sentence would be too harsh, correct?"
>"I do," Kanako nods. "But that is an irrelevancy."
>"And you also agree that she has not yet committed any further crimes of that nature?"
>"Only because I will give her no opportunity to do so."
>"Kanako," Shiki states firmly, "you are punishing her for crimes she has not yet, and may not ever commit. That alone is a grievous miscarriage of justice. Not even I have the right to judge people for sins they might have committed had they not died too soon to do so. You are a leader and an inspiration to your worshipers. I will not have you pervert what they believe is just. Some day, I will render judgement against every living soul in this village and I will not have them stained by sins you have exemplified."
>Kanako stares are her coolly. "If you fear what the knowledge of this will do to the souls of my followers, then someone else in this room is culpable."

[Hello Purvis]

>"It's not knowledge that's the problem. It's ignorance. You wouldn't tell them. They have no way of knowing what crimes you've perpetrated in their name. How can they disapprove?"

[DracoOmega]

>"It's not knowledge that's the problem. It's ignorance. You wouldn't tell them. They have no way of knowing what crimes you've perpetrated in their name. How can they disapprove?"

>"But, if they do not know," Kanako replies, "then there is no risk that their own sense of right and wrong could be corrupted by my actions, is there?"

[Hello Purvis]

>"They cannot stop an injustice they are prevented from learning about. And in following your false example, does not also make their faith that much less sincere?"

[DracoOmega]

>"They cannot stop an injustice they are prevented from learning about. And in following your false example, does not also make their faith that much less sincere?"

>"If this is an injustice," Kanako responds, "then it is a necessary one. Necessary to prevent the perpetration of an ever greater injustice. And my example is not false. My followers have faith that I will protect them. I fulfill this faith in ways they do not even know."

[Hello Purvis]

>"And pervert that faith, but not living up to the standard expected of you. Go and ask them, how many of them, do you think, would say, "Yes, deceive me about the vile things you've done. Sanae?"

[DracoOmega]

>"And pervert that faith, but not living up to the standard expected of you. Go and ask them, how many of them, do you think, would say, "Yes, deceive me about the vile things you've done. Sanae?"

>Sanae tenses up. "I- w-well..."
>Kanako's gaze does not waver from you. "It is for their best, whether they would understand or not. Many gods are far less transparent than I, and their worshipers are still served by them. It is not a requirement that gods detail their every action to their followers; merely that they fulfill the faith that has been placed in them. I have done so, and will continue to do so despite your efforts to subvert this."
>"Do not criticize her for petitioning against an injustice," Shiki says. "And you have most certainly perpetrated a grievous one against Utsuho. The reason for her continued confinement stems wholly from your own actions, and you would have her suffer the rest of her life for this. I cannot overlook this."
>Kanako turns back to her. "We both know that you cannot command me. I speak to you out of respect for your position, but I will never cross the river for you to judge. You can threaten no punishment that will bind me."
>"You are preventing another soul from earning their redemption," Shiki continues. "You are fostering in her a hatred that may damn her into the next life. Or she may succeed in killing herself and be damned by that as well. I will not overlook this."
>"Then it seems we are at an impasse."

[Hello Purvis]

>"That other gods do it too is no excuse for doing the wrong thing. And if you are at an impasse, then we shall simply have to ask the people themselves."

[DracoOmega]

>"That other gods do it too is no excuse for doing the wrong thing. And if you are at an impasse, then we shall simply have to ask the people themselves."

>"You are right that it is not," Shiki says. "Too often do people think their crimes are excusable merely because others' are greater. Nevertheless, what do you propose?"

[Hello Purvis]

>"If Kanako will not listen, there is nothing we can do save tell the people that she has been judged against, and refuses to yield or accept it. But, I am curious about the judgment you would render on Utsuho herself, if that is acceptable for you."

[DracoOmega]

>"If Kanako will not listen, there is nothing we can do save tell the people that she has been judged against, and refuses to yield or accept it. But, I am curious about the judgment you would render on Utsuho herself, if that is acceptable for you."

>Shiki nods. "I would need to speak with her to reach a final verdict. Certainly her crime merited punishment. And if her intention of causing even greater damage was as claimed, a harsher sentence would be justified as a deterrent. But the purpose of punishment in this life is to set straight the course of future actions. What Kanako has done stands as much risk of leading her into sin as away from it. If I were satisfied that she had repented for her actions, I might consider her punishment already served."
>"You will find that she has not in the slightest," Kanko says.
>Shiki turns back to her. "You are prideful, Kanako. It is true that you care much for your people, and you have blessed their lives greatly. It is true that you have treated Utsuho as you have done because you believed it was for the greater good. But you have led Utsuho down this path and you deny her a chance to atone."
>"I have tried to be kind to her," Kanako responds. "She rejected these kindnesses. She incinerated many of them, in fact."
>Shiki shakes her head. "Will you refuse to acknowledge that were it not for your actions, she would have already repented? You keep her there for people's safety, but if you had treated her differently, no one would be at risk from her now."