>Do we know about Satori and Koishi's connection with earth spirits? If so then ask them if they can retrieve a specific one.
My fucking god Rou I didn't know the enter key could do me so much harm.
>Yes and no respectively. The spirit is likely in Hakugyokurou.
>"Yeah.. I understand... but, could I please talk to Mommy for a while? Just us two? At least... let me have that.
I haven't gotten any chance to since I was born.
Please... just wait until after that.. ok?"
I want to ask Rikako why she and Kanbei wanted to make an android in the first place.
The robot that would turn out to be Rou-tan, it's original purpose.
>Kawashiro nods. She'll give you that much, and lets you continue your discussion for a bit longer.
"It was...Kanbei's idea. He saw puppeteers playing with dolls when he was a boy, and since then the idea fascinated him. He studied every human textbook there was, and a lot of the kappa archives as well. He was talented, too - finding ideas and revolutions where the youkai had struggled.
What did we want to do? He defined it as 'a puppet without strings'. An artificial being, but one that had its own will and personality. One that could be mistaken for a living thing by passersby. It was a beautiful idea, and I wanted to help him see it through."
She sniffles.
"...I failed there again, didn't I? I was scared. Scared that if you knew it all, you'd run away from me. That what I'd do to help you, to make you everything Kanbei wanted, would be enough to frighten you and make you my enemy. And it did - you turned against me, you made everything fall apart. It just goes to show I don't deserve your love, doesn't it?"
>Say in a more serious tone "Mommy, You did do some really bad things, But you also did a lot of good things too. You make me proud to be my Mother."
>"Wait, I have an idea! Cant me and the dolphin go out and try to clean the water? I really dont want to see Mommy to go to jail, but if we fix the water wont she come out a lot sooner?"
> Mother looks at you, frowning.
"Y...You don't mean that. You're just saying that because that's what I programmed you to say. I raised you like I thought every parent raises their child - obedient, and willing to punish them every time they make a mistake. All I need to do is this, and..."
Mother removes a plate on your head, and starts hastily rewiring the insides. Kawashiro holds her arm out to stop her, but it's already too late.
There's a loud clicking, and suddenly the Zeroth Law of Rou-tan ceases to exist.
"...There. Free will, and your own morailty. That's what you were looking for when you hit the Unlock button, wasn't it?"
Mother - no, Rikako - looks horribly glum now. She stands up and walks towards Kawashiro, sighing deeply.
"In that case, Rou-tan, let this be my final gift to you. I give you the one thing I have left to offer - I give you the right to do whatever you want."
She looks back towards you, her heart slowly breaking in two.
"Don't worry about me. I'll be dead in the next fourty years or so anyway. Nothing compared to everyone else in this room, right...?"
Kawashiro starts to slowly lead her out the door...
