Maidens of the Kaleidoscope
~Beyond the Border~ => Rumia's Party Games => Topic started by: Oldmansour on April 10, 2017, 04:29:13 AM
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>You are Byakuren Hijiri, 18 years old, resident of the city of Mayoiga, caretaker (owner) of Rin Kaenbyou, resident of the Moonside apartments, and third year student of Mayoiga High. A few days ago, you were the most popular girl in school, one of the most well-known and liked girls around town. And then you touched a strange doll, and saw a world not your own. That was the day that everything changed, and you became Magical Lotus, the Hero of the Heart.
>The last couple of days have been something of a roller coaster between feelings of defeat and victory. Discovering Patchouli and Sanae were both bound to, and empowered by, two of the Champions, and subsequently failing to separate Patchouli from the Water Champion was not a pleasant experience, to say the least. Compounding this issue was the fact that the Champion herself escaped in the process. The only consolation you took from this was the fact that Louise did not take advantage of the chance she had to destroy you. You cling to some hope that she, at least, may be able to one day look beyond her mission.
>But on the victory front was Reisen. Not so much that she joined the ranks of you magical girls, but that you freed her from her black-hearted master, Madame Knowledge, and took her for your own. And in the process you may have done the same for the old mage's sister, Alisaie, a gentle woman who is, for now at least, staying with Lily White's family, away from her domineering sister. For her sake, you hope she doesn't go back until and unless the elder Knowledge changes. Despite your proclivity for hope, you're just not sure that will ever happen.
>And then there was your battle with Motormaster and their gang. A clear victory for the good guys, and in more ways than one. Rather than simply killing the evil-doers, you removed from them the corruptive influences that had driven them to evil in the first place. For Motormaster, this meant destroying the evil splinter that had rested within them, the same kind of splinter you destroyed a few nights ago at the Tiger Shrine. For the biker gang Motormaster had been lording over, you fundamentally changed their very nature and the Blood Jewels that were a part of them. Because you gave them the choice to do good now, you can't be 100% certain that that's what they'll do, but they have a freedom now they didn't have before.
>And while they were exploring their new paths in life, you were exploring something else entirely: the charms and skills of one Lily White. And before she left your apartment, you and Rin were both more than satisfied by the little blonde's talents.
>A pleasant evening's sleep later, you awaken to the sounds of puttering. Drowsily opening one eyelid, you see Rin going about your room, tidying things away. Things you and she neglected to tidy up last night, as you had other things on your mind.
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>Smile lazily
>"Morning."
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>Smile lazily
>"Morning."
>"Good morning, Mistress." your kasha replies. "I didn't wake ya, did I?"
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>"Mmmm... maybe. But I think it was time for me to wake up, anyway."
>Stretch
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>"Mmmm... maybe. But I think it was time for me to wake up, anyway."
>Stretch
>"Well, it is Saturday." Rin replies as you try to work the kinks out. Of which you have a few, thanks to your various excursions yesterday. "But there's no school again today, so dere's no big rush."
>As you shake off the lingering sleep of the night, it occurs to you that, for the first time in a while, you can't smell anything coming from the kitchen. Rin's got a knack for having something at least started when she wakes up before you.
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>Well, it was a long day and a busy night and she's right - there's no rush
>So let's take our time getting up and getting dressed. And don't forget to give our girlfriend a good morning kiss
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>Well, it was a long day and a busy night and she's right - there's no rush
>So let's take our time getting up and getting dressed. And don't forget to give our girlfriend a good morning kiss
>"Minoriko stopped by a little earlier." Rin informs you as you rouse yourself from your bed. "She invited us over for breakfast, whenever you're ready."
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>"Oh, did she? That sounds nice."
>About what time is it, anyway?
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>"Oh, did she? That sounds nice."
>About what time is it, anyway?
>"She said there was no rush ta get ya up." says Rin. "She knew what were up to yesterday."
>Around half past 8. Later than you'd normally be up and about.
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>Grin slightly
>"There's at least two ways to take that statement and I believe I'm still sore from both of them."
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>Grin slightly
>"There's at least two ways to take that statement and I believe I'm still sore from both of them."
>Rin blinks in momentary confusion, then flushes light pink. "I, uhm... I meant the fightin'." she mutters. "She didn't mention the, uh... The rest."
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>Chuckle softly
>"You're cute when you're flustered."
>Give her a little kiss, then let's get up to face the day. And breakfast.
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>Chuckle softly
>"You're cute when you're flustered."
>Give her a little kiss, then let's get up to face the day. And breakfast.
>Two kisses and you haven't even left your room yet. You marvel at yourself at you pull your clothes on. Barely a year ago, you hadn't really entertained the idea of kissing girls much at all, leave alone quite as casually as you do now. And the only one you had, Marissa, led to more discomfort than pleasure, as that experience left you wracked with uncertainty. The friendship you shared with her precious to you, and you were afraid of what might happen if you had gone further. But now... Now you know that that fear, while not unjustified, held you back from something wonderful. And it doesn't have to lead to things changing for the worse. You feel closer to Rin, and now Lily, than you ever had before. That old regret comes back to you again, and you wonder now just how things might have gone had you and Marissa not given in to your fear that night.
>Into your reverie comes the voice of the Purpose, Good morning, Hero.
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>Oh, good morning.
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>Oh, good morning.
>I am experiencing the emotion of curiosity. Perhaps you could alleviate it for me?
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>I can certainly try. What is it?
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>I can certainly try. What is it?
>There is much I do not understand about the acts and emotions of love and lust, but is not the act of sex usually one performed by two people, not three?
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>Oh boy
>That is... um... most commonly the case, yes.
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>Oh boy
>That is... um... most commonly the case, yes.
>Then were there exceptional circumstances last night?
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>It felt pretty exceptional, all right....
>Well.... Sex is a very... intimate thing. It takes a certain shared trust and closeness with someone to be willing to expose yourself like that. It's less common for three people to all be comfortable sharing that same openness and trust with each other at the same time. People often feel... jealous about things like that.
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>It felt pretty exceptional, all right....
>Well.... Sex is a very... intimate thing. It takes a certain shared trust and closeness with someone to be willing to expose yourself like that. It's less common for three people to all be comfortable sharing that same openness and trust with each other at the same time. People often feel... jealous about things like that.
>Almost as bad as talking to your parents.
>Boy, there's something you hadn't considered.
>Jealousy. A potentially dangerous and destruction emotion, that much I understand. But this is not something you are at risk of falling victim to?
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>Rin and I trust each other enough that we don't need to fear anyone else coming between us. She knows I wouldn't do anything to hurt her or displace her and I know she wouldn't do that to me. This trust means that we're free to explore our feelings for other people without fear of damaging the feelings we have for each other; I don't love her any less because I care for Lily, too.
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>Rin and I trust each other enough that we don't need to fear anyone else coming between us. She knows I wouldn't do anything to hurt her or displace her and I know she wouldn't do that to me. This trust means that we're free to explore our feelings for other people without fear of damaging the feelings we have for each other; I don't love her any less because I care for Lily, too.
>The emotions of you Terrans is complicated. the dry voice of the Purpose remarks. Still, I perceive that this trust you have is a source of strength for you and Rin.
>Does this mean, however, that you will continue to progress numerically when having sex?
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>Um... much more than three sounds... complicated....
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>Um... much more than three sounds... complicated....
>It may require a larger bed. Or smaller partners. the Purpose suggests.
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>Try not to laugh
>No, I mean more the... emotional logistics, I guess. Everyone needs to feel comfortable being that intimate with everyone else, after all. I imagine that's quite the rarity.
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>Try not to laugh
>No, I mean more the... emotional logistics, I guess. Everyone needs to feel comfortable being that intimate with everyone else, after all. I imagine that's quite the rarity.
>For what is essentially a semi-sentient construct, the Purpose is being rather unintentionally hilarious.
>What of your other two heroes, Kiku and Reisen? Do you share the same emotional intimacy with them as you seem to with Lily?
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>No. At least... not at present. I mean, I care about them both deeply and I'd trust them with my life, but it takes a very particular sort of connection to lead to sex. Lily is very... forward, in that regard.
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>No. At least... not at present. I mean, I care about them both deeply and I'd trust them with my life, but it takes a very particular sort of connection to lead to sex. Lily is very... forward, in that regard.
>It would appear the same is true for you, as well. Or, perhaps 'receptive' is the more appropriate term where Lily is concerned?
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>She is a very pretty girl and I feel... safe to be like that around her.
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>She is a very pretty girl and I feel... safe to be like that around her.
>This I am pleased to hear. The harmony and trust between you and your fellow heroes is of great import, in more than one way I understand. If the act of sex deepens those bonds, then I would encourage it. The Purpose pauses briefly. Am I correct in believing that it is perhaps not my place to make such encouragement?
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>Chuckle softly
>I believe most people would consider that intruding into other people's personal lives, yes. But I know your understanding of our social norms is limited, so it's alright.
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>Chuckle softly
>I believe most people would consider that intruding into other people's personal lives, yes. But I know your understanding of our social norms is limited, so it's alright.
>Thank you.
>Would it also be an intrusion if I were to ask if there were any individuals outside of your fellow heroes you feel desire for?
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>Perhaps a little, but... yes, from time to time.
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>Perhaps a little, but... yes, from time to time.
>I am curious if sex with them will result in a similar boost in your level of strength. Or perhaps it is the emotional connection alone rather than the physical one. I would reccomend trying, but, I understand enough to know that it is not my place to do that. I am your ally, but I have no place in your personal life.
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>Let's just see how life unfolds, shall we?
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>Let's just see how life unfolds, shall we?
>Very well. The Purpose pauses, then adds, Thank you for addressing my curiousity. though it sounds more like a recitation than anything else, like the speaker isn't entirely certain they're saying the right thing.
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>Happy to help.
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>Happy to help.
>With the Purpose's curiousity satisfied, you and Rin finish your morning preparations and head out of your apartment. It's another cold morning, with a slight sprinkling of snow floating down through the sky. It smells like the snow will get worse later in the day as well. This hasn't disuaded Hyozan from or Nitori from stepping out; the big dog is lying out by the entrance to Moonside grounds, and by the sounds of tools, Nitori is out in her shed. Life goes on.
>Minoriko greets you warmly as you and Rin knock upon her door. "Good morning."
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>"Good morning."
>Smile
>"I hear there's breakfast to be had?"
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>"Good morning."
>Smile
>"I hear there's breakfast to be had?"
>Minoriko nods. "It's the least I can do for our local heroes." she says after the door closes.
>You're not the only residents in attendance, either. Letty is presently seated at the heated kotastu, drinking coffee and reading a book. "Morning, girls." she says to you.
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>Wave
>"Morning, Letty."
>Let's get ourselves comfortable
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>Wave
>"Morning, Letty."
>Let's get ourselves comfortable
>The smells and sounds of cooked fish and rice waft through your nostrils as you pass by Minoriko and enter her living room, taking a seat across from Letty at the kotatsu.
>"I actually didn't think you two would be up for a while yet." Letty remarks over her coffee mug.
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>"I actually feel fairly well-rested, considering."
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>"I actually feel fairly well-rested, considering."
>Letty gives you a concerned look. "We saw the damage at that graveyard on the news. Was it as bad as it looked?"
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>Nod slowly
>"But we persevered, which is what matters most."
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>Nod slowly
>"But we persevered, which is what matters most."
>"And, you're all okay?"
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>"We all made it through in one piece. Tired and sore, but in one piece."
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>"We all made it through in one piece. Tired and sore, but in one piece."
>"Good to hear." Letty says as she slides a bookmark into her textbook. "And I hope for your sake there aren't any more... evil bikers?"
>Rin nods. "Evil bikers, yes."
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>"If we don't run into any new threats for a while, you'll hear no complaints from me. But the city should be safer for what we've done, and people who never had a chance for honest life should have one now - and that's what's most important."
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>"If we don't run into any new threats for a while, you'll hear no complaints from me. But the city should be safer for what we've done, and people who never had a chance for honest life should have one now - and that's what's most important."
>Letty tilts her head to the side. "I'm not sure I follow you on that last part, Byakuren." she says as Minoriko, now assisted by Rin, starts to bring out a number of dishes.
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>"Ah, my apologies; I supposed that would be a little hard to follow. The bikers you were talking about were... well, suffice it to say, they'd been born with a tangible connection in their soul to some very dark powers - ones full of violence and malice. We freed them from it. By all accounts, they'd been very unpleasant sorts of people before this, but I think now they might actually have a chance at lives of their own making."
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>"Ah, my apologies; I supposed that would be a little hard to follow. The bikers you were talking about were... well, suffice it to say, they'd been born with a tangible connection in their soul to some very dark powers - ones full of violence and malice. We freed them from it. By all accounts, they'd been very unpleasant sorts of people before this, but I think now they might actually have a chance at lives of their own making."
>Despite her best efforts, Letty still doesn't seem like she quite understands what you're trying to explain. Nevertheless, she tries a smile. "So, now you're not just destroying evil, you're fixing it?"
>"She's been doin' that all along." Rin says. "Just did it ta different folks yesterday is what happened."
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>"This power I've been given allows me to 'fix evil', as you put it, in ways it seems few others can. And I am glad of it."
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>"This power I've been given allows me to 'fix evil', as you put it, in ways it seems few others can. And I am glad of it."
>"I imagine Reisen is, too." Letty says as Minoriko places a sizable portion of salmon down in front of you, while Rin handles the bowl of rice and soup. "That WAS Motormaster they were talking about, wasn't it?" the yuki-onna asks.
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>Nod
>"It was. I admit I'm a little surprised you knew of him."
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>Nod
>"It was. I admit I'm a little surprised you knew of him."
>"Reisen talked about him once, and I did some asking around about him after." She scowls. "You can probably figure why I didn't mention him when Reisen was around. WAS he a 'he', by the way?" she asks. "Some of the folks I talked to said it was a she."
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>"I... do not know, to be honest. They were still unconscious at the end of our battle and I have not spoken with them since - something we should take care of soon, I think."
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>"I... do not know, to be honest. They were still unconscious at the end of our battle and I have not spoken with them since - something we should take care of soon, I think."
>Letty seems puzzled. "What's left to take care of? I thought you said you'd fixed 'em?"
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>"Well, it's... complicated, I guess. The evil tainting Motormaster was different than those of the other bikers and I've not had the chance to speak with them since it was excised. They certainly don't have the terrifying powers of yesterday at their disposal anymore, but I don't yet know what sort of person lies underneath that. I'd like to think the best of them, but... I guess we'll have to see."
>"Though don't worry - they're safely confined until we can ascertain how much of their actions were their own doing and how much was the fault of the evil possessing them."
>Smile a little self-effacingly
>"I suppose this all sounds a little high-handed of me, doesn't it?"
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>"Well, it's... complicated, I guess. The evil tainting Motormaster was different than those of the other bikers and I've not had the chance to speak with them since it was excised. They certainly don't have the terrifying powers of yesterday at their disposal anymore, but I don't yet know what sort of person lies underneath that. I'd like to think the best of them, but... I guess we'll have to see."
>"Though don't worry - they're safely confined until we can ascertain how much of their actions were their own doing and how much was the fault of the evil possessing them."
>Smile a little self-effacingly
>"I suppose this all sounds a little high-handed of me, doesn't it?"
>Letty shakes her hhead and grins slightly. "It sounds like you, Byakuren."
>"Here you are, Byakuren." says Minoriko as she brings out the final piece of the breakfast spread.
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>"Thank you. This looks delicious."
>Dig in!
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>"Thank you. This looks delicious."
>Dig in!
>Minoriko smiles warmly. "There's plenty more, so have as much as you like."
>There is little doubt that Minoriko is the best chef amongst the residents of the Moonside apartments, and this morning proves that point yet again. Somehow, her rice always seems to have a little more flavor to it, her fish always tastes a little fresher, even her tea is less bitter even when it's the cheapest stuff on the market. Lily's cooking was good, but not quite up to Minoriko's level. It's about the best way your stomach can think of start a day.
>The only thing that makes it better is the company around you. Letty with her coffee and textbook, joined after a few minutes by Minoriko. Somewhat to your surprise, neither one of them asks you about you activities last night when Lily was visiting. Either you were less noticeable than you were with Rin- which you're reasonably certain isn't the case- or they're exercising discretion. Most likely the latter, considering these two. Nitori would almost certainly have asked about it by now. And Patchy-
>Oh yeah. That's what's wrong with this scenario. You try not to let that thought bother you, to keep that moment of distress of your face, but it darkens your mood regardless. You swear you'll get her back, her and Sanae, but not having them here remains a bitter pill to swallow. You make a note to visit Reisen before the day wears too far on. She's probably taking Patchouli's absence even worse than you are.
>Your reverie is interrupted by a loud knocking on Minoriko's door, and it opens before Minoriko can rise to her feet. It is Nitori, and she grins when she sees you. "Ah good, you two're here. Can I borrow you a sec, Rin?"
>Rin, her chopsticks still in her mouth, simply blinks in confusion at the kappa.
>"Oh right. Breakfast. Forgot about that. Well, are you two planning on going out and blowing up anything in the next hour?"
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>"I very much hope not."
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>"I very much hope not."
>"Then I'll come back." And Nitori leaves just as quickly as she arrives.
>Minoriko pouts. "She could have stayed for breakfast."
>"I'll go remind her." says Letty, clamoring to her feet. "I need to get going anyway, get back to work."
>"Deadline comin'?" Rin asks curiously.
>"Mmm, not really close to one yet, but, since I've got the time to work, I'd feel bad about not using it. Was Hyozan out in the yard, did you notice?" she asks.
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>"He was lying by the front gate when I stepped out to come over here."
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>"He was lying by the front gate when I stepped out to come over here."
>"And still snowing." Rin nods, though that probably wasn't necessary. Letty always seems to know when it's snowing or going to snow. It's a yuki-onna thing, she said once.
>Letty grins ruefully. "I'll deal with Nitori first. Hyozan always has more pep when it's snowing."
>"I'll stop by later, Letty." Minoriko says to her. Letty thanks her and departs, leaving you and Rin with the 'mother' of Moonside.
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>Let's keep eating breakfast and give Minoriko a little time to see if she brings up the topic of her ring candidacy of her own accord
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>Let's keep eating breakfast and give Minoriko a little time to see if she brings up the topic of her ring candidacy of her own accord
>You've gotten through the lion's share of breakfast as it was. Your last night's excursion left you with a fine appetite this morning. As a matter of fact, Rin is presently scooping you up a second helping of fried rice. And one for herself, you note.
>Minoriko sits down to join you as you start to work on your second bowl. Now that Letty has left, you note that the blonde woman seems a bit pensive as she cradles a cup of green tea. Plainly there's something on her mind, but it takes her a few moments to work her way around to it. "Byakuren, Rin... I was wondering if... Have you seen Patchouli since she... left us?"
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>Shake our head
>"Not since the altercation in front of her family home."
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>Shake our head
>"Not since the altercation in front of her family home."
>A rather sad-looking Minoriko lowers her head. "I'm sorry to ask so early in the morning. It's just... I miss her."
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>"I do, too. I promise I'll find a way to bring her back again. Somehow."
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>"I do, too. I promise I'll find a way to bring her back again. Somehow."
>Minoriko manages a smile. "And Sanae, too. I know." She takes a sip of her tea before continuing. "I've been thinking about them since it happened. Honestly, I can't seem to stop thinking about it."
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>"I know what you mean. I try to rest in the belief that things will be set right again, but it's... hard sometimes."
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>"I know what you mean. I try to rest in the belief that things will be set right again, but it's... hard sometimes."
>Rin grips your hand, offering you a comforting smile. The pain and uncertainty that's been haunting you doesn't seem to be anywhere in her eyes.
>Maybe it's easy for her. She has faith in you. Maybe that's all she needs.
>Minoriko continues, "And I've been thinking too, about what you said about me. Are you sure? Sure that I can help you, I mean. I don't think I'm much of a fighter. I don't know if I can do what you and Rin have been doing."
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>"Before this all happened, I wouldn't have thought myself very much of a fighter, either. But you have a true concern for the people around you and an abiding desire to help, and with this power of ours, that matters most of all. My ring would not have resonated with you unless you truly had that capability in your heart - to stand up for their sake and do whatever it is you can to help. I have faith in you, Minoriko - whatever you decide."
>Smile gently at her
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>"Before this all happened, I wouldn't have thought myself very much of a fighter, either. But you have a true concern for the people around you and an abiding desire to help, and with this power of ours, that matters most of all. My ring would not have resonated with you unless you truly had that capability in your heart - to stand up for their sake and do whatever it is you can to help. I have faith in you, Minoriko - whatever you decide."
>Smile gently at her
>Minoriko returns your smile, though she can't keep all the uncertainty she is feeling out of it. "And you're sure you wouldn't rather have Nitori?"
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>"Well, she's certainly fiery about all this, but I don't think this conflict will be won by fervor, but compassion. You have a nurturing spirit, Minoriko - always considerate of others and trying to help in whatever ways you can. It is that very desire to care for others that gives us strength. You don't have to be a fighter. You don't have to be anything other than who you already are - that is enough. If anything will save Patchouli and Sanae, it will be our refusal to stop caring about them."
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>"Well, she's certainly fiery about all this, but I don't think this conflict will be won by fervor, but compassion. You have a nurturing spirit, Minoriko - always considerate of others and trying to help in whatever ways you can. It is that very desire to care for others that gives us strength. You don't have to be a fighter. You don't have to be anything other than who you already are - that is enough. If anything will save Patchouli and Sanae, it will be our refusal to stop caring about them."
>"Couldn'a said it better meself." says Rin. "It's gonna take more than muscle and shouting ta win this one. And I mean to win in ways other than just killin' the other guys. There's more to it than that. We don't want to kill the Champions, we wanna help 'em. And you're real good at that."
>Minoriko closes her eyes, sighing quietly. "You're not worried that, I won't be able protect you, like you do each other? Because... I'd be lying if I said I wasn't."
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>"Before this all began, I wouldn't have thought myself capable of many of the things I've done, either. I think you might surprise yourself."
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>"Before this all began, I wouldn't have thought myself capable of many of the things I've done, either. I think you might surprise yourself."
>Minoriko shakes her head. "I don't know about that, Byakuren. You've always been the sort of woman to stand up to people who do bad things, to help people that needed it. Rin alone is proof of that." The kasha in question smiles at that notion. "I realize that the Champions and magic-using bikers aren't the same thing as someone like Konngara, but the way I see it, they're extensions of the same thing. And I don't know if I have that in me."
>"But I do know this." Minoriko continues, raising her head. "I know that I hate the idea of not being able to help Patchouli and Sanae. Of not being able to protect Letty or Nitori if one of those Champions comes back here. Of one of you two being hurt if I could have done something to stop it. I couldn't live with myself if that happened." The ring on your finger pulses as Minoriko finishes, "If you think you can rely on me, then I will fight with you."
>Minoriko's ring emerges from yours in a pulse of gentle orange light. Her ring is a light yellowish-brown, set with a vivid red gemstone, the color of leaves in autumn. Minoriko herself gasps in surprise at the sight. "What is that?"
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>"It is your ring, brought forth by your conviction to help the people you care about."
>Smile gently at her
>"Take it."
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>"It is your ring, brought forth by your conviction to help the people you care about."
>Smile gently at her
>"Take it."
>"Is that how it happens all the time?" Minoriko asks as the autumn-hued ring floats gently towards her.
>Rin nods. "That's how it was for me."
>Minoriko manages to smile again. "Well, Byakuren giving you a ring doesn't seem quite as surprising to me." And she giggles when you and Rin flush a little before extending her hand out, and the ring slips onto her finger. She spends a moment contemplating the sight. "Strange. I thought I'd feel more different."
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>"Try to access your power. It can take some getting used to, but I've found there's a certain instinctual awareness of how to utilize it, if you allow yourself to be open to it."
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>"Try to access your power. It can take some getting used to, but I've found there's a certain instinctual awareness of how to utilize it, if you allow yourself to be open to it."
>"You mean, you want to see me transform?"
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>"That's right."
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>"That's right."
>"Well, all right, if you want." Minoriko raises her hand slightly and calls out, "Pink Carnation Purity Ascent!"
>A twisting column of multi-colored leaves surrounds Minoriko as she invokes her transformation, and a sweet aroma fills the air of the apartment. Sweet potatoes, if you're not mistaken. Her knee-length skirt is the shade of a sweet potato as well, and so are her small boots. She wears a sleeveless yellow blouse with a red belt and red ribbon over her chest. A black ribbon encircles her throat, and there is a tiara on her head, a cluster of grapes sitting in the center instead of a jewel. Her skirt is embroidered with a wheat pattern, and the brown cuffs on her wrists are decorated as well, a sickle stiched on the left cuff, a wheat stalk on the right.
>But it is not the outfit she comments on first. "That really IS like something out of a magical girl manga."
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>Smile
>"It is, isn't it?"
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>Smile
>"It is, isn't it?"
>"But I think you got the nicer outfit." she remarks with a smile.
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>"Well, I think you look quite charming."
>Smile
>"How do you feel?"
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>"Well, I think you look quite charming."
>Smile
>"How do you feel?"
>"Actually, not really that different." Minoriko admits. "I can sense there's a power inside me that wasn't there before, but I can't really tell how strong it is, or what it means I can do."
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>"When you have need of it, you'll know what you can do."
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>"When you have need of it, you'll know what you can do."
>"Well, that's a relief."
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>"Don't worry; I know you have the strength within you to protect the people you care about and I'm truly grateful to have you with us."
>Give her a little hug
>"Welcome to the team, Minoriko."
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>"Don't worry; I know you have the strength within you to protect the people you care about and I'm truly grateful to have you with us."
>Give her a little hug
>"Welcome to the team, Minoriko."
>"Glad to be aboard." the older woman says as she returns your hug. "I won't let you down, I promise."
>"Here's hopin' we don't have ta test ya soon." Rin says as she and Minoriko clasp hands, before the Aki hugs her, too.
-
>Reach out to Minoriko telepathically: There's one more little trick I ought to tell you about, while we're here.
-
>Reach out to Minoriko telepathically: There's one more little trick I ought to tell you about, while we're here.
>"Yai!" Minoriko yelps in shock. She stares at you, slack-jawed. "How did.... This power comes with telepathy?"
-
>"It does! Between those of us with rings, at least - it's quite handy, actually. And it works from a distance at least as great as from here to the Tiger Shrine."
>It might take a little while to get used to it, but by now it feels almost as natural to me as speaking . Why don't you give it a try?
-
>"It does! Between those of us with rings, at least - it's quite handy, actually. And it works from a distance at least as great as from here to the Tiger Shrine."
>It might take a little while to get used to it, but by now it feels almost as natural to me as speaking . Why don't you give it a try?
>Minoriko frowns, then shakes her head. "I guess I should start getting used to it." She doesn't sound entirely enthusiastic about the idea, though.
>Hello? her voice comes to you and Rin, rather quietly.
-
>Smile
>Hello there.
-
>Smile
>Hello there.
>How far does this ability go? I mean, can you read my mind?
-
>No. No need to worry about that. It's just a means of communication; I can only hear what you deliberately tell me.
>"Though in the interest of full disclosure, it is possible for us to link our thoughts more directly, but that requires physical contact and full deliberate consent of both parties. So don't worry; none of us can intrude on your privacy."
-
>No. No need to worry about that. It's just a means of communication; I can only hear what you deliberately tell me.
>"Though in the interest of full disclosure, it is possible for us to link our thoughts more directly, but that requires physical contact and full deliberate consent of both parties. So don't worry; none of us can intrude on your privacy."
>Minoriko is visibly relieved at that. "So, just touching each other doesn't give that full telepathy?"
-
>"No. It takes effort on both parties - and isn't necessarily easy, even then. We cannot see anything you don't choose to share of your own accord."
-
>"No. It takes effort on both parties - and isn't necessarily easy, even then. We cannot see anything you don't choose to share of your own accord."
>"Ya have ta be touchin' rings, too, right, Byakuren?" Rin asks.
-
>Nod
>"That's correct."
-
>Nod
>"That's correct."
>Minoriko glances down at her autumnal ring. "You've done that, haven't you?"
-
>"Twice. To help remove a memory block that Satori had placed in Lily and Kiku's mind."
-
>"Twice. To help remove a memory block that Satori had placed in Lily and Kiku's mind."
>Minoriko's face twists. "I can't imagine what that must have been like."
-
>"It was definitely a... unique sort of experience. But the time I was connected with Lily was actually kind of pleasant, in its own unusual sort of way. It was more difficult with Kiku."
-
>"It was definitely a... unique sort of experience. But the time I was connected with Lily was actually kind of pleasant, in its own unusual sort of way. It was more difficult with Kiku."
>Minoriko gives you a knowing look. "Somehow that does not surprise me."
-
>Was this a 'From what you've told me about Kiku, I'm sure she was the tougher nut to crack' look or a 'I know you had sex with Lily last night' look?
-
>Was this a 'From what you've told me about Kiku, I'm sure she was the tougher nut to crack' look or a 'I know you had sex with Lily last night' look?
>You'd put money on the latter.
-
>"Ah, yes. Well."
>Now, now, nothing to feel self-conscious about....
>"She's a very cheerful and exuberant girl. I could actually feel a little of that rubbing off on me, for a while after we parted."
-
>"Ah, yes. Well."
>Now, now, nothing to feel self-conscious about....
>"She's a very cheerful and exuberant girl. I could actually feel a little of that rubbing off on me, for a while after we parted."
>You take a brief moment to collect yourself.
>This does not seem a welcome idea to Minoriko, yet she also seems curious. "I'm not sure I follow. You mean you absorbed some of her personality?"
-
>"I don't know that I'd go that far. Perhaps think of it a little like... the lingering memory of her thoughts and feelings that I'd experienced in my own mind."
-
>"I don't know that I'd go that far. Perhaps think of it a little like... the lingering memory of her thoughts and feelings that I'd experienced in my own mind."
>"Are they still there?"
-
>Are they? Like, presumably we can still remember them, but do we feel there has been any lasting effects beyond just the memory?
-
>Are they? Like, presumably we can still remember them, but do we feel there has been any lasting effects beyond just the memory?
>The effect has faded slightly over time, but you can still feel it. They're still there. In fact, now that you think about it, you wonder if those lingering effects might have had something to do with you nocturnal excursions with Lily and Rin. Lily's liberal attitude towards that kind of sex might have rubbed off on you in ways you're not entirely conscious of.
>And the reverse may be true as well. At the end of the day, you- and Rin- were the aggressors last night, rather than Lily herself. Your more conservative nature may well have influenced her, giving her pause. At least enough to make absolutely sure it was what you wanted, and that it wouldn't damage what you have with Rin. Whether it was your influence that made her actions in the heat of the moment so precise, so... thorough, that you're not sure on. Perhaps some further investigation is in order...
-
>"Not as strong as they once were, but... yes."
>"But even if this might sound like an unsettling thing to you, don't forget that people are always changing as they experience new things and grow close to new people. How often do couples start to pick up each other's mannerisms over time? Or friends that learn to be a little more like the qualities they admire in each other? This experience may have been more intense, but in a way, I'm not so certain it's altogether different. I'm still me and she's still her, but we've each seen a different way of looking at the world and maybe learned something from it."
-
>"Not as strong as they once were, but... yes."
>"But even if this might sound like an unsettling thing to you, don't forget that people are always changing as they experience new things and grow close to new people. How often do couples start to pick up each other's mannerisms over time? Or friends that learn to be a little more like the qualities they admire in each other? This experience may have been more intense, but in a way, I'm not so certain it's altogether different. I'm still me and she's still her, but we've each seen a different way of looking at the world and maybe learned something from it."
>"So, in the same way that she influence you, you influenced her?"
-
>Nod
>"That's right."
-
>Nod
>"That's right."
>She nods thoughtfully. "And Kiku?"
-
>That connection wasn't as open or intimate as with Lily, right? Did we not feel much effect from it afterward?
-
>That connection wasn't as open or intimate as with Lily, right? Did we not feel much effect from it afterward?
>Correct, on both counts.
-
>"Our bond was a lot less... open than it was with Lily. There was a much stronger boundary between her self and mine - it was more like I was observing her memories rather than experiencing them and I haven't felt any lingering effects to speak of."
-
>"Our bond was a lot less... open than it was with Lily. There was a much stronger boundary between her self and mine - it was more like I was observing her memories rather than experiencing them and I haven't felt any lingering effects to speak of."
>Minoriko nods again, looking down at her ring once more. She seems to mull osomething over in her mind, then shakes her head slightly. "What about you, Rin? Have you ever done this... melding?"
>"Melding?"
>"Joining of minds." Minoriko explainds.
>The kasha shakes her head. "No. I don't even know if the rest of us CAN. That might be something only Byakuren can do."
-
>"I've only done it when there was need of it to help someone. It is obviously a great deal to ask of someone to expose themselves so... nakedly, as it were. Even if I am just as exposed by the joining as they."
-
>"I've only done it when there was need of it to help someone. It is obviously a great deal to ask of someone to expose themselves so... nakedly, as it were. Even if I am just as exposed by the joining as they."
>"It's a heavy responsibility." Minoriko says thoughtfully. "Now I really know just how much your comrades trust you, Byakuren, if they were willing to do that." A smile spreads across her face. "Not everyone could handle that, certainly not on top of everything else that comes with this power."
-
>"And I endeavor my best to be worthy of that trust."
>Smile a little self-consciously
>"All of this is more responsibility than I ever expected to have - at this age or any age - but so long as I have the power to do good in the world, to do things the that other people can't, then I am dedicated to making sure this chapter of our lives has a happy ending - for all of us."
-
>"And I endeavor my best to be worthy of that trust."
>Smile a little self-consciously
>"All of this is more responsibility than I ever expected to have - at this age or any age - but so long as I have the power to do good in the world, to do things the that other people can't, then I am dedicated to making sure this chapter of our lives has a happy ending - for all of us."
>Minoriko lowers her arm and tilts her head back slightly. She is motionless for a moment before she discards her magical form, returning to her civilian guise. "And do you have plans for the chapter of this day? Or is this a day off for our heroes?" she asks with a light smile.
-
>"I'm not sure, exactly. I've considered investigating a lead on where Sanae is, but I don't know that anything positive would come from trying to talk with her at this point - and I'd prefer to avoid precipitating a battle with both her and Elis at the same time."
>"Aside from that, I need to check on Motormaster and see how they are after being freed from their possession."
-
>"I'm not sure, exactly. I've considered investigating a lead on where Sanae is, but I don't know that anything positive would come from trying to talk with her at this point - and I'd prefer to avoid precipitating a battle with both her and Elis at the same time."
>"Aside from that, I need to check on Motormaster and see how they are after being freed from their possession."
>"You said that Motormaster had been 'confined'?" Minoriko asks. "Have you had Kiku watching her or something?"
-
>"No, we placed her in an oubliette - a sort of extradimensional prison that we created. There should be no means for them to escape on their own, but I did try to at least make the environment feel comfortable in the meantime."
>"Using this keystone, we can travel back and forth to there, whenever we like."
>Produce Motormaster's keys
>"Well, in this case it's an actual key, but that's just coincidence - it just needs to be something connected to the person we're confining."
>"It's the same thing as we used to hold the Champion of Water, though a little less sturdy as I don't believe Motormaster has any supernatural powers at their disposal anymore."
-
>"No, we placed her in an oubliette - a sort of extradimensional prison that we created. There should be no means for them to escape on their own, but I did try to at least make the environment feel comfortable in the meantime."
>"Using this keystone, we can travel back and forth to there, whenever we like."
>Produce Motormaster's keys
>"Well, in this case it's an actual key, but that's just coincidence - it just needs to be something connected to the person we're confining."
>"It's the same thing as we used to hold the Champion of Water, though a little less sturdy as I don't believe Motormaster has any supernatural powers at their disposal anymore."
>Minoriko regards the motorcycle keys in your hands. "How, exactly, can you use those to..."
>"Magic." supplies Rin after Minoriko trails off.
>The older woman smiles a bit ruefully. "Ah yes. I suppose I'll need to get accustomed to that as well."
-
>Smile
>"I'm sure you'll find you have more than a few tricks up your sleeves as well, when the situation comes to use them."
-
>Smile
>"I'm sure you'll find you have more than a few tricks up your sleeves as well, when the situation comes to use them."
>"No doubt."
>"And while we're talking abut Motormaster, how is Reisen doing?" Minoriko asks as she sits back down at the kotatsu. "Considering how she felt about Motormaster, confronting him, with or without magic or help, can't have been easy for her."
-
>"No. I'm sure it wasn't."
>"She... wasn't in favor of trying to rehabilitate the bikers, after all that they've done. I can't say that I don't understand where she's coming from; that fight was much more personal for her than it was for any of us. But I had to try, regardless."
-
>"No. I'm sure it wasn't."
>"She... wasn't in favor of trying to rehabilitate the bikers, after all that they've done. I can't say that I don't understand where she's coming from; that fight was much more personal for her than it was for any of us. But I had to try, regardless."
>"I know you and Rin came home before she did yesterday. Have you seen her since the fight?"
-
>Shake our head
-
>Shake our head
>Minoriko presses a finger thoughtfully against her chin. "Perhaps I should go down to visit her."
>Minoriko's door opens as she thinks aloud, and Nitori sticks her head in again. "'scuse me!" she announces before letting herself in. She's not alone this time, though, as Reisen enters just behind her. "Letty sent me."
>"Yes, come in- Reisen!" Minoriko starts as she comes to her feet. "We were just talking about you."
>"Nothing too embarassing, I hope." Reisen says self-depracatingly. To you, she inclines her head politely. "Good morning, mistress." That phrase took a lot of getting used to from Rin. Hearing it from Reisen is still a little.... odd.
-
>Smile
>"Good morning."
>How are you feeling?
-
>Smile
>"Good morning."
>How are you feeling?
>Nitori shakes her head. "Damn, that sounds weird callin' her that and not Patchy." The kappa's grin fades when she sees Minoriko's face fall. "I mean... Ah... Sorry."
>"No, you shouldn't be." says Minoriko. "I miss her- I know we all do- But we shouldn't be afraid to talk about her."
>Bit of a headache. Reisen admits. I was helping Nitori with an old model car engine. Her swearing at the rusty carburetor was harder on the ears than the engine backfiring.
-
>I... meant about yesterday.
-
>I... meant about yesterday.
>Oh. No lingering aches or pains, no injuries that I can detect. I should be ready to fight in case anything comes up today.
-
>I'm sure you will be, but that's not really what I meant, either.
-
>I'm sure you will be, but that's not really what I meant, either.
>Then what did you... Oh, you're talking about Motormaster and his gang.
-
>Yes. I know that fight was more personal for you than for any of us.
-
>Yes. I know that fight was more personal for you than for any of us.
>And I don't know if it's over yet. Reisen replies. It's not out of the realm of possibility for one or more of Motormaster's gang to be even worse now than they were before. And Motormaster's still alive. I'd like to tell you that I feel relieved that I don't have to worry about looking over my shoulder for any of them anymore. But I still do. Just not as much at the moment, since you've got Motormaster locked away, but you're not going to keep him there forever. So really, nothing's really changed for me.
-
>I'm sorry you feel that way. But I promise you, not one hair on your head will be threatened by them ever again, so long as I have anything to say about it. I swear it.
>Take hold of her hand and give it a little squeeze, then smile gently at her.
>"So, what's this about Letty sending you over here?"
-
>I'm sorry you feel that way. But I promise you, not one hair on your head will be threatened by them ever again, so long as I have anything to say about it. I swear it.
>Take hold of her hand and give it a little squeeze, then smile gently at her.
>"So, what's this about Letty sending you over here?"
>She gives you a smile and a faint nod, though no more than that.
>"I ain't had breakfast yet." Nitori replies. "So when Papa told me Mama here wanted me to come up, I come."
>"Nitori!" Minoriko half-yells, flushing slightly. "I've told you not to call me that."
>With a tolerant look at the two, Reisen adds, "And I opted for your company over the company of oily tools and rusty carburetors."
>A few muttered oaths from Nitori tells you what she thinks of the last part.
-
>To Nitori, lightly: "Now, now, just imagine how much worse it would be if the opposite were true and you had to deal with the rest of us poking about your workshop at all hours?"
-
>To Nitori, lightly: "Now, now, just imagine how much worse it would be if the opposite were true and you had to deal with the rest of us poking about your workshop at all hours?"
>The kappa blinks, then inhales sharply. "Nono, I was swearing at those carbs. They're a giant pain in the neck. I mean, carburetors are always a pain in the ass, but when they rust up they spoil the cucumber even faster." She swears again, shaking her head. "I must have been outta my mind to try and fix that piece of flotsam."
-
>"You never could pass up an interesting challenge...."
-
>"You never could pass up an interesting challenge...."
>"The transmission fluid, that's the interesting part. Rust is just rust. That's what I need to borrow Rin for, by the way. The trans fluid, not the rust. I need your nose." she says to Rin.
>"My... nose?"
>"You got the best nose here. 'cept maybe Hyozan, but he don't talk much." she says as she flops down at the kotatsu. "I'm hopin' you might be able to tell me what got into the trans fluid. Something did, but I can't tell what."
>"Well, if you think I can help, I'll give it a shot."
>"After breakfast." Minoriko tells Nitori firmly. "And that goes for you, too, Reisen."
>"Just a little for me, if you don't mind." says Reisen. "I ate not that long ago."
-
>We are both finished our breakfast here and satisfied, right?
>Well, we can just stay here a little and continue to socialize for a while, regardless. No magical business that can't wait a bit.
-
>We are both finished our breakfast here and satisfied, right?
>Well, we can just stay here a little and continue to socialize for a while, regardless. No magical business that can't wait a bit.
>Yes.
>A little domestic tranquility never hurt nobody. Well, as tranquil as things ever get with Nitori around. She can't seem to help but be loud, in voice, gesture and presence. Unlike Minoriko and Letty, when Nitori inquires into your fight with Motormaster and their gang, she does so with enthusiasm and gusto. She's got the story from Reisen already, but, in her words, she wanted to know what it was like from the bosses' point of view. You wonder, though, if she shares Reisen's opinions towards the bikers. Nitori isn't a hard-hearted woman, but you know her well enough to know that she sees things rather black and white-like. You don't think she would have hesitated too long about killing the bikers had she been there. They were evil, they were threatening the good guys, and that would have been enough for her. In fact, since Motormaster was involved, Nitori probably would have tried a little harder to kill that person, for Reisen's sake. Nitori would probably be a powerful ally if she wore one of your rings, but you can't help but think that her presence among your ranks would bring almost as many complications as benefits.
>"Sweet ring, Minnie." Nitori says, noticing seemingly for the first time Minoriko's new piece of jewelry. "Gift from Letty?"
>"Um, not exactly..." Minoriko mutters.
>"Pretty expensive lookin'. Actually kinda looks like.... yours...." Nitori trails off as she looks over at you, realization dawning on her face.
-
>And here we'd been hoping to avoid this conversation entirely.... Though perhaps it's better that we're here than leaving poor Minoriko to face it on her own
>"That's right."
-
>And here we'd been hoping to avoid this conversation entirely.... Though perhaps it's better that we're here than leaving poor Minoriko to face it on her own
>"That's right."
>Nitori was probably going to find out at some point anyway. Perhaps it is better to deal with it now, when you're all gathered. Well, all the Moonside members of your group, anyway.
>"Aw, come on!" Nitori shouts, though sh sounds more surprised than angry. "What's she got that I don't?"
>Restraint? Reisen remarks privately.
-
>"Well, answer me this: would you have let Fire and Ice just fly away after our battle at the shrine?"
-
>"Well, answer me this: would you have let Fire and Ice just fly away after our battle at the shrine?"
>"No!" Then she pauses. "Well, not if I had any choice in the matter."
-
>"Then you might very well be dead now."
-
>"Then you might very well be dead now."
>Everyone in the room looks shocked at that phrase. Even Reisen, though less so than the others. "What do you mean?" Nitori asks after a moment's pause.
-
>"The only reason they left without a fight that night was because, for a moment, we had been allies. The moment we changed that, they would likely have responded in kind, and I am not sure we could have prevailed - exhausted as we were."
>"The power in these rings is tremendous, but so is that of the people we would fight against. I wish that I could simply walk right out this door and put an end to all this today, but if I tried, then I think I would only be ensuring that this all ends worse for everyone."
-
>"The only reason they left without a fight that night was because, for a moment, we had been allies. The moment we changed that, they would likely have responded in kind, and I am not sure we could have prevailed - exhausted as we were."
>"The power in these rings is tremendous, but so is that of the people we would fight against. I wish that I could simply walk right out this door and put an end to all this today, but if I tried, then I think I would only be ensuring that this all ends worse for everyone."
>Nitori frowns. "I DID say 'if I had any choice in the matter.' I ain't stupid, you know."
-
>"I'm not accusing you of being stupid and I know you only want to help. Really, I do."
>Give her an empathetic smile
>"But forging a happy ending here is going to involve as much choosing not to fight - even when we can - as it is fighting. If you looked a Champion in the face and knew you could beat them then and there, do you think you'd ever choose anything else?"
-
>"I'm not accusing you of being stupid and I know you only want to help. Really, I do."
>Give her an empathetic smile
>"But forging a happy ending here is going to involve as much choosing not to fight - even when we can - as it is fighting. If you looked a Champion in the face and knew you could beat them then and there, do you think you'd ever choose anything else?"
>Nitori opens her mouth and closes it. "Probably not." she admits. "I mean, why wouldn't I? They're the ones invading our world. Heck, they probably only helped you kill that big ugly black thing to make it easier for themselves. Use less power that way."
-
>"I am sure it was an alliance of convenience, yes, but that's a start. And I make no excuses for the Champion's actions, but if even half of what Louise has said is true, then I cannot simply say that their kind deserves to suffer and die so that we might live. There is a middle ground - there has to be. Water and Ice have already expressed a genuine desire to avoid conflict. Were it not for the importance of their mission in their own eyes - an importance I cannot rightly deny, from where they're standing - then I think we might never have been enemies at all."
>"And I think that in order to prevail in this conflict - and to make sure that all the things we care about are kept safe - we are going to need to seek that middle ground."
-
>"I am sure it was an alliance of convenience, yes, but that's a start. And I make no excuses for the Champion's actions, but if even half of what Louise has said is true, then I cannot simply say that their kind deserves to suffer and die so that we might live. There is a middle ground - there has to be. Water and Ice have already expressed a genuine desire to avoid conflict. Were it not for the importance of their mission in their own eyes - an importance I cannot rightly deny, from where they're standing - then I think we might never have been enemies at all."
>"And I think that in order to prevail in this conflict - and to make sure that all the things we care about are kept safe - we are going to need to seek that middle ground."
>"I can do middle ground!" Nitori insists, though not entirely convincingly.
>Reisen nods slightly at Minoriko. "You will admit, though, that Minoriko may have the edge on you in that department?"
>Nitori seems to want to contest that for a moment, then lowers her head a little. "Well, okay, yeah. Sure, maybe she's got me there."
-
>Put a hand on her shoulder
>"I hope this hasn't sounded like I'm criticizing you as a person. I'm not. You're an excellent mechanic and a good friend - someone who'd be there in an instant to stick up for them, if they needed it."
>"The truth is, even I don't know exactly why my ring resonates with some people and not others - even those I know to be good, kind-hearted souls. It may be small consolation, but even with all the powers I've been blessed with, there's still something important you can do that I cannot."
-
>Put a hand on her shoulder
>"I hope this hasn't sounded like I'm criticizing you as a person. I'm not. You're an excellent mechanic and a good friend - someone who'd be there in an instant to stick up for them, if they needed it."
>"The truth is, even I don't know exactly why my ring resonates with some people and not others - even those I know to be good, kind-hearted souls. It may be small consolation, but even with all the powers I've been blessed with, there's still something important you can do that I cannot."
>"Wha?"
-
>"Keep our internet from dying on us again."
>Grin at her
-
>"Keep our internet from dying on us again."
>Grin at her
>At first, Nitori just stares, but when Minoriko and Rin start to giggle, the Kappa's smile blossoms and she joins in their laughter.
>Nicely handled, Byakuren. Reisen says on a private channel. I figured she'd be upset about that for a lot longer.
-
>I worried I might be being too blunt with her, but... well, I don't want anything bad to happen to her for her own lack of restraint, either. I know she means well.
-
>I worried I might be being too blunt with her, but... well, I don't want anything bad to happen to her for her own lack of restraint, either. I know she means well.
>Far less blunt than I think I would have been, if I'd been in your place. She really is the kind of person who'd get themselves in trouble in a combat situation. At least without a really firm superior, and I don't think you have it in you to be that hard on her.
>But that being said, it would have been interesting to see just what kind of powers she'd get with one of our rings.
>"And here I thought she was gonna say 'brush your hair in less than five minutes'." Nitori says, giving your lengthy tresses a light little flick.
-
>Chuckle
>"Well, I suppose there's that too."
-
>Chuckle
>"Well, I suppose there's that too."
>Nitori laughs a moment more, then sighs. "You make good points, Byakuren. I just hate missing a good fight when my friends are involved. Especially since this good fight is a GOOD fight, y'know?"
-
>"I know, I know."
>Smile slightly
>"I'll make sure to give the next enemy we run into an extra wallop, just for you."
-
>"I know, I know."
>Smile slightly
>"I'll make sure to give the next enemy we run into an extra wallop, just for you."
>"Much obliged." the kappa says with a grin.
>"Makes me wonder, though. 'bout that ring of yours. I mean, you said don't know how it works, right? About making more rings."
-
>"Not exactly. It resonates with the spirit and will and even love in people's hearts, and if that feeling is strong enough, a ring can manifest from mine of its own accord. But you're right; I don't know exactly why or how it works as it does - though I am forever grateful not to have to fight this war all on my own."
-
>"Not exactly. It resonates with the spirit and will and even love in people's hearts, and if that feeling is strong enough, a ring can manifest from mine of its own accord. But you're right; I don't know exactly why or how it works as it does - though I am forever grateful not to have to fight this war all on my own."
>"It's a shame we don't know." Nitori muses, eyeballing your own ring. "Being able to control that would be mighty handy."
>"Perhaps we should discuss that." Reisen suggests. "I'm with Nitori. I'd like to know what made that ring choose us as well."
>"And why us and not others." Minoriko adds.
-
>"Did you have any ideas that I hadn't already mentioned, then?"
-
>"Did you have any ideas that I hadn't already mentioned, then?"
>"Well nothing specific." Reisen admits, leaning forward. "I can think of a lot of things that aren't a factor, but not that many things that are unique to us. Obviously species isn't a factor, nor is birthplace. Nor is planet of origin, for that matter, or I couldn't have gotten my ring. We're all female, but that doesn't explain why Nitori isn't a candidate. Or Letty, for that matter. All of us go to Moyoiga High except Kiku, so it can't be something about the school."
>"Unless she was an alumni." Minoriko suggests.
>"Possibly, but somehow I doubt that's a factor. And I don't think it has to do with age, either. I'm three times the age of any of you all." She temples her fingers in thought. "And the circumstances of everyone getting their ring was different. Rin, Minoriko, you two got your rings in the comfort of home, while Kiku and I got ours under rather more severe circumstances. It's not a matter of skills: Kiku and I have more advantages than the rest of you in combat, but we were recruited after Lily. I should ask, actually." she interrupts her train of thought, looking at you. "Was Lily the first one your ring reacted to that way?"
-
>She was, right?
>Assuming so: "Yes."
-
>She was, right?
>Assuming so: "Yes."
>She was.
>"That also means it's not related to how close they are to you. Otherwise, Rin would have been first, not Lily."
>"And Marisa'd probably have been next." says Nitori. "Unless she HAS set off that ring of yours and you haven't told us yet."
-
>She hasn't, right?
>Assuming so, shake our head
>"In Lily's case, I think it was because she knew there was a darkness coming - she'd been shown it and wanted with all her heart to stop it. That goodness in her heart was directed towards this specific goal, something she now knew was possible. After all, I scarcely had to mention recent events to Rin before her ring manifested - the instant she expressed her determination to stand beside me in this. So I think it's not just 'goodness' or 'resolve', but also 'purpose'."
-
>She hasn't, right?
>Assuming so, shake our head
>"In Lily's case, I think it was because she knew there was a darkness coming - she'd been shown it and wanted with all her heart to stop it. That goodness in her heart was directed towards this specific goal, something she now knew was possible. After all, I scarcely had to mention recent events to Rin before her ring manifested - the instant she expressed her determination to stand beside me in this. So I think it's not just 'goodness' or 'resolve', but also 'purpose'."
>She has not.
>Reisen's ears twitch. "You might be on to something there. That darkness you mentioned, that was the Champions, yes?"
-
>"The Metal Tiger showed her a vision. She described it as seeing a wave of blackness spreading across the world, withering flowers and trees and extinguishing life everywhere it touched. I... told her what I thought that might have meant and she said she wanted to help me stop it - no matter how dangerous it was. That declaration was all it took."
-
>"The Metal Tiger showed her a vision. She described it as seeing a wave of blackness spreading across the world, withering flowers and trees and extinguishing life everywhere it touched. I... told her what I thought that might have meant and she said she wanted to help me stop it - no matter how dangerous it was. That declaration was all it took."
>Reisen lowers her head, lost in thought. "I had a thought that, maybe it was awareness of the Champions, of their purpose, that might have been a contributing factor. That somehow being willing to oppose their takeover of our world might play a part in triggering your ring. But I suppose that vision might not be referring to the Champions, but to something else."
>"Maybe Makai itself?" Rin suggests. "We know it's a bad bad place, and we know the creatures that live there destroy anything they can."
>"I suppose there's no way to know for sure. Visions are notoriously murky."
-
>"A black wave that renders things lifeless certainly sounds like that entity we fought at the shrine the other night. I wonder if that might also have been connected to Makai in some way."
-
>"A black wave that renders things lifeless certainly sounds like that entity we fought at the shrine the other night. I wonder if that might also have been connected to Makai in some way."
>"Maybe that's why Fire and Ice came to help." Rin offers. "Ta keep somethin' from Makai outta this world."
>"That would make sense." Minoriko agrees. "If these people are trying to escape the horrors of their world, the last thing they'd want is for one of those horrors to follow them."
>"Two, if ya count the one Byakuren and Kiku beat."
-
>"They did seem very immediately aggressive towards it."
>"Although whatever it was had been here for decades already - long before any of the Champions breached the barrier."
-
>"They did seem very immediately aggressive towards it."
>"Although whatever it was had been here for decades already - long before any of the Champions breached the barrier."
>"If they could breach the barrier between worlds, then that means the barrier isn't perfect." Reisen posits. "Something else could have penetrated it before they did."
>"And what, it just sat around waiting for the Champs to show?" Nitori asks rhetorically.
>"It had plans of its own." says Rin. "And there were more than just that one. The evil in Motormaster came from the same thing."
-
>"It does make me curious how they came to be here or how many more might be lurking."
>"Or, for that matter, what they would want from our world - however much such an entity can be considered to 'want' anything. Louise spoke of Makai attacking their kind because they were 'foreign' to it - like some kind of horrific planetary immune system. But if that is so, then why should they care about us, all the way over here?"
-
>"It does make me curious how they came to be here or how many more might be lurking."
>"Or, for that matter, what they would want from our world - however much such an entity can be considered to 'want' anything. Louise spoke of Makai attacking their kind because they were 'foreign' to it - like some kind of horrific planetary immune system. But if that is so, then why should they care about us, all the way over here?"
>Didn't that corpse-girl say there was just one more of those splinters? Rin asks privately.
>"Perhaps it sees everything beyond itself as foreign bodies to be destroyed." Reisen suggests. Her ears drooping slightly, she adds, "I knew some Lunarians who thought the same thing."
>"Or it can't control itself." says Minoriko. "Immune systems aren't always perfect. Sometimes they go haywire, or go too far. This might be a case of some kind of auto-immune disease, but on a much bigger scale than anything on Earth."
-
>She did, but Junko also said there were no more after the one in Satori and I'm not sure I should assume that either of them is completely correct - or completely truthful.
>"Perhaps. Would that I'd had a chance to discuss the subject with Louise; she might even have answered."
-
>She did, but Junko also said there were no more after the one in Satori and I'm not sure I should assume that either of them is completely correct - or completely truthful.
>"Perhaps. Would that I'd had a chance to discuss the subject with Louise; she might even have answered."
>Never trust mysterious strangers, right?
>"One way or the other, I think you'll have another chance to ask before all is said and done."
>"You wouldn't trust her, would you?" Nitori asks. "We're talking about the demons that stole Patchy, aren't we?"
-
>I think it's a good policy.
>"I think it's more complex than 'stole', I'm afraid. Whatever link there is between the two of them, it existed before they'd ever met - before any of the Champions had crossed into this world. Whatever has happened to Patchouli, I think the seeds of it were laid a long time ago by someone else."
-
>I think it's a good policy.
>"I think it's more complex than 'stole', I'm afraid. Whatever link there is between the two of them, it existed before they'd ever met - before any of the Champions had crossed into this world. Whatever has happened to Patchouli, I think the seeds of it were laid a long time ago by someone else."
>"So this someone else's the guy we need to thrash?" Nitori asks.
>"Shouldn't that be 'YOU' need to thrash?" Reisen asks lightly.
>"Look here, just 'cuz I ain't got one of your fancy rings don't mean I'm not with you guys!"
>Reisen chuckles quietly. "Throttle back, Nitori, I was only teasing. But getting back to the point, I would assume that the someone else in question would be the leader of the Champions, right, Byakuren?"
-
>"That seems plausible - this 'Mother' they spoke of."
-
>"That seems plausible - this 'Mother' they spoke of."
>"Who at this moment is still in Makai. Meaning she's out of our reach for the moment." Reisen leans backwards, bracing herself with her hands. "Which is probably for the best, really. If Makai is that dangerous to the Champions, we wouldn't have a hope in hell of lasting there. And if she was on Earth, well, that would probably mean we'd have lost."
>Minoriko says, "So if we want to talk to her, we would have to do it from this side of that barrier."
>"Which none of us have the ability to do at this time. As far as I know."
-
>"No, but it's something to work on."
>We can't think of a convenient power at our disposal that would allow us to attempt this, do we? What if we had the Purpose's help in this?
-
>We can't think of a convenient power at our disposal that would allow us to attempt this, do we? What if we had the Purpose's help in this?
>To your knowledge, neither you nor any of your colleagues possess the ability to communicate beyond your home dimension. Presumably the Champions have a way to talk with their Mother entity. If you had the opportunity, you think there's an outside chance you might convince Louise to help you talk to her mother, but that's not immediately helpful.
>Though in thinking about it, there IS an ally of yours that does have the ability to speak to life forms beyond your world. Alisaie Knowledge. Her magic allows her contact with otherworldly creatures. She might be able to reach someone in Makai as she does the place she calls dragons from.
>As for the Purpose, you're fairly certain it wouldn't help you. It would probably see the act of reaching through the barrier as going against what it is. It's designed more like a wall than a prison interview window. You can't say it's impossible to secure its help, but it's not something you'd want to hold your breath on.
>"No, but it's something to work on."
>As though reading your thoughts, Reisen suggests, "I imagine the Champions have some way of contacting this Mother of theirs. No leader would be out of contact with their troops if they could help it. You and Louise have a rapport of a sort, Byakuren. Do you think she'd tell you how to talk to their Mother?"
-
>But didn't The Purpose say that it didn't actually care about things that weren't the Champions and their kin coming back and forth through the barrier? That it was only meant to contain them and other things were irrelevant?
>"I'm not certain. It is possible. Though she has also said that Mother's focus is so preoccupied with keeping Makai at bay that she has little left to spare for anything else; she might see aiding in 'distracting' her as dangerous. But there is no doubt in my mind that she too wishes for a better end to this than the subjugation of our world, one way or another."
-
>But didn't The Purpose say that it didn't actually care about things that weren't the Champions and their kin coming back and forth through the barrier? That it was only meant to contain them and other things were irrelevant?
>"I'm not certain. It is possible. Though she has also said that Mother's focus is so preoccupied with keeping Makai at bay that she has little left to spare for anything else; she might see aiding in 'distracting' her as dangerous. But there is no doubt in my mind that she too wishes for a better end to this than the subjugation of our world, one way or another."
>From what you know of the barrier, it is possible that in order to talk to the Mother, you'd need to open a hole in the barrier to do so, or at least exploit a hole that's already there. Which would go against its purpose. But that's not a guarantee. For all you've spoken to the Purpose, you still don't know everything about it. It may be willing and able to help you, or it may not, in this context.
>"She obviously had the time and opportunity to create these six Champions, and do whatever she did to Patchouli and Sanae and the other four Avatars, whoever those people are. I'd say she can spare a couple of minutes to talk to someone who wants to help her."
-
>"Well, I intend to speak to her whether she thinks I'm worth the time or not - but that doesn't affect whether or not Louise would help me in this directly or even if she can. It's definitely an avenue to consider, though."
-
>"Well, I intend to speak to her whether she thinks I'm worth the time or not - but that doesn't affect whether or not Louise would help me in this directly or even if she can. It's definitely an avenue to consider, though."
>"What about Kiku?" Reisen asks. "She has magical powers we don't. Do you think she could contact Makai?"
>"Doubt it." Rin answers. "She probably would have said so by now."
>Reisen leans back again, thinking. "It's kind of a pity you didn't steal any of Madame Knowledge's spellbooks when you took me from her, Byakuren. We saw her use dark magic. She might possess knowledge that could help us."
>"What good would her books have done?" Nitori asks. "You guys don't have regular magic, do you?"
>"No, but when I transform, I can take one of seven different guises. One of them is Caster, a magician-type fighter. I might have been able to discern how to use her kind of magic as Caster."
-
>"Alisaie has at least some knowledge of contacting other planes, no? If there is an answer to the problem that lies in conventional magic, she might be a good one to ask. I'm sure she'd be willing to help us if she could, at any rate."
>Pause
>"Wait, seven?"
-
>"Alisaie has at least some knowledge of contacting other planes, no? If there is an answer to the problem that lies in conventional magic, she might be a good one to ask. I'm sure she'd be willing to help us if she could, at any rate."
>Pause
>"Wait, seven?"
>"Possibly. But from what I know, she seems to be more of a good mage than an evil one. By that I mean, she uses more... Light-type magic than the dark of her sister. And the place we're trying to reach is about as dark as it gets. All the same, it is worth asking her about."
>She smiles. "Yes, seven. It turns out that recruiting Minoriko here had a side effect. When she got her ring, I became aware of Archer."
-
>"Oh, really? Just like that?"
-
>"Oh, really? Just like that?"
>"Basically, yes. Well, to be exact, I sensed Minoriko getting her ring first, then I became aware of Archer. The gap between the two was pretty small, though."
-
>I don't suppose that we picked up anything new in the bargain, did we?
-
>I don't suppose that we picked up anything new in the bargain, did we?
>Other than a new ally? Not that you can sense at this time.
-
>No matter. It's not like we were anticipating anything, anyway.
>Smile
>"At this rate, you fill an entire party on your own."
-
>No matter. It's not like we were anticipating anything, anyway.
>Smile
>"At this rate, you fill an entire party on your own."
>This seems to be Reisen's unique magical girl property. Annoyingly.
>Nitori barks out a laugh. "Party? Hell, conjure up a tank and a couple healers, and she's a whole raid!"
>Reisen grins, then her face settles into a solemn look. "I promise not to be a loot hog." she says quite seriously.
-
>Okay, that one deserves a good laugh
>"I stand relieved."
-
>Okay, that one deserves a good laugh
>"I stand relieved."
>Reisen can properly crack wise when she wants to.
>Between her laughs, Nitori manages to ask you, "Well, you can give 'er the next bow that drops, right, boss?"
-
>To Reisen, with a grin: "It's all yours."
-
>To Reisen, with a grin: "It's all yours."
>"Much obliged." Reisen replies in the same deadpan tone she used before, though she cracks a grin after it.
>Once Nitori has finished chortling, so she doesn't have to compete with the Kappa for volume, Minoriko says to Reisen, "There's something that puzzles me about that. You said you gained the Archer ability once I got my ring. But my power doesn't have anything to do with bows or archery. I'm not sure I see the connection."
>"Neither do I." Reisen admits. "It doesn't make a lot of sense to me, either. If I was going to gain a projectile-using Spectrum- that's what my various forms are called, by the way- I would have expected Gunner rather than Archer. I've been trained to use firearms, but I've never held a bow in my life. And none of the girls of our group have any sort of musical-themed powers, and yet I have a Minstrel Spectrum." She shrugs. "It's a mystery to me."
-
>"You don't feel that your powers are reflective of yourself in the way that, say, Lily's are?"
-
>"You don't feel that your powers are reflective of yourself in the way that, say, Lily's are?"
>Reisen considers that for a moment. "I sort of have an idea on that, but I'm not confidant about it yet."
>"In my life, I've had to be very adaptable. I've found myself in situations where I had to adjust and learn, and quickly, or suffer for it. As a result, I've become a very versatile individual. If my power is reflective of anything about me, I think it's an expression of that adaptability. I don't have the kind of defensive power that Lily does, or fly as well as she can. I don't have the kind of raw power that you do, Byakuren, and my fire powers aren't as great as yours, Rin. But I can adapt to changing situations on the fly better than any of us, in terms of the powers and abilities I can bring to bear. Except maybe Kiku, her magic gives her an edge none of us have."
-
>"That sounds like a reasonable theory - and certainly better than any I could offer at the moment."
-
>"That sounds like a reasonable theory - and certainly better than any I could offer at the moment."
>"Why I acquired a new Spectrum when Minoriko got her ring, that I have no idea. Maybe Archer is meant to be a compliment to her powers, but I doubt it. Minstrel and Dancer don't really compliment anyone's powers."
>"For that matter, if there's a connection between the number of rings that exist and my Spectrums, that doesn't explain why I have seven, not six."
-
>"Well, perhaps we'll find out if we pick up a seventh member down the road."
>"Paging Aunn. Paging Aunn."
-
>"Well, perhaps we'll find out if we pick up a seventh member down the road."
>"Paging Aunn. Paging Aunn."
>"Maybe it's a sign that you're one step ahead of everyone." Rin suggests helpfully.
>Reisen smiles faintly, a gesture with no warmth. "I'd settle for being one step ahead of our enemies. Still, it's a nice thought."
>That's the one with the knife, right?
-
>"Speaking of being one step ahead of our enemies, does anyone else have any other suggestions to make about useful things we could be doing before the next crisis strikes?"
-
>"Speaking of being one step ahead of our enemies, does anyone else have any other suggestions to make about useful things we could be doing before the next crisis strikes?"
>"Training?" Reisen suggests.
-
>"It's a thought. Did you have anything in mind?"
-
>"It's a thought. Did you have anything in mind?"
>"You mean a regimen?"
-
>"Well, or even just a specific activity, I suppose."
-
>"Well, or even just a specific activity, I suppose."
>"Off the top of my head? Coordination. As powerful as Motormaster was, we had him badly outnumbered. I think we could have beaten him with less damage taken if we'd been able to coordinate our actions more than we did."
>"Plus, you haven't seen all of my Spectrums, so you don't know all of what I can do. And Minoriko just joined us, so if we can avoid just dropping her into combat without giving her a chance to test her powers, we should. We've gotten by so far doing just that, but that probably means we've been as lucky as we've been good. We need to be more familiar with each other on the battlefield, learn how to predict each other. Except for Rin." she adds with a lighter tone. "I think we all know how she'll act on the battlefield."
-
>"What you say makes sense, of course. In fact, it might be particularly relevant given that our powers seem so much stronger when used in tandem."
-
>"What you say makes sense, of course. In fact, it might be particularly relevant given that our powers seem so much stronger when used in tandem."
>Reisen nods her agreement. "I think we'd be well served to determine just how much stronger we are in those circumstances. And, for that matter, if we all share the ability to combine powers in combat. We know I can merge mine with the rest of you for some things, but not necessarily with attack techniques. Or how Minoriko's powers will meld with ours."
>"We just need a location to work in. Somewhere where magical energies are common enough that we wouldn't draw attention to ourselves. Or someplace shielded, for the same reason. That Oubliette spell could create a location for us, but I think setting one of those up is too much a drain on power."
-
>"Well, Haruka did invite us to train with them. I know those plans got somewhat derailed by the issue with Satori, but they may still have a suitable space for it that they use themselves."
-
>"Well, Haruka did invite us to train with them. I know those plans got somewhat derailed by the issue with Satori, but they may still have a suitable space for it that they use themselves."
>"She did? Hm. Must have slipped my mind. I suppose they would have a space for this sort of thing, wouldn't they?"
-
>"I would assume as much, given that it isn't even publicly known that they have these powers still."
-
>"I would assume as much, given that it isn't even publicly known that they have these powers still."
>"It is now." says Nitori. "After that fight at the shrine and the one at the Knowledge's place, people know about 'em now."
-
>"'Wasn't', I guess I should have said. And if they kept it hidden this long, then they must have some places where they can practice without drawing attention."
-
>"'Wasn't', I guess I should have said. And if they kept it hidden this long, then they must have some places where they can practice without drawing attention."
>"Stands to reason."
>"You mean the Haruka from the Red Fire Bird shrine, yes?" Minoriko asks.
>Rin nods. "We mentioned her before, didn't we?"
>"I thought you had, but I wasn't completely sure. Well then, perhaps we should contact her?"
-
>"Yes, perhaps we should."
>Let's see if anyone else has anything to say before we assume that means 'Now'
-
>"Yes, perhaps we should."
>Let's see if anyone else has anything to say before we assume that means 'Now'
>In fact, Minoriko does. "Um, how exactly do we contact people outside our group? Without revealing our identities."
-
>Produce our snazzy new cell phone
>"Behold: the Lotusphone."
>Pause for effect
>"I bought it for the express purpose of having a phone number I can give to people as Lotus, without it being connected to me. Also, being able to check a map while out and about is sometimes handy for 'work'."
-
>Produce our snazzy new cell phone
>"Behold: the Lotusphone."
>Pause for effect
>"I bought it for the express purpose of having a phone number I can give to people as Lotus, without it being connected to me. Also, being able to check a map while out and about is sometimes handy for 'work'."
>Nitori provides the applause. Always good to have a shill in the audience.
>Minoriko smiles. "Yes, I imagine it would be."
>"Disposable phone might've worked better, y'know." says Nitori. "High tech ones like that are easier to track."
-
>"If government agents are somehow intent on tracking down my location by hacking my phone, then I expect they were already bound to find me one way or the other. Certainly Haruka isn't."
-
>"If government agents are somehow intent on tracking down my location by hacking my phone, then I expect they were already bound to find me one way or the other. Certainly Haruka isn't."
>"That's what she WANTS you to think."
-
>"Well, I think you're being paranoid. Besides, I cannot imagine harm would come to us, even if Haruka did know who we are. Covertly repelling supernatural threats is a large part of her job as well."
-
>"Well, I think you're being paranoid. Besides, I cannot imagine harm would come to us, even if Haruka did know who we are. Covertly repelling supernatural threats is a large part of her job as well."
>"You're probably right. Can't help it, though, I'm a Kappa. Wings always make me edgy. Built into me."
-
>It's hard to imagine Lily making anyone edgy
>"In any event, I can give her a call on this and try to see if we can arrange something for later. That is, if no one has anything else they want to talk about first?"
-
>It's hard to imagine Lily making anyone edgy
>"In any event, I can give her a call on this and try to see if we can arrange something for later. That is, if no one has anything else they want to talk about first?"
>Perhaps that one is an exception?
>"Nah, go on, gives me a chance to finish feeding." Nitori says. None of the other girls reply with an affirmative.
-
>"Fair enough."
>Let's go find a work number on Haruka (or the closest we can manage at her shrine) and give it a ring on the Lotusphone
>Though, uh... probably we should transform first, just in case our voice as Lotus sounds different to outsiders than our normal voice
-
>"Fair enough."
>Let's go find a work number on Haruka (or the closest we can manage at her shrine) and give it a ring on the Lotusphone
>Though, uh... probably we should transform first, just in case our voice as Lotus sounds different to outsiders than our normal voice
>Checking through your phonebook app on your Lotusphone, you do not find the Haruka of the shrine listed. There is a Haruka Sawashiro listed, but the address doesn't match that of the shrine, so you assume it is a different woman.
>So after transforming, you dial up the main number listed for the Phoenix Shrine, as it is known amongst your classmates. On the third ring, an elderly female voice replies, "Thank you for calling the shrine of the Red Fire Bird, how may I help you today?"
-
>"Could I speak with Haruka Sawashiro, please?"
-
>"Could I speak with Haruka Sawashiro, please?"
>"Just a moment now, dear, I'll see if she's free."
>The 'hold' music that comes onto the line is cut from a different bolt than the usual stuff. The Fire Temple uses a drum and bell with a piano playing counterpoint, providing backup to a chorus chanting in a language you don't understand. It's actually quite soothing, and you find yourself starting to enjoy right about when the music clicks off. "Sawashiro." says the slightly distorted voice of Haruka. It sounds like she's using an old model cell or cordless.
-
>"Ah, hello there. This is Lotus."
-
>"Ah, hello there. This is Lotus."
>"Well this is a surprise. I didn't think I'd be hearing from you so soon."
-
>"It's been a hectic few days, but there's no crisis unfolding at the moment, at least."
>"I imagine things must have been very hectic for you as well."
-
>"It's been a hectic few days, but there's no crisis unfolding at the moment, at least."
>"I imagine things must have been very hectic for you as well."
>"Yes. But luckily, I've managed to avoid pitched battles with Blackbloods so far. How did you ever get mixed up with them?"
-
>"I learned that one of them harbored an entity within them similar to the one that had taken hold of Satori. We went to deal with it. I'm curious how much you've heard about what happened."
-
>"I learned that one of them harbored an entity within them similar to the one that had taken hold of Satori. We went to deal with it. I'm curious how much you've heard about what happened."
>"Not a great deal for certain. We know that you and your group engaged a gang of Blackbloods. We know that you defeated their leader, the one called Motormaster, but no one seems to know what happened to the others. A miko from the Turtle shrine spotted a woman driving one of the motorcycles belonging to the gang, but there's been no sign of the driver himself. Did they escape you?"
-
>"The, um... the Blackbloods are no longer Blackbloods."
-
>"The, um... the Blackbloods are no longer Blackbloods."
>Haruka pauses briefly, then asks, "I beg your pardon?"
-
>"They are no longer linked to the abyss. We... freed them of that. I suppose you could think of it a little like purifying youma."
-
>"They are no longer linked to the abyss. We... freed them of that. I suppose you could think of it a little like purifying youma."
>The eagle youkai pauses again, longer this time. "Perhaps it's the connection, but I'm not certain I'm hearing you correctly. Perhaps this is a matter best discussed in person?"
-
>"If you'd like. I was actually calling to see if your earlier offer for us to train with you still stood - or if matters at the shrines were too disrupted by recent events. A space here to practice our arts without drawing public attention would undoubtedly be helpful."
-
>"If you'd like. I was actually calling to see if your earlier offer for us to train with you still stood - or if matters at the shrines were too disrupted by recent events. A space here to practice our arts without drawing public attention would undoubtedly be helpful."
>"We would welcome you here, Lotus. Especially after your encounter with the Blackbloods. I don't know how much you know about them, but we have information on what they are and what they are capable of. And you haven't seen the last of them, I can almost guarantee you that." she adds, and though her tone is neutral, there is an ominous sensation that accompanies it.
-
>"Sadly, I suspect you're right. In any case, how does this afternoon work for you?"
-
>"Sadly, I suspect you're right. In any case, how does this afternoon work for you?"
>"Quite well. It will give me time to contact an acquaintance of mine, someone who provides some unique assistance now and again."
-
>"Very well; this afternoon, then."
>Assuming she has nothing else to say, let's sign off and relay anything that the others mightn't have already overheard
-
>"Very well; this afternoon, then."
>Assuming she has nothing else to say, let's sign off and relay anything that the others mightn't have already overheard
>She does, in fact. "Do you have any kind of special requirements I should know about?"
-
>"Nothing comes to mind at the moment."
-
>"Nothing comes to mind at the moment."
>"Very well, then I will expect you around noon? On second thought, closer to 1 might be better, that will give my girls a chance to have some lunch."
-
>"That sounds fine."
-
>"That sounds fine."
>"I would suggest avoiding any Blackbloods along the way this time." she adds in a wry voice.
-
>Lightly: "If I spot a person in distress, I make no promises."
-
>Lightly: "If I spot a person in distress, I make no promises."
>You hear a sound that you assume is a soft laugh. "To no one's surprise."
-
>"Thanks again, Haruka. I'll see you later today."
>Hang up and relay the conversation to our friends
-
>"Thanks again, Haruka. I'll see you later today."
>Hang up and relay the conversation to our friends
>"I look forward to it."
>"1 o'clock? Good." says Reisen as you put away your Lotusphonetm "That'll give me time to drive by the Knowledge Manor."
>"Why would you wanna go back there?" Rin asks, puzzled.
>"Just because the Water Champion told us Patchouli wouldn't go back there doesn't mean for certain that she won't. I want to see for myself if everything's still okay over there."
-
>"Understandable. I haven't sensed any disturbances of that magnitude, but I won't argue with being thorough. Though make sure to contact us at even the slightest sign of things being amiss, alright?"
-
>"Understandable. I haven't sensed any disturbances of that magnitude, but I won't argue with being thorough. Though make sure to contact us at even the slightest sign of things being amiss, alright?"
>"We know they can be subtle when they want to be. It's possible that Water or Patchy has sewn a nasty in or around the manor. If they have, Caster should be able to ferret them out. And of course, I'll let you know what, if anything, I find."
>"Shame you don't have a thief or ninja." Nitori remarks. "Then you could slip in anywhere easy."
>Reisen offers the kappa a dry smile. "I suppose I'll have to do the best I can."
>Nitori offers you a grin. "Maybe she'd get lucky and get out of those forms if you recruited someONE ELSE....?" she suggests to you with great exaggeration.
-
>Deliberately oblivious: "I suppose that might be a possibility, yes."
-
>Deliberately oblivious: "I suppose that might be a possibility, yes."
>"Well? Fork it over!"
>Reisen chuckles dryly at Nitori. "No one can ever doubt your persistance, Nitori." she remarks as she stands. "With your permission, Lotus, I'll be on my way. The sooner I finish at the Knowledges', the more time I'll have to check on something else."
-
>"Go ahead. We'll see you later today, then."
-
>"Go ahead. We'll see you later today, then."
>Reisen nods and departs.
-
>After she's gone: "In the meantime, I think we should go check on Motormaster."
>"It occurs to me now that they won't have eaten anything since yesterday afternoon."
>Smile at Minoriko: "I don't suppose there's any breakfast left to take to them?"
-
>After she's gone: "In the meantime, I think we should go check on Motormaster."
>"It occurs to me now that they won't have eaten anything since yesterday afternoon."
>Smile at Minoriko: "I don't suppose there's any breakfast left to take to them?"
>Minoriko looks first the the empty dishes in front of Nitori, then back to the kitchen. After a moment's though, she says, "If you can wait a few minutes, I'm certain I can put something together."
-
>"It doesn't need to be anything fancy, but I think it's the least we can do for our prisoner - whether they're repentant or not."
-
>"It doesn't need to be anything fancy, but I think it's the least we can do for our prisoner - whether they're repentant or not."
>"Oh, I agree." Minoriko stands up and heads for the kitchen. "Just give me a few minutes, and I can have some riceballs ready."
-
>"Of course. Thank you."
>Let's wait for those riceballs
-
>"Of course. Thank you."
>Let's wait for those riceballs
>True to her word, it takes Minoriko less than ten minutes to prepare a platter of a onigiri and a small thermos of green tea.
>"Bet that was pretty high on your list of things you'd never thought you'd do, eh, Minoriko?" Nitori asks as the older woman finishes up. "'Make lunch for a captive evil biker jailed in a magic bubble.'"
>"That list gets bigger every day." remarks Rin.
-
>"Agreed."
>"Do you want to come with us, Minoriko? You certainly don't have to, if you're not comfortable with it."
-
>"Agreed."
>"Do you want to come with us, Minoriko? You certainly don't have to, if you're not comfortable with it."
>"Are you certain you won't need me?" she asks.
>"We pulled Moto's fangs." Rin assures her. "He's no threat to us. And if he gets ornery, well, dat's what she got me for." she says proudly.
>"Well, if you're sure?"
-
>"I'm sure. Whether to come or stay is entirely up to you."
-
>"I'm sure. Whether to come or stay is entirely up to you."
>"Then, if you don't mind, I'll stay here."
-
>"We shall see you shortly, then."
>If there doesn't seem to be any other immediate business here, let's suit up and go pay Motormaster a visit
>And don't forget the food
-
>"We shall see you shortly, then."
>If there doesn't seem to be any other immediate business here, let's suit up and go pay Motormaster a visit
>And don't forget the food
>Minoriko nods. "Good luck."
>Nitori grins in anticipation of the sight ahead. "This oughta be good."
>Joining hands with Rin, the two of you turn your focus towards Motormaster's bike key and travel down the corridor of light to their cell. The journey is shorter than the one you made to Louise, and less profound overall, perhaps due to the lack of energy you had to expend to make this one. When you emerge into your pocket dimension, you find yourself in a white and green walled corridor leading off in both directions, but with only one door in sight. When you made this Oubliette, you recreated one of the rooms from the Dragon Palace hotel, reputed to be the best of hotel rooms in the city. You also recreated the corridor outside so you could knock on Motormaster's door, rather than simply materializing in front of them. They might not have their power, but they also might not be happy to see you. Even though you brought room service.
>Your knock upon the door to Motormaster's room returns no reply.
-
>Knock again, more firmly, and wait a bit
>And if this also gets no reply, say "I've brought you something to eat."
-
>Knock again, more firmly, and wait a bit
>And if this also gets no reply, say "I've brought you something to eat."
>There is stil no reply from within.
-
>Then let's gently open the door anyway
-
>Then let's gently open the door anyway
>You push the door open and peer into Motormaster's room. The thing that catches your eye first, though, is the big window on the far wall. From what you know of this hotel, that window is supposed to open up onto the city, affording a wonderful look down at Mayoiga. But there is nothing beyond that window. Just a grey void. You know your Oubliette didn't replicate the world outside, obviously, but it should have at least replicated the view. But either it hasn't, or somehow the room has changed, yielding that empty expanse beyond.
>Motormaster himself sits on the room's bed next to the window, his body turned away from you. He has stripped himself to the waist, wearing nothing but his black jeans, and you can see that, at least for the moment, his body is that of a male. His biker's leathers and other clothes lie piled in a corner of the room. He does not visibly react to your entrance.
-
>How could the room have changed after we made it? Do we sense anything wrong with the oubliette?
>Motormaster does at least seem to be conscious, right?
>Approach somewhat and lay the food down on an end table or something
>Gently: "How are you feeling?"
-
>How could the room have changed after we made it? Do we sense anything wrong with the oubliette?
>There is something different about this part of the Oubliette. The magic composing it has somehow been altered. It hasn't been weakened at all, and a quick scan of the walls of the Oubliette reveal that it's still as strong as ever. It's just this room. And you can't attribute the alteration to anything you or your friends have done, there's no sense of their magical signature. It had to have been caused by Motormaster himself, although how this is possible you don't know. He has no magic, at least nothing you can sense, and another quick scan reveals no sign of the splinter having regrown.
>Motormaster does at least seem to be conscious, right?
>Approach somewhat and lay the food down on an end table or something
>Gently: "How are you feeling?"
>He does.
>Placing the food down on the long table on the west wall, you move to stand next to Motormaster, and are struck by his eyes. They are a deep, rich shade of purple, but right now there is a hollowness to them that you can't imagine is natural. His gaze is empty, unfocused. He simply stares out of that window into nothing with the most lifeless eyes you've ever seen. Were it not for the very faint rise and fall of his chest to indicate his shallow breathing, you'd swear he was dead. Even his black hair seems somehow lifeless, hanging down across his shoulders. He doesn't so much as twitch when you address him.
-
>Can we sense anything wrong with him supernaturally? If not, scan harder.
>And if even that finds nothing: "What's wrong?"
-
>Can we sense anything wrong with him supernaturally? If not, scan harder.
>And if even that finds nothing: "What's wrong?"
>On the one hand, you sense nothing out of the ordinary about him at all. On the other hand, you can barely sense him at all. The sensation you get from him is barely half as strong as you get from an ordinary person. It's like only being able to sense half a person. And what you can sense has a hollowness about it. It is an unsettling sensation. It is almost as though half his soul has been torn away, and the wound is still barely scabbed over.
>The biker's unfocused eyes continue to stare ahead. He does not turn to acknowledge you.
-
>Is it possible that the splinter we excised from him was... sustaining him somehow?
>Gently touch him
-
>Is it possible that the splinter we excised from him was... sustaining him somehow?
>Gently touch him
>You're not sure about 'sustaining', but certainly 'augmenting'. The splinter may not have simply been wound throughout Motormaster's body, but their soul as well. His corruption ran much, much deeper than Satori's. It wouldn't surprise you if Motormaster was compromised in ways Satori wasn't. Satori lost a foreign body that had polluted her mind and body. Motormaster may have lost something far more.
>The biker's pale skin is cold, so cold, to the touch. He still doesn't speak, but his lifeless eyes do at last blink, albeit very slowly.
-
>Do we... think there's anything we can do for him?
-
>Do we... think there's anything we can do for him?
>Hard to say. This isn't quite like anything you've ever dealt with before. Every person you've removed the evil from has either been a case of turning them back to normal or, in the case of the Blackbloods, replacing their connection with that evil abyss with something else. Motormaster's case is unique. Getting him to communicate would be a start, if he's even capable of that right now. He DID just blink, for the first time since you came in. It's possible that could be a sign of recognition, though you'd prefer something more than that.
-
>Keep our hand firmly on him
>"Motormaster. Can you hear me?"
-
>Keep our hand firmly on him
>"Motormaster. Can you hear me?"
>The dark haired man blinks again, and his head shifts listlessly. Something close to recognition passes all too briefly through his lifeless eyes.
-
>We still have his motorcycle keys with us, right?
>Show them to him
>"Do you recognize these?"
-
>We still have his motorcycle keys with us, right?
>Show them to him
>"Do you recognize these?"
>You do.
>For a moment, Motormaster's eyes seem to focus on his motorcycle keys you hang before his face, but they unfocus almost as quickly. Then his shoulders and neck stiffen a touch, and he seems to force himself to focus his eyes, not on his bike keys, but on you. "You...." he breathes, the world barely audible even at this range.
-
>"Yes?"
-
>"Yes?"
>"You.... You did this?" Motormaster manages to ask, each word an obvious struggle.
-
>"I... am not sure why you are like this, I'm afraid. Nothing we did should have harmed you. We just removed the corruption that was living inside you."
-
>"I... am not sure why you are like this, I'm afraid. Nothing we did should have harmed you. We just removed the corruption that was living inside you."
>As you speak, life returns to Motormaster's eyes, and his gaze focuses. For a moment your spirits lift, as this is a sign of progress, but this bright moment is quickly shattered when a fierce snarl emerges from Motormaster's throat and the biker's face becomes a mask of murderous rage. "YOU DID THIS!" he screams, and locks his hands around your throat. He starts to scream something else, but Rin is there before he gets half a syllable out. Her blow takes Motormaster from the bed, sprawling him face-first on the floor.
-
>"I only want to help you! Whatever that creature did to you, we can find a way to fix it."
>Hopefully....
-
>"I only want to help you! Whatever that creature did to you, we can find a way to fix it."
>Hopefully....
>"The pain...." Motormaster mutters, his hand pressed to his cheek where Rin slugged him. "Haven't felt... You gave me pain." He flops over onto his back, and you can see the trickle of blood coming from his mouth where Rin punched him. "You made me weak, you took my power from me. My other half, my soul. My life. Is that why you're here?" he demands, his anger returning. "Wanted to gloat over killing me?"
-
>"That blackness, that embodiment of death that had taken root in you... you truly consider that yourself?"
-
>"That blackness, that embodiment of death that had taken root in you... you truly consider that yourself?"
>Abruptly, Motormaster sags, he murderous energy all leaving his body at once. "That voice..." he starts, his voice little more than a whisper again. "Was with me all my life. Now it's... so quiet. Empty. You took it away..."
-
>"Your whole life?"
-
>"Your whole life?"
>"And now I'm... empty inside... Because of you." he snarls, anger blossoming on his face again. He starts to come back to his feet, but one look at Rin keeps him where he is.
>"You'll lose teeth next time." she promises the angry biker.
-
>"If you are empty, it is only because that entity was devouring you from the inside out. It was never you - only something using you as its vessel."
-
>"If you are empty, it is only because that entity was devouring you from the inside out. It was never you - only something using you as its vessel."
>"Using me? Sure. And I used it. It gave me what I needed, I gave it what it needed." Motormaster smiles for the first time, a disturbingly satisfied smile considering what he's talking about. "I was full. And strong. Unbeatable." The smile fades. "Unbeatable..."
-
>"You enjoyed the havoc you wrought with this power?"
-
>"You enjoyed the havoc you wrought with this power?"
>Motormaster's eyes drift away from you, not the in emotionless way they did before, but like a man in thought. "Havoc...? No. No, not havoc. Havoc meant we weren't in control. Havoc meant something was happening we didn't want. And we were always in control. Always in control. Always told me..." His head drops back to the floor. "I can't... Why can't... You took it away..."
-
>"Did you truly believe you were a Blackblood?"
-
>"Did you truly believe you were a Blackblood?"
>"We kept it secret that way. It could be that. And only Blackbloods knew better, but none of them could call us on it. We were too strong. Too strong for everyone."
-
>"You caused harm to a lot of people."
-
>"You caused harm to a lot of people."
>"What's your point?" he answers in that same dull voice.
-
>"Do you not have any remorse for your actions?"
-
>"Do you not have any remorse for your actions?"
>"I don't feel remorse." Motormaster rolls slightly, pulling himself back upright. "I don't feel much of anything right now. I used to. I used to be able to feel things that no human could imagine. Right now, I should be feeling angry. Should be more pissed than I've ever been." Anger does seep into his voice, but it only lasts for half a sentence, and his body sags again. "It won't stay. Can't hold the feeling. Can't even stay angry at you, and you're the one that killed me."
-
>"Much of the emotions you felt before might never have come from you in the first place, but from it. But you're still there. Maybe you've never known what it's like to be your own person, but you're still there."
-
>"Much of the emotions you felt before might never have come from you in the first place, but from it. But you're still there. Maybe you've never known what it's like to be your own person, but you're still there."
>Motormaster manages to scowl. "And what am I now? Before you, I was one of the most feared man on two continents. The Blood were afraid of me. Now I'm... This." He droops again, flopping back down to the floor with a hollow thump. "Why didn't you just kill me? I'd rather be dead than be this."
-
>"I'm sure it must sound absurd from your perspective at the moment, but I had hoped we were saving you."
-
>"I'm sure it must sound absurd from your perspective at the moment, but I had hoped we were saving you."
>For a moment, Motormaster is silent, and then he sighs out a "Thanks." You think he may have been trying to be sarcastic, but the emotion wouldn't come.
-
>"And the creature within you was a threat to everyone around you. We couldn't ignore that."
-
>"And the creature within you was a threat to everyone around you. We couldn't ignore that."
>"So it's gone now. And I'm just the shit that was left over." Motormaster growls bitterly. "You gonna kill me too? Well do it already. You'd be doing me a favor."
-
>"I still would like to help you, if I can. You're more than the refuse of that entity. You're a human being who was denied ever having a life of their own and I think that's a tragedy."
-
>"I still would like to help you, if I can. You're more than the refuse of that entity. You're a human being who was denied ever having a life of their own and I think that's a tragedy."
>"I'm not human." Motormaster says listlessly. "I'm a youkai. Just a youkai now."
-
>"I'm sure it'll take time, but you may find there are things you can experience as a youkai that were never possible with that creature entwined around your consciousness. Good things."
-
>"I'm sure it'll take time, but you may find there are things you can experience as a youkai that were never possible with that creature entwined around your consciousness. Good things."
>"What good is experience when you're empty?" Motormaster says, rolling over to face away from you. "Empty and alone. I can't even stay angry, or feel hate or pleasure or pain like I did. Hate... it loved me for my hate..."
-
>"Your hate and not its own?"
-
>"Your hate and not its own?"
>"My hate. Its hate. Our hate... All gone now..."
-
>Smile tentatively
>"Maybe in time you'll find something else to replace it?"
-
>Smile tentatively
>"Maybe in time you'll find something else to replace it?"
>That makes the biker roll over and return his gaze to you. He seems... almost hopeful. "There's another one like mine?"
-
>"I... I don't know, to be honest. It's possible."
>To Rin: I certainly hope not, mind you.
-
>"I... I don't know, to be honest. It's possible."
>To Rin: I certainly hope not, mind you.
>Other than Scatterclaw's? Rin asks. That corpse girl said Scatterclaw had a splinter like Motormaster here did.
>For a moment, a hopeful smile creases Motormaster's face. The expression doesn't look quite right on his countenance. And it lasts for only a few breaths before the emotion leaves him. "What does it matter? Wouldn't be mine. Wouldn't fill the void... You took mine away. And you won't give it back. It's gone..."
-
>I guess that's true. I meant more 'on the loose', I suppose. If she's to be believed, then Scatterclaw's is safely contained - or whatever passes for safe where he's concerned.
>"Not sharing your soul with another being doesn't mean one has to be lonely. It doesn't mean one has to be alone. I'm sure that must be hard to accept at this point, but that might change in time."
>Indicate the food we brought with us
>"I don't know if you heard us the first time, but we brought you something to eat."
-
>I guess that's true. I meant more 'on the loose', I suppose. If she's to be believed, then Scatterclaw's is safely contained - or whatever passes for safe where he's concerned.
>"Not sharing your soul with another being doesn't mean one has to be lonely. It doesn't mean one has to be alone. I'm sure that must be hard to accept at this point, but that might change in time."
>Indicate the food we brought with us
>"I don't know if you heard us the first time, but we brought you something to eat."
>Motormaster's head rolls over. "Food... I used to like to eat."
-
>"Well, it's all yours. And if you wanted anything in particular, I could try to get it for you."
-
>"Well, it's all yours. And if you wanted anything in particular, I could try to get it for you."
>"I want my soul back."
-
>"Is that how you truly look about that creature? Your 'soul'?"
-
>"Is that how you truly look about that creature? Your 'soul'?"
>"That's what it feels like." With an obvious struggle, Motormaster hauls himself back to his feet. He turns towards the window and turns his lifeless stare out into that grey expanse once more. "My heart. My soul. My... self, my other half. I was born with it. I should have died with it. Why couldn't I have died with it? Died whole?"
-
>Of all the possible outcomes with Motormaster I'd been preparing for, this was not among them. What does one even say to that? Did I only bring him suffering by having Reisen spare him?
-
>Of all the possible outcomes with Motormaster I'd been preparing for, this was not among them. What does one even say to that? Did I only bring him suffering by having Reisen spare him?
>Rin takes a moment before she answers. You changed him, Mistress. Changed his life. You- WE- took something away from him that he'd had all his life. Even if it was bad, it was something precious to him. But we know what that splinter was. We know what it does to people. Whatever he is now, however he's suffering now, he's not tied together with that evil anymore. And nobody said his suffering's gonna be forever. He's only had a day to adjust. Took me more than a day to adjust having you as my mistresss not Konngara, and that was less radical a change than what Motormaster's going through. He needs time. Rin looks at the damaged biker. Right now, I don't know if there's anything we can do for him. At least he can't hurt himself here, or anyone else. I don't know how long we should keep him here, but at least he's safe. Alone, but, safe.
-
>Isn't 'alone' the last thing he needs right now? Not that any of our presences would be a comfort, I suppose....
-
>Isn't 'alone' the last thing he needs right now? Not that any of our presences would be a comfort, I suppose....
>Whose presence would be? Rin counters. Even his gang wasn't friends with him, and they probably wouldn't want to see him anyway. His parents, maybe?
-
>"Do you have any family?"
-
>"Do you have any family?"
>Your question appears to surprise Motormaster. "What?"
-
>"I asked if you had any family. Parents, siblings, that sort of thing."
-
>"I asked if you had any family. Parents, siblings, that sort of thing."
>"Nobody's... asked about my family since... Ever." he concedes after some thought. "Probably too afraid to." The biker rests his hand against the window. "My old man's dead." he says, and you can hear a hint of old anger through his listless tone. "Should've killed him myself, but I never had the chance. Bastard ran out on my mother when I was... Real young, I remember that much. Old enough to remember. Not old enough to do anything about it. Not strong enough yet. Should've been, but he told me to be patient. Patience, patience, time yields power, it told me..."
-
>"And your mother?"
-
>"And your mother?"
>"Last time I saw her, she was being institutionalized."
>What's that word mean? Rin asks.
-
>Placed in a mental hospital, most likely.
>"How long ago was this?"
-
>Placed in a mental hospital, most likely.
>"How long ago was this?"
>A crazy house?
>"Years. Lotta years." Motormaster falls silent for a moment, then continues, "I wasn't old enough to drive, I remember. Didn't stop me, but I got arrested for it." A quiet sigh escapes the biker's lips. "More than once. Cops hated me. I hated them. Hated my mother, her voices made her weak. Mine made me strong. But I'm weak now, too... Like her..."
-
>That's a rather... unkind way to put it, but I guess you're on the right track.
>"A person's worth is not measured by their ability to enforce their will upon the world."
-
>That's a rather... unkind way to put it, but I guess you're on the right track.
>"A person's worth is not measured by their ability to enforce their will upon the world."
>Now I remember, folks call those things asylums too, right?
>"That's easy for you to say." Motormaster snaps, glaring at you, finally finding his anger. "You two are the ones with the power now."
-
>That's a bit of a dated term, too, but yes.
>"A power that is as much a responsibility as it is a privilege and one I would relinquish in an instant if that would safeguard the people of this city better than me having it."
>"It's true that the destructive potential you wielded was enormous, but I have known those with far less strength of body than you have right now who've nonetheless done more to make the world a better place than those with 10 times their power - teachers, doctors, quiet souls who've nonetheless stood up for their friends and their convictions. That is strength and it is not diminished an inch because you or anyone else could overpower them by force. Force for its own sake has never made anyone better than anyone else, nor has a lack of it made them worse and force is the only kind of strength you've lost."
>Smile tentatively
>"I bet you can still race a mean bike."
-
>That's a bit of a dated term, too, but yes.
>"A power that is as much a responsibility as it is a privilege and one I would relinquish in an instant if that would safeguard the people of this city better than me having it."
>"It's true that the destructive potential you wielded was enormous, but I have known those with far less strength of body than you have right now who've nonetheless done more to make the world a better place than those with 10 times their power - teachers, doctors, quiet souls who've nonetheless stood up for their friends and their convictions. That is strength and it is not diminished an inch because you or anyone else could overpower them by force. Force for its own sake has never made anyone better than anyone else, nor has a lack of it made them worse and force is the only kind of strength you've lost."
>Smile tentatively
>"I bet you can still race a mean bike."
>"We'll never know." Motormaster says acidly. "You took my bike from me, too."
-
>"I have no intention of keeping it from you. It would be wasted on me anyway."
-
>"I have no intention of keeping it from you. It would be wasted on me anyway."
>"Be wasted here, too." Motormaster replies, the energy leaving his voice. "Don't even know if I can drive anymore..."
-
>"I don't see why you couldn't. It's not something you need magic for and your skills are still your own."
-
>"I don't see why you couldn't. It's not something you need magic for and your skills are still your own."
>"Are they? I'm not even half what I was."
-
>"You still have all those years of experience and that's how anyone gets good at anything in the first place. If it feels different at first, I'm sure it's only a matter of finding your stride again."
-
>"You still have all those years of experience and that's how anyone gets good at anything in the first place. If it feels different at first, I'm sure it's only a matter of finding your stride again."
>"What does it matter? I'll never be whole again. Never feel like I did. I never knew how empty people really were..."
-
>"In time, you may find the rest of you grows to fill the gap inside you. I have never felt empty within my own mind, nor do I imagine have most people. And before you say we cannot know because we have not experienced what you have, there is another person who was bonded to a being much like the one that was inside you and she is more than grateful to be free of it now. I know it seems different to you. If that being has been inside you since you were born, some part of your sense of self may have been... stunted by it. But that doesn't mean that it cannot heal, now that it is gone. You might surprise yourself."
-
>"In time, you may find the rest of you grows to fill the gap inside you. I have never felt empty within my own mind, nor do I imagine have most people. And before you say we cannot know because we have not experienced what you have, there is another person who was bonded to a being much like the one that was inside you and she is more than grateful to be free of it now. I know it seems different to you. If that being has been inside you since you were born, some part of your sense of self may have been... stunted by it. But that doesn't mean that it cannot heal, now that it is gone. You might surprise yourself."
>"This other person... What happened to her?"
-
>"After we drove the entity out of her?"
-
>"After we drove the entity out of her?"
>"And the entity itself. Where did it go?"
-
>"She was shaken and disoriented at first, and then greatly disturbed by the memory of all the things she'd done under the being's influence. But she's feeling quite a bit better now and greatly relieved that her mind is fully her own once more - and this is after living with it for decades."
>"As for the entity itself... I hope it is well and truly destroyed."
-
>"She was shaken and disoriented at first, and then greatly disturbed by the memory of all the things she'd done under the being's influence. But she's feeling quite a bit better now and greatly relieved that her mind is fully her own once more - and this is after living with it for decades."
>"As for the entity itself... I hope it is well and truly destroyed."
>"I should have known. You destroyed mine, no reason to think you didn't do the same to hers."
-
>"Others would be dead if we had not. And the victim of this being would still be trapped in a mind that was no longer entirely hers."
-
>"Others would be dead if we had not. And the victim of this being would still be trapped in a mind that was no longer entirely hers."
>Motormaster's head slowly twists around. "There's a difference between her and me. You said she'd lived with her other half for decades. But that's not her whole life, right? She wasn't born with it like I was?"
-
>"She wasn't, it's true. But this means that she had lived life both ways and still chose this one. I know it might be hard for you to fathom why, right now, but if some part of your independent self was never allowed to grow while that thing was inside you, you may be no better equipped to judge what this life could be like than someone whose legs were crippled from birth could judge what it's like to walk, just from their first weak and trembling steps. Time heals many wounds."
-
>"She wasn't, it's true. But this means that she had lived life both ways and still chose this one. I know it might be hard for you to fathom why, right now, but if some part of your independent self was never allowed to grow while that thing was inside you, you may be no better equipped to judge what this life could be like than someone whose legs were crippled from birth could judge what it's like to walk, just from their first weak and trembling steps. Time heals many wounds."
>"So I guess I should get used to this view. Since I won't be going anywhere."
-
>"That isn't necessarily true, either."
>"If we let you go now, what do you suppose you'd do?"
-
>"That isn't necessarily true, either."
>"If we let you go now, what do you suppose you'd do?"
>"Find my bike."
-
>"And after that?"
-
>"And after that?"
>"See if I can still ride."
-
>"Perhaps I should have clarified that I meant longer-term. How much allure does your prior lifestyle still hold for you - riding aside?"
-
>"Perhaps I should have clarified that I meant longer-term. How much allure does your prior lifestyle still hold for you - riding aside?"
>To your surprise, Motormaster laughs. "'Say the right thing, get out of jail now.' That right?" he sneers. "I've played this game before. But save me some time here. What the magic word, what do you wanna hear?"
-
>"The truth."
-
>"The truth."
>The contemptive look on Motormaster's face worsens for a moment, then it fades and his head sags, his emotions leaving him again. "What does it matter?"
-
>"It matters because I still want to help you, whether you believe it or not. But I'm not prepared to risk you doing harm to anyone, either."
-
>"It matters because I still want to help you, whether you believe it or not. But I'm not prepared to risk you doing harm to anyone, either."
>"Harm?" The word explodes out of Motormaster. "How am I supposed to harm anyone like this? I'd be lucky to step on a butterfly now. Better odds of someone putting me down than me managing to bruise someone else. And there's a long line of people who'd do it, too. I was hated almost as much as I hated."
-
>"You already tried to strangle me. You may have lost your supernatural strength, but even an ordinary human is more than capable of harming others should they wish to."
-
>"You already tried to strangle me. You may have lost your supernatural strength, but even an ordinary human is more than capable of harming others should they wish to."
>"And look how good I was at it." Motormaster remarks with more than a little sarcasm. "You probably wouldn't have even needed your bodyguard there. Maybe I should try taking candy from babies, that might actually work." The self-pity in his voice is palpable.
-
>"I am not worried about you harming me. But did you ever restrict your violent impulses only to people strong enough to defend themselves?"
-
>"I am not worried about you harming me. But did you ever restrict your violent impulses only to people strong enough to defend themselves?"
>"Nobody was strong enough to defend themselves against me. Nobody... And now...." He manages to sigh. "Now I... am less than half a man. Harm somone? I couldn't harm myself right now..."
-
>"It may take some time for me to be convinced of that. But in the meantime, how'd you like to take your bike out for a spin tonight? I could arrange for it."
>We'll keep a short leash on him, of course. I'm just hoping that maybe if he connects to something he once enjoyed that maybe... maybe it would help somehow.
-
>"It may take some time for me to be convinced of that. But in the meantime, how'd you like to take your bike out for a spin tonight? I could arrange for it."
>We'll keep a short leash on him, of course. I'm just hoping that maybe if he connects to something he once enjoyed that maybe... maybe it would help somehow.
>We better not tell Reisen, though. I doubt she'd be happy about it.
-
>She... she wasn't right, was she? To want to kill him instead of leaving him like this? I... thought I was saving him....
-
>She... she wasn't right, was she? To want to kill him instead of leaving him like this? I... thought I was saving him....
>I don't know that you didn't. Byakuren, who knows what that thing did to him. Satori had it bad, but Motormaster had it worse. He's never really been alive until now, if you think of it like that. He's got a brand new life ahead of him, and that's hard. Even if your old life was a bad one, leaving it behind is hard. Believe me, I know. He's hurt, badly, but he's not broken. If he was, he wouldn't keep getting mad at you.
>And on that note, she adds, more hesitantly, I have had another idea, about how we could help him. Or, where we could find some help for him.
>"Why?" Motormaster asks.
-
>And what's that?
>"Because it's something that mattered a lot to you and I thought it might help you feel a little more... yourself, to do something familiar. Something that felt good."
-
>And what's that?
>"Because it's something that mattered a lot to you and I thought it might help you feel a little more... yourself, to do something familiar. Something that felt good."
>Are there asylums in Mayoiga?
-
>Presumably yes, right?
>If so, say as much
-
>Presumably yes, right?
>If so, say as much
>One that you know of. No wait, two, though you're only peripherally aware of the other. The one you're most familiar with is Berkeley Manor, which, you're pretty sure, deals with ordinary folks with debilitating mental problems. The other, whose name you don't know, specializes in the criminally insane.
>Well, maybe one of them is the best place for Motormaster right now. Rin suggests.
-
>You may well be right. If he is to heal at all, it will take a great deal of time and patience, and... there are so many other things that only we can do. I will look into it.
-
>You may well be right. If he is to heal at all, it will take a great deal of time and patience, and... there are so many other things that only we can do. I will look into it.
>Maybe no one else could've saved Motormaster from that splinter. But maybe that's all we can do for him. Maybe someone else has to do the rest.
>Faintly, Motormaster shrugs. "Well, why not. Nothing to lose."
-
>"Then we shall be back later this evening."
>"And I do hope you'll have some food in the meantime. I have great confidence in the chef!"
-
>"Then we shall be back later this evening."
>"And I do hope you'll have some food in the meantime. I have great confidence in the chef!"
>"Why not." says Motormaster again, listlessly moving away from the wall. Rin tenses visibly, but the tall biker simply walks between you two without so much as a twitch of his biceps. "I used to like food..."
-
>Let's give him a minute to see if he actually does start eating and then let's exit the oubliette again.
-
>Let's give him a minute to see if he actually does start eating and then let's exit the oubliette again.
>His pace is lethargic, but eventually he sits himself on the edge of one of the two beds in the room, selects a rice ball, and takes a small bite out of it. His motions are mechanical, nearly devoid of life, but he is eating. You suppose that's better than nothing, at least. Still feeling very conflicted about this whole affair, you decide to leave the damaged biker alone for the moment.
>As you reach for the door of his room, though, you hear him say, "Wait."
-
>"Yes?"
-
>"Yes?"
>"Probably doesn't matter...." Motormaster closes his eyes, his emotions starting to fade, but for the first time he seems to visibly fight this sensation. After a moment, he opens his eyes again. "But I gotta know. Only two women have ever known the truth of me. Of us, what I really am. Was. Of my other half. How did you know?"
-
>"We were contacted by a... well, I guess you could call her something like a ghost. She told us you were inhabited by an entity like the one we'd just fought a few nights before. I... do not actually know who she is or how she came by this information herself. I don't suppose you might?"
-
>"We were contacted by a... well, I guess you could call her something like a ghost. She told us you were inhabited by an entity like the one we'd just fought a few nights before. I... do not actually know who she is or how she came by this information herself. I don't suppose you might?"
>"A ghost? I don't know. Maybe it was the ghost of the other woman. She might have followed me here from Pommenville."
>"She's someone you killed?" Rin asks.
>"I didn't kill her. I should have..." Motormaster asks, lowering his head. "I should have. He told me too. But I didn't. Another dementia caster killed her."
-
>"Someone you knew?"
-
>"Someone you knew?"
>He nods.
-
>"What happened? If... that's not too personal, of course."
-
>"What happened? If... that's not too personal, of course."
>"I told you. She was killed by another dementia caster." he sighs out. "That's what she was. That's how she knew what I was. Took a broken mind to see my two minds. Now she'd probably see right through me."
-
>"You said there was someone else who knew?"
-
>"You said there was someone else who knew?"
>"You and her. And I guess your little friends that helped you kill me." Motormaster puncuates his sentence with another bite of riceball.
-
>"I... see."
>Pause
>"Well, I guess I'll leave you to your riceballs and I shall be back again this evening."
>Exit!
-
>"I... see."
>Pause
>"Well, I guess I'll leave you to your riceballs and I shall be back again this evening."
>Exit!
>Motormaster manages a quiet grunt but doesn't stop you this time, allowing you and Rin to leave. Before you return to reality, though, you walk a few paces from Motormaster's door and lean heavily against the wall. As you told Rin, the state you found Motormaster in was definately the last one you'd ever think would happen. You've always used your powers for good, to help people, but to see him like that, and to know that, despite your intentions, it was your doing, was not an easy thing. Death was not the answer to his situation, you truly believe that, but it takes you a moment to collect yourself before those words stop sounding as hollow as they were minutes ago.
>Hand in hand with Rin, you return to the realm of the real, emerging back in Minoriko's apartment. Nitori is no longer present, leaving only Minoriko, who is currently drying some dishes.
-
>Let's drop our Lotus form and then share a quiet hug with Rin. We could use a warm shoulder to lean on for a little bit.
-
>Let's drop our Lotus form and then share a quiet hug with Rin. We could use a warm shoulder to lean on for a little bit.
>Rin has enough time to follow your example and return to her civilian form before you embrace her. The kasha doesn't say anything, merely offering you all the warmth and comfort that her arms can pack into one hug.
>You can sense Minoriko's concern even without turning to look at her, but, ever thoughtful, she gives you and Rin an uninterrupted moment before she asks, "Is everything all right?"
-
>"Motormaster is... damaged. Psychologically. He... he said that what we did to him was worse than if we'd killed him. That he wished we had."
-
>"Motormaster is... damaged. Psychologically. He... he said that what we did to him was worse than if we'd killed him. That he wished we had."
>Minoriko takes a moment to absorb that, then she asks, "Because you took his powers away?"
-
>"It seems that entity had been living inside him since the day he was born. He regards it as another part of himself - one that we ripped away from him. He seemed barely even aware of his surroundings when we walked in."
-
>"It seems that entity had been living inside him since the day he was born. He regards it as another part of himself - one that we ripped away from him. He seemed barely even aware of his surroundings when we walked in."
>"In that case, it's no great surprise that he feels the way he feels." Minoriko looks over at you, her eyes full of wisdom and compassion. "From his point of view, he's lost something precious, something irreplaceable. If that's true, that he carried that entity within him since he was born, in a way he's lost a twin. Maybe even something closer to a twin. His whole world is different now, suddenly a lot more threatening, and in a way a lot more empty."
-
>"I know, I know. I just... I was prepared for him to be unrepentant, but not... this."
-
>"I know, I know. I just... I was prepared for him to be unrepentant, but not... this."
>Drying her hands, Minoriko walks over to you and lays her hand gently on her shoulder. "I know."
-
>Put our hand on hers and try to smile
>"Thanks."
-
>Put our hand on hers and try to smile
>"Thanks."
>"Sometimes doing the right thing doesn't always seem like the right thing. The other person, the one on whose behalf you're acting, won't thank you right away. But in time, that can change. You can't let yourself feel too down about it yourself in the meantime, though. That's not fair to you. You were trying to help Motormaster, and whether he sees it now or not, I believe you did."
-
>"I hope so. And I don't regret my decision, given the alternatives. I just... hope he can manage to heal."
-
>"I hope so. And I don't regret my decision, given the alternatives. I just... hope he can manage to heal."
>"Hey, he's got you pullin' for him." says Rin with a smile. "That's a pretty good start if ya ask me."
-
>"I suppose we'll see."
>What time is it, anyway?
-
>"I suppose we'll see."
>What time is it, anyway?
>"I have to ask, though, did he seem all right physically?" Minoriko asks.
>Around half past 10.
-
>He did, right?
>If so, say as much
-
>He did, right?
>If so, say as much
>He did.
>"That's a good sign, too."
-
>"I know. But also... as much as I feel responsible for him, I don't know that I can take the task of guiding him towards recovery on my own shoulders. There's surely a long and difficult road ahead for him and so many more things already rest upon shoulders that cannot be neglected."
>"But I... as much as I think he may need professional psychiatric care, he also has poor associations with mental institutions. Apparently his mother was committed to one some years back and, as best I can tell, he looked down on her for that very fact."
-
>"I know. But also... as much as I feel responsible for him, I don't know that I can take the task of guiding him towards recovery on my own shoulders. There's surely a long and difficult road ahead for him and so many more things already rest upon shoulders that cannot be neglected."
>"But I... as much as I think he may need professional psychiatric care, he also has poor associations with mental institutions. Apparently his mother was committed to one some years back and, as best I can tell, he looked down on her for that very fact."
>"What other option is there?" Minoriko asks gently.
-
>"I don't know if there is one. As far as I can tell, he has no family who could take him in nor anyone else who might care about him. He... wasn't exactly the kind of person anyone could care about."
-
>"I don't know if there is one. As far as I can tell, he has no family who could take him in nor anyone else who might care about him. He... wasn't exactly the kind of person anyone could care about."
>"And even if he did, they might not be able to give him the help he needs right now. You know how much family means to me, but there are times when one ahs to go outside one's family for the help they need. Especially if one has no family available to them."
>"An' even if his mother's fixed now," Rin adds, "She's on another continent. Motormaster mentioned Pomenville, an' that's in Eagleland. That's a bit outside our range."
-
>"Well, he didn't say that's where he grew up, but I guess it's a possibility."
>"My other concern is how dangerous he might still be. Not supernaturally so, but he lived the life of a violent criminal and still has some of those impulses in him. I've wondered whether it mightn't still be best to turn him over to the police and let a criminal psychiatrist decide what's best to do with him. They, at least, would know how to handle that kind of violence. But... I worry about how guilty he truly was of the crimes he will doubtlessly be held accountable for. He's not like Satori, where I can say for sure that she wouldn't have done those things if she'd been herself. In Motormaster's case, it may be that even he doesn't know who his self is."
-
>"Well, he didn't say that's where he grew up, but I guess it's a possibility."
>"My other concern is how dangerous he might still be. Not supernaturally so, but he lived the life of a violent criminal and still has some of those impulses in him. I've wondered whether it mightn't still be best to turn him over to the police and let a criminal psychiatrist decide what's best to do with him. They, at least, would know how to handle that kind of violence. But... I worry about how guilty he truly was of the crimes he will doubtlessly be held accountable for. He's not like Satori, where I can say for sure that she wouldn't have done those things if she'd been herself. In Motormaster's case, it may be that even he doesn't know who his self is."
>"The police in this town are no strangers to supernatural events, or supernatural criminals." says Minoriko. "I have to think they have people trained to make these kinds of determinations. Motormaster may be a unique case, but I can't imagine he's so unique that no one among the police can figure out how to handle him appropriately."
-
>"Perhaps."
>"In any event, I said that I'd let him out this evening to take his motorcycle for another drive - I'd hoped that connecting with something he'd once enjoyed might help a little. Supervised, of course."
-
>"Perhaps."
>"In any event, I said that I'd let him out this evening to take his motorcycle for another drive - I'd hoped that connecting with something he'd once enjoyed might help a little. Supervised, of course."
>"Where is his bike?" Minoriko asks. "You didn't bring it back here."
>Rin answers, "We left it with Breakdown, one of his ex-followers." She winces. "And I don't think she's gonna wanna see Motormaster again."
-
>"She doesn't have to. Either she can drop the bike off or we can pick it up - wherever it is we're going to be doing this. Someplace a little out of the way seems best."
-
>"She doesn't have to. Either she can drop the bike off or we can pick it up - wherever it is we're going to be doing this. Someplace a little out of the way seems best."
>"Kick is to that, Reisen's probably the best one ta ask about some out of the way piece of road for biking."
>"Not necessarily." Minoriko says. "After all, Marissa's a biker, too."
-
>"Do you really think it's a bad idea to even mention this to Reisen?"
-
>"Do you really think it's a bad idea to even mention this to Reisen?"
>Rin is silent for a moment. "I think Motormaster is- WAS- the same kind of person that Konngara was. To slaves like Reisen and me, they're the people we fear the most. Or hate the most. I don't think helping Motormaster would make Reisen happy. It'd be kinda like asking me to help Konngara. I know, I know." she adds quickly. "Motormaster isn't the same person anymore. Not even close to it. He needs help, whatever help we can give him. But I don't think Reisen's gonna forget the old Moto easily."
-
>"No, I suppose you're right."
>Pause, then smile slightly
>"And I suppose it wouldn't do to give her something else to be distracted by if I want her to beat Drag Strip tonight and spare me having to run a motorcycle gang."
-
>"No, I suppose you're right."
>Pause, then smile slightly
>"And I suppose it wouldn't do to give her something else to be distracted by if I want her to beat Drag Strip tonight and spare me having to run a motorcycle gang."
>Rin's return smile is broader. "Kind of a shame, though. You'd probably look good in leather."
>Minoriko, though, seems confused. "I think I've missed something."
-
>"After we transformed the Stuntrons, one of them decided that I ought to become their new leader now that Motormaster was out of the picture. She was quite insistent about it and ended up challenging Reisen to a race with my leadership of their gang as the stakes if she wins."
>Grin
>"Though Reisen assures me that she won't."
-
>"After we transformed the Stuntrons, one of them decided that I ought to become their new leader now that Motormaster was out of the picture. She was quite insistent about it and ended up challenging Reisen to a race with my leadership of their gang as the stakes if she wins."
>Grin
>"Though Reisen assures me that she won't."
>Minoriko has herself a laugh. "No, 'biker chief Byakuren' just doesn't sound right."
-
>"I mean, I'm a little flattered in an odd sort of way, but I wouldn't know the first thing about how to go about running such an things - notwithstanding the fact that I can't even drive a motorcycle, which one might think would be a prerequisite."
-
>"I mean, I'm a little flattered in an odd sort of way, but I wouldn't know the first thing about how to go about running such an things - notwithstanding the fact that I can't even drive a motorcycle, which one might think would be a prerequisite."
>"Maybe dat just goes ta show how bad a boss Motormaster was." Rin suggests with a chuckle. Then she stops, looking somewhat alarmed. "Uh, no offense intended, Mistress."
-
>Laugh
>"That's quite alright. I'm not offended by the truth."
-
>Laugh
>"That's quite alright. I'm not offended by the truth."
>Minoriko makes a thoughtful noise. "If you think about it, though, you already are the leader of a group, Byakuren. Two, actually, if you consider the tennis club. Perhaps you're not as unqualified as you think?"
-
>"I'm a much better tennis player than I am a motorcyclist."
-
>"I'm a much better tennis player than I am a motorcyclist."
>"Oh I know. I wasn't trying to say that taking charge of a biker gang, even a reformed one, was a good idea, only that you might be better at it than you think you are."
-
>"Well, thanks for the vote of confidence, anyway."
>Stretch
>"Well, we've got another 2 hours or so before we need to be at the shrine. I wonder if there's any other business I should be attending to in the meantime?"
-
>"Well, thanks for the vote of confidence, anyway."
>Stretch
>"Well, we've got another 2 hours or so before we need to be at the shrine. I wonder if there's any other business I should be attending to in the meantime?"
>"Might not hurt to get in touch with Breakdown now." Rin suggests. "Give her time to get used to the idea of doing a favor for Motormaster."
-
>"Well, she was the one who volunteered to keep the bike safe in case a kinder Motormaster wanted it later. And I know he's not exactly 'kind' yet, but still."
-
>"Well, she was the one who volunteered to keep the bike safe in case a kinder Motormaster wanted it later. And I know he's not exactly 'kind' yet, but still."
>Rin nods. "I guess I forgot about that." she admits.
-
>Then let's inform our allies that weren't here about the shine appointment at 1, pass the remaining time in some light around-the-house task, and make sure we get to the shrine on time
>Assuming there's no wrinkles in any part of this plan
-
>Then let's inform our allies that weren't here about the shine appointment at 1, pass the remaining time in some light around-the-house task, and make sure we get to the shrine on time
>Assuming there's no wrinkles in any part of this plan
>Downtime between missions. That doesn't involve healing up after a fight. That's a nice thought. Not enough time to arrange a job with Aya or hang with any of your non-magical girl friends. Even though school is out, you opt for brushing up a little on your studies. You'll have to get back to real life one day, and you'd rather not fall too behind. Besides, knowing VP Mima, as soon as school starts again, she'll expect her students to have been working twice as hard while they were away from the building. So, you and Rin return to your apartment and crack open your books. Instead of your own studies, though, you spend more time helping Rin in her studies of the Yamato language and writing system. Kanji is a long way from her strong suit, but she does keep working at it.
>You leave your apartment and collect Minoriko, heading for the Fire Bird shrine with plenty of time to spare, and with a personal dog escort for a while. Hyozan takes it upon himself to walk down to the bus stop with you. It does feel a bit weird, to see him act like a normal dog knowing what he is. But on the other hand, it may seem odd to him to see you and Rin act like normal girls, knowing what you are. The thought makes you chuckle quietly. You wonder if you'll have the fortune to meet other Kindred, as Hyozan called himself. Perhaps you already have, they just hadn't revealed themselves. Makes you glad you aren't more paranoid than you are.
>The bus that admits you is rather full at this time of day, and you and your two friends are forced to stand amidst the crowd on your way to the south shrine. You don't mind this part of the journey, but there is someone nearby that, judging by the smell, hasn't acquainted his or herself with their shower in too long. Which is obviously worse for Rin. Cat's nose and all. Still, she obviously keeps her mind on her duty as she asks, While we're up at the Bird Shrine, Mistress, do ya think we ought to check their Fire?
-
>I suppose it can't hurt to swing by while we're there.
-
>I suppose it can't hurt to swing by while we're there.
>Do you suppose Haruka-san might have mentioned something about it before now? Minoriko asks. From what you've told me about her, I think she may well have told you about her flame changing color if she thought you could help.
>Or she might've solved it herself. Rin says. She's a smart woman, and strong too, Kiku told us. She makes a face. And ya never know. Our luck, some new talky spirit will pipe up while we're there and give us some more riddles.
-
>It would be nice if they would speak more plainly from time to time.
-
>It would be nice if they would speak more plainly from time to time.
>Maybe that just comes with the 'mysterious voice' package. Can't talk plain. Or they're like that corpse girl, and they talk plainer but you can't trust 'em.
-
>I'd like to know how the voice knew what it did, because it was clearly speaking about the Avatars before we even knew of their existence. If I had known what was coming earlier, then maybe....
-
>I'd like to know how the voice knew what it did, because it was clearly speaking about the Avatars before we even knew of their existence. If I had known what was coming earlier, then maybe....
>I'd suggest goin' back to the Scale shrine to talk to it again, but who knows if it'd show up again.
-
>I suppose I can put that on the to-do list as well. It's worth a try.
-
>I suppose I can put that on the to-do list as well. It's worth a try.
>Ya think so? Rin ponders. I mean, do you think there's a chance you could get a straight answer outta that thing, if it's even still there? I'd hate to go off on a wild Tengu hunt.
-
>A straight answer? No, I suspect not. But that doesn't mean it mightn't say something useful just the same.
-
>A straight answer? No, I suspect not. But that doesn't mean it mightn't say something useful just the same.
>Wild Tengu hunt? Minoriko asks Rin. I haven't heard that one before.
>It's something the Oni say back in Eire. The kasha frowns. That ain't a bad phrase here, is it?
-
>Are there any tengu one could rightly call 'wild' around here?
>Well, I probably wouldn't say it around a tengu, at any rate.
-
>Are there any tengu one could rightly call 'wild' around here?
>Well, I probably wouldn't say it around a tengu, at any rate.
>That depends on which definition of 'wild' we're talking about.
>Rin nods solemnly. Understood.
-
>Onward to the shrine
-
>Onward to the shrine
>Lessons in Eire phraseology over, you settle into the journey to the southern shrine. It's not the most comfortable bus transit you've ever had, but until the rail transit system in this city is completed, that's just a fact of life. But apart from the crowd, and the malodorous individual standing too close to you, the journey is uneventful. There are some of your schoolmates on the bus, you can tell from sight and sound of voice, but none of them seem to notice you. Bit of an event in and of itself.
>Like the other shrines, the Bird Shrine is located on a hill, and the bus stop to this one leaves you a little more walking to do than the Tiger Shrine. The activity in the sky above you leaves little doubt as to where you are. Mayoiga always has at least a few individuals flitting around the sky, but nowhere are they found in greater numbers or concentration around the Fire Bird shrine. It wouldn't surprise you to learn that this has caused some consternation to low-flying aircraft in and out of the airport. The woodlands around here are a bit thinner than that around the other three shrines, and the sounds of birds are much louder here. It's a nice place, but the sound is a bit marred by what sounds like a piece of heavy equipment in operation from the direction of the shrine.
>Your group is among the eight individuals that disembark the bus at this stop, and straightaway you begin looking around for a suitable place for you and your group to transform. You are here on business, after all. But what grabs your attention almost immediately is the brief flash of magical energy you detect from only a handful of feet behind you.
-
>Can we tell what it's coming from?
-
>Can we tell what it's coming from?
>It was very brief, and your senses in your human guise are not as sharp as they are in Lotus form. Although, you think they're a bit sharper than they were yesterday. However, you see enough to form a theory. There are two people currently standing behind you, where you felt that flash come from. One man and one woman, and around the woman's neck is a pendant set with a brilliant jewel, evidently a sapphire. This one is remarkable because it looks eerily similar to the Sapphire Jewel Hyozan bore. And from the familiarity of the flash, you believe the woman is Blood.
-
>Does she just seem to be going about her innocuous business, as far as we can tell?
-
>Does she just seem to be going about her innocuous business, as far as we can tell?
>It's... slightly hard to tell. The woman has a somewhat wary look on her scarred face, the sort of look one wears when they're expecting an unwelcome surprise. On the other hand, her Jewel no longer seems to be active, which presumably it would be if she was expecting some of trouble requiring magic to deal with.
-
>Well, let's keep our mystic senses peeled in case something changes and go find somewhere cloistered to transform
-
>Well, let's keep our mystic senses peeled in case something changes and go find somewhere cloistered to transform
>Tuning your sensors up a notch, you return to the task at hand. You sense a field of power from farther ahead, most likely some activity at the shrine, or perhaps simply the sensation of the building itself. It doesn't appear to be anything to be concerned about. And the Blood woman, a Tengu by the size and shape of her wings, does not activate her Jewel again as you troop towards the stairs leading up to the shrine. The forested area around here is not walled off, like it is around the Tiger shrine, and is most likely the easiest place to get away from prying eyes. Barring the occasional Divine ghost, of course.
>So the three of you head into the woods, trying to look casual about it, leaving the other temple-goers behind you. The thinner, less dense trees require you to trek farther into the woods to ensure some privacy. A trek less pleasant than usual, thanks to the buildup of snow on the ground. Rin takes the opportunity to change to her cat form, which handles the snow much more easily than you and Minoriko in your boots.
>You have to wait until the air above you is clear as well, as there is no leaf canopy to shield you. But eventually, after your mystic senses, and Rin's superior natural senses, tell you that the area is clear, you and your group transform into your Magical forms.
-
>Let's go track down Haruka, then
-
>Let's go track down Haruka, then
>With your new clothes on, you and your colleagues head back to the road, which now appears to be clear, and resume course for the stairs leading up to the shrine, like a proper visitor should.
>The stairway leading up to the Fire Bird Shrine has at least one addition the other shrines don't. At the foot of the stairs, leaning against the torii gate, are a pair of rather firmly built shrine maidens. They are there to help the elderly and disabled individuals make their way up to the shrine, either by offering assistance or sometimes by outright carrying them. As obviously none of your group require this assistance, the two women merely give you a friendly nod as you start your climb.
>The front yard of the Bird shrine is a hot bed of activity, a rather large number of people standing, milling, talking, and nearly as many doing the same thing in the air. This is despite the fact that a section of the yard has been cordoned off with safety cones and yellow tape, and a small gang of workers are hard at work replacing a section of damaged concrete.
>For all the winged beings present, none of them are Haruka, so you make for the entrance to the shrine. Given your recent status in the news, you find yourself slightly surprised that no one points you out or calls out to you, at least not as far as you can notice. And this is true right up until you hear the familiar voice of Lily White call out, "Ya-hoo, Lotus!" from the sky above you. The lively little blonde, also in her magical girl form, swoops in from the air. "Just getting here?"
-
>"That's right. You as well?"
-
>"That's right. You as well?"
>Lily shakes her head. "Been here 'bout ten minutes now." Lily smiles one of her big smiles. "I love this place! It feels like spring here all the time!"
>"Even on a day like today?" Minoriko asks lightly, glancing up at the snowy skies overhead.
>The weather does nothing to visibly dampen Lily's spirits. "Even on a day like today! Part of the magic of this place!"
-
>Does it feel like spring to us in any way here?
>Lily's taking our newest addition rather in stride, given that we never mentioned Minoriko to her. ...or did we?
>"Have you seen Chrysanthemum here yet?"
-
>Does it feel like spring to us in any way here?
>Lily's taking our newest addition rather in stride, given that we never mentioned Minoriko to her. ...or did we?
>"Have you seen Chrysanthemum here yet?"
>Not even in the slightest. In fact, it feels very much like the cold, snowy winter afternoon that it is. Perhaps there is something about this place that winged beings are uniquely sensitive to. Certainly none of the ones around seem to be suffering visibly in the cold, not even the two fairies that now seem to be following Lily's course down towards you. In fact, the only individual wearing winter clothes at all is a grey-haired elderly tengu miko who is harraunging the construction crew working on that concrete slab. One of them, a long-legged fellow with a slack jaw and bewildered look, is trying to settle her down, but the poor fellow is having no more luck than if he was talking to the tide.
>You did not.
>Lily shakes her head. "Haven't seen her or Poppy. Or you!" she cries happily, giving the surprised Pink Carnation a hug. "I didn't even know you were in town!"
>"I, uh... Had some holdups..." Minoriko stammers, giving you a surprised look.
-
>Smile slightly
>To Minoriko: Lily is rather... exuberant. One gets used to it.
>And on the group line: I suppose I neglected to mention our newest companion. Although... Reisen said she became aware of Minoriko joining us as soon as she got her ring. Was that true for you too, Lily?
-
>Smile slightly
>To Minoriko: Lily is rather... exuberant. One gets used to it.
>And on the group line: I suppose I neglected to mention our newest companion. Although... Reisen said she became aware of Minoriko joining us as soon as she got her ring. Was that true for you too, Lily?
>I know her by reputation, but, 'in town?' she asks privately.
>'round when was that? Lily asks.
>Around 10, I think? Minoriko replies.
>Ah, that might'a done it. I was asleep.
-
>Well, now you know!
>To Minoriko: And your guess is as good as mine. I suppose she thought it some sort of cover story?
-
>Well, now you know!
>To Minoriko: And your guess is as good as mine. I suppose she thought it some sort of cover story?
>And knowing is half the battle!
>I suppose I should have asked if our group had one at all. Minoriko admits.
-
>To be honest, I've never been very specific with one. I suspect a few people know full well that we're keeping something private, but they've been polite enough not to inquire. I've not implied that this is any sort of secret identity. I think the most reasonable impression is that we're from elsewhere - or at least have been lying low until matters have boiled over of late.
-
>To be honest, I've never been very specific with one. I suspect a few people know full well that we're keeping something private, but they've been polite enough not to inquire. I've not implied that this is any sort of secret identity. I think the most reasonable impression is that we're from elsewhere - or at least have been lying low until matters have boiled over of late.
>Lotta that goin' around. Rin remarks.
>It's probably best to keep any such story simple, as well. Minoriko adds. Just in case anyone eventually does ask.
>Someone like Hatate. says Rin. Ya know she will, she ever gets the chance. As if the thought might have summoned the inquisitive Tengu, Rin scans the skies quickly.
-
>I have no doubt.
>Let's go see about tracking down Haruka. The others can catch up when they get here.
-
>I have no doubt.
>Let's go see about tracking down Haruka. The others can catch up when they get here.
>With Lily added to your party, the four of you work your way towards the Red shrine, the tallest of the four shrines of Mayoiga. Despite Lily's exuberant greeting, you draw no attention as you pick your way through the crowd. Or at least, no one flags you down before you manage to make it to the front door, where within you find a much less active area, but with at least one more prestegious figure present. The head of the shrine, Youmu Konpaku, is standing in the entry chamber, with another miko standing at her right, this one with baby-blue wings and eyes to match. The two are talking to the same tengu woman you sensed use her Jewel just after she got off the bus behind you.
>As you enter the room, you catch Youmu's attention, and the half-ghost cuts herself off from what she was about to say to the Tengu. "Magical Lotus?" she calls to you.
-
>"Yes?"
-
>"Yes?"
>"We were expecting you yesterday. And it's a shame you weren't here. You and your friends could probably have handled the problem we had before it got out of control."
-
>"Yes, I heard about that. I do hope no one was seriously hurt?"
-
>"Yes, I heard about that. I do hope no one was seriously hurt?"
>Youmu shakes her head. "Fortunately the damage was limited mostly to the temple itself. You may have noticed we haven't quite finished repairs yet."
>"Goes to show how strong your people are, Youmu." the scarred tengu says to her in a gruff, slightly accented voice. "Rogue demtiaist only manages to peel some paint off the walls, you've got a damn good crew. And you," she adds, turning to face you and your friends. "You fought the Stunts and manged to keep the fight contained to a graveyard. That's no small potatoes either."
-
>"We do our best."
-
>"We do our best."
>The woman snorts. "Your 'best' and mine are obviously real different." she remarks sarcastically.
>Youmu clears her throat. "I realize you're not the most polite of your group, Cynthia, but I'll ask you not to speak that way to guests of the shrine."
>The scarred tengu makes an irritated, dismissive noise and moves off away from the two mikos, towards the east exit of the room.
>"That's Cynthia Walker." Youmu informs you. "She's here for the same reason you are." Her tone is mild and controlled, but the blue-winged miko next to her looks to be quietly fuming at the tengu's attitude.
-
>"Oh?"
-
>"Oh?"
>"Haruka and I thought, after your experience with the Blood, it would be a good idea to call in an expert on the subject to help our training."
>"You mean she's a Blackblood?" Lily blurts out, stunned.
>"Good heavens, no!" Youmu replies firmly. "But she IS Blood. Brightblood. I don't invite Blackbloods to our shrine."
>"But we could still kick her out." the blue-winged miko offers, with more than a little enthusiasm for the idea.
-
>"Certainly, we'd appreciate any insights she might offer."
-
>"Certainly, we'd appreciate any insights she might offer."
>"Great." the junior miko says, and sprints off after Cynthia.
>"Hold it!" Youmu calls after her, and the winged miko stops in her tracks. "I don't think that's what she meant. Yes?" she asks you.
-
>Chuckle slightly
>"I'm certainly not about to ask you to kick someone out of your own shrine. I can handle 'abrasive'."
-
>Chuckle slightly
>"I'm certainly not about to ask you to kick someone out of your own shrine. I can handle 'abrasive'."
>"Well you shouldn't have to." the miko declares. "Not after you beat that Avatar."
-
>"Courtesy is always appreciated, of course, but I do not feel as though I'm owed any because of what we've done. We are all still equal as people, after all."
-
>"Courtesy is always appreciated, of course, but I do not feel as though I'm owed any because of what we've done. We are all still equal as people, after all."
>"Well, I owe you, at least."
>Youmu explains, "You may have been told that the Avatar of Water fought one of our mikos before she fought you. Mirai is her sister."
>"And you beat up the enemy that hurt my sister." Mirai says gratefully.
-
>"I hope she wasn't too badly injured?"
-
>"I hope she wasn't too badly injured?"
>"Fortunately no." Youmu replies. "She seemed to think the Avatar was less interested in hurting her than just getting her out of the way. The Avatar's power caught her by surprise."
>"She'll be fine in a few days." Mirai adds. "And I'm sure she'd want me to thank you, too." she says, bowing her head politely.
-
>"I'm just glad to hear she's alright."
-
>"I'm just glad to hear she's alright."
>"I don't suppose you have any idea where the Avatar went?" Youmu asks. "We haven't found a trace of her or her Champion since the battle at the Knowledge's Manor."
-
>"I've no idea either, I'm afraid."
-
>"I've no idea either, I'm afraid."
>"They're very good at hiding, aren't they?" Youmu gripes.
>"They've had to be, from what we've been told." White Rose says quietly.
-
>"I can sense them from a great distance if they act openly, but their ability to remain concealed otherwise seems quite high. On the plus side, I suspect they won't be able to act upon the city in any large way without immediately attracting our notice."
-
>"I can sense them from a great distance if they act openly, but their ability to remain concealed otherwise seems quite high. On the plus side, I suspect they won't be able to act upon the city in any large way without immediately attracting our notice."
>Youmu nods, but still appears to be bothered by something. "That is something. But truth be told, Lotus-san, it bothers me that threats with that kind of power are in my city and I can't find them. These are the kind of threats that I, that we," she adds with a look at Mirai, "train to defeat. And then these Champions come along, and really we're no closer to solving the problem than we were a week ago."
>"We know where the Fire Champion is." Minoriko offers.
>"I don't think we do." Youmu counters. "The other three Champions, and their Avatars, can hide themselves so well and yet that one can't? I can't imagine it's not a trap." A more cautious sentiment than you might have expected. In school, anyway, Youmu comes across as being very direct, very forthright. Not the type to be overly cautious.
-
>"I'm not certain it's a trap, so much as a challenge. Although given that Ice managed to conceal her presence until the very moment she attacked us at the school the other day, I suppose it could a little of both. Certainly, with their Avatars now in play, I'd be wary of waltzing in the front door and expecting to prevail."
-
>"I'm not certain it's a trap, so much as a challenge. Although given that Ice managed to conceal her presence until the very moment she attacked us at the school the other day, I suppose it could a little of both. Certainly, with their Avatars now in play, I'd be wary of waltzing in the front door and expecting to prevail."
>"The Ice Champion doesn't have her Avatar does, does she?"
-
>"I'm afraid she does. And while Fire's Avatar has not yet reached Mayoiga, they've already made contact with each other, so I suspect it's only a matter of time."
-
>"I'm afraid she does. And while Fire's Avatar has not yet reached Mayoiga, they've already made contact with each other, so I suspect it's only a matter of time."
>Youmu's face hardens. "That changes things. We should talk with Haruka. We may need to adjust our plans."
-
>"Yes."
-
>"Yes."
>She gestures towards the east exit. "If you'll follow me, please?"
-
>"Of course."
>Let's follow along
-
>"Of course."
>Let's follow along
>With the two shrine maidens leading the way, the six of you head through the east exit, then turn left after a few feet down that corridor, walking down a fairly long flight of stairs. You note the winged miko's face creases uncomfortably for a moment, but it passes, with some effort on her part. The stairs lead you to a high-ceilinged corridor lined with rich wood, paper lanterns dot the wall at regular intervals, but the corridors' current illumination comes from the windows near the top of the walls. Stained glass windows admit multi-hued light, though the orange-yellow tint streaming through each window hits at an unnatural light source.
>"How beautiful." Minoriko remarks.
>"The people who built the Fire Shrine were among the most talented of the shrine builders." Youmu explains. "Those born with the gift of flight tend to feel uncomfortable being underground, but of course, sooner or later everyone has cause to go below the surface, as we are now. This corridor, and others like it, were built with veins of quartz running through the walls, to refract sunlight down below the surface. It's a touch of the sky below ground. The stained glass was the idea of the previous Elder. She had a talent for aesthetics." She pauses then, seeming to consider something, then pauses and looks back at you. "Magical Lotus, may I have a brief word with you, alone?"
-
>"Of course."
>Let's follow along to wherever she wants to have this private word
-
>"Of course."
>Let's follow along to wherever she wants to have this private word
>She actually doesn't go anywhere. She lets Mirai and your comrades go on ahead, towards a large wooden double door at the end of the corridor. Rin is the last one through of course, you and she exchanging a quick look before your devoted protector leaves you alone with the Bird Shrine elder.
>The short-haired woman gives you a solemn look. "Thank you. First of all, I want to say that I realize you are concealing your true name. I understand that, and I respect your privacy. Haruka trusts you, and that goes a long way with me. But now that I've seen you in person, there's something I have to ask. You don't have to answer, and I don't mean to intrude upon your privacy. But if you don't mind, I feel the need to ask a personal question."
-
>"Go ahead."
-
>"Go ahead."
>Youmu takes another look up and down the corridor, ensuring there's no one in hearing range, and asks, "Are you Byakuren Hijiri?"
-
>Try not to gawk
>"What would lead you to think that?"
-
>Try not to gawk
>"What would lead you to think that?"
>THAT came out of nowhere. But you reasure yourself with the thought that, since she's asking, she isn't sure. Your idendity hasn't been compromised. Yet.
>"A number of reasons, actually. Most of all, I am a half-ghost. That means my senses aren't quite the same as a normal person's. It's difficult to explain, but I have a feeling of familiarity that other races don't. The sensation of one's presence registers with me in ways it doesn't with others. And you 'feel' very much like one of my school mates, Byakuren Hijiri."
-
>"And if I said yes?"
-
>"And if I said yes?"
>That question seems to surprise Youmu, but she thinks about it for a moment and replies, "Then I'd be curious how you managed to hide the power you have. I am, after all, trained to detect supernatural phenomenon, and that includes beings of power such as yourself."
-
>"The powers we wield are unusual. I do not know if there is anyone else who wields something similar."
-
>"The powers we wield are unusual. I do not know if there is anyone else who wields something similar."
>"Apart from your fellows, of course."
-
>"Yes, I meant us collectively."
-
>"Yes, I meant us collectively."
>"Power is still power, unusual or otherwise. If you are Byakuren, then either you have ways of hiding your power that I'm not aware of, your powers are only detectable when they're is use, like the Blood, or you've only recently acquired this power."
-
>Pause
>"I assume I can trust your discretion in this matter?"
-
>Pause
>"I assume I can trust your discretion in this matter?"
>Youmu nods sincerely. "I'm not in the habit of giving away other people's secrets. And I don't want you to think I'm pressuring you into telling me something I don't need to know. My concern is the security of this city and the people living in it. If you are Byakuren, and you've had this power all your life, then I don't need to know. But if you've only recently discovered this power, though some item or being of power, then I do need to know. Such power could have fallen into hands less worthy than that of Byakuren Hijiri, and part of my responsibility is making sure such a thing does not happen."
-
>"In that aim, we are in full agreement."
>Pause again, then sigh slightly
>Then do a little mystic sweep of the area to satisfy ourselves that no one else might be observing, and assuming not:
>"I cannot in good conscience lie to you, Youmu. You are correct. I am Byakuren."
-
>"In that aim, we are in full agreement."
>Pause again, then sigh slightly
>Then do a little mystic sweep of the area to satisfy ourselves that no one else might be observing, and assuming not:
>"I cannot in good conscience lie to you, Youmu. You are correct. I am Byakuren."
>There are some individuals you think you might be able to directly lie to, or evade the blunt truth. But for some reason, Youmu Konpaku does not appear to be one of those people. She's a forthright, honest girl. And she's kept the shrine's secrets for as long as she's been Elder, and as you've seen, they hid a pretty big secret. Perhaps she can be trusted with this one.
>After making quite sure there's no one in earshot, and no mystic art spying on you, you come clean. To her credit, Youmu does not gasp or shout, or do anything to betray your revelation. She nods, thoughtfully. "Whatever charm you're using is effective. Haruka knows you, and she had no idea who Lotus was. Nor does Kiku, and she knows Byakuren as well, and her sensing ability is nearly as good as Haruka's. Better, actually, in some ways. But how did you keep this secret from Kaenbyou-san?"
-
>"I didn't. Or rather, I didn't for very long. You were correct about this power being a recent development. It was certainly not something I had been keeping secret all the time we've known each other. But recent events have thrust a great deal of responsibility upon me and I've done my best to navigate them."
-
>"I didn't. Or rather, I didn't for very long. You were correct about this power being a recent development. It was certainly not something I had been keeping secret all the time we've known each other. But recent events have thrust a great deal of responsibility upon me and I've done my best to navigate them."
>Youmu gives you a friendly smile. "From what we know, you've defeated three or more Youma without destroying the objects or beings that were corrupted, you've delayed the plans of alien invaders, you've stopped the rampage of a super-powered mage without any loss of life, you helped purge the corruption within these very temples, and you took half a dozen Blackbloods and removed the evil from them without killing them. If you ask me, you've done a good job."
-
>"Thank you. I just hope it continues to be strength enough for the battles that are surely still to come; I know we have not yet seen the worst the Champions are capable of."
-
>"Thank you. I just hope it continues to be strength enough for the battles that are surely still to come; I know we have not yet seen the worst the Champions are capable of."
>"Is there any chance that someone else might acquire power like you have? Someone who might not be as righteous an individual?"
-
>"I... suppose I cannot truly say. I do not even fully understand where these powers came from, myself. I gained them after contact with an avatar of the barrier that isolates Makai, as it saw in me a way to combat the beings it had been created to contain, but it claims that this power had resided within me in the first place and that contact merely drew it out. Whether such a thing might be true for someone less scrupulous, I do not know."
>"But I do know that the Champions are able to empower people of their choosing with rings of power that bear at least a little similarity to our own. The Dementia caster who attacked your shrine was wearing one such ring, created by the Champion of Air."
-
>"I... suppose I cannot truly say. I do not even fully understand where these powers came from, myself. I gained them after contact with an avatar of the barrier that isolates Makai, as it saw in me a way to combat the beings it had been created to contain, but it claims that this power had resided within me in the first place and that contact merely drew it out. Whether such a thing might be true for someone less scrupulous, I do not know."
>"But I do know that the Champions are able to empower people of their choosing with rings of power that bear at least a little similarity to our own. The Dementia caster who attacked your shrine was wearing one such ring, created by the Champion of Air."
>"Yes, we know. We've been operating under the assumption that there's a limit of how many such rings each Champion can create. Otherwise, we'd be seeing a lot more of them. Do you have any idea what that limit might be?"
-
>"I"m afraid not. I've never run into more than one belonging to a single Champion at a time, but I'd hardly assume this is their limit."
-
>"I"m afraid not. I've never run into more than one belonging to a single Champion at a time, but I'd hardly assume this is their limit."
>"Actually, Haruka has a theory about that, but I should probably let her explain that. What I need to know if there's a way to sense these rings before they're active. The Dementiaist that attacked us was able to conceal his ring's power until he drew upon it."
-
>"I was able to sense one without its wielder using it, but it was at extremely close range. I am not confident I would have been able to do so from much further away."
-
>"I was able to sense one without its wielder using it, but it was at extremely close range. I am not confident I would have been able to do so from much further away."
>Youmu smiles at that. "In that case, I may have an advantage. The same factor that let me sense- Just a moment." she pauses, looking back down the way you came.
>A quick scan of your own reveals the approach of Magical Poppy, as well as an unidentified Brightblood.
-
>Give her a moment
-
>Give her a moment
>A moment later, the two arrive, Poppy decked out in her Saber Spectrum. The Brightblood turns out to be a woman in the leathers of a biker. Leathers that are none too clean you note. Her long black hair is messy and unkempt, and her dull gold eyes sweep around the corridor with a distinct lack of focus.
>Poppy gives you a nod. "Lotus. And you must be Youmu Konpaku, the elder of this temple." The rabbit bows politely to the head of the temple.
>"Yer Lotus?" the Blood woman asks you, her voice colored with a hint of an accent you can't place.
-
>"I am."
-
>"I am."
>The dissheveled biker sticks out her hand. "Ioana Radu. Thanks for takin' care of the Stunts.They been a pain in this city's neck for years."
-
>Accept the handshake
>"I hope the city will be a safer place because of it."
-
>Accept the handshake
>"I hope the city will be a safer place because of it."
>It's not the cleanest handshake you've ever had, but a friendly one.
>"It'll be quieter, that's for sure. You got some mad mojo, girl." An odd compliment, but you'll take it. "So what're you doing here, hanging out with the holy birds?"
-
>"We had some things to discuss."
-
>"We had some things to discuss."
>"They are here for the same reason you are, Radu-san." says Youmu. "To assist in our training and to discuss methods of combating the evils that plague our city."
>"Man, yeu're as stiff as ever, Youmu." the biker Blood drawls laconically. "Ye gotta start mellowin out."
>"As you have said." the miko replies with just slightly strained politeness. "If you will follow me, ladies?"
>Sorry I'm late. Reisen says. Ioana met me on the roads, and we got to talking.
-
>"Of course."
>Let's follow along
>Do you know her?
-
>"Of course."
>Let's follow along
>Do you know her?
>No, I'd never met her before today. But she saw me driving up towards the shrine, and she flagged me down. Said she's never seen a Lunar Rabbit on a bike before. Hadn't seen one at all since the war. She shrugs slightly. Between me being a Lunar Rabbit, a slave and a biker, I've basically gotten used to people flagging me down for one reason or another.
>Where are the others?
-
>Rin and Lily went on ahead with another miko and a Brightblood. Youmu wanted to talk to me in private. She... she sensed my true identity, despite this form. Something to do with her ghost half and her familiarity with me.
-
>Rin and Lily went on ahead with another miko and a Brightblood. Youmu wanted to talk to me in private. She... she sensed my true identity, despite this form. Something to do with her ghost half and her familiarity with me.
>Whoa, wait a minute. Reisen starts, halting abruptly. She did what?
-
>Yes, she asked me directly 'Are you Byakuren Hijiri?' She did not seem to be completely certain, but... I could not bring myself to lie to her face. And as head miko of this shrine, she has already been in the business of keeping supernatural goings-on under wraps, so I believe she can be trusted not to spread this around. We didn't finish speaking before you showed up, though.
>I did not tell her anyone else's identity, incidentally.
-
>Yes, she asked me directly 'Are you Byakuren Hijiri?' She did not seem to be completely certain, but... I could not bring myself to lie to her face. And as head miko of this shrine, she has already been in the business of keeping supernatural goings-on under wraps, so I believe she can be trusted not to spread this around. We didn't finish speaking before you showed up, though.
>I did not tell her anyone else's identity, incidentally.
>Then all our identities could be compromised? If she could see through your glamor, she may be able to do the same to the rest of us.
-
>It's very possible, I admit. I do think it required having a fair bit of familiarity with me, though.
>How much more familiar do you think we were with each other than Youmu was with the others?
-
>How much more familiar do you think we were with each other than Youmu was with the others?
>If you had to guess, you would say that Youmu was more familiar with you than the other three she saw you with today. She's definately seen Lily and Minoriko around school, but you've never personally witnessed them interacting beyond a nod in the hallway or similar instances. She has spoken with Rin, but you think the two of them are more acquaintences than anything more. Youmu seemed to treat Rin with the same sort of politeness that she addresses just about everyone other than Yuyuko.
>It's very possible, I admit. I do think it required having a fair bit of familiarity with me, though.
>Reisen sighs and lowers her head. She seems to think for a moment, her ears drooping slightly, then straightens to look you in the eye. If you want, Mistress, I could try to get her to forget.
-
>Do you really think that's necessary here? She's an ally and accustomed to keeping things related to the supernatural threats secret.
-
>Do you really think that's necessary here? She's an ally and accustomed to keeping things related to the supernatural threats secret.
>I don't know if it's necessary. she admits. I just know you needed to know it was an option. I'm not even sure I CAN. I've never tried to hypnotize a half-ghost before. But if you wanted to ensure your secret, and for that matter our secret identities, then I will try.
-
>I'll keep it in mind for the future.
-
>I'll keep it in mind for the future.
>All right. Reaching the door, Reisen pauses again. I'm not saying I like the idea, but you're my owner now. You need to know when you have options available. I'm still a new resource for you.
>The room on the other side of the large wood double door is much larger than you were expecting, and has the appearance of an arena moreso than a dojo of some kind. It is more than a dozen fathoms across, its walls lined with benches. Spectator stands, really, enough to accomodate around a hundred people, give or take. There's only a few people in the stands right now. Most are either on the arena floor or in the air above it. But it's the tingling magic sensation that draws your attention before noting any of the people in the room with any detail. You appear to have entered into a magical barrier of some kind, one that was undetectable from the outside.
-
>What can we tell about this barrier? Is it just to conceal any power unleashed within?
-
>What can we tell about this barrier? Is it just to conceal any power unleashed within?
>That's part of it, but not the whole story. There's more to it than that. This is a very well made barrier, and fairly complex. There's something like... you're not sure the words for it, but something inherantly non-lethal about its power. Something that restrains without really restraining. There's nothing holding your power back, you're sure of that, but you suspect that when you use your power, it will be lacking some if not all of its inherant lethality. Well, yours always did, but for other people who rely on more run of the mill types of sorcery, there's only so much you can do to make fireball less lethal. Your theory is that this field not only serves to keep the mikos' magical training a secret from outsiders, but also to ensure the miko's safety while they're training. Observation of other's practice, and there are a couple of practices going on, could confirm this.
>But the former point leads to something of another mystery as well, as you're familiar enough with the miko's magic to recognize that there's more than that involved with this barrier. They had to have received help from at least one outside source, possibly more. Who that was, you can't tell.
-
>To Youmu: "This barrier... makes magic used inside it less dangerous, doesn't it?"
-
>To Youmu: "This barrier... makes magic used inside it less dangerous, doesn't it?"
>The temple head nods. "You noticed. Impressive. That's part of its purpose, yes. It gives us the ability to employ our spells and weapons to the best of our ability without worrying about inflicting serious harm upon each other. The worst one could suffer here is some exhaustion from pressing too hard or taking too much damage, and possible some damage to ones' clothes. So far as we know, it works on all forms of magic. Of course, I would prefer to try your particular kind of magic at something less than full power before making the assumption it will work as well on yours."
-
>"Of course, though my magic is typically non-lethal in the first place."
-
>"Of course, though my magic is typically non-lethal in the first place."
>"Mine isn't." says Poppy. "I might make a better test subject."
>Youmu winces. "That's a harsh way to put it."
>"Sorry. I didn't mean it that way. I just meant that since my magic can be more lethal than my leaders', I would make a better person to test this barrier, to see if it affects my power as its designed. With your permission, Lotus." she adds as the messy biker wanders off.
-
>"Of course. I trust you to be as gentle as necessary to be safe."
-
>"Of course. I trust you to be as gentle as necessary to be safe."
>"Thank you. Now, I will need someone to practice with."
>"You have one." Youmu states clearly. "Me."
>"You?" Reisen blurts before collecting herself. "Very well, if that's how you wish. Um, you said weapons as well?"
>"Yes, including your sword. But if the goal of this is to test your magic, then how will using your sword help?"
>"My sword is manifested by my magic. Like this. Saber Blade!" she calls, manifesting the sword amid a burst of light. "If this barrier works on my sword, it will work on Lotus's spells. Also, it can do this." Reisen gives Youmu little in the way of further warning before, slower than normal, points the weapon at the temple head and fires burst of light at her. The blast, carefully aimed, catches Youmu on her left forearm and she yelps in surprise.
>"Are you alright?" Reisen asks, her sword lowering.
>"It seems I am." Youmu assures her, raising her arm. The sleeve of her robe is slightly damaged, but she appears to be in no pain and has no trouble moving her arm. "I believe the barrier works on your power just as it should. Would you care to test it yourself, Lotus?"
-
>"Shoot you, you mean?"
>Assuming she says yes, let's hit her with a Scarlet Lotus - gentle at first, but if things seem okay, let's give it a little more juice
-
>"Shoot you, you mean?"
>Assuming she says yes, let's hit her with a Scarlet Lotus - gentle at first, but if things seem okay, let's give it a little more juice
>"Unless you have a weapon of some you'd rather test, like your companion here?" she asks.
-
>"This scepter is all the weapon I have."
-
>"This scepter is all the weapon I have."
>"Then unless you'd rather hit me with it, fire away."
-
>Okay, then. Let's give her a Scarlet Lotus.
-
>Okay, then. Let's give her a Scarlet Lotus.
>Having settled on your choice of attack, you point your scepter at Youmu and, as you did with Komachi days before, deploy you magic in a test against one of your allies. The shotgun like busts of red and white light that pop against the miko's body are more intense than you'd estimated, and it is now that you realize that you have experienced another jump in power level, a fairly noticable one this time. Youmu staggers backwards, seeming to have to work to stay on her feet, and you decide to arrest your fire for now rather than recalculate on the fly.
>To her credit, Youmu stayed upright. And just as you saw with Reisen's attack, the miko appears physically unharmed. There are no bruises or marks upon her skin that you can see. And you can see a fair bit more of it now that you could before. Reisen's shot put a small in her the sleeve of her robe. Your unexpectedly powerful attack did... a fair bit more damage to her outfit.
-
>How much more?
-
>How much more?
>Not total devastation, enough to cause more than a little embarassment. For instance, you now know that she isn't quite as flat as her clothes might have indicated. She's been binding her breasts. Said bindings remain intact, as do her panties, and while neither of them are fully on display, anyone looking her way will get a nice view. It IS a nice view, too.
-
>"Um. My apologies."
-
>"Um. My apologies."
>Youmu's expression fluctuates between consternation, surprise and embarrassment, before she finally settles on putting on a brave face. Which would be more effective if she wasn't blushing slightly. "That... just means the barrier is working." she says, trying very hard not to sound like she's trying very hard not to be embarrassed. "Excuse me, please." she finishes before turning and heading away from you.
>She looks just as cute going as coming.
-
>Spare a sheepish smile with Poppy, then let's go catch up with the others
-
>Spare a sheepish smile with Poppy, then let's go catch up with the others
>Reisen does not return your look right away. She seems a bit distracted by the retreating shrine maiden. Not entirely puzzling, that. But after Youmu ducks into a side room, of which there seem to be a few of in this sizable room, Reisen glances your way, the hint of a grin on her face. Until she sees the smile on your face, at which point she flushes slightly and glances down. You stifle a laugh. This could be a very interesting day indeed.
>No longer distracted by half-ghost booty, you have more chance to take in the sights of this room and the people therein. You see that Kiku is already here, in her guise as Magical Chrysanthemum, and that's a puzzler. There's no way Youmu could be less familiar with Kiku than she is with you. If she was able to sense your identity, you can't imagine her being unable to sense Kiku's. Then again if she had, Kiku probably would have warned you about Youmu's ability. The likelier option is that the two haven't met personally since Kiku began her double life. Well, triple, if you consider the magical aspect of the miko's lives to be a double life.
>Lily is presently outside your normal range, flitting through the air, evidently having a game of aerial tag with a trio of smaller shrine maidens, two of which are fairies. The other two members of your group, Pink Carnation and White Rose, are currently standing with Haruka, two other mikos, including the loud one who accompanied her to the meeting at the police station, and a rather tall man who seems vaguely familiar. As you approach the group, your memory clicks. The tall man is Kenyu Hiroichi, star firefighter here in Mayoiga. He's a local hero, just recently having been on the news for saving a group of children from a burning orphanage, leaving one of his shorter-than average horns broken and a faint scar on his forehead. As for what he's doing here, you're not sure at this point.
>"Magical Lotus." Haruka calls out to you. "Glad to see you again."
-
>"Likewise."
>Approach
-
>"Likewise."
>Approach
>"I noticed that our elder saved me needing to explain how our little barrier works." Haruka remarks wryly, promting a laugh from Kenyu and the shorter miko you're familiar with, as well as another faint flush from Poppy.
-
>"Yes, she wanted to ensure that it worked properly on our form of magic. I... may have shot her a little harder than I meant to...."
-
>"Yes, she wanted to ensure that it worked properly on our form of magic. I... may have shot her a little harder than I meant to...."
>"Better here than out on the streets, right?" says Kenyu in his big, friendly voice. "'sides, that kinda thing happens here all the time. Me myself, I call it a bonus!" he says with a grandiose smile, before laughing again.
-
>"One must go through a lot of outfits in the course of one's training here if that sort of thing is a regular occurrence."
-
>"One must go through a lot of outfits in the course of one's training here if that sort of thing is a regular occurrence."
>"We've budgeted for that." the bespectacled miko standing to Haruka's left informs you.
>"And why I'm in these old knockers." Kenyu remarks, holding out his arms and displaying his faded trousers and the small holes in his T-shirt. In fact the only two articles on his body that appear to be worth more than a couple bucks are the two rings on his hands, and the silver necklace around his neck.
-
>I suddenly feel quite fortunate that our outfits are made of magic and not polyester.
-
>I suddenly feel quite fortunate that our outfits are made of magic and not polyester.
>What if it's MAGIC polyester? Lily asks.
-
>So long as we can patch it up without needing to break out a needle and thread, I'll consider it a blessing.
-
>So long as we can patch it up without needing to break out a needle and thread, I'll consider it a blessing.
>How much damage can these outfits take? Minoriko asks, a hint of concern in her voice.
-
>Well, they haven't gotten notably damaged yet, even from the worst that's been thrown at us.
-
>Well, they haven't gotten notably damaged yet, even from the worst that's been thrown at us.
>That's good.
>"It was a concession we made when constructing the barrier." Haruka explains. "Obviously we didn't want to be incinerating each other, but we wanted there to be some consequence in a combat situation. Otherwise we'd get too complacent or not take it serious enough."
-
>"I might have thought keeping score could be enough. It works in sports."
-
>"I might have thought keeping score could be enough. It works in sports."
>"We do that too, actually. Especially when we compete with the other shrines."
>"I hope you invite me to one of those, Sawashiro-sama." Kenyu says energetically. "Camille tells me they're a hoot and a half."
>"They are!" the brunette miko replies- Chisato, that was her name- her wings flaring to match the verve of her voice. "Sports days at school got nothin' on a good Shrine War."
>"War?" Carnation gapes?
>"A somewhat misleading term." the bespectacled miko explains, adjusting her glasses with her pinky. "Though not entirely inaccurate. The less mature members of our shrines use it the most often."
>"Oy!" Chisato protests.
-
>To Minoriko: I know you may feel a bit out of your depth here, but I promise you'll do fine. Just think of it a bit like... phys ed. Except with magic.
-
>To Minoriko: I know you may feel a bit out of your depth here, but I promise you'll do fine. Just think of it a bit like... phys ed. Except with magic.
>I think the word itself just caught me a little off guard, is all. Minoriko replies. The thought of calling something that these folks seem to regard as fun 'war' is a bit... unusual.
-
>I'd guess it's the magical combat equivalent of a sports meet.
-
>I'd guess it's the magical combat equivalent of a sports meet.
>And I thought I'd only see those in Muenzuka. Minoriko muses.
>And just to punctuate that thought, two people are just now having a bit of a magical down throw down. A brown-winged miko seems to be squaring off with a bearded man with a striped tail.
>"I understand you're new to this conflict." Haruka says to Minoriko. "Are you also a new recruit into Lotus' team?"
>Minoriko glances over at you, then nods. "You could say that."
>Haruka nods and gives the woman a friendly, gentle smile. "Well don't worry. We won't just throw you into the deep end. At least, I assume that isn't how you usually train your recruits, Lotus?"
-
>"Not deliberately, at any rate!"
>Though in practice, I suppose that's more or less what's happened to all of us, isn't it?
-
>"Not deliberately, at any rate!"
>Though in practice, I suppose that's more or less what's happened to all of us, isn't it?
>Not me! Lily chirps happily. You gave me my ring after we went deep into each other.
>She could have phrased that more delicately...
-
>Well, she's not altogether wrong.....
>"So what did you have in mind?"
-
>Well, she's not altogether wrong.....
>"So what did you have in mind?"
>If you were still working at the shrine, Lily, I'd give you some lessons on selective phrasing. Kiku chides the winged blonde.
>Why? What'd I say? Lily ponders that for a moment, then mutters, Oh.
>"Well, you and I started to talk about something earlier today. I'd like to finish that conversation before you or I do anything else, if that's all right."
-
Man, how did I overlook this all day long?
>"Of course."
-
Man, how did I overlook this all day long?
>"Of course."
Little things.
>"Chisato, Tomoko, please attend to our guests."
>"You got it, Onee-sama!" Chisato says with a smile, her gaze immediately going to White Rose. "Matter of fact, I want to challenge you."
>Rin appears startled. "Me?"
>"Yeah, you. I wanna see how I stack up to Lotus' number two girl."
>"Number... two?"
>"I think she means 'second in command.'" Poppy suggests.
>Chisato nods. "That's right. Why, isn't she?" she asks you.
-
>"We don't really have so formal a hierarchy."
-
>"We don't really have so formal a hierarchy."
>"Everybody's gotta have a second in command. Unless you're communist or something."
>"Not everyone holds to the same sense of rank that organizations like ours do." Haruka tells her, somewhat reprovingly.
>"Yeah. Right, sorry. I guess since she's the one that's always following you around, I just thought she was your number two."
-
>"She's a trusted confidante, but we're few enough in number that we've never needed to formalize decision-making."
>To Rin, lightly: Which is to say that if I wasn't trying to look professional right now, I'd just kiss you and make it clear why you're number one to me.
-
>To Rin, lightly: Which is to say that if I wasn't trying to look professional right now, I'd just kiss you and make it clear why you're number one to me.
>With a touch of unexpected boldness, Rin replies, Maybe a little reward if I beat her?
>"She's a trusted confidante, but we're few enough in number that we've never needed to formalize decision-making."
>"Doesn't that mean you're not really in charge either?" Chisato asks, plainly confused.
>Poppy replies, "Lotus is the most experienced of us, and has proven herself to be a capable leader on and off the battlefield. We've learned to trust her judgement and follow her lead. Each of us knows we can act independantly, but if any of us ever needs our course confirmed, or corrected, we know who to go to."
>"And she, in turn, knows she has reliable allies to count upon should she ever find herself in a similar position." Haruka says respectfully. Then her eyes widen and she steps quickly to the side, as Magical Lily, who appears to have become entangled with one of the fairy mikos that had been chasing her, comes careening through the air and crashes to ground right where Haruka had been standing a moment ago. Seemingly oblivious to their crash, the two women appear to have moved on from 'tag' to 'tickle war.' Haruka smiles. "And allies that know how to play with fairies." she adds wryly.
-
>"Earnestness comes in many forms."
-
>"Earnestness comes in many forms."
>"Quieter'd be nicer." Chisato gripes half-heartedly. "Ah, well. You up for a match, Rose?"
>"If you'd like." she says with a nod, then pauses. "If you don't need me, Lotus?"
-
>"Go on."
>And make sure to kick her butt, got it?
-
>"Go on."
>And make sure to kick her butt, got it?
>Rin grins. As you command.
>"If you'll excuse me," Minoriko says as the two youkai walk away from the group. "I need to speak with Chrysanthemum."
>"And I'd like to observe that Blood man's fight. Care to join me, Tomoko-san?" Poppy asks the other miko.
>The bespectacled youkai nods slightly. "Very well."
>With the group dispersing, you, Haruka and Kenyu walk towards the stadium seats, leaving Lily and her fairy opponent to tickle each other into submission. "As what we were discussing pertains to the Blood you defeated yesterday, Lotus, I think Kenyu should hear this well." Haruka says to you.
-
>Does Kenyu seem to be a Brightblood himself?
>If this isn't obvious, ask Kenyu: "I hope it's not rude to ask what your stake in this is?"
>Otherwise, just say "Very well."
-
>Does Kenyu seem to be a Brightblood himself?
>If this isn't obvious, ask Kenyu: "I hope it's not rude to ask what your stake in this is?"
>Otherwise, just say "Very well."
>If he is, you't tell by looking at him, and he isn't radiating any kind of power.
>The big firefighter grins and touches the necklace, drawing the jewel concealed by his shirt out. It's a pale red color, almost pink, and finely cut. "I'm Blood, too."
>"Kenyu is a Brightblood, and a very powerful one. His Rose Jewel is the second most powerful of the Brightblood Jewels, second only to a White Jewel."
>"I'm about on par with Breakdown." Kenyu says. "My Rose Jewel pretty much equates to his Grey."
-
>"Ah, I see. In any case, I have no objections."
-
>"Ah, I see. In any case, I have no objections."
>"We've all been trying to figure out just what the hell you did to the Stuntrons, since you didn't kill 'em." Kenyu says as he flops himself down on the wood bench-seat. "At least we haven't found their bodies."
>"Lotus attempted to explain that to me earlier to today." Haruka says. "But I am not certain I understood her correctly."
-
>"They're not Blackbloods anymore. We... broke their link to the abyss - replaced it with something else. Took away the otherworldly malice they'd had the misfortune to be born with so they might have a chance for a better life - to be better people."
-
>"They're not Blackbloods anymore. We... broke their link to the abyss - replaced it with something else. Took away the otherworldly malice they'd had the misfortune to be born with so they might have a chance for a better life - to be better people."
>"But if you just broke them, then we'd have been able to find them." Kenyu says. "Newly broken Blood don't travel very far. Hell, half the time they can't even walk for a day or two afterwards."
-
>"We didn't 'break' them. They... still have jewels. Just not black ones."
-
>"We didn't 'break' them. They... still have jewels. Just not black ones."
>"Now I'm afraid you've lost me." Kenyu says with his cocked to the side.
>"What you're describing is believed to be an impossibility." Haruka says.
>"Believed my good horn." the Oni disputes, slapping his knee. "It IS impossible."
>The eagle youkai smiles. "Lotus here seems to have a talent for doing the impossible."
-
>Try to smile a little
>"Perhaps I've had the advantage of not knowing things were impossible before I decided to do them. But I assure you, we succeeded. They are all alive and healthy and still empowered, but without the darkness that was once an inextricable part of them. It... also had a significant effect on their physical appearance, I must admit - something which I'd neither intended or anticipated - but better that than be tied to the abyss for the rest of their lives, I think."
-
>Try to smile a little
>"Perhaps I've had the advantage of not knowing things were impossible before I decided to do them. But I assure you, we succeeded. They are all alive and healthy and still empowered, but without the darkness that was once an inextricable part of them. It... also had a significant effect on their physical appearance, I must admit - something which I'd neither intended or anticipated - but better that than be tied to the abyss for the rest of their lives, I think."
>"I wouldn't argue that." says Haruka. "But perhaps you be a bit more specific about what you mean by signifigant effect on their appearance?"
-
>"Er, well, um... they're all female now, for one thing. Earlier, I believe you said someone had been spotted riding their bikes, yes? I'd lay odds that was almost certainly still them."
-
>"Er, well, um... they're all female now, for one thing. Earlier, I believe you said someone had been spotted riding their bikes, yes? I'd lay odds that was almost certainly still them."
>Haruka does a good job of concealing her surprise, her eyes only widening slightly. Kenyu, however, is rather more demonstrative in his surprise, nearly falling over in his seat. "Are you... Are you telling me that those.... those girls seen riding around on Breakdown and Drag Strip's bikes ARE Breakdown and Drag Strip?"
-
>"Almost certainly. I mean, I didn't see what you saw, but they don't seem the type to lend their wheels out lightly."
-
>"Almost certainly. I mean, I didn't see what you saw, but they don't seem the type to lend their wheels out lightly."
>"But that's impossible!"
>"Kenyu," Haruka says patiently. "you and I both know that such gender-changing magic is not unheard of."
>"But not to Blood!" Kenyu protests. "And not by changing their Jewels. You can't change a Blood's Jewels."
>"I don't believe Lotus is the type to exaggerate about such things. And she has proven to be capable of purifying Youma without destroying the item or creature that had been corrupted. If she says she changed the Stuntrons as she claims, then I believe her." She pauses for a moment. "But I confess I'm at a loss as to how this is possible. The nature of the Blood is a complicated thing. They are very unique beings. How could you have done this without simply breaking their Jewels?"
-
>Try to explain the magical end of the procedure, as best as we can word such innately intuitive things
-
>Try to explain the magical end of the procedure, as best as we can word such innately intuitive things
>The nuts and bolts of your magic are at best hazy even to you, based as much on intuition and emotion as any kind of fact or logic. Nevertheless, you do your best to answer Haruka's question, and the big eagle does her best not just to listen but to help you along, providing suggestions for some of the more esoteric language you find yourself almost forced to use in this context. Kenyu, too, for his part, tries to wrap his head around the conecpt, but he seems to be struggling with the idea of it being possible to transform a Jewel as you did. You can see where he's coming from. It isn't always easy to adjust one's thinking is such ways.
>At least he seems to sigh and rubs the top of his unbroken horn gently. "I think I'm getting a headache here."
>For her part, Haruka inclines her head. "Thank you for explaining. And I understand your reasoning for it. But since I do work with the law in this town, I have to point out that some, if not all, of those bikers are known to be involved in some form of crime. The one known as Vice is a known drug dealer, Drag Strip has been involved in more illegal races than almost anyone else in Mayoiga, and so on. Did you not consider handing them to the police after you had finished with their Jewels?"
-
>"It is a... complex issue. I'm aware of their criminal history - at least in generalities - but at the same time, I believe they only lead that lifestyle because of the abyssal malevolence that was bound to them through no fault of their own. Breakdown in particular seemed a victim of her very own nature. I think the chances are very high that they would not engage in such criminality as they are now - nor would the people they are now have ever committed such crimes in the first place. Are they still culpable for actions committed because of a part of themselves which no longer exists? I'm not sure I can rightly say, but I'd like to believe that society has nothing to gain by locking them up anymore."
-
>"It is a... complex issue. I'm aware of their criminal history - at least in generalities - but at the same time, I believe they only lead that lifestyle because of the abyssal malevolence that was bound to them through no fault of their own. Breakdown in particular seemed a victim of her very own nature. I think the chances are very high that they would not engage in such criminality as they are now - nor would the people they are now have ever committed such crimes in the first place. Are they still culpable for actions committed because of a part of themselves which no longer exists? I'm not sure I can rightly say, but I'd like to believe that society has nothing to gain by locking them up anymore."
>"The local chief of police may not agree with you." Haruka says with some resignation. "But speaking of Breakdown specifically, we knew he... She, I suppose now, has some rather severe psychological issues. As near as we can determine, she suffers a form of paranoid schitzophrenia. You could have delivered her to people trained to help such sick individuals."
-
>"I don't believe she suffers from that anymore. The voices that plagued her came from her gem and she says they're gone now."
-
>"I don't believe she suffers from that anymore. The voices that plagued her came from her gem and she says they're gone now."
>"She may be right." Kenyu remarks. "Blood are more vulnerable to mental illnesses than others. Darker the jewel, deeper the wound. Not everyone can take being Blood. If you changed his Jewel, then- Damn, that feels weird to say." he muses with a chuckle. "But if you changed his Jewel, then you could very well have fixed his head, too."
>He sighs again quietly, and starts to say something else, but he is interrupted by a sizable detonation of Jeweled power. The tiger youkai male that had been sparring with one of the mikos now stands triumphant, his opponent naked and on the floor. The only one of the observers that seems happy about this development is the tengu you spoke with on the way in, who is now making her way over to stand at the tiger's side.
>Kenyu sighs again. "One of these days, Haruka, you're gonna have to fight him again."
>"I'll make a point to, if you think it will help."
>"Oh it will. Those two need to lose every now and then. Keeps their heads on straight. Now where was I... Oh yeah." he says, looking back at you. "Motormaster, their leader. How did you come up with the power to change a Black Jewel? Especially after changing the other six. I knew you were strong, but I didn't think you were that strong."
-
>"Motormaster wasn't a Blackblood. Yes, I know everyone thought he was, but he was actually something else entirely. That entity that we fought at the Tiger Shrine the other night? One very much like that had been dwelling inside Motormaster and that was the source of his power - not a jewel of any sort. That entity is gone now and consequently Motormaster has no power at all. Unfortunately, this also means we weren't able to help him in the same way. That entity had evidently been dwelling inside him since around the time of his birth and its absence feels like an essential part of himself is gone. He is... damaged, psychologically - and still prone to bursts of violent temper. I'd like to think he can heal, but I suspect it may take a considerable amount of time. He has to learn to find the self that was suppressed beneath that monster for so long."
-
>"Motormaster wasn't a Blackblood. Yes, I know everyone thought he was, but he was actually something else entirely. That entity that we fought at the Tiger Shrine the other night? One very much like that had been dwelling inside Motormaster and that was the source of his power - not a jewel of any sort. That entity is gone now and consequently Motormaster has no power at all. Unfortunately, this also means we weren't able to help him in the same way. That entity had evidently been dwelling inside him since around the time of his birth and its absence feels like an essential part of himself is gone. He is... damaged, psychologically - and still prone to bursts of violent temper. I'd like to think he can heal, but I suspect it may take a considerable amount of time. He has to learn to find the self that was suppressed beneath that monster for so long."
>"He's NOT Black?" Kenyu gasps. "He's not... But how is that possible? Nothing can emulate the Black."
>"I'm not so sure." Haruka counters. "We know these things, whatever they are, have the ability to hide themselves. The one Lotus destroyed at the Tiger Shrine had kept itself hidden since the destruction of old Mayoiga. Perhaps the one inside Motormaster was hiding as well, but it hid by masquerading itself as a Blood Jewel instead of simply masking its presence. Am I correct in that, Lotus?"
-
>"I believe so, yes. Motormaster himself knew differently, but almost no one else did - including the rest of his gang."
-
>"I believe so, yes. Motormaster himself knew differently, but almost no one else did - including the rest of his gang."
>"But to be able to mimic the Black?" Kenyu gapes. "He fooled both sides of the Blood."
>"I once knew a crocodile youkai that was able to fool everyone he met into thinking he was a dragon." Haruka remarks. "Partly through his power, partly through eating anyone that disagreed. Motormaster may have done the same, or more accurately, the entity within him. And where is he now?" she asks you. "We haven't seen his bike being riden around town as we have with many of the others."
-
>"We locked him away in a dimensional prison after we defeated him; he was unconscious at the time and I wanted to assess his temperament with the entity excised before deciding what ought to be done about him. He's still there for now, but I think it's possible in the longer-term that he might benefit from the care of a criminal psychologist."
-
>"We locked him away in a dimensional prison after we defeated him; he was unconscious at the time and I wanted to assess his temperament with the entity excised before deciding what ought to be done about him. He's still there for now, but I think it's possible in the longer-term that he might benefit from the care of a criminal psychologist."
>"A wise idea. If you'd like, I can have that arranged. He wouldn't be the first individual I've arranged that kind of care for."
-
>"Thank you. I'd appreciate that."
-
>"Thank you. I'd appreciate that."
>She seems to hesitate for a moment before asking, "I should tell you, in case you don't know, that while all the Stuntrons were guilty of some crimes and suspected of more, none were more criminally active than Motormaster. He is responsible for no less than three murders, possibly more. Do you feel the same about him as you did his gang? That he is not responsible for those crimes?"
-
>"I am... not sure. He is... less changed that they are. Maybe he just needs more time to come into himself, but I'm not certain. He... I couldn't make the same argument for him that I would for them - not yet, anyway. His upbringing left him shaped by the entity in a way that even removing it can't fully erase."
-
>"I am... not sure. He is... less changed that they are. Maybe he just needs more time to come into himself, but I'm not certain. He... I couldn't make the same argument for him that I would for them - not yet, anyway. His upbringing left him shaped by the entity in a way that even removing it can't fully erase."
>Haruka regards you silently for a moment, the gives you a look of quiet compassion "Don't blame yourself for what's happened to him, Lotus. If his corruption ran that deep, then you may have been the only one who could remove it without killing him. And perhaps fewer people even than that would have been willing to try it at all."
-
>Nod slowly
>"I just hope that he might yet be able to heal, but... I fear he may have a long road ahead of him."
-
>Nod slowly
>"I just hope that he might yet be able to heal, but... I fear he may have a long road ahead of him."
>"He has the opportunity now. I promise you, he'll be treated well." The eagle youkai lays her strong hand on your shoulder, her old eyes full of that compassionate strength. "You gave him the chance, Lotus. Don't forget that."
-
>"I know. And thank you. Really."
-
>"I know. And thank you. Really."
>The sound of a clearing throat draws your attention. "As much as I hate to interrupt a moment," Kenyu says politely, drawing your gaze away from Haruka's old, kind eyes. "there's still something I'm not sure on. How did come into conflict with the Stunts in the first place? Both sides of the Blood have been trying to stay out of your war with the Champions. They do something to piss you off?"
-
>"We'd learned of the entity possessing Motormaster and came to destroy it. We did not even realize the rest of the gang were Blackbloods until we got there."
-
>"We'd learned of the entity possessing Motormaster and came to destroy it. We did not even realize the rest of the gang were Blackbloods until we got there."
>"So they just happened to be between you and Moto?"
-
>"More or less."
-
>"More or less."
>"Mmm...." Kenyu grunts in acknowldgement. "So you're not on some kind of campaign against them?"
-
>"We would not stand idle and let a Blackblood put people in danger on our watch, but the matter of the Champions is our foremost priority."
-
>"We would not stand idle and let a Blackblood put people in danger on our watch, but the matter of the Champions is our foremost priority."
>"I hope that'll be the last time you have to deal with the Blood. Any Blood." Kenyu's eyes dart to the side, in the direction of two of the Blood you noticed before. "You've made a lot of Blood on both sides really edgy, Lotus."
-
>"So I've heard. But you've nothing to fear from me, so long as you don't go around attacking innocent people."
-
>"So I've heard. But you've nothing to fear from me, so long as you don't go around attacking innocent people."
>Kenyu blinks. "'Heard?' You've had this talk with another Blood?"
-
>"Not precisely the same, but I've been told to expect a representative from the White Council to come looking for me."
-
>"Not precisely the same, but I've been told to expect a representative from the White Council to come looking for me."
>"You- you..." Kenyu appears well and truly stunned.
>Even Haruka seems surprised. "How did you ever come into contact with THEM? They never get involved in matters in this world."
-
>"I think they're concerned about what I did to the Struntrons and perhaps whether this power could be used against them. I couldn't say much more than that - the only contact I had with them was very brief and not altogether friendly."
-
>"I think they're concerned about what I did to the Struntrons and perhaps whether this power could be used against them. I couldn't say much more than that - the only contact I had with them was very brief and not altogether friendly."
>"Yeah, and they're not the only ones." Kenyu says darkly, looking again towards the tiger youkai and the tengu.
>"Are you expecting trouble, Kenyu?" Haruka asks him.
>The oni shakes his head. "Not here, not with me around here. They couldn't do anything here anyway. But watch your back outside this room, Lotus." he cautions you. "Things are probably worse than you think they are. For all of us."
-
>"'For all of us'?"
-
>"'For all of us'?"
>"Yeah. You, me, her, your buddies, all of us. What you did to the Stunts could set off a powder keg, if worse comes to worse."
-
>"I hope not. This isn't putting ourselves forward as players in this 'Blood War'. It was about subduing an active threat to the populous of this city and giving a few people a chance for a better life - nothing more or less."
-
>"I hope not. This isn't putting ourselves forward as players in this 'Blood War'. It was about subduing an active threat to the populous of this city and giving a few people a chance for a better life - nothing more or less."
>"And that's happened before. And will happen again. That's fine, that happens, someone kills a Brightblood, or a Blackblood, or a group, and life goes on for the rest of us. But you didn't kill 'em. You transformed them. And their Jewels. Even the Gods couldn't do that, but you did. You may not be a player, Lotus, but you're the biggest wild card the Blood War's ever known. Whether you meant to or not, you've changed the rules. You've got both sides scared, and scared people sometimes do scary things. Truth is, you even scared me a little, and I run into burning buildings for a living." He says the last part with a bit of levity, but there's nothing light about his visage as he explains things.
-
>"You have nothing to fear from me, Kenyu. I did what I did to help them. Breakdown's jewel was as much of a curse to him as a blessing - moreso, even. Could the same even possibly be said about you or people like you?"
-
>"You have nothing to fear from me, Kenyu. I did what I did to help them. Breakdown's jewel was as much of a curse to him as a blessing - moreso, even. Could the same even possibly be said about you or people like you?"
>"I wouldn't say so."
>"But there might be others of our people who do." a woman's voice suddenly says from behind you. You spin, finding a youngish redhead approaching you from behind, her eyes hidden behind a pair of sunglasses. Odd, given that it's not particularly bright in here. "I apologize for surprising you." she says in a pleasant voice, stopping long enough to bow politely. She seems very familiar to you somehow. "I am Camille Henderson, and like Kenyu, I am Blood." The name makes your memory click. She works at Mayoiga General, you've seen her around the building during Myoren's frequent hospitalizations. You think she's a doctor, but now that you think about it, you've also seen her driving an ambulance. She can't possibly do both, could she?
-
>"Are you saying there are even Brightblood who might consider themselves afflicted by their own nature?"
-
>"Are you saying there are even Brightblood who might consider themselves afflicted by their own nature?"
>"I'm saying that there are some who might think you could think that. You changed the Stuntrons; who's to say you couldn't do the same to a Brightblood? That you wouldn't? Lotus, you've come out of nowhere and done something that hasn't been done in all of recorded history. And in doing so, you've changed the balance of power in this city. You didn't just kill the Stuntrons, you changed them, meaning they could nwo work against the other Blackbloods. Or for all our people know, your changes could have made them your servants." She holds up her hands to forestall your protest. "I don't believe that personally, I'm simply saying that you're an unknown who came out of nowhere, and can do the impossible for reasons her own. I don't think worse will come to worse like Kenyu does, but I can understand why both sides of the Blood are afraid now. Of each other, and of you."
-
>"Well, you have my word that I've no desire to make any sort of power grab or change people against their will who are not both victim and threat because of the circumstances of their birth. I just want to help people and keep them safe."
-
>"Well, you have my word that I've no desire to make any sort of power grab or change people against their will who are not both victim and threat because of the circumstances of their birth. I just want to help people and keep them safe."
>"I believe you." Camilla assures you.
>Kenyu nods. "Think I do, too. We'll spread the word among the local Brights, but it's the Council Member you'll really need to convince. Good luck with that. They're a bunch of right stiff bastards."
>"Unless it's Orion who comes." Camille counters. "You're not forgetting him, are you?"
>"'course not, but you know damn well he never leaves the Realm. Odds of seeing him on this side are 'bout as good as my horn growing back."
>As the two blood talk, the voice of the Purpose comes to you, Hero? Are you all right? Its voice sounds muffled, like it's trying to talk through something.
-
>Yes? Is there some reason you think I might not be?
-
>Yes? Is there some reason you think I might not be?
>Your presense seems weakened, reduced. I cannot sense you clearly.
-
>Oh, that- that might be the barrier I'm currently inside, actually. At the Bird Shrine. They use it for sparring; it reduces the destructive potential of magic used inside it so they can combat each other safely. I'm perfectly alright.
>...there isn't anything else afoot, is there?
-
>Oh, that- that might be the barrier I'm currently inside, actually. At the Bird Shrine. They use it for sparring; it reduces the destructive potential of magic used inside it so they can combat each other safely. I'm perfectly alright.
>...there isn't anything else afoot, is there?
>I believe that calls for the expression of relief.
>Not anymore. I would have noticed your absence sooner, but my attention was diverted by a fissure in myself. Total focus was required to seal it, but it has been sealed. There is a minor flaw in myself not far from your current location, but it is not large and does not appear to have any force acting upon it. I should be able to seal it without your assistance. I believe I was concerned by your unexplained reduction in presence.
-
>Did anything pass through this fissure before it was sealed? And do you think it was the Champion's doing or something less concerning?
-
>Did anything pass through this fissure before it was sealed? And do you think it was the Champion's doing or something less concerning?
>No. And I do not believe it was the Champions. Considering how much effort was required to close this aperture, it is possible something was acting upon it, but I do not believe it was one of the demons.
-
>I guess that sort of thing has happened from time to time over the centuries, anyway?
-
>I guess that sort of thing has happened from time to time over the centuries, anyway?
>It has. My power has waned over the aeons. The Purpose remains, but it has failed on occasion. The Champions are just the latest failure of the Purpose. But I strive to ensure those are my only failures until your victory. You have enough problems without more demons breaching me.
-
>That is entirely true. I know you will do your best, just as I will do mine.
-
>That is entirely true. I know you will do your best, just as I will do mine.
>"Anyway, I'm sure Kenyu has warned you that there may be some Brightbloods who might hold some hostility towards you." Camille says. "Not only am I not one of them, I am one of the Blood that would help you if I could. But I've been told that these Champions seem to be immune to most known forms of attack. Do you happen to know if that includes Jeweled power?"
-
>"I don't believe I've seen it tried."
-
>"I don't believe I've seen it tried."
>"What about the reverse? Could Jeweled power be used to defend against a Champion?"
-
>"As I said, I've never seen the two of them in the same place at the same time. I'd be hesitant to assume that it could, given just completely the Champions have shrugged off other sorts of magic, but I can't rule it out with actual evidence."
-
>"As I said, I've never seen the two of them in the same place at the same time. I'd be hesitant to assume that it could, given just completely the Champions have shrugged off other sorts of magic, but I can't rule it out with actual evidence."
>"I didn't think it'd be you asking about the best way to fight these demons." Kenyu remarks to Camille with a grin.
>"Think about, Kenyu. If one of these demons shows up at the hospital, I want to know if I can do something about it. Come to think of," she says, returning her attention to you. "I don't suppose you'd know if the Champions have any kind of designs of the hospitals here in town?"
-
>Give Haruka a meaningful look, as in 'How much confidential information should we consider it okay to share with these people?'. At least as much as you can pack in a meaningful look
-
>Give Haruka a meaningful look, as in 'How much confidential information should we consider it okay to share with these people?'. At least as much as you can pack in a meaningful look
>The eagle youkai glances briefly at the two Blood and nods her head just ever so slightly. 'They have limits, but they'll help where they can.' her old eyes seem to say.
-
>"I couldn't speculate whether they have 'designs' on them or not, but... we have reason to believe Ice's Avatar works at one of them.'
-
>"I couldn't speculate whether they have 'designs' on them or not, but... we have reason to believe Ice's Avatar works at one of them.'
>"Avatars. That's the humans that work for the Champions, right?"
-
>"Not all humans that work for them are Avatars. There have been others who merely entered into their service and were given power in exchange, but Avatars have some fundamental link to their Champions, the nature of which we do not yet fully understand. But they are very powerful indeed."
-
>"Not all humans that work for them are Avatars. There have been others who merely entered into their service and were given power in exchange, but Avatars have some fundamental link to their Champions, the nature of which we do not yet fully understand. But they are very powerful indeed."
>"You're talking about that girl you killed at the Knowledges." Kenyu asks.
>"Lotus didn't kill her." Haruka informs him. "She defeated the Water Avatar, but the Avatar's still alive."
>"Who is it?" Camille demands of you.
-
>"I... I want to emphasize that this is still very much supposition at this point, but I have good reason to believe the Avatar of Ice is Doctor Eirin Yagokoro."
-
>"I... I want to emphasize that this is still very much supposition at this point, but I have good reason to believe the Avatar of Ice is Doctor Eirin Yagokoro."
>Camille gasps out the name, clearly stunned.
>"But how is that possible?" asks Haruka. "She is a Lunarian. I thought the Champions' influence was confined to the city."
>"Not all fires stay contained." Kenyu remarks darkly. "How sure are you, Lotus?"
-
>"Air, at least, claimed that Ice's Avatar was a Lunarian and a separate source detected her Avatar at Southern Cross Hospital. Certainly this information points to Dr. Yagokoro if they were not mistaken or lying, though I've not confirmed it with my own eyes yet."
-
>"Air, at least, claimed that Ice's Avatar was a Lunarian and a separate source detected her Avatar at Southern Cross Hospital. Certainly this information points to Dr. Yagokoro if they were not mistaken or lying, though I've not confirmed it with my own eyes yet."
>Given her reaction, you are slightly surprised to hear Camille say, "I'm glad of that. If it's true, and Dr. Yakogoro has the same kind of power the Water Avatar does, the last thing we want to do is force a confrontation in a hospital."
>"You're the expect on Avatars, too." says Kenyu to you. "Any suggestions how to handle her?"
-
>"I am still hoping that it may be possible to avoid a direct confrontation altogether. So long as they don't take hostile action first, I'd prefer to investigate the nature of the Avatars and their bond with their Champions first; I feel there is something significant there that might prove pivotal to this entire conflict. In case you were unaware, neither the Avatar of Air or Water were aware of the Champions' existence until they came in close proximity of each other and somehow... changed. This may sounds like I'm reaching, but I have suspicious that they may be reincarnations of people that had been cast into Makai long ago and somehow linked to something there at that time."
-
>"I am still hoping that it may be possible to avoid a direct confrontation altogether. So long as they don't take hostile action first, I'd prefer to investigate the nature of the Avatars and their bond with their Champions first; I feel there is something significant there that might prove pivotal to this entire conflict. In case you were unaware, neither the Avatar of Air or Water were aware of the Champions' existence until they came in close proximity of each other and somehow... changed. This may sounds like I'm reaching, but I have suspicious that they may be reincarnations of people that had been cast into Makai long ago and somehow linked to something there at that time."
>"That's kind of out there." Kenyu remarks.
>Haruka shakes her head. "I don't think so. The side of history that's known to people in our walk of life tells us that some people have been cast into Makai from this world. The Goddess Kanako's high general, for instance. We also know that the demons we've been dealing with, the Champions, have been in Makai for millenia. It's conceivable the demons might have found a way to use those exiled souls."
>"I still think you're reaching." the firefighter counters. "And more to the point, it's kinda odd for you to just go along with some new girl in the city."
>"I trust Lotus' instincts and intuitions in this field. Perhaps I should say, I have come to trust Lotus."
>"It sounds more like you've come to have faith in her."
>Haruka smiles. "Perhaps that's true, too."
>Your ring pulses at Haruka's words.
-
>Wow. Enough to do something with or just a glimmer?
-
>Wow. Enough to do something with or just a glimmer?
>It's not actually 'doing' anything beyond lighting up and making you aware of that reaction, but it's a very noticable reaction.
-
>"It's... interesting that you mention Kanako's high general because I believe that is exactly who Air's Avatar is. Was. Whatever the proper word is in this context."
-
>"It's... interesting that you mention Kanako's high general because I believe that is exactly who Air's Avatar is. Was. Whatever the proper word is in this context."
>Haruka blinks. "Really? Well, that's surprising, that's just the first one that came to mind."
>"Quite the knowledge of history you have." Camille compliments the shrine maiden.
>"I was there. I mean I wasn't there at that battle, but I did spend quite a lot of time in Yamato in those days. It was not common, but it was considered an effective tactic to not only kill especially powerful figures in those days, but to banish them from this world. That way their God, or Divine Agent, couldn't simply resurrect them or use them in some other way. I did see that happen personally more than once." Her voice does not waver or quiver, but the quiet strength you hear in her voice does not completely mask the sadness she feels at those events.
-
>"Both Avatars we've interacted with expressed a history of being wrongfully cast into Makai - if only in vague terms. But if I had to theorize, I could imagine their prior incarnations conspiring with the Champions' kind to take vengeance against a world they felt had wronged them. And I have no doubt that they were wronged, though of course this is not a way to go about redressing this. What I am most concerned about is what became of the personalities these current incarnations had until the moment they manifested their Avatar-hood."
-
>"Both Avatars we've interacted with expressed a history of being wrongfully cast into Makai - if only in vague terms. But if I had to theorize, I could imagine their prior incarnations conspiring with the Champions' kind to take vengeance against a world they felt had wronged them. And I have no doubt that they were wronged, though of course this is not a way to go about redressing this. What I am most concerned about is what became of the personalities these current incarnations had until the moment they manifested their Avatar-hood."
>"You mean you don't know?" Kenyu asks.
-
>"I'm afraid not. I only learned of the existence of these Avatars at all on the day we fought Water's and saw both her and Air's transformation. Their change in demeanor was... dramatic."
-
>"I'm afraid not. I only learned of the existence of these Avatars at all on the day we fought Water's and saw both her and Air's transformation. Their change in demeanor was... dramatic."
>Haruka asks gently, "You knew them?"
-
>"...yes. Both of them. They were not the kind of people who would have acted as they since have."
-
>"...yes. Both of them. They were not the kind of people who would have acted as they since have."
>"I am sorry." Haruka says after a moment.
>"What about this doctor?" Kenyu asks. "How much has she changed?"
>"If she is in fact the Avatar of Ice, as Lotus says, she may not have changed as much as the others. Consider what the Water Avatar did. But as far as we know, the Ice Avatar hasn't done anything of the sort."
>"Or the Air Avatar either." Camille points out. "I wonder why not. Why has the Water Avatar been the most aggressive?"
-
>"She seemed to be channeling resentments that her pre-Avatar self held, but with an anger and violence that she would never have shown. It might come down to nothing more than personality differences, but again - it would help if I better understood precisely what happened to them and if ti can be somehow 'undone'."
-
>"She seemed to be channeling resentments that her pre-Avatar self held, but with an anger and violence that she would never have shown. It might come down to nothing more than personality differences, but again - it would help if I better understood precisely what happened to them and if ti can be somehow 'undone'."
>"Well, getting answers outta them's gonna be tricky." Kenyu rumbles. "What about their families? Think they might know something?"
>"Not likely." Haruka disagrees. "If we're dealing with reincarnations-"
>"Wait." Kenyu interrupts her and asks you, "Which pre-Avatar self, past life or now life?"
-
>"Er, um... now life. I have no idea what her past life might have been, aside from how it ended."
-
>"Er, um... now life. I have no idea what her past life might have been, aside from how it ended."
>"Okay, so the question still works. Think her family might know something?"
-
>"I questioned some of them, but didn't learn anything relevant."
-
>"I questioned some of them, but didn't learn anything relevant."
>"Mm, that may mean they're trying to hide something from you." Camile ventures.
-
>"I wouldn't put it past her mother, I admit. Certainly, I haven't stopped investigating - it's just there's been a great many issues to juggle all at once."
>"Speaking of which, I don't suppose either of you know of some means through which it might be possible to establish communications with someone in Makai?"
-
>"I wouldn't put it past her mother, I admit. Certainly, I haven't stopped investigating - it's just there's been a great many issues to juggle all at once."
>"Speaking of which, I don't suppose either of you know of some means through which it might be possible to establish communications with someone in Makai?"
>"Yeah, everyone's got a lot of balls in the air." Kenyu grunts.
>The faces on all three women darken, though the Blood moreso than Haruka. "Only people that do that are black mages, dementiasts and demon worshipers." says Kenyu.
-
>"Well I am none of these things, but I'd nonetheless like to try. Some of the Champions have expressed an interest in ceasing hostilities but are bound - in a literal sense, I believe - to follow the orders of their creator. I wish to speak with her."
-
>"Well I am none of these things, but I'd nonetheless like to try. Some of the Champions have expressed an interest in ceasing hostilities but are bound - in a literal sense, I believe - to follow the orders of their creator. I wish to speak with her."
>"You do realize that calling another realm is incredibly dangerous?" Kenyu asks pointedly. "Especially when that realm is Makai? You open a window to talk to a neighbor, you can't always stop them throwing a molotov through that window."
-
>"I imagine that depends upon the method, no?"
-
>"I imagine that depends upon the method, no?"
>"Don't be a smartass. You may be the expert on these demons, but obviously I know more about contacting other worlds than you do. And I'm telling you, there's no completely safe way to do it, no matter what the realm is. And some realms, Makai, Nessus, Rak Cthol, Tanaan, are more dangerous than others. Matter of fact, Makai's right near the top of the list."
>Camille nods is silent accord.
>For her part, Haruka is also silent, but she doesn't appear to agree with the Blood. She gives you a very slight shake of the head, and a glance towards Kenyu. You think she is trying to say, 'You won't convince him.'
-
>"Well, I'm certainly in no hurry to make matters here worse, I assure you. Extraplanar conversation is admittedly outside my experience."
-
>"Well, I'm certainly in no hurry to make matters here worse, I assure you. Extraplanar conversation is admittedly outside my experience."
>Kenyu nods, seemingly mollified. "There are mostly safe ways to contact other realms, and there's realms that are pretty much safe to call up. But Makai isn't on either list. Hell, I'd say about the only person in town who could do it without doing too much damage or run the risk of getting pulled in himself is Scatterclaw."
>Camille visibly shudders at the name.
>"And no, that wasn't me giving you a name to go see." Kenyu says quickly and firmly. "That Black bastard would have your soul for floss. Of all the Blood in this world, he's the last one you ever want to meet."
-
>"I believe I'm starting to lose count of how many people have specifically warned me off him now."
-
>"I believe I'm starting to lose count of how many people have specifically warned me off him now."
>"I believe I was one of them as well." Haruka says with a slightly amused smile.
-
>"Yes. And I assure you, I'm in no hurry to disregard that advice. What was it I said about having enough problems to deal with already?"
>Smile slightly
-
>"Yes. And I assure you, I'm in no hurry to disregard that advice. What was it I said about having enough problems to deal with already?"
>Smile slightly
>"And while we're talking about having enough problems, you've only mentioned three Avatars." says Kenyu. "Aren't there six Champions?"
-
>"Yes, though two of them are still in Makai and the one other here has yet to meet their Avatar. I suspect this is only a matter of time, however."
-
>"Yes, though two of them are still in Makai and the one other here has yet to meet their Avatar. I suspect this is only a matter of time, however."
>"Is that something we could change?" Camille asks. "Maybe we could devise some way to keep the other two Champions in Makai."
>"Aw, it can't be that simple." Kenyu grouses. "This has already spread too far to be that simple."
-
>"If the barrier itself cannot keep them out, I'm not certain we can. Though I admit I do not entirely know why they aren't here already."
-
>"If the barrier itself cannot keep them out, I'm not certain we can. Though I admit I do not entirely know why they aren't here already."
>"Well can't we strengthen this barrier?" Camille asks.
-
>"Perhaps if we were to know where they planned to breach it, it might be possible.... But I'm not certain how we would know this."
-
>"Perhaps if we were to know where they planned to breach it, it might be possible.... But I'm not certain how we would know this."
>"Wataru might." Kenyu posits. "He's got a knack for shields and barriers."
>"Not of the inter-planar kind." Camille tells him.
>Kenyu grumbles but doesn't argue the point.
>"In the meantime, Lotus, there's another angle we could explore." Haruka says. "Do you think it would help our cause if we could determine the identities of the Avatars in their past lives?"
-
>"I cannot say for certain, but any information we could find on the nature of the Avatars and their bond with their Champions is potentially valuable."
-
>"I cannot say for certain, but any information we could find on the nature of the Avatars and their bond with their Champions is potentially valuable."
>"It's something of a longshot, but there may be mention of the kinds of incidents we spoke of before, of people being banished to Makai, in our records. I could have them examined to see if we can find connections between any of those beings and the Avatars."
>"Come on, Haruka, you can't be serious." Kenyu tells her. "Even I know enough about reincarnations to know that you rarely get direct connections from one life to the next. It's probably just a stroke of luck we know the Air Avatar's past life."
>"Be that as it may, I wouldn't be doing due diligence if I didn't explore all our options. Perhaps Lotus would have some insight that we do not."
-
>"I'm not sure there's much to go on for the others at this point, but I certainly wouldn't turn down the possibility of additional information."
-
>"I'm not sure there's much to go on for the others at this point, but I certainly wouldn't turn down the possibility of additional information."
>"Isn't it going to be remarkably difficult to find that kind of information?" Camille asks her.
>"For most people, yes, but one of the mikos serving at this shrine excels at this kind of research." Haruka presses two of her fingers against her lips and blows, seemingly whistling, but you can hear nothing. That done, she asks you, "You have no information at all about the Ice or Water Avatars?"
-
>"I know nothing to speak of about Doctor Yagokoro that isn't public knowledge. Nor truly about the Water avatar's past life, though she may have been an elemental magician."
-
>"I know nothing to speak of about Doctor Yagokoro that isn't public knowledge. Nor truly about the Water avatar's past life, though she may have been an elemental magician."
>"Admittedly that isn't much, but any kind of start is better than nothing. Ah, Miyo." Haruka says to the miko that is walking towards you. It's actually somewhat odd to see someone with wings on the ground in this room, but this white-haired woman is, rather than utilizing her large purple-feathered wings. At first blush she seems, well, a proper nerd, her hair done up in a tight bun, thick glasses, no visible makeup. As she gets closer, though, you see that your first blush may not have been entirely accurate. With a touch of makeup here and there, different glasses, maybe a different hairstyle, this young woman would be just the sort of girl Aya would try to headhunt. You wonder if her robes could be similarly concealing something. Haruka introduces her fellow miko to you, "This is Miyo Kougami, the expert I mentioned."
>The white-haired miko bows to you. "Magical Lotus, I presume?" she asks in a rich, throaty voice.
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>Return the bow
>"That's right."
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>Return the bow
>"That's right."
>"You've been the talk of the shrine since you made yourself known here in town." Miyo smiles as she straightens up. "It's true what some of my friends have said; you're as pretty as you are powerful."
-
>"Oh, you're too kind."
-
>"Oh, you're too kind."
>"We have a need of your talents, Miyo." Haruka tells her. "We need some information retreived from our historical records, if the information is even there."
>"Specifically?"
>"Records of any humanoids in the past that were banished from Earth to Makai."
>"Timeframe?"
>"At least as far back as the Dark Ages."
>Miyo doesn't seem fazed by the timeframe. "I may have to coordinate with the Turtle shrine for records going that far back. Regions is question?"
>Haruka pauses before answering that one. "Start with Yamato and go from there."
>The bespectacled miko's brow furrows. "In other words, global?"
>"Possibly." Haruka admits.
>With a soft sigh, Miyo smiles dryly. "Never the easy jobs. May I assume this is something you've been asking about, Lotus?"
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>"I have reason to believe that the Champions' Avatars are the reincarnation of souls banished to Makai in the distant past, but I only know the original identity of one of them. Any information we might be able to link to them might help us understand how they came to be as they are, and what we might do about it."
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>"I have reason to believe that the Champions' Avatars are the reincarnation of souls banished to Makai in the distant past, but I only know the original identity of one of them. Any information we might be able to link to them might help us understand how they came to be as they are, and what we might do about it."
>"What was that original identity?"
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>"Air's Avatar was the goddess Kanako's high general. The others might be contemporaneous, but they might not be."
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>"Air's Avatar was the goddess Kanako's high general. The others might be contemporaneous, but they might not be."
>"Explaining the timeframe. Still, it's always good to know where to start."
>"We suspect the Water Avatar may have been an elemental mage of some kind, but we're not sure." Haruka supplies.
>"Eastern or Western?"
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>"Eastern."
-
>"Eastern."
>Miyo nods. "This may take some time." she says apologetically. "I like reading and research, and I have some speed at it, but that is a lot of history to cover."
-
>"Whatever you find, I appreciate the effort."
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>"Whatever you find, I appreciate the effort."
>Miyo smiles again. "I'm happy to help."
>"And happy to have another reason to archive binge?" Haruka asks lightly.
>The other miko laughs. "You know me very well, Onee-sama. However, would it be all right if I did not start right away?" she asks you. "I should like very much to see you fight."
-
>"Oh, certainly, if you'd like."
-
>"Oh, certainly, if you'd like."
>"Thank you." She sounds polite, but you can detect the hint of a gleam in the corner of her eye despite the thickness of her glasses. You're not 100% certain it's your fighting ability she's curious about. "Have you decided whom you will be sparring with first?"
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>"I hadn't actually thought about it, to be honest. I'm open to suggestions."
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>"I hadn't actually thought about it, to be honest. I'm open to suggestions."
>As Kenyu immediately leaps to his feet, Camille clicks her fingers together. "Yo." the big firefighter declares.
>"There's a surprise." Camille mutters.
-
>"Very well. Are there... any rules I ought to be aware of?"
-
>"Very well. Are there... any rules I ought to be aware of?"
>"We're not in a competition setting at the moment." says Haruka. "Although considering your opponent, I might recommend 'no hitting below the belt'."
-
>"I'll try to keep it in mind."
>Gesture to somewhere with enough open space, then look to Kenyu: "Shall we?"
-
>"I'll try to keep it in mind."
>Gesture to somewhere with enough open space, then look to Kenyu: "Shall we?"
>Perhaps its the matter of fact way Haruka said that, but both Camille and Miyo laugh at the miko's words.
>"You're gonna want to get the rest of your crew." Kenyu advises. "Wouldn't be fair if it was just me and you."
-
>Grin slightly
>"We'll see about that."
>How's Rin holding up, anyway?
-
>Grin slightly
>"We'll see about that."
>How's Rin holding up, anyway?
>"It's your call." Kenyu says as he starts to stretch out his arms. "But don't say I didn't warn ya."
>She seems to have defeated Chisato. At least you assume so, as the brown-winged miko is no longer in sight, and Rin is still fully clothed. At the moment, she is standing between two mikos, one with wings and one without, having a conversation.
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>Assume a defensive posture, barriers at the ready, but let him take the first shot
-
>Assume a defensive posture, barriers at the ready, but let him take the first shot
>You hear a number of muscles pop in the oni's body as he and you walk away from the other women, out onto a less occupied area of the arena field. Along the way, you see Poppy, in her Saber form, fencing lightly with a black-winged miko and a white winged miko acting in concert. Despite being outnumbered, Reisen appears to be winning, and you can see tell she's not fighting at her full potential. Her opponents must either be new at swordfighting, or unused to fighting as a team. Chrysanthemum and a third miko stand apart from them, looking on.
>Arriving at neutral ground, you let Kenyu put some distance between you and him. "I'd say I'd go easy on ya." Kenyu says lightly as he turns back to face you. "But who am I to deny all these ladies the view they want?" His power flashes and you sense his first shot is not to attack, but to erect a shield around himself. This lets you sense the power of his Rose Jewel, and for a moment, you wish you had taken him up on his offer on bringing help. The power in that Jewel is immense, and unlike Breakdown, there's no sense of frantic scattering, of any kind of lack of control. His Jewel may be the equivalent of Breakdown's Grey, but Kenyu is much more dangerous in a fight.
>And just like Breakdown, he has two Jewels. While he uses his Rose Jewel for defense, he raises his left hand, showing you the Sapphire Jewel on his finger, and discharges a bolt of brilliant blue energy. Prepared as you were, you meet his attack with a Sapphire Lotus, and while the bolt does not penetrate your screen, it does make you wince. With those two Jewels, this guy could give a Champion a run for its money.
-
>Well, we've given Champions a run for their money, too.
>Hit him with a Scarlet Lotus. And don't pull our punches, either.
-
>Well, we've given Champions a run for their money, too.
>Hit him with a Scarlet Lotus. And don't pull our punches, either.
>That you have.
>Keen to show this firefighter just who he's up against, you return fire with a cascade of red and white light, a much larger barrage than the one he launched at you, you note.
>Kenyu draws upon his Sapphire Jewel again, and a barrier of blue light shimmers into being before him. But his Sapphire barrier proves to be less effective than yours, and a number of your bolts penetrate his screen. Those that do, though, are very weakened, and those that connect with Kenyu fail to do any signifigant damage to his Rose shield.
>The big man laughs. "Oh this WILL be fun!" he yells, his Sapphire Jewel flashing again. The barrier he had erected shifts and twists, collapsing into something that appears broadly similar to a surge of water traveling in your direction. It isn't real water, but that probably means it'll do more damage than the simple flood some might confuse it for.
-
>Use Sapphire Lotus to deflect the flood away from us slightly, while dodging to the opposite side
>Then fire back at his barriers with an Amber Lotus
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>Use Sapphire Lotus to deflect the flood away from us slightly, while dodging to the opposite side
>Then fire back at his barriers with an Amber Lotus
>Deploying your blue light once again, you turn the flood to your right and dodge to the left. The flood taxes your enlarged Sapphire light more than the simple bolt did, and it takes you a moment to switch gears and go back on the offensive.
>Kenyu elects not to try and facetank your amber light and goes evasive himself, placing himself directly opposite you again, grinning still. He snaps his fingers and a hefty axe appears in his right hand, the kind of axe you use in case of fire. It is not the axe he uses right away, though. "That was a trickle. Here comes the real dousing!" Kenyu unleashes another watery blast of Jeweled magic, this one coming in an almost solid line, as though it were launched from a massive fire hose.
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>Let's focus on simply dodging this one, since it's a lot narrower, and try again to hit him with an Amber Lotus
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>Let's focus on simply dodging this one, since it's a lot narrower, and try again to hit him with an Amber Lotus
>Narrow but fast. You are able to evade the shot, but only just. Had he used his Rose Jewel, that might have turned out differently.
>Feeling the chill of that magic fly by you, you unleash your Amber light once again. Kenyu laughs happily as he turns to face your attack, bringing his axe to bear against your light. The weapon immediately falls from Kenyu's hand when your light contacts it. The Blood male seems momentarily confused. "How'd you do that?" he asks, snapping his fingers. The axe vanishs and rematerializes in his right hand.
-
>So presumably it only affected the axe and not the Rose barrier around him? Do we think this was because he incidentally blocked it?
>If so, let's try firing two Amber Lotuses in rapid succession - one for the axe if he parries with it again and then another before he can rearm himself
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>So presumably it only affected the axe and not the Rose barrier around him? Do we think this was because he incidentally blocked it?
>If so, let's try firing two Amber Lotuses in rapid succession - one for the axe if he parries with it again and then another before he can rearm himself
>Yes. And most likely. His axe appeared to be unconnected to the forcefield around him.
>So your adjust your tactics, and fire two more Amber beams at the big firefighter. Rather than use his axe again, Kenyu employs his Sapphire Jewel this time, but the barrier he erects shatters when your Amber light touches it. As Kenyu shakes his hand in surprise, your second beam strikes him on his shoulder. To your surprise, the Rose barrier around his body does not break. It weakens but remains intact.
>Kenyu's smile darkens a bit. "Oh so that's how it's gonna be?" he says, throwing his axe down to stick the head into the ground. It's within easy reach but leaves his hand free, which he fills another axe, this one smaller and composed of Rose Jewel magic. He conjures another one in his left hand with his Sapphire. They appear to be more for throwing than slashing, and Kenyu confirms this by hurling the two weapons at you one after the other, Sapphire leading Rose, as he uses his Rose Jewel to reinforce his sheild.
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>Quickly twist sideways and sidestep to avoid the axes and then fire another Amber Lotus
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>Quickly twist sideways and sidestep to avoid the axes and then fire another Amber Lotus
>It seems that you're not only capable of greater energy discharges, but you're also more dexterous as well. Even so, you're not quite dexterous enough to completely evade both of these axes. The Rose blades takes a slice out of your skirt, not impacting the flesh, but coming remarkably close to it.
>Kenyu frowns at your continuing use of your Amber Light. It's doing alright by you; you know know that you can fire those things off without any kind of noticable power dropoff, or at least more of then than you could before. Kenyu just flicks his left out and sends a glob of Sapphire light out in front of him, blocking your shot. He sighs and picks up his axe again. He seems to consider something for a moment, then shrugs and follows your example, employing his conjured axes again. This time, however, he sends out four of them, three from his Sapphire Jewel and the last from his Rose, at staggered intervals and angles.
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>If Amber 'disarmed' him earlier, let's see if it can work just as well on axes in mid-flight. Try a wide-angle Amber Lotus at the incoming volley, or at least the part of it that's closest together - sidestepping the other part of it
>But be ready to dodge/block if this doesn't work as well as hoped
>But if it does work well, let's follow up with an Orange Lotus for a change of pace
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>If Amber 'disarmed' him earlier, let's see if it can work just as well on axes in mid-flight. Try a wide-angle Amber Lotus at the incoming volley, or at least the part of it that's closest together - sidestepping the other part of it
>But be ready to dodge/block if this doesn't work as well as hoped
>But if it does work well, let's follow up with an Orange Lotus for a change of pace
>The axes are staggered enough to be difficult to dodge, but not so spread apart as to be beyond the range of your Amber if you choose to stretch it out. So you deploy your Amber light once more in a wide cone of energy, and it works fairly well. The three Sapphire Axes slow then fade under your Amber assault, but the Rose is too much for light to absorb. One on one, maybe, but not after stopped the other three axes. But with just the one axe to dodge, you take half a step the right and let the Rose axe fly past you.
>As you go for some variety and unleash your Orange light upon Kenyu, however, he snaps his fingers again, and the Rose axe explodes with furious force, pitching you forward, making your Orange light fly upwards at the ceiling instead of at the big man. The blast takes you off your feet, and you fall forward onto the packed dirt of the arena floor.
>Instead of launching some kind of attack against you, Kenyu grips his axe in both hands and starts to run towards you, eschewing for the moment his ranged powers.
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>Send a Sapphire Lotus along the ground and then abruptly raise it into an ankle-high barricade right when Kenyu should run into it; try to pitch him forward onto the ground as we pull ourselves upright
>And then if we can manage it, hit him with another Amber Lotus while he's prone
>Or if he manages to evade the trip, just focus on not getting hit by that axe in his hands
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>Send a Sapphire Lotus along the ground and then abruptly raise it into an ankle-high barricade right when Kenyu should run into it; try to pitch him forward onto the ground as we pull ourselves upright
>And then if we can manage it, hit him with another Amber Lotus while he's prone
>Or if he manages to evade the trip, just focus on not getting hit by that axe in his hands
>The big firefighter's smile returns as he sees your blue light appear again. He adjusts his course to his left to get around your Sapphire light, but is seemingly unprepared for your quick creation of a tripping hazard. As a credit to his reflexes, he does react quickly and tries to jump your barricade, but his feet are unable to completely clear the blue bump in the road. At first he manages to stay on his feet, staggering forward in a barely controlled manner another few steps before finally losing his balance and falling not prone, but to one knee. He displaces a lot of dirt in the doing.
>"You're getting slow, Kenyu." a tautning male voice calls from your left. Sparing a glance over in that direction you see the tengu and her tiger youkai friend have wandered over in this direction and are now watching the match between you and Kenyu. In fact, a lot of people in that direction are now watching you and the Blood male fight.
>"Maybe you should have started with a weak one." Cynthia the tengu adds.
>Kenyu has time to quickly glare at the two members of the peanut gallery before you blast him with Amber Lotus once again. Just as before, the blast weakens his sheild quite noticably but fails to destroy it completely.
>His glare is replaced by a smile as he turns his attention back to you. "That's more like it." he compliments you before infusing his axe with some of his Rose power and strikes the ground with it again. The ground between you and he starts to rumble ominiously.
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>Conjure our flying disc and let's get the heck away from this ground before... whatever's about to happen happens
>Also, when our Amber Lotus is weakening the shield without destroying it, as best as we can tell is it staying weakened afterward? Like, are we actually chipping away at it or is it regenerating between hits?
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>Also, when our Amber Lotus is weakening the shield without destroying it, as best as we can tell is it staying weakened afterward? Like, are we actually chipping away at it or is it regenerating between hits?
>From what you've observed, it regenerates strength only when Kenyu consciously puts power into it; it doesn't seem to regenerate on its own.
>Conjure our flying disc and let's get the heck away from this ground before... whatever's about to happen happens
>Excersizing the better part of valor, you take to the air to get away from the expected assault from the ground as it shakes and rumbles under the force of Kenyu's power.
>Except the attack doesn't come from the ground. The shaking abruptly stops, and you feel Kenyu's Rose Jewel fire again. With your attention on the ground, Kenyu is able to take advantage of your momentary distraction to blast you with his stronger Jewel. The bolt of power takes you off your disc and throws you to the ground. It staggers you that the impact of hitting the ground actually hurt more than getting hit by a power bolt almost strong enough to have come from a Champion.
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>So the ground's really not doing anything at all? That was just a distraction?
>Let's get back to our feet quickly and fire a Scarlet Lotus burst with an Orange Lotus snuck in after it
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>So the ground's really not doing anything at all? That was just a distraction?
>Let's get back to our feet quickly and fire a Scarlet Lotus burst with an Orange Lotus snuck in after it
>It's not doing anything anymore.
>As you regain your footing, you hear a fair number of people cheering around you. Well perhaps 'cheering' isn't entirely accurate, as a lot of the noise could more accurately be described as 'whooping'. A glance down reveals why. That blast may not have done you any damage, but your clothes are another matter. Kenyu's blast did nearly as much damage to your outfit as you did to Youmu's. He... may be more than you can handle alone.
>You and Kenyu regain your footing at the same time and point at each at the same time. Your Scarlet Light meets his burst of Rose power in midair, and his light proves the stronger, cancelling out your Scarlet barrage and continuing on towards you, where it is stopped by your Orange Lotus, the two attacks negating each other.
>Kenyu stands loosely, his grip light on his axe. "Haven't had enough?" he asks.
>Are you okay, Mistress? Rin asks you.
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>Would it take any actual time or focus to poof the rest of our outfit back into existence now?
>How much control do we have over the trajectory of your Amber and Orange Lotuses? Could they be curved to strike from unexpected angles? Particularly if mixed with something else as a distraction?
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>Would it take any actual time or focus to poof the rest of our outfit back into existence now?
>How much control do we have over the trajectory of your Amber and Orange Lotuses? Could they be curved to strike from unexpected angles? Particularly if mixed with something else as a distraction?
>It wouldn't take long or a great deal of energy, but it would be a distraction.
>They are both aimable, and yes you can curve them. It takes a bit more concentration to direct your along alternate courses.
>Clarifiy.
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>As in: could we fire a number of shots in succession and have them come from different angles of Kenyu's body, to make it harder to actively evade/block them?
>And our Orange Lotus is a lot smaller/subtle too, right? So could we sneak that in among a barrage of something else?
-
>As in: could we fire a number of shots in succession and have them come from different angles of Kenyu's body, to make it harder to actively evade/block them?
>And our Orange Lotus is a lot smaller/subtle too, right? So could we might that in among a barrage of something else?
>Yes, and more easily than you could a few days ago.
>Hitherto, you haven't been able to manifest more than one colored Lotus at once. However... you think you can now. You're stronger now than you were, and you think you can now manage to employ two different colors simultaneously. However, you don't think you can fire two Lotuses simultaneously at their full strength. For instance, if you were to deploy both Sapphire and Scarlet Lotus at once, your Sapphire shield would not be able to block as much damage as it normally would, and the damage output and range of your Scarlet barrage would be compromised.
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>I'm fine, don't worry.
>"It wouldn't do for someone in the business of fighting Champions to give up this easily."
>Let's opt for the multi-angle Amber Lotus barrage instead of trying to mix them at this point and if we can put a bit more punch into it than we've done thus far - do it. Clearly we shouldn't be holding back here.
-
>I'm fine, don't worry.
>"It wouldn't do for someone in the business of fighting Champions to give up this easily."
>Let's opt for the multi-angle Amber Lotus barrage instead of trying to mix them at this point and if we can put a bit more punch into it than we've done thus far - do it. Clearly we shouldn't be holding back here.
>Despite the inherant non-lethality of the duel, you still sense Rin's worry. Dear girl doesn't like to see you losing even a little.
>Kenyu's smile broadens, but the comment you hear comes from the tiger youkai. "She speaks!"
>"And here I thought she couldn't fight and talk at once." his tengu friend sneers at you.
>"You watch what you say about her!" White Rose says hotly to the two Blood.
>"Watch yourself, cat." Cynthia spits at her. "Or I'll give you some of what Kenyu's about to give your boss."
>Perhaps angered by the tengu's harsh words at Rin, you pour a great deal of punch into your Amber Lotus, conjuring forth well over a dozen blasts of radiant energy. But if anything, Kenyu seems even happier at the sight. "Okay, Lotus, you want to test your shield cracker? Try THIS." He punctuates his sentence with a surge of Rose energy, and the firefighter surrounds himself in bright blue flames, erupting with a sound like a gas explosion and an intense wave of heat. Your multi-angled missiles waver and weaken in their trajectories under that supernatural wave of heat, and have to hold your arm before your face to keep your eyes from closing of their own accord.
-
>We've pushed through worse! Give it more power!
>Er, unless our Amber Lotus has already been effectively nullified?
>...for that matter, I don't suppose we have any way to douse that? Magical water? Flame-retardant? Something?
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>...for that matter, I don't suppose we have any way to douse that? Magical water? Flame-retardant? Something?
I'll address this one first, in the event you wish to adjust your tactics.
>Among your current techniques, you have no straightforward method of dousing fire. You can starve a fire, theoretically, by enclosing it in a Sapphire Lotus until all the oxygen within the field is consumed, provided there's no one in there with the fire. Some of your techniques can be made lethal, but Sapphire Lotus is defensive in nature and can't be used as a lethal weapon.
>If you wished to employ a more 'traditional' means of extinguishing a fire, such as foam or water or something similar, a new color of Lotus will be required, and is not beyond your skill or power level to create.
-
>Are you saying we're theoretically capable of conjuring actual fire-retardant foam? Like, specifically anti-fire stuff?
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>Are you saying we're theoretically capable of conjuring actual fire-retardant foam? Like, specifically anti-fire stuff?
>Is it any stranger than an orange-colored leeching spell or a flying disc?
>In saying that, however, it would be more effective as an anti-fire technique if it had Water or Ice attributes to it, as your Vermillion Lotus is a Fire attribute spell.
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>If we feel water would be more effective from a power perspective, then let's go with that. The most anti-fire-y we can make it (because we're sure to have use for that if we indeed end up needing to fight Fire)
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>If we feel water would be more effective from a power perspective, then let's go with that. The most anti-fire-y we can make it (because we're sure to have use for that if we indeed end up needing to fight Fire)
>You require a name to give form to this ability.
-
>Let's go with 'Ablution of the Niranjana'
-
>Let's go with 'Ablution of the Niranjana'
>All things considered, it's almost a surprise you haven't come up with an anti-fire spell before now, given how long the Fire Champion's been active. But now faced with the flame-wielding firefighter, you manifest the spell 'Cerulean Lotus: Ablution of Niranjana.'
>And deploy it straight away. Your Amber Light had not actually been defeated by Kenyu's heat wave, simply weakened. But that doesn't mean you can't employ your new power as well. Perhaps the two-pronged attack will prove more effective than either would be individually. Your new Cerulean Lotus emerges as a stream of smoky, cold foam that spread out in a cone shape. Kenyu's Rose powered fire shield had been holding up fairly well against your weakened Amber Lotus barrage, but the fiery shield waves and sputters as your Cerulean cone strikes it. The two opposing forces contend with each for a moment before the flames, already weakened, sputter and cough one last time and then die off, revealing a Kenyu who isn't as surprised as you might have hoped. In fact, still smiling, he starts to charge you again.
-
>If he's not going to rest, we can't either. Give him another Amber Lotus and be ready to hustle out of the way.
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>If he's not going to rest, we can't either. Give him another Amber Lotus and be ready to hustle out of the way.
>The man does seem to have a great reserve of energy. But then, so do you. Kenyu fires a beam from his Sapphire Jewel to meet your Amber light in mid-flight, but this has the effect of making him arrest his charge, shaking his hand as though he'd just received a shock. "That stings." he mutters. Rather than resume his charge or fire again, he simply straightens up. "Am I right in thinking you don't like hand to hand combat much?" he asks.
-
>Do we know if it would be possible to deliberately augment our physical prowess with our magic more than it already is?
>For that matter, do we have anything that might pass for martial arts experience?
-
>Do we know if it would be possible to deliberately augment our physical prowess with our magic more than it already is?
>For that matter, do we have anything that might pass for martial arts experience?
>You do have the ability to trade ranged power for physical strength. It isn't something you can do on the fly, but it is one of your abilities.
>Not unless you count the occasional bout of playful fencing with tennis rackets. Some of the younger members- and fairies- of your club engage you in that when Shikako isn't around to rain on their parade.
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>Well, it might be helpful if we could figure out a way to do it on the fly....
>"It's a little outside my experience, it's true."
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>Well, it might be helpful if we could figure out a way to do it on the fly....
>"It's a little outside my experience, it's true."
>The firefighter slings his axe over his shoulder. "I could fight you on that level, if you want." he offers.
>"Oh, just get it over with, Kenyu!" the tengu calls from the sidelines. "You could have beaten her half a dozen moves ago!"
>You can sense Rin about to angrily retort, but it is Reisen who rebukes the Blood. "Not from where I'm standing."
>"Then stand somewhere else, rabbit." the tiger standing next to the tengu says to Poppy, and none too politely.
-
>To the tiger (but without taking our eyes off Kenyu): "Is civility so beneath you? Are we not here to practice, and learn, and improve ourselves?"
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>To the tiger (but without taking our eyes off Kenyu): "Is civility so beneath you? Are we not here to practice, and learn, and improve ourselves?"
>"That IS civil where a moon rabbit's concerned." the tiger replies.
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>"The war is long over, and she no more culpable for it than I am. That explanation does you no credit."
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>"The war is long over, and she no more culpable for it than I am. That explanation does you no credit."
>"Drop it, Lotus." Cynthia says bluntly, flaring her wings briefly.
>"Why should she?" It is Minoriko, of all people, who asks that. "Poppy wasn't even part of that war. You have no right to prejudge her."
>"I said drop it." the tengu says again, seeming now defensive toward her fellow Blood. You can tell that she feels this is a sensitive area for the tiger youkai.
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>"I have no desire to tread upon old wounds, but I would ask likewise that you keep any condescending opinions of my compatriots to yourselves."
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>"I have no desire to tread upon old wounds, but I would ask likewise that you keep any condescending opinions of my compatriots to yourselves."
>"Or else what?"
>Byakuren, you don't need to do this. Reisen says privately. It's no worse than I've heard before.
-
>"Surely it shouldn't require threats for you to be polite?"
>I'm sure it isn't, but it wasn't acceptable then and it isn't now; I refuse to tacitly condone it.
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>"Surely it shouldn't require threats for you to be polite?"
>I'm sure it isn't, but it wasn't acceptable then and it isn't now; I refuse to tacitly condone it.
>"You'd be surprised." Kenyu snarls. Not at you, though, at his fellow Blood. "Now both of you shut the hell up, before I lose my good mood. Keep it up, and it'll be a toss up between me and the kasha to see which one of us torches you first." And as Rin does seem to be edging towards the two other Blood, and is on-edge herself, Kenyu's probably not far wrong.
>Both Cynthia and the tiger seem to want to say something else, but the look on Kenyu's face brooks no arguement. So, to your surprise, they offer none.
>I didn't think they'd really be quiet. Minoriko remarks.
>They're probably a Coven. says Reisen. When the head of a Coven, in this case Kenyu, gives an order, it is obeyed.
>He's their master? Rin asks.
>Not exactly. But I suppose you're not too far wrong, Rin. A Rose Jeweled Prince like Kenyu carries a lot of authority within the Blood.
>"You know, that does give me an idea, Lotus." Kenyu says to you, his voice far, far less harsh with you than his comrades. "What do you say we change things up a bit?"
-
>"What did you have in mind?"
-
>"What did you have in mind?"
>"I want to give your crew a crack at the peanut gallery over there." he says, waving his axe at Cynthia and the tiger.
-
>"I suspect you won't hear any objections from them."
-
>"I suspect you won't hear any objections from them."
>"Friggin' right." says Cynthia. Then she looks at Kenyu. "You're thinking 'us vs. them', right?"
>"I am." Kenyu says with a nod. "I've enjoyed our fight, Lotus, and I'd really love to finish our duel. But I don't want there to be any tension between your group and mine. A little tussle should work that out."
>"You would be outnumbered." Chrysanthemum reminds him. "There are six of us, and only five Blood here."
>"That just makes it more fair for you." the firefighter says, though he says that as a matter of fact, rather than with any sort of bravado or bluster.
>"And think of it this way." the tiger Blood says to the tiger miko. "It'll give you a chance to practice against multiple powerful targets, in case those Champions decide to come at you all at once."
>"I didn't think you'd want to help us." Carnation remarks.
>"It's not you or your group I have a problem with. I'm a cop. I welcome anyone that helps protect my city." He points at Poppy. "It's her I have a problem with, her and her kind."
>Kenyu scowls briefly. "And that's the kind of conflict I want to work out before it gets any worse. What do you say, Lotus? My Blood against you girls?"
-
>To our allies: Does anyone have any objections?
-
>To our allies: Does anyone have any objections?
>I don't. says White Rose.
>Me either. concurs Pink Carnation.
>The experience could be useful. Kiku replies, ever the pragmatist.
>I follow your lead. Poppy says simply.
>Lily, however, does not reply. You have only a vaguely pink-ish sensation from the little blonde.
-
>Er, did Lily slip away from the room while we were distracted?
-
>Er, did Lily slip away from the room while we were distracted?
>She may have done. She doesn't appear to be anywhere in sight at the moment, at least.
-
>"We appear to be missing someone, but... I don't see the need to delay on her account. We accept."
-
>"We appear to be missing someone, but... I don't see the need to delay on her account. We accept."
>"Well, we can w-"
>"Good." Cynthia interrupts Kenyu fiercely, punctuating her statement with a blast of Sapphire energy aimed at you. At virtually the same time, the tiger youkai standing next to her turns on Rin and looses a burst of purple-colored power.
-
>Assuming there's no one behind us that would get hit instead, let's scramble out of the way of Cynthia's attack and respond with a Scarlet Lotus
>(But if there is, let's block it with some Sapphire power of our own)
-
>Assuming there's no one behind us that would get hit instead, let's scramble out of the way of Cynthia's attack and respond with a Scarlet Lotus
>(But if there is, let's block it with some Sapphire power of our own)
>There is no one behind you that is in the direct path of Cynthia's attack. So you opt for simple evasion. But the sneaky tengu's sneak attack has caught you just slightly off guard, leaving you unable to completely escape damage. The blue bolt strikes you in your right ribs, gouging out a section of your uniform, but not hitting you hard enough to knock you off balance.
>You hear Kiku snarl behind you, and the sound is cut off by another blast of Jeweled energy. White Rose, demonstrating impressive reflexes, has countered the tiger youkai's purple blast with her White Retainer's Flame. The attacks are grinding against each other in midair, and at this point, you're not sure which of the two has the upper hand. The youkai\s purple Jewel is stronger than the Sapphire you've faced, but not as strong as Kenyu's Rose Jewel.
>As for Kenyu himself, the strongest of the Blood does not seem to be employing his Jewels at this time. Out of the corner of your eye you seem him running at someone, but it's at the wrong angle to be you. You think he's charging Poppy, but you can't spare a look right now. Cynthia pressing her attack against you, taking to the sky and calling forth a melee weapon of her own- in her case, a short sword. As she does so, she unleashes three bursts of Sapphire power at you.
-
>Back off and focus on evading Cythia's attack, and instead contribute a Scarlet Lotus towards the tiger Rin is fighting and see if that can turn the clash in her favor
-
>Back off and focus on evading Cythia's attack, and instead contribute a Scarlet Lotus towards the tiger Rin is fighting and see if that can turn the clash in her favor
>Evading the tengu's bolts won't be easy. Cynthia's staggered her attacks very well, and they're coming in hot. You'd guess she's practiced this sort of thing before. If not for your enhansed agility, you'd have no chance of dodging them. As it is, it takes very nearly all your focus to dodge the three shots she sends at you, and the extra shot she sends at you as you're dodging the second shot. You're still able to fire off a Scarlet Lotus at the tiger, but you can't manage one at its full intensity. Still, as evenly balanced as Rin and the other cat appear to be, that should be enough to top the scales in Rin's favor.
>Your shotgun blast of energy splashes against the hastily-erected shield the tiger manifests from his second Jewel. You frown. At least that Blood seems to be able to use both Jewels without compromising either, as his shield is enough to stop your shot, and the energy blast he directs against White Rose does not diminish. The tiger's second Jewel is blue, but a darker shade than the Sapphire you're used to, closer to an Opal. It isn't as strong as the Sapphire, but it's strong enough to thwart your efforts for the moment.
>"Eyes forward!" Cynthia yells, her arm kicking back as she unleashes a sizable bolt of Sapphire energy at you. It has the same shape and size as a missile.
-
>Try to deflect the missile away from us with a Sapphire Lotus, then counter with Scarlet
>We need to get together. Our power combined is greater than each of us alone!
-
>Try to deflect the missile away from us with a Sapphire Lotus, then counter with Scarlet
>We need to get together. Our power combined is greater than each of us alone!
>That's easier said than done. Reisen replies, seemingly straining against something. Judging from the sounds and sensations of weapons and Jewels and magic, Minoriko and Kiku have their hands full as well.
>But you've got your own problems to deal with. Not having enough time to evade this shot, and not sure if that would do any good anyway, you deploy your own Sapphire light against the massive projectile. The energy must have been designed to explode on impact, as instead of being diverted away from you, the missile detonates against your screen. The explosion is massive, sending a shockwave up the length of your arm but otherwise doing you no harm. By happy coincidence, you intercepted Cynthia's missile some distance away from you, and you see the tengu buffeted slightly herself by the force of the blast. Hoping to take advantage of her momentary stagger, you switch your scepter to your left hand and fire Scarlet Lotus at the flying tengu. Cynthia manages to recover in time to begin taking evasive maneuvers, as well as erecting a barrier of Sapphire energy around herself. But she doesn't have the time to dodge your attack completely, nor the power to negate your attack either. The tengu Blood finds herself buffeted by a barrage of red and white energy, not all of which she is capable of defending herself against.
>And then a sphere of dark blue energy flies across the battlefield, bouncing like a ball- or a grenade- heading in your direction.
-
>If it's bouncing, then let's give it something better to bounce off of. Deploy a Sapphire Lotus in its path to attempt to bounce it towards an enemy - any enemy will do
>Then try to move towards Rin's position, while still taking care to not unnecessarily expose ourselves to danger
-
>If it's bouncing, then let's give it something better to bounce off of. Deploy a Sapphire Lotus in its path to attempt to bounce it towards an enemy - any enemy will do
>Then try to move towards Rin's position, while still taking care to not unnecessarily expose ourselves to danger
>The only opponent you could bounce it towards at the moment is Kenyu, which would mean sending it at Reisen as well.
-
>It's really not possible to bounce it in Cynthia's general direction or something?
>If there's no way to do this, just try to deflect away from us in general and otherwise follow last post's commands
-
>It's really not possible to bounce it in Cynthia's general direction or something?
>If there's no way to do this, just try to deflect away from us in general and otherwise follow last post's commands
>Even though you've hit her, you didn't knock her from the air. She's too far up in the air for the grenade to reach her unless you were to grab it and throw it. And you're reasonably sure it would explode if you tried that.
>So instead of deflecting it to your right, you send it in the opposite direction. The Opal projectile explodes, releasing a cloud of dark blue gaseous energy, but you're moving too quickly for it to touch you. Heading towards White Rose, you keep an eye on Cynthia, noting that your blast has not removed all of her clothing, but has taken its toll on her outfit. She, like you, is focused more on changing her position, heading back towards the tiger youkai. Said youkai, now looking at you, points his left hand at you, but a blast of fire from Rin's direction diverts her attention. As he did with you, he erects an Opal shield to handle her attack, but unlike the light you unleashed upon his shield, Rin's attack is undiminished. As his Opal shield fails, the tiger is forced to turn away from you and use his stronger Jewel, which resembles an Amethyst now that you're closer to the man, to defend himself.
>"Lotus, watch out!" Chrysanthemum calls out from behind you.
-
>Quick glance behind us to see what we might be being warned about, and be ready to shield or dodge as needed
-
>Quick glance behind us to see what we might be being warned about, and be ready to shield or dodge as needed
>"Spectrum shift: Caster!" you hear Reisen exclaim as you glance back over your shoulder to see the X-shaped blast of Opal energy flying in at you. It's just big enough and fast enough for you to think that you can't quite dodge it. But since it's an Opal level, weaker than the Sapphire, your own Sapphire Lotus can handle it without requiring all of your energy. So you point your scepter behind you and erect a barrier of Sapphire energy, letting the Opal blast explode against it, without really slowing all that much.
>Out of the corner of your eye you see Cynthia has righted herself and starts to orient herself towards you, but her attention is drawn by something else. You hear Reisen invoke "Caster: Lightning Beam!" and the crackling sound electricity flies in at the tengu. Cynthia is forced to turn her attention from you to deal with the new threat.
>Try and take the Amethyst one first! Poppy advises. He's the strongest next to Kenyu.
>What, Amethyst? Lily's vice cuts in as the tiger Blood, having warded off White Rose's latest attack, turns his own Opal Jewel towards you. Instead of attacking you directly, a trio of hard-light spike strips appear on the floor of the arena between you and Rin. What's going on out there? Lily asks.
>What if Cynthia's holing back? Kiku asks.
>No way, not against Lotus and White Rose. The Sapphire has to be his Jewel of Rank, and that makes the tiger stronger.
-
>Are we close enough to Rin to have an open combo shot with her on the tiger?
>If so, is anyone else close enough and unoccupied enough to contribute?
>If the answer to both of these is no, let's Amber Lotus the spike strips and keep moving
-
>Are we close enough to Rin to have an open combo shot with her on the tiger?
>If so, is anyone else close enough and unoccupied enough to contribute?
>If the answer to both of these is no, let's Amber Lotus the spike strips and keep moving
>Not from where you are now, no. Well, you can certainly both attack him at the same time, but you can't generate a dual tech.
>Also no.
>Anxious to get to Rin's side, you invoke a wide-beam Amber Lotus. Even diffused among multiple targets, your light is strong enough to make the Jeweled constructs dissolve into thin air. The cop is starting to look a bit hard-pressed, and rightly so, as he finds himself fighting both you and White Rose nearly by himself. No doubt Cynthia would be helping him now in some way, but the tengu appears to have her hands full with Poppy, by the sounds of things. "White Retainer's Flame Haze!" Rin makes things even more difficult for the tiger youkai as she sends a thick cloud of smoke towards him, embers and sparks dancing within the haze. With his attention diverted by the smoke, Rin takes the opportunity to make a dash towards you.
>And then the battlefield is filled by a blinding blue light.
-
>Do we have any idea where that came from?
>Is it so bright that we can no longer actually see the rest of the battlefield?
>Does our link with our companions actually allow us to sense where they are despite not being able to see them? Or just with our mystical senses in general?
-
>Do we have any idea where that came from?
>Is it so bright that we can no longer actually see the rest of the battlefield?
>Does our link with our companions actually allow us to sense where they are despite not being able to see them? Or just with our mystical senses in general?
>It has the sensation of Cynthia's Sapphire Jewel.
>Yes.
>Clarify.
-
>Well, we have the ability to detect magical energy in a pretty precise fashion. Can we use this to sense where people are located on the battlefield without having to use sight? Just focus on their magic - both that of our adversaries and our companions.
-
>Well, we have the ability to detect magical energy in a pretty precise fashion. Can we use this to sense where people are located on the battlefield without having to use sight? Just focus on their magic - both that of our adversaries and our companions.
>Yes. It would not be exactly as accurate as seeing them, but it would be very close to it.
-
>Then let's take evasive maneuvers from our current position so that we're not standing exactly where anyone expects us to be if they can't see through this, and fire a Scarlet Lotus at the tiger.
-
>Then let's take evasive maneuvers from our current position so that we're not standing exactly where anyone expects us to be if they can't see through this, and fire a Scarlet Lotus at the tiger.
>As you start to feint right, you sense the discharge of Amethyst energy from the tiger youkai's position. Fortunately for you, your anticipation of such a move allows you to sidestep the bolt of energy, albeit without a great deal of room to spare. Returning the favor, you send a powerful blast of Scarlet light back the way that attack from. You still can't see through this wall of Sapphire light, but you can hear the Blood cop emit a "Bwagh!" sound. Which sounds a bit satisfying to your ears. At a guess, you hit him.
-
>How close do we think we are to Rin at this point? Close enough to move to take hold of her hand?
>And if she doesn't have acute enough mystical senses to penetrate this light, do we think it would be reasonably possible for her to fire a technique with us if we aimed her hand along with ours? Or would she need more freedom of movement than that?
-
>How close do we think we are to Rin at this point? Close enough to move to take hold of her hand?
>And if she doesn't have acute enough mystical senses to penetrate this light, do we think it would be reasonably possible for her to fire a technique with us if we aimed her hand along with ours? Or would she need more freedom of movement than that?
>Close, but not there yet.
>Yes.
-
>Then let's quickly move towards her
>Rin, take my hand. Let's see if we can land a paired attack on the tiger before the light fades - I can sense him well enough to aim, but he mightn't well enough to know what we're doing.
>Try to take her hand
-
>Then let's quickly move towards her
>Rin, take my hand. Let's see if we can land a paired attack on the tiger before the light fades - I can sense him well enough to aim, but he mightn't well enough to know what we're doing.
>Try to take her hand
>With both of your current enemies seemingly dealt with, at least momentarily, you finish closing the distance between you and Rin.
>As you contact Rin, you hear her sniff the air quickly before the kasha reaches out her hand. Your hand is not the first thing she grabs. Sorry. she apologizes quickly as she takes her hand off your chest.
>"You'll pay for that." Cynthia growls. The Sapphire light fades as suddenly as it sprang into life, and the tengu attacks again. She seems to have roughly the same idea as you did, as she braids her two powers together. From her hands there comes a massive blast of blue and green energy.
>Cynthia fires just as Rin takes your hand.
-
>Change of plans - hit her instead!
>Let's twine our power with Rin's and meet Cynthia's attack head on with a Vermillion Lotus beam
-
>Change of plans - hit her instead!
>Let's twine our power with Rin's and meet Cynthia's attack head on with a Vermillion Lotus beam
>Understood!
>Hand in hand in Rin, you unleash your Vermillion Lotus as Rin discharges her White Retainer's Flame. The fireball that results from your dual tech is no larger than the blast Cynthia unleashed but is far more intense. Cynthia's Jeweled might is impressive but her power is no match for yours. Her turquoise blast bursts when your fireball hits it, and while your attack is reduced, it is not stopped. To the tengu's credit, she doesn't get stunned. She beats her wings and takes to the sky, firing another quick blast from her green jewel that takes a bit more energy away from your Vermillion Retainer's Flame, but not enough to stop it. Your dual tech with Rin strikes the airborne tengu, and even reduced in power, the shot is still strong enough to take Cynthia down to her skivvies.
>As Cynthia growls, Kenyu speaks up. "We give."
-
>"Oh?"
-
>"Oh?"
>"I think Cynthia'd be happier if we gave before you stripped Wataru completely." the firefighter replies. You see that the big man himself has seemingly been gotten the better of. His pants are still on, mostly, but his shirt has been shredded. Cynthia's down to her underwear, and a look around reveals the other two Blood have also been bested. Ioana the biker is presently wearing nothing but a smile, seemingly totally at peace with the idea of being unclad, while Camille is also down to her underwear.
>It is Wataru, though, that draws your eye. Your Scarlet Lotus did not completely remove all the policeman's clothes, but the bits of skin you can see tell quite a story. The man's torso is riddled with scars. He looks like he was used as a training dummy for a swordsmanship school when he wasn't being whipped. The oddest scar is the mark on his upper arm. It looks more like a brand than a scar, and though you can't tell exactly what it is, there's something about that shape that looks familiar. Not something you've seen in person, but in school.
>"Besides," Kenyu adds, "I've seen enough to know that Wataru and me couldn't take the five of you when we're already down a few articles."
-
>"Very well, then. We accept."
>Let's bow respectfully to our opponents. Even Cynthia. Perhaps especially Cynthia.
>Nice work, everyone.
>How did our crew fare, anyway? Minoriko in particular.
-
>How did our crew fare, anyway? Minoriko in particular.
>All in all, a good showing. Minoriko did take some damage, but really not as much as you might have expected. And neither the fight nor her current state seem to have bothered her too much. She's presently standing with Camille and Ioana having what appears to be a pleasant conversation. It is unfortunate that you couldn't spare the focus to see what sort of powers she had in combat, but given the fact that she seems to have manifested the quarterstaff she is presently leaning against, you would assume she is at least partially melee capable. Kiku, showing no more damage than a hole in her skirt exposing part of her thigh, is walking towards Kenyu.
>Perhaps owing to the fact that she changed spectrums, Reisen appears completely clothed. Insomuch as her Caster form is clothed. White Rose hasn't fared quite as well. But easily the one who's sustained the most damage is you. Which is no great surprise as you had two fights in a row. The fact that you and Kenyu fought each other and then engaged in this 5 on 5 and kept at least some of your clothes on is a mark positive for the both of you.
>Nice work, everyone.
>Thank you.Thanks. Rin and Minoriko answer in unison.
>An informative exercise. replies Kiku. Worth doing again, especially if all of us are here. she adds sharply in Lily's direction.
>You started without me! the blonde protests.
>Where were you? Rin asks her.
>Lily audibly hesitates. I was, uh... I got distracted.
>"Very well, then. We accept."
>Let's bow respectfully to our opponents. Even Cynthia. Perhaps especially Cynthia.
>"Always with the bowing." you hear Ioana drawl.
>"It's the Yamato way." Minoriko informs her, without looking directly at the naked woman. Camille calls in a plain robe and drapes it over the biker's shoulders. Ioana grins at her fellow Blood and bows to Minoriko. She and Camille do likewise. Kenyu chuckles warmly and returns your bow.
>"We could've taken them if you'd used your Jewels." Cynthia gripes at her leader. It's only now you realize that not once during the battle did you sense Kenyu use either of his two powerful Jewels.
>The oni shrugs. "Wanted to make it more fair. They were down a man. Plus I wanted to see how Poppy's swordsmanship stacked up to my axe." He grins, slightly flexing the muscles of his bare chest. "I lost."
>And then Wataru comes back to his feet. Given his apparant connection to Cynthia, and his attitude towards Reisen, you imagine he might not take losing all that well. But to your surprise, he says, "Now I see how you beat the Stuntrons." with honest respect, and bows his head to you.
-
>Let's return the gesture
>And then rematerialize our missing clothing
-
>Let's return the gesture
>And then rematerialize our missing clothing
>"How do you hit me so accurately after Cynthia flashed?" Wataru asks as you take a moment to reclothe yourself. "I'd have expected that from one of the non-humans, but not you."
-
>"I could tell your location from the sensation of the power you wield - not quite as precisely as if I could see you, but close."
-
>"I could tell your location from the sensation of the power you wield - not quite as precisely as if I could see you, but close."
>"Impressive. That trick hasn't been foolproof, but it usually works better than that, at least."
>"Doesn't your group get affected by that light, too?" White Rose asks him as she too repairs her uniform.
>"We train for that. It's only really a problem for one of us, but a little warning and proper training takes care of that." The scarred policeman scratches his nose with his thumb. In doing so, he raises his arm slightly, giving you a better look at the scar branded onto his upper arm. A 'G' over a circle. You stifle a gasp as the memory clicks. Garrus. That mark was branded onto prisoners of the infamous Garrus prison camps during the second Lunarian war. No wonder he doesn't like moon rabbits. The rabbits than ran those camps did unspeakable things to their captives. That would explain all those scars. He probably WAS used as a training dummy.
>Rin isn't quite as restrained as you are and gasps audibly. Wataru simple nods and smiles slightly. "Someone paid attention is history class." he says wryly.
>"I'm sorry, I-"
>"Don't be. I get that whenever anybody sees me." He glances back over his shoulder briefly at Cynthia, who is still grumbling to Kenyu about his sloppy performance. "That's why she gets defensive of me at times like this. One of the reasons, anyway. I'd say 'try not to hold it against her', but really, I know how she comes across."
-
>"She does have a certain... abrasiveness to her."
-
>"She does have a certain... abrasiveness to her."
>"She's had a rough time of it." he says. This coming from someone who's been though what he has? "It's not always easy being Blood, but sometimes it's harder being a woman." He pauses and sighs quietly. "I don't suppose you think too much better of me, do you. After what I said."
-
>"I can see where it comes from and I appreciate your candor."
-
>"I can see where it comes from and I appreciate your candor."
>"Look, Lotus, don't take this question the wrong way, but I have to know. Was she here during the war?"
-
>"Not as a soldier. She refused to kill people."
-
>"Not as a soldier. She refused to kill people."
>"The Lunarians didn't bring civilians with them." Wataru counters. "If she was here, then she was a soldier. They all were, that's what the Lunarians used them for."
-
>Is Reisen's status as someone who fled to earth unique enough that saying as much could give away her identity?
-
>Is Reisen's status as someone who fled to earth unique enough that saying as much could give away her identity?
>It's a little hard to say. Her status makes her very unique, but her story isn't common knowledge. It's known that she's an exile, but not too many people know the real reason for it.
-
>Do we at least know vaguely of the existence of other rabbit exiles or immigrants before the war or somesuch?
-
>Do we at least know vaguely of the existence of other rabbit exiles or immigrants before the war or somesuch?
>Yes. Some moon rabbits stayed on Earth after the first war, and over the years, a small number of rabbits have been exiled to Earth. Not many, but it is not unheard of.
-
>"She got away."
-
>"She got away."
>"That can mean a lot of things." Wataru points out. With a wry grin, he adds, "And maybe not the best way to phrase something to a cop?"
-
>"I doubt even you could have a problem with someone who refused to kill in their name."
-
>"I doubt even you could have a problem with someone who refused to kill in their name."
>"You don't have to kill to be a criminal." He sighs again. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to turn this into an interrogation. It's just, any rabbit that was here during the war was a soldier. And if they're still here, then they're a war criminal, and it's my job to track them down. About the only rabbit that was on Earth I know wasn't a war criminal is Reisen Inaba, and that's not her." he says, pointing at Reisen. "Looks a bit like her, but I'd recognize her."
>"You've met her?" Poppy asks.
>"No. Her name came up in connection to a case I worked a while back."
-
>This is... a little awkward.
>"Weren't there already a few moon rabbits living on earth before the second war broke out?"
-
>This is... a little awkward.
>"Weren't there already a few moon rabbits living on earth before the second war broke out?"
>"Leftovers from the first invasion, yeah. Never could figure out why their masters left them here."
-
>"Mightn't some of them simply have preferred living down here?"
-
>"Mightn't some of them simply have preferred living down here?"
>"From my experience, their masters didn't much care for their preferences." He rotates his left shoulder slightly, his scars rippling. "If things had been different, I might have felt sorry for the rabbits. I know that not all of them were soldiers by choice. But that doesn't absolve someone of their crimes. Justice has to be done. If your rabbit... If Poppy," he corrects himself, "isn't one of those rabbits that used to be a soldier, fine. She's helping you defend this city, that's great. I'm all for that, and I'd be happy to fight alongside her if it came to that. But what she's doing now doesn't change what she did, or didn't do, in the past."
-
>In full earnestness: "I vouch for her."
-
>In full earnestness: "I vouch for her."
>"No disrespect, Lotus, but in my line of work, I've heard that before."
>"Then what do you want to hear?" White Rose asks.
>"If she was here during the war, then I want to know what she was doing here."
-
>To Reisen: What would you have me say? Your status is a lot more unique than any of ours....
-
>To Reisen: What would you have me say? Your status is a lot more unique than any of ours....
>You can tell him I was an exile. she says. It's true, after all. I AM an exile.
-
>"Living in exile. You said it yourself, the Lunarians weren't often respectful of people who disagreed with them."
-
>"Living in exile. You said it yourself, the Lunarians weren't often respectful of people who disagreed with them."
>The scarred cop smiles. "You could've told me that in the first place, you know."
>"Would you have believed her?" White Rose asks pointedly.
>Wataru nods. "Touche." she says quietly.
-
>Well, that could have gone worse. All of this. Although Kenyu not using his jewels is tantamount to him deliberately throwing the match. I guess he really was just trying to make a point.
-
>Well, that could have gone worse. All of this. Although Kenyu not using his jewels is tantamount to him deliberately throwing the match. I guess he really was just trying to make a point.
>Like he said, he wanted to test his axe against my Saber. Reisen says.
>And he is part Oni. Kiku adds. Oni often possess a sense of honor in combat situations. In his mind, as we were not all our full strength, he wanted to do something to even the match.
>'Part' Oni? Rin asks.
>His horns are not those of a full Oni. I would guess he is half-blooded. Too, there was the fact that Cynthia used what amounts to a sneak attack against you, Lotus. Kenyu may have seen that as an affront to his honor. I would recommend we try this again. With Lily, this time. With all six of us, and Kenyu operating at his full power, we would be better able to test ourselves against a number of foes at once.
-
>What, now?
-
>What, now?
>Perhaps not. Kiku replies after a bit of thought. You and Rin have fought more than the rest of us. And the same is true for Kenyu as well. In which case, Reisen, I have a suggestion.
>Yes? the rabbit replies.
>I would see how you and I operate as a pair. I suggest we challenge Cynthia and Wataru to a two-on-two battle.
>On a private channel, Kiku adds, And I would suggest that you, Lotus, find Lily and give her a talking to.
-
>To Kiku: ie: 'This is still 'work', even if no one's in danger'?
-
>To Kiku: ie: 'This is still 'work', even if no one's in danger'?
>I would phrase it a bit differently, but yes. I would do so myself, but you are our leader.
-
>Lily is a very... joyously free spirit. In fact, I would say this temperament of hers is the very wellspring from which her power flows. Perhaps this sounds like I'm making excuses for her, but I don't think she was being slack. I think she was being... well... Lily. If there had been anything of consequence on the line, I know she would have been here. I'm sure this sounds lackadaisical from one as dedicated to their duties as you are, but our power stems not just from focus and training but from embracing the emotion within our hearts and being true to it. And, well... in a sense, I think that may have been exactly what she was doing....
>Do we still get that pink sensation if we reach out towards Lily?
-
>Lily is a very... joyously free spirit. In fact, I would say this temperament of hers is the very wellspring from which her power flows. Perhaps this sounds like I'm making excuses for her, but I don't think she was being slack. I think she was being... well... Lily. If there had been anything of consequence on the line, I know she would have been here. I'm sure this sounds lackadaisical from one as dedicated to their duties as you are, but our power stems not just from focus and training but from embracing the emotion within our hearts and being true to it. And, well... in a sense, I think that may have been exactly what she was doing....
>Do we still get that pink sensation if we reach out towards Lily?
>Kiku does not answer for a long moment. I had not... considered that. she admits.
>No. She appears to be finished.
-
>Some of us draw power from duty and dedication, but for her I think it's always been about a simple-hearted love for the world and the people in it and not wanting any of them to get hurt.
>But I may suggest she at least try to give me some warning if she expects to be elsewhere while we're 'on the job'.
-
>Some of us draw power from duty and dedication, but for her I think it's always been about a simple-hearted love for the world and the people in it and not wanting any of them to get hurt.
>But I may suggest she at least try to give me some warning if she expects to be elsewhere while we're 'on the job'.
>That sounds reasonable. Kiku replies with a mental nod. I must admit, though, I had wondered why she did not show up during the fight. True, it was relatively short, but I would have expected her to arrive before the end. What was she doing?
-
>She, um.... I think that might be considered personal.
-
>She, um.... I think that might be considered personal.
>Oh. Surprisingly, Kiku chuckles. I might have known.
-
>Lily is Lily.
-
>Lily is Lily.
>You've noted this behavior yourself?
-
>Well, perhaps not in the middle of an outing, but I can't be completely surprised.
-
>Well, perhaps not in the middle of an outing, but I can't be completely surprised.
>It is a pity our enemies are not so easily sidetracked. Kiku says as the tiger woman approaches where you stand.
>"So you believe her now?" White Rose asks Wataru.
>"I would prefer to." the cop replies. "I don't like the idea of someone winning over Kenyu and then turning out to not be who they claim to be." He takes a long breath. "It's obvious you girls trust her. I won't tell you not to. Just be careful is all. Whether they're criminals or not, every moon rabbit on Earth has a past, and between what they've done and what was done to them, none of them are benign ones."
-
>"That may be so, but our pasts do not have to dictate our future."
-
>"That may be so, but our pasts do not have to dictate our future."
>"Trust too easily, and someone like me might be carving that on your tombstone." Wataru warns. "Kenyu would be very upset if that happened, and so would I."
>"You really care about what he thinks." White Rose observes.
>"I do. There's two people that really helped me get over what happen in G-9. Kenyu's one of them. I'd tear off my arm before I'd see him upset."
>Chrysanthemum clears her throat. "Excuse me, Officer?" she asks politely.
>"Yes?"
>With Wataru's attention diverted, Rin makes a private confession, This guy kinda confuses me, Mistress. I don't like what he said about Reisen, but I gotta say, I admire how he feels about Kenyu.
-
>If he struggles to separate Reisen from other moon rabbits after living through Garrus, I can't entirely blame him. She had nothing to do with it, but some wounds run very, very deep.
-
>If he struggles to separate Reisen from other moon rabbits after living through Garrus, I can't entirely blame him. She had nothing to do with it, but some wounds run very, very deep.
>G-9, Garrus.... That was that prison the moon people ran, wasn't it? The one on the island off the west coast?
-
>Assuming that location is correct: Yes.
-
>Assuming that location is correct: Yes.
>It is, which you confirm.
>We covered that in history class, right? The kasha's face grows sad. Lotta bad things happened there, didn't they.
>"If you'll excuse me, Lotus," Chrysanthemum says, interrupting your conversation with Rin. "If you were finished discussing matters with Officer Tomari, I would like to issue him a challenge."
>The ghost of a grin tracks across male tiger's face for a moment, then he gives you a nod. "You oughta sit down for a bit. Kenyu might want to pick up where you two left off before. Best to rest while you can."
-
>Smile
>"I won't say no to that."
>Let's give the two of them some room
>A lot of very bad things, yes.
-
>Smile
>"I won't say no to that."
>Let's give the two of them some room
>A lot of very bad things, yes.
>Leaving the two cats to their own devices, you and White Rose turn and make your way towards the arena seats to take a load off. Along the way, a number of mikos offer you their kudos on your victory.
>I know that happens in wars, says Rin, but those prisons were worse than killings in wars. Rin seems rather glum as her thoughts dwell on the lessons learned of those atrocious places. I wonder if that's what'll happen if we lose.
-
>We're not going to lose. Too much is at stake and too many people are supporting us. We will find a happy ending for our friends and our city and both our worlds.
-
>We're not going to lose. Too much is at stake and too many people are supporting us. We will find a happy ending for our friends and our city and both our worlds.
>Yeah. I know, Byakuren. Rin says with a nod as you find a seat, your kasha sitting next to you. She always lets you sit first. I didn't mean to sound beaten. It's just... Well, thinking of a place like Garrus, what those people musta gone through. Makes me think of when I was in my own prison. She smiles gamely. "Sorry." she says quietly.
-
>Put a hand on hers and smile
>Nothing to apologize for.
-
>Put a hand on hers and smile
>Nothing to apologize for.
>I know it's not the same thing, too. I mean, I didn't come from Konngara looking like... Well, that. she says, nodding faintly towards Wataru, who is now conversing with Poppy, Chrysanthemum and Cynthia. All of whom are now fully dressed again, you note. And when I came away from Konngara, I had you right there. Rin grips your hand and smiles again, this one much more warmly. "I know how lucky I am."
-
>"Then that makes two of us."
-
>"Then that makes two of us."
>"Excuse me." a voice says politely, interrupting your little moment with White Rose. It is Miyo, the purple-winged miko you spoke with earlier. She appears to have exchanged her glasses for contact lenses. The effect on her appearance is not dramatic, but rather noticable. "I hope I'm not intruding?"
-
>"Oh no, not at all. What is it?"
-
>"Oh no, not at all. What is it?"
>"May I sit down?"
-
>"Of course."
>Make room for her if there isn't already
-
>"Of course."
>Make room for her if there isn't already
>There's ample room on both sides, and the purple-winged youkai takes the spot to your left, leaving you seated between two pretty ladies. Yup, Marissa was defiantely right about this being one of the best seats in the world.
>"I wanted to congratulate you on your victory." the studious miko says to you and Rin. "Kenyu and his Protectors are a powerful and talented group."
-
>"'Protectors'?"
-
>"'Protectors'?"
>"The five of them call themselves that." Miyo explains. "Each of them comes from a line of work where they worked in some kind of defense, protecting people. Hiroichi-san is a firefighter, Tomari-san is a police officer, Henderson-san is a hospital worker, Radu-san is a former police officer, and Walker-san comes from the military. She used to be a helicopter pilot in the air force. Protectors in their own way. They may not all have the same job, but they all defend people in their own way."
-
>"I can appreciate that. And thank you - though I know Kenyu could have made us work harder for that victory if he'd wanted to."
-
>"I can appreciate that. And thank you - though I know Kenyu could have made us work harder for that victory if he'd wanted to."
>Miyo nods. "He's very powerful. He and Onee-sama have had some truly epic battles." The miko smiles lightly, a little glimmer in her eye. "It is a shame you and he could not finish your battle. You were holding your own much longer than many of my sisters had thought. I was hoping to see you and he battle to the end."
-
>"I'm certainly open to picking up where we left off."
-
>"I'm certainly open to picking up where we left off."
>"Wonderful."
>"Alone, again?" White Rose asks.
-
>"Well, I do think there are several people interested in seeing how it would have ended if we hadn't gotten sidetracked."
>To Rin: Though I admit I'm not certain which of us is likely to win. It depends on whether he really was pulling his punches the first time around - he's certainly stronger than I anticipated he was.
-
>"Well, I do think there are several people interested in seeing how it would have ended if we hadn't gotten sidetracked."
>To Rin: Though I admit I'm not certain which of us is likely to win. It depends on whether he really was pulling his punches the first time around - he's certainly stronger than I anticipated he was.
>"You're right there." Miyo confirms.
>That's why I asked. I mean, I know we're not in any danger here or anything, it's just, well, I would hate to see you lose.
-
>I appreciate the sentiment and I'll certainly try my best, but this isn't supposed to be a competition so much as a learning experience. If the goal was just to win, I know you have my back.
-
>I appreciate the sentiment and I'll certainly try my best, but this isn't supposed to be a competition so much as a learning experience. If the goal was just to win, I know you have my back.
>All the way, all the time.
>"And, while I am one of those," Miyo continues, just a bit hesitantly, "There is something I would like to ask, if I may. A favor, actually."
-
>"Oh? What is it?"
-
>"Oh? What is it?"
>The purple winged youkai, who has a very light, sweet perfume clinging to her, seems a little uncomfortable about whatever she's going to ask. "I understand that, you plan on confronting the Champion of Fire soon, yes?"
-
>"We had planned that, yes. Matters have changed somewhat since then, and I'm less certain that this is still the most prudent immediate course of action, but it may end up being unavoidable nevertheless."
-
>"We had planned that, yes. Matters have changed somewhat since then, and I'm less certain that this is still the most prudent immediate course of action, but it may end up being unavoidable nevertheless."
>Miyo's relief is plain. "Then, you're also not as certain that Onee-sama would be there to confront it with you? I understand that was the plan."
-
>Smile gently
>"Are you worried about her?"
-
>Smile gently
>"Are you worried about her?"
>Miyo nods. "I've had the opportunity to see her in action more than once. Not here, I mean real action, dealing with supernatural events. She has great power and great skill, maybe more than anyone in this city. But I've seen how she acts in battle. It's not easy to notice, but she has a habit of ignoring her own well-being, of taking risks that are unnecessary to achieve her goals." The youkai's wings droop. "I won't say that she has no regard for her own life, but what regard she has for her own safety is slim at best. Every time she goes out to deal with a new threat, I worry for her. And these Champions are among the most dangerous I know of; they have to be, if they live on Makai."
-
>"I understand, and you're not wrong about these Champions. But Hakura is also a veteran who has survived fighting supernatural threats for a very, very long time."
-
>"I understand, and you're not wrong about these Champions. But Hakura is also a veteran who has survived fighting supernatural threats for a very, very long time."
>"I understand that. Better than most of my sisters, actually. Not only have I fought alongside Onee-sama, I've researched some of the conflicts she was involved in before I was born. That she survived is nothing less than a miracle. But, despite my vocation, I do not rely on miracles, nor do I believe they last forever. It's not easy to shake the thought that each time she faces one of these demons or devils or Champions or formless horrors, it might be the last time. A risk that all of us face, true, but losing her would be far, far worse than losing any other shrine maiden."
-
>"Well, if circumstances have us fight alongside each other, I promise we'll do all that's in our power to make sure she comes back home again. That's what we're fighting for, after all."
-
>"Well, if circumstances have us fight alongside each other, I promise we'll do all that's in our power to make sure she comes back home again. That's what we're fighting for, after all."
>Miyo smiles, albeit a little sadly. "I guess I was sort of hoping that you could talk to her. Maybe try to convince her she doesn't need to fight this one. I realize how selfish that sounds." she says, looking you in the eye. "Believe me, I don't want to see you get hurt either. But, and correct me if I'm wrong, I don't think you possess the same kind of... I hesitate to use the word 'recklessness', but the same lack of self preservation that Onee-sama does."
-
>"I admit that I'm surprised to hear her described in those terms. From our few interactions, she's always seemed very calm and composed."
-
>"I admit that I'm surprised to hear her described in those terms. From our few interactions, she's always seemed very calm and composed."
>"She hides it well." Miyo concedes. "It's not easy for people to see it. It's become second nature to her, I think. And I admit, it must be hard to hear someone like me say they saw it."
>"What makes you say that?" White Rose asks her.
>"Because when people see me, they see a nerd." she says with a casual smile. "Someone who's really good with books but isn't so good with people. Maybe it's just a talent I have, but I can see things in ways other people can't as easily. For example, I could tell the two of you were together during the battle, before I saw you sitting here."
-
>"Well, I wasn't exactly trying to make a secret of it, just... well, when we're here on 'business', as it were...."
>"But you're truly worried about Haruka more than just the ordinary amount one would expect when it came to confronting so strong a power as the Champions, aren't you?"
-
>"Well, I wasn't exactly trying to make a secret of it, just... well, when we're here on 'business', as it were...."
>"But you're truly worried about Haruka more than just the ordinary amount one would expect when it came to confronting so strong a power as the Champions, aren't you?"
>"It wasn't obvious." Miyo says with a smile. "Little things, really, like the way you ran to White Rose first and kept trying to draw the two Blood's attention to yourself, away from her. Or the way White Rose's first look was to you after dealing with Tomari-san's attack."
>She smiles again, chuckling quietly. "'Do I love her?' in other words?"
-
>"That's not exactly what I meant, but...."
-
>"That's not exactly what I meant, but...."
>"I don't mind answering that, but I would like to hear exactly what you meant, if you don't mind."
-
>"I was asking if it was that you're less concerned about the raw danger of what she'd face but that she might needlessly ignore her own well-being when doing so?"
-
>"I was asking if it was that you're less concerned about the raw danger of what she'd face but that she might needlessly ignore her own well-being when doing so?"
>Miyo blinks, then laughs. "Actions, I'm good with. Words, there I still need some work." she musts wryly. "Forgive me, I jumped past so simple a thought."
-
>"It happens to all of us sometimes."
-
>"It happens to all of us sometimes."
>"To answer the second point first, I would say I am concerned in equal measures. I know more about Makai than most who serve at the shrines. I have an idea how powerful, resourceful and dangerous the beings that live there have to be in order to survive. If these particular demons are Champions of their race, it stands to reason that they are the most powerful and resourceful of their race, and are therefore the most dangerous. This in turn leads me to believe that Onee-sama will want all the more to be among those that confront them. Knowing her as I do, I fear this may be the time she makes the mistake that will prove to be fatal. Either through a desire to save someone else or through some circumstance I cannot forsee, I can't dispel the image of her being among the first to die against them. My sisters know how powerful she is, but I know how reckless she can be. She's done things in the past that would have killed others in her position. She can't keep doing this, but I know she will. And she will do so until it kills her. And I can't stop her." she admits, lowering her head. "I have tried. I am not convincing enough to change her, nor powerful enough to support her as I fear she will need."
-
>"But perhaps we are; I'm not about to let anyone die on my watch."
-
>"But perhaps we are; I'm not about to let anyone die on my watch."
>"That's not really fair for you, though." Miyo protests. "You have enough to worry about in combat without worrying about those outside your group putting themselves at risk."
-
>"We're all in this together, whether you're one of our group or a miko or even an innocent bystander; the very reason we fight is to keep everyone safe. I know I can't promise that everything will always work out, but I can promise that I won't let any risk someone takes on our behalf be in vain."
-
>"We're all in this together, whether you're one of our group or a miko or even an innocent bystander; the very reason we fight is to keep everyone safe. I know I can't promise that everything will always work out, but I can promise that I won't let any risk someone takes on our behalf be in vain."
>Miyo nods. "I just hope I haven't given you something else to worry about." she says a bit wistfully. "That was NOT my intention."
-
>"Don't worry about it. I'm glad that you felt comfortable enough to share it with me, and I promise I'll keep it in mind."
-
>"Don't worry about it. I'm glad that you felt comfortable enough to share it with me, and I promise I'll keep it in mind."
>Miyo nods again. "Onee-sama has spoken very well of you. That alone is reason enough to feel comfortable around you."
>"Did you wish me to answer the second part of that question as well?"
-
>Smile gently
>"That's entirely up to you."
-
>Smile gently
>"That's entirely up to you."
>"All of us love her, Lotus." Miyo replies, turning her gaze towards the shrine maiden in question. The big eagle is now working with Pink Carnation. She is wielding a quarterstaff of her own and is working through a light routine of strikes and blocks with your junior colleague. "Some of us in different ways, of course. Such is the nature of love. But I suppose that's kind of an evasion. Yes, Lotus, I do love her. I do not know if I will ever be one of those she graces with her... blessing" she finishes, the emphasis she puts on the word quite telling of what exactly she means by it, "But that is only fair. I would feel unfaithful if I were to receive her attention and yet have eyes for other people." She smiles a little uncertainly. "I fear I haven't quite disciplined myself to evade the charms of certain men yet. Or certain women."
-
>"An honest heart can have room for more than one person."
-
>"An honest heart can have room for more than one person."
>Miyo's smile brightens a bit. "I'm happy to hear you say that. But I'd be lying if I said I also wasn't a little surprised. I mean no offense, of course. I simply thought that..." she trails off, looking between you and White Rose.
-
>"I love her deeply, yes."
>Give Rin's hand a little squeeze
-
>"I love her deeply, yes."
>Give Rin's hand a little squeeze
>"No, I meant..." Miyo pauses again, plainly apprehensive, but she takes a breath and takes the plunge. "I had assumed you two were monogamous."
-
>Glance to Rin. Let's see if we can follow her lead on how to reply to that - her comfort level is paramount, after all
-
>Glance to Rin. Let's see if we can follow her lead on how to reply to that - her comfort level is paramount, after all
>As your eyes move to Rin, you find her gaze turning towards you. Judging from the look on her face, you believe she was thinking exactly the same thought. Miyo's question doesn't seem to have made her uncomfortable, but knowing her, she'd wait for your lead before answering herself. Or for some sign that you're okay with her fielding that one.
-
>To Rin: I somehow don't really feel right answering for you....
-
>To Rin: I somehow don't really feel right answering for you....
>Somewhat sheepishly, Rin replies, It still feels right for me when you do.
-
>Well, in that case....
>"She matters to me like no one else does, but caring for another does not diminish that. We are secure in each other."
-
>Well, in that case....
>"She matters to me like no one else does, but caring for another does not diminish that. We are secure in each other."
>It makes me happy to hear someone talk for me when I know they care about me. Rin adds.
>Miyo glances at Rin, who gives the miko a nod of agreement. Relief shines on the shrine maiden's face for a moment before she smiles. "In that case, Lotus, White Rose, I consider myself all the more fortunate for having met you. My experience hasn't led me to many who can say that with sincerity." She chuckles quietly. "Of course, the experience one gains from a life in a temple can be a bit limited in some fields."
-
>"No, I think my own experience agrees with you; jealousy can be a powerful force. I feel blessed to have a bond so abiding that neither of us need not worry about such things."
-
>"No, I think my own experience agrees with you; jealousy can be a powerful force. I feel blessed to have a bond so abiding that neither of us need not worry about such things."
>"Jealousy among other things." Miyo adds. "The very concept is not always understood or accepted. I am happy to hear that is not the case for you and the women in your life." Then she frowns in thought. "Excuse me, perhaps I should have said, 'women and men'?" she asks.
-
>"You were fine the first time."
-
>"You were fine the first time."
>Miyo smiles again. "Oh." If she was trying not to sound happy at your words, she didn't do a very good job. "Forgive me, I've simply learned that this is one of those areas where covering ones bases is not inadvisable."
-
>"Nothing wrong with not making assumptions."
-
>"Nothing wrong with not making assumptions."
>"No, this is definitely one area where one should avoid stepping on any toes if one can. Unless of course one is into that sort of thing." she adds with a light laugh.
-
>Smile back
>How do the others seem to be getting on now, anyhow?
-
>Smile back
>How do the others seem to be getting on now, anyhow?
>Pink Carnation is still working with her staff, but now she has changed partners. Youmu is now working with your newest recruit, and the two appear to have graduated from 'light workout' to 'light sparring'. Emphasis on the light part. Even this gives you a moment's pause, as you're not sure how much Minoriko would enjoy being on the other end of a katana being wielded by one of her classmates, even if only in an exercise in a safe environment. But she shows no overt signs of distress or discomfort. Nor does she seem to be hard pressed in keeping up with Youmu who, despite plainly holding back, is quite skilled with her blade.
>There's a fair crowd around the battle going on between Reisen and Kiku and the two Blood, which is still going on. You've been talking to Miyo for a while now, so those four must be a good match against each other. You can't see who's on the ground through the crush of bodies between you and the part of the arena they're fighting in, but you can sense Reisen's aura is still active. You also sense an active Sapphire Jewel, and as you do so, Cynthia launches herself up off the ground into the air and you hear the discharge of Reisen's sword beam. Wataru and Kiku must have been knocked out of the fight. Cynthia's clothes are showing some damage, but she's obviously still very much in it.
>Lily has finally rematerialized. You spy her among the higher rows of arena seats talking with Haruka. She looks fairly guilty about something.
-
>Well, it's an easy guess why that might be....
>Let's just watch the fights and small-talk a little until something else happens
-
>Well, it's an easy guess why that might be....
>Let's just watch the fights and small-talk a little until something else happens
>You don't have to stretch your imagination too far to see that you could have your 'distraction', as Lily found for herself, in the form of Miyo. And the purple-winged shrine maiden does fall within your strike zone. If you were Lily, chances are you might already have gone off to somewhere a bit more private. Maybe even with Rin, given how Miyo seems to feel on the idea. But although you and Lily shared a part of yourselves with each other, you are not Lily White. That sort of casual attitude towards physical intimacy is not in you like it is with her. You might be the type to consider a kiss on the first date, but no more than that. And you haven't even gotten as far as a date with Miyo at this point. She is pretty and seems like an interesting person, but that's not enough to bend her over a table within all of ten minutes of knowing her.
>Maybe later.
>Besides, you do have other things to pay your attention to at the moment. Cynthia and Reisen are still going at it. In fact, Cynthia has just now dropped back down towards the ground, having managed to dodge one of Reisen's sword beams. You can't see the fighters very well from the ground, nor can you even hear much of what's going on in the middle of the ring. You consider standing up to try and find a better vantage point for the battle but before you get the chance, Lily comes fluttering slowly over towards you. "Hi, Lotus." she says. Her clothes are in fine shape, but she hasn't been able to tame the mussing in her hair.
-
>"Hello, Lily."
-
>"Hello, Lily."
>The little blonde swallows. "Sorry 'bout... y'know."
-
>"Apology accepted. I'm sure it won't when there's anything important at stake."
-
>"Apology accepted. I'm sure it won't when there's anything important at stake."
>"I didn't mean to get... sidetracked, but, well, things kinda happened, and..."
-
>"It's alright; I'm not going to yell at you. I know I can count on you when things are serious."
-
>"It's alright; I'm not going to yell at you. I know I can count on you when things are serious."
>"Of course!"
>"Where were you, anyway?" White Rose asks. "Ya can't have missed the noise."
>Lily colors faintly, looking a bit sheepish. "Well, I.... You remember that fairy I was wrestling with?"
>"The one you were tickling?"
>Lily nods. "Well, it turned out that, well, she really liked being tickled."
>"So? Don't lots of folks?"
>Lily's flush deepens. "No, I mean... REALLY liked being tickled."
>Rin thinks on that for a moment. "Oh. OH. OH!" she exclaims, realization dawning. Miyo laughs as Lily looks just a bit ashamed of herself.
-
>We can have a little chuckle ourselves, but try not to make Lily feel any more uncomfortable than she already does
-
>We can have a little chuckle ourselves, but try not to make Lily feel any more uncomfortable than she already does
>The little blonde seems to be taking it in stride, as she smiles as the three of you have a laugh. "Yeah, that one was a new one on me."
>"I supposed we should have warned you." Miyo says around her laughter. "Firecracker's a bit 'sensitive' in some areas."
>"That's not a common name for a Fairy." White Rose observes.
>"She's from Eagleland. You're not the first one that's discovered her habits by accident." Miyo assures Lily. "I doubt you'll be the last, either."
>Lily nods. "Still, boss, I kinda feel like I owe ya something to make up for it."
-
>"It's fine, really."
-
>"It's fine, really."
>Lily thinks on that. "Okay, I'll figure it out later." she says firmly before fluttering up to your group and taking a seat next to White Rose. "Well, tell me what I missed."
-
>Describe the battles she missed
-
>Describe the battles she missed
>Settling back in, you fill Lily in on first the duel you had with Kenyu alone, and then the brawl that erupted subsequently. Lily does nothing to conceal her displeasure at your description of Cynthia and Wataru's attitudes concerning Reisen. You consider telling her about your conversation with Wataru after the fight, but as Miyo is still present and you're not certain how Wataru would feel about people telling his story willy-nilly to anyone around, you debate the matter for a moment.
>As you mull, however, a fairly loud groan comes up from the crowd aroud Poppy and Cynthia's fight. There is some cheering, but by and large the sound is a negative one. Some of the onlookers start to move away, giving you a clearer view of the arena. Poppy is down on one knee, her clothing destroyed, and Cynthia is now standing triumphant. She doesn't have a heck of a lot of clothes left on her either, but she's obviously the sole survivor of this fight.
-
>Dangit
>...she's probably going to gloat about this now, isn't she.
>Well, we didn't come here to win a competition, but to learn and improve ourselves. Worth reminding ourselves of that.
-
>Dangit
>...she's probably going to gloat about this now, isn't she.
>Well, we didn't come here to win a competition, but to learn and improve ourselves. Worth reminding ourselves of that.
>You wouldn't be at all surprised. She does seem the sort.
>Despite yourself, you find yourself suppressing the desire to challenge Cynthia yourself. It wouldn't prove anything, everyone knows you're stronger than she is, and that sort of pettiness is not part of you. This wouldn't be defending Reisen, it would be picking on someone that bested her. You'd be lying if you said the idea wouldn't be entirely unsatisfying, but you strive to be better than that.
>All the same, the sight of Reisen being beaten by people like those two is not sitting well with you.
>"Rats." Lily exclaims, ever more vocal in her opinions than you.
>"Tomari-san and Walker-san are the two Protectors that work together the most." Miyo explains. "They're a natural team."
>"Did you hear the crowd, though?" White Rose asks you. "I think they're a disappointed as you two."
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>"Cynthia does not seem like someone who's made many friends for herself around here."
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>"Cynthia does not seem like someone who's made many friends for herself around here."
>"That is true." Miyo confirms. "I should add, though, that Poppy would probably have been the favourite against any of the Protectors. You see, as a Moon... Actually, I shoud ask, just to make sure, she is a full-blooded Lunarian Rabbit, yes?"
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>"She is."
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>"She is."
>Miyo nods. "The ears are usually a clear sign, but one should never assume. Anyway, most of the mikos that serve at this particular shrine are actually fond of Lunarian Rabbits. They have exotic and intriguing, if you don't mind me saying. As you might imagine, we don't see very many around here. In fact, I know of only two shrine maidens, up until today, that had ever met a full-blooded Lunarian Rabbit."
>"So you folks don't feel like Wataru does?" White Rose asks her.
>"About Lunarian Rabbits? No. Those of us that do harbor some sort of lingering resentment towards the Lunarians feel such for the Lunarian themselves, not the Rabbits that served them. It was the Lunarians that instigated both wars, and a Lunarian that was responsible for destroying Mayoiga. We understand that the Rabbits of the moon suffered under the Lunarians for much longer than we on Earth did."
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>Nod
>"It's rarely the rank-and-file of any war who bare the blame for it occurring."