Poisoned Innocence ~ Medicine Melancholy Quest [Part 01]

[Tamashii Kanjou]

> Can we sense any poison in the air?  Does our poison even have an odor?

>You can sense it; after all, you can make it do what you want. Of course, you'd sense it more the closer you get to it.
>You're not sure if it has an odour, per-se; after living amongst poison for so long, it probably smells too normal now. That garden lady mentioned no one liking you because you smelt when you first encountered her, so you're sure it smells of something to others.

>Do we have any noteworthy enemies? Anyone that hates us in particular?

>No one has actively came up to you and attempted to kill you, so you're pretty sure you have no enemies. I mean, you live at the Nameless Hill; not many people go there at all. You know that humans don't like you, and you don't like them. But since you stay away from each other, you don't class yourself as enemies.

> "Huh.  But what's going on in the village anyway?  Sounds like some jerk decided to frame me for something."
> Frown.

>"I get the feeling, more and more, that you really don't know anything."
>The path the two of you are going in is now heading away from the bamboo.
>"It is as I said earlier. All of the humans in the village have came down with some form of illness; some more severe than others."

>As he says this, you notice something. A familiar scent. And it seems to be getting stronger the closer you get.

>...

[Kasu]

> Try and get a lock on the scent.
> Can we pinpoint what's so familiar about it?

[日巫子]

> It's not our poison, is it?

[Tamashii Kanjou]

> Try and get a lock on the scent.
> Can we pinpoint what's so familiar about it?

>No need to get a lock on it; the location it's coming from is up ahead. True to his words, it appears to be coming from the Village.

>Well, it's poison, that's for sure. How far across the village it is, you're not sure yet...

> It's not our poison, is it?

>No. At least, you're pretty certain it is not.

>As the village gets closer, Reita lowers himself to the ground; walking the second his feet touch the ground. Right now, you're around what appears to be a farm. There's a house up ahead, followed by quite a selection. You hazard a guess in thinking you're at the Human Village.

>"It'll probably be best to walk to the actual entrance to the village, rather than cutting through a person's land."

>...

[XephyrEnigma]

Walk to the entrance, while slightly on-edge. We wont know whats coming.

[Hello Purvis]

>"What's that smell?"

[日巫子]

> Is there a visible haze over the village?

[Tamashii Kanjou]

>Walk to the entrance, while slightly on-edge. We wont know whats coming.

>You walk along with Reita to the entrance with Su-san on high alert. You don't want to be surprised in a bad way.

> Is there a visible haze over the village?

>No. It looks like a normal day. No haze or fog of any kind.

>"What's that smell?"

>Reita sniffs the air and looks at you. He looks toward the houses and sniffs again.

>"Whatever it is, it seems to be a mix of rotting flesh and you. No offence or anything; it's probably from your time around flowers; poison or not."

>...

[Hello Purvis]

>"Better a rotten smell than a rotten brain. So let's get a look around."

[Tamashii Kanjou]

>"Better a rotten smell than a rotten brain. So let's get a look around."

>Reita looks at you; almost like he wasn't expecting that sort of a response from you.

>The two of you walk up to the main clearing that leads into the village and... oh gosh; he wasn't joking.

>Several bodies are sprawled out on the ground in front of you; most of them have others standing and/or kneeling beside them. Most of them aren't moving at all and you're pretty sure there's a great deal of poison in the area.

>...

[Hello Purvis]

>Have look around. Can we tell what the poison in the air is?
>And do we see anyone familiar?

[E-Nazrin]

>Do we have any money?

The only motive I can think of for Eirin doing this is (she does have extracts of our poison, or something similar to it, and so is the other one capable of doing this) to make money selling antidotes. Or perhaps fame. Not getting anything out of it ourselves would be the only effective explanation for not being an active accomplice.

[Tamashii Kanjou]

>Have look around. Can we tell what the poison in the air is?
>And do we see anyone familiar?

>Right now, as you stand at the main clearing that leads into the village, you see plenty of houses. From the looks of things, there are paths between some of the houses; presumably leading to other areas.
>The poison is not the type you live with that's for sure. Oddly enough, it doesn't seem that fatal; but that's because you're a youkai. For a human, it might as well be. It's coming out of the people in front of you... All but one.

>Do we have any money?

>Nope. It's not like you'd use it anyway; since you know, the village is full of humans and you don't normally come here anyway. You don't know of any place where you'd use it as well, so you've got by without it.

>Reita takes a few steps forward before looking back at you; wonder what he's thinking right now...

>...

[E-Nazrin]

>Which person isn't bleeding poison? If not Reita, is there anything special about them at a glance?
>"For what it's worth, I'm pretty sure this isn't my poison."
>Have we met any other shinigami before? What was that like?

>Do we recognize anyone in the area?

[Tamashii Kanjou]

>Which person isn't bleeding poison? If not Reita, is there anything special about them at a glance?
>"For what it's worth, I'm pretty sure this isn't my poison."
>Have we met any other shinigami before? What was that like?

>Do we recognize anyone in the area?

>One of the people on the ground is not emitting poison; despite being in the same state as everyone else. Pretty weird.

>"Pretty sure? Well, only you would know..."
>Reita looks pretty concerned. If you didn't know any better, it looks like this is his first time seeing this too.

>If the weapon Reita holds is anything to go by, you've met only one other; a girl with short pink/red hair and two pony-tails. She was pretty laid-back and, whilst quite strong, she didn't appear to be as serious as Reita is right now. In fact, it's like the two are complete opposites of each other.

>There's no one here that you recognize at all. However, Reita starts walking further into the village.

>...

[日巫子]

> What does the unaffected person look like?

[Tamashii Kanjou]

> What does the unaffected person look like?

>Normal looking human to you; short-ish light-brown hair. Can't tell if it's a boy or girl without getting closer. That and, you know, the person is kinda motionless on the ground.

>...

[日巫子]

> Make a note to see if we can get a closer look at that person later.
> In the mean time, keep following Reita.

[Tamashii Kanjou]

> Make a note to see if we can get a closer look at that person later.
> In the mean time, keep following Reita.

>You'll get a chance to take a better look at the person later.

>You follow Reita as he looks around the area; more at the houses, oddly enough, then the people on the ground. However, everyone's attention is now on you. Reita ignores it and actually slows down to walk slightly in front of you.

>"Just stick with me." He's whispering to you. "No one will start a fight whilst I'm around."

>...

[日巫子]

> "Is there something in the houses?"
> Keep following.

[GuyYouMetOnline]

>"Also, one of those sick people isn't poisoned."

[Tamashii Kanjou]

> "Is there something in the houses?"
> Keep following.

>"Not specifically something. More like... the same sort of feeling they have."
>He points at the people on the ground.

>You keep up with Reita as he heads towards a larger building than most of the houses.

>"Also, one of those sick people isn't poisoned."

>Reita looks at you and whispers again.
>"I know. The guy feels dead to me; it's why we're going here for."
>The two of you are now approaching the entrance to the rather large building. Reita pauses before opening the door.

>...

[E-Nazrin]

>Intrigue!
>"How could that happen?"
>"... and what is this place?"

[Tamashii Kanjou]

>Intrigue!
>"How could that happen?"
>"... and what is this place?"

>You press the matter.

>"That's what I'm going to find out." He replies as you both step inside. "I do deal with the dead, you know."

>"It's a school. Well, as far as I'm aware it is. I've got to meet someone here, so I figured I'd bring you with me to see if she knows anything about you."

>You see bits of paper on the wall as you two walk along; some of it quite colourful, others are just simply words.

>...

[Kasu]

> Keep walkin'.
> Are there any sick people in here?

[Hello Purvis]

>Are we base enough to enjoy some schadenfreude? It's not like we have many tears to shed for doll slavers and abusers.

[Tamashii Kanjou]

>Are we base enough to enjoy some schadenfreude? It's not like we have many tears to shed for doll slavers and abusers.

>If Reita wasn't around, you'd probably be dancing and full of joy. Inside, you're pretty glad someone gave these humans some just-deserved pain; you HAVE wanted revenge for a reason. But you get the feeling if you aired that right now, you'd have fun convincing Mr Serious Shinigami here you didn't do it.

> Keep walkin'.
> Are there any sick people in here?

>As you keep walking, Reita turns into a room with its door already opened. Most of the window panes are all blacked up; probably meaning no one is meant to be peering in. You feel poison inside the school, so you're probably sure there are some in here too.

>"Oh, this is a sight I wasn't expecting."

>The slightly surprised voice belongs to the lady at the far end of the room. She has long silver hair with blue highlights and a blue dress that just covers her knees. She has quite the odd looking hat from your prospective; in fact, it looks like a mini model of one of the houses outside but with a ribbon on it.

>"Sorry to intrude, Keine Kamishirasawa. It's just... he sent me."
>"He?" Keine sounds slightly puzzled.
>Reita takes a deep breath; almost like he's expecting her to over-react or something.
>"... Hartmann."
>"I see. He truly sends the most unique friends, doesn't he?"
>You have no idea what is going on right now...

>...

[XephyrEnigma]

>Hartmann? What?

[E-Nazrin]

>Let's keep this simple!
>"Huh?"

[Tamashii Kanjou]

>Hartmann? What?

>Let's keep this simple!
>"Huh?"

>Who's that? What do they mean? What in the world is going on?
>Poor Su-san. She is flipping the frickty frick out above your head.

>Reita looks back at you before glancing back to Keine.

>"Before I forget, this is Medicine Melancholy. I brought her here to show..."
>"Isn't she the one that spreads poison?"
>Reita pauses. Keine quickly continues.
>"I read about her already. Seems like you have a unique partner too."
>Reita glances at you and sighs before moving his hand and ruffling... your... hairOMGHE'SNOTSUPPOSEDTOTOUCHUS!

>...