> "I assume that is not the case now, given your incredulity at seeing that paper."
> "I suppose it makes little sense to do so now. But Gensokyo will change, grow, and evolve over the years, and attitudes will change with them. There were actually a fair number of tengu that lived somewhere other than this village in the future I visited."
> "Anyway, after some uninteresting back-and-forth that included me asking you about how to find Aya Shameimaru, I asked you what advice you would have for your younger self. The question seemed to catch you off-guard, but you said 'probably to stop getting too drunk at parties'. We parted ways after that."
> "My explanation remains the same. If you still truly believe this to be an elaborate prank, I suppose you are welcome to take it up with your superiors. Unless they have restrictions against that kind of thing?"
> "Well, whether you want evidence of a prank or evidence of my story, you have that paper, at least."
> "Sorry I could not do more for you."
> "There is no perpetrator to tell you about, so no, I suppose not."
> Are we permitted personal guests?
> "I'm sorry this has worked out so unfortunately for you."
> Wait for a response to what we said, unless Kazuha's body language makes it clear she has no intention of responding.
> "Anyway, you may keep that pass if you wish. Consider it a souvenir, from whatever you believe actually transpired."
> "And, if you ever find yourself with free time, please feel free to stop by the Scarlet Devil Mansion to visit. Tell the gate guard who you are and that you're a personal guest of mine and she should let you in without trouble."
> Nod.
> "That would be Mistress Remilia Scarlet herself."
> "Because I have seen your future self, one that, as a human, I would not have had the opportunity to meet otherwise, and I would like to get to know the present you as a result. You also seem rather good-natured, given your reaction to everything I have told you."
> Blink.
> "...Oh. Oh! My deepest apologies, that is not at all what I meant."
> "Indeed, I did not mean it that way. I'm sorry for misleading you."
> Nod.
> "Well, with that cleared up, the offer still stands."
> "Not for duty's sake, perhaps. But I understand. That is all I can really ask."
> "You are quite welcome, Miss Kazuha."
> "No, that was it. Have a pleasant day, Miss Kazuha."
> Exit the prison and head up the road, looking for Aya's pad.
> Knock on the door.
> Raise an eyebrow.
> "That's an odd way to greet someone."
> Whose voice was that?
> Enter!
> Is the other person Sanae?
> Look surprised, then let out a sigh of relief.
> "Phew. Sorry, Meiling. It's a bit of a tale."
> Make our way over to Meiling.
> "Believe me, my absence wasn't by choice. And speaking of the Young Mistress..."
> Pull out the Picture of Future Flandre and hand it to Meiling.
> "That is from nearly one thousand years in the future."
> Gesture to the picture again and nod.
> "Nine hundred and eighty-seven years, and approximately fifty-five to eighty-nine days, to be precise."
> Look at and point at Aya.
> "Before you get too invested in this, I'm only telling my story once. Either both of you get it, or neither of you get it."
> "...What?"
> "Then we had best march over there and retrieve her before I begin, yes?"
> "Himekaidou."
> "That is fine by me. I do have a few other things to do before returning home for good, if need be."
> Look back to Aya.
> "For what it is worth, I ask this because both of your future selves helped me out in different ways, and it would not sit right with me if I only told my story to one of you and not the other."
> "All right. She we go fetch her now?"
> "Sure."
> "Of course."
> Nod.
> "I'm sorry."
> Give Meiling a hug.
> "The Future Young Mistress told me all about it. I'm so sorry..."
> Chuckle very lightly.
> "Yes. Even after a thousand years, she still remembered the cookies."
> Let go.
> "I can tell you more about thing important to our house once we're both back home. I will say, though, that I ended up visiting your grave."
> Frown a bit.
> "It was a rather morbid experience."
>"At that time period, you had already passed away..."
> Frown a bit.
> "Er, sorry."
>"Nobody knows, everyone i met at that time couldn't say, not even the hakutaku, some mysterious force."
> "Not as far a any of us are aware. Unless she lied to the Mistress's face."
> "Neither do I."
> Shrug.
> "Given the number of people that I would have expected to have an answer that did not actually have an answer, at this point, I am not sure it is worthy further investigation."
>"Although something else still bothers me, when i was taken to that time, for some reason i was also separated from my pocket watch."
> "I do."
> ...That happened once before, didn't it? When Maribel returned it.
> Frown a bit.
> "I certainly hope not..."
>"Don't worry, neither do i."
>Sigh.
>"I wonder if the force intentionally took it away for some reason."
>Speaking of the watch, examine it, everything okay ?
> "At least that is in working order."
> Put it away.
> "The other major noteworthy part of the future - at least, of those important to us in this setting - is that the Mistress had long since vanished."
> "Apparently it was of her own volition. I have discussed it with her already and am fairly confident she can be convinced to not disappear."
> Shrug.
> "No one knows. Apparently one day, she was doing the brooding thing-"
> Mimic the glass-swirl again.
> "-and then said 'They have forgotten us.' And then she left the Young Mistress in charge of everything, departed, and was never seen again by anyone in Gensokyo."
> Shrug again.
> "I have no idea. Even the present-day Mistress was not sure, though she briefly theorized about some people in the Outside World, I think."
> Glance back at the door. Are we still alone?
> Look back to Meiling.
> "Whatever the case, it meant that I was not able to ask the Future Mistress for permission about, well, you know."
> Point back and forth between Meiling and ourselves.
> "I have told the present Mistress absolutely nothing about that, of course. But it would have been nice to return with something."
> "I won't."
>"Definitely won't."
> "Sorry for the scare."
>"Sorry for everything actually... but in the end..."
>Smile.
>"I'm really glad to finally be able to see you again... it makes me feel warm."
>Grin.
>"It takes more than some mysterious force to keep me separate from my home and the people i love like that."
> "Anyway, that is about it for things I felt best to tell you and you alone. The Future Young Mistress was a wonderful companion. I was quite proud of how she had matured. I wish I could have shown her to you."
> "Yes. The Mistress was not very happy about that."
>"I am very grateful for what they did for her, i do wish i can find a way to somehow convince the Mistress."
>Nod.
>"And even after such length of time and the changes to her life, her danmaku prowess was still exceptional."
>"Nope, she beat up an General of an Army, without too much issue."
>Grin, then make a look of recollection.
>"Oh ! I must say, i am very grateful about the small bits of martial art that you taught me, it was very useful to take care of some troublesome youkai."
>"I didn't fist-fight, i just did some simple throws, they were careless and they also needed a lesson, so i showed them was an dedicated human could do."
>What were the two mountain youkai again ?
>"They were foreigners, one was something called an manticore called Fatima, the other an uwabami called Hitarashi, very curious youkai."
>Shrug.
>"It's what i was told, i also ran into one of the old fairy maids there, little Dreamy Sky."
>"Well she somehow remembered me even after hundreds of years, and a good part of her maid training too, i was surprised."
>"It felt very satisfying, in more than one way, Dreamy even scolded an youkai on the Young Mistress' Temple because she wasn't washing the dishes properly like i taught her."
>Smile with some pride.
>"The merit is not all mine of course, she was the one that kept all that knowledge preserved, she forgot some discipline, but overall she did very well, honestly, she and the other renowned maids should be examples for any worker."
>Nod.
>"And to top it off, she was also crucial towards acquiring one of the two items i needed to gather in order to return home."
>"She told me of an location where one of the maids hid some toys and simple items, with those items i could exchange some of them to get a coin from this time period, the remaining items i gave them to her."
>"Indeed it is."
>Nod.
>"You had also founded a dojo too."
>How big was the dojo anyways ?
>"...."
>Sigh with an frown
>"...the Mansion suffered an accident at a point, soon the building was consumed by it, and only ruins were left."
>Look down.
>"Indeed..."
>"Aye... speaking of... i was thinking about an successor."
>"Normally, but having such event happen made me think about the future more, and i wish to have one successor that will be able to stay alive along the Mistress' lifespan unlike me."
>"I am not sure... they would need to get along well with the fairies too, and not many are able to fit such demand."
>"Which is why i thought about the possibility of creating a fairy for that goal, or rather, incentivate the creation of one."
>"I know... it's far-fetched to say the least, but a fairy is both practically immortal, which would cover criteria one, and would be able to get along with it's kin, i would be able to commence the teachings on her easily since she would be an blank slate in essence, and maybe we could even influence in how will she be like."
>Look thoughtful.
>"But of course, that is but an hypothetical idea, so there is still much to be pondered."
>"If she is even willing to commit to such."
>"Exactly, well, i suppose i could ask Sanae for help."
> Shrug.
> "I suppose that is true."
> "In a way. The experience was certainly quite fascinating, all shocks aside."
>"Not only it was vastly different, it was also an much bigger place than before too."
> "Oh yes, and much more diverse."
> Nod.
> "I am not sure how the...manticore? Manticore. How the manticore got into Gensokyo, but she did, along with many others from many different backgrounds. I suppose it somehow became easier to travel between mystic lands over the years. That or they simply started combining somehow."
> "Possibly, but most everyone seemed to have settled."
> Glance back at the door.
> Frown.]
> "Oh, hell."
> Head to the door, open it, and check outside.
> Look around for Sanae.
> Beckon back to Meiling.
> "Come on, let's find out how quickly this broke down."
> Fly over to Sanae, ducking below the battlefield as needed to avoid getting caught in crossfire.
> "...I suppose you did, yes."
> "Not surprising. How much talking did you do, if even anything?
> Chuckle a bit.
> "Quite. Did you happen to see the article she's talking about, Meiling?"
> "Ah. Well, it was indeed quite brutal."
> "And that spawned that article? How unlucky for Miss Himekaidou."
> Can we tell who is winning, or at least ahead?
> "I wonder how long it will take them to reach the amicable state I saw in the future."
> "If I hadn't seen it for myself, I wouldn't have believed it would ever happen."
>"I do hope that they at least save enough stamina to actually note what i will say."
> "If need be. And yes, I really was. Hopefully it will not happen again, I rather like not being forced out of my life situation."
> "Why?"
>"It's not quite how you think it is, i agree, it was an surprising and enlightening experience, but it also came with many hardships, mainly with understanding that whole new world and with coming back."
> "Well, I got to see a large number of rather fascinating things that I would never have had the opportunity to see otherwise. I also had to reconnect with a family that thought I had died a thousand years prior, come to grips with how a large number of my personal holdings were outdated or worse get acclimated to a world where a large number of familiar faces had either drastically changed lifestyles or were just dead and gone outright and an even larger number of unfamiliar faces had no idea who I was or any reason to care, and experience countless signs of progress that still boggle my mind no matter how many times I saw them. All without any guarantee I would ever be able to return to my proper time."
> Frown.
>"And not to mention i had an deadline of 1 month to get home, else i would have been personally taken to my proper fate for that time."
> "The yama."
> "Regardless, if all that other stuff wasn't bad enough, now that I am back, most everyone that hears my story will either come to me with questions about the future I don't want or need to be bothered with, or they'll just assume I'm insane."
>"More likely the latter until i show something convincing enough."
> Glance over at Meiling.
> Look back to Sanae.
> "That all may be true, but it does not really reassure me that having most of the countryside think I am a lunatic is not a bad thing."
> "That was never going to happen, unfortunately. Too many messages from future selves to deliver, including one for one of our combatants up there."
> "Quite."
> Check in on the fight again.
> Are the insults still being flung?
> "Hmm. Rather impressive on both their parts."
> "Not terribly surprising. I assume everyone else just accepts and ignores it?"
> "I suppose."
> "Huh, I honestly wouldn't have imagined they'd do that."
> "Ah, that makes sense."
> "I could see one of these devolving into a cat fight. Or a crow fight, as the case may be."
> "Grace and elegance."
> Nod.
> "There is danmaku and martial arts, and then there is hair-pulling and haymakers."
> "I don't think very many people would, anywhere. But these two make a decent case for themselves."
> Do we know where Casa de Yakumo is?
> "While I am thinking about it, Meiling, once we are done here, you should probably return home. I still have a couple more stops left to make before I return."
> Wait for a response from Meiling.
> "Truth be told, I would much prefer your company. But our house needs us as much as it can get us right now."
> "Sorry."
> Smile a bit.
> "True."
> "All right."
> Get back to watching.
> Begin flying toward the battlefield (but not getting close enough as to be caught in the crossfire).
> "All right, can we please put this on hold?"
> "If one of you is knocked out, I'm leaving."
>Put on an slightly annoyed face.
> "There's a good story in it if you both stop."
> Look to Aya.
> "Why didn't you say so?"
> "Okay, well, alright. Everyone calm down and we can have a proper story about why I disappeared."
> Take on a slightly exasperated tone.
> "Ladies..."
> Nod.
> "Come on down here and have a rest, then, both of you."
> "So, just to fill you in quickly, Hatate, the reason I disappeared is because I was pulled through time, to nearly one thousand years in the future."
> Pull out the Picture of Future Flandre and show it to Hatate.
>"This experience proved otherwise though."
> "That is the Young Mistress, yes. A tad bit older than she is now."
>"Many many more happened there, shall i start then ?"
> "So that's the deal. Where shall we hunker down and do this?"
> "Whereabouts?"
> "Somewhere more private would be ideal, I think. Better to not be interrupted by the public's incredulity."
> Look to Hatate.
> "Is that fine by you?"
> "Very well, that is fine by me."
> Follow!
> "All right. Before we begin, I must say that I will give you both only as much as I feel comfortable doing. This is in the interest of trying to not influence events and individuals too much, and also to avoid spoiling various surprises, either out of regular decency or because I was specifically asked to keep things secret."
> "All right."
> "So it seems many are aware of the explosion at our home yesterday morning? It was in the midst of immediate damage control efforts that I was taken by an unknown force and dragged forward in time nearly one thousand years. From what I have been told in both the future and the present, it seems as though the explosion and the unknown force were unrelated. It is entirely possible we may not ever know who or what was responsible; even the hakutaku of the time was stumped."
> "Ah, you understand that is not something I can confirm or deny, given present circumstances."
> "At present, she is recovering in our home. I cannot really say more than that, as I have not had the opportunity to see her or Miss Fujiwara since returning."
> "Right. The Gensokyo of the distant future is...enormous. More diverse, more co-existent, more advanced...but really, really enormous. It was large enough that there were a number of settlements, if not outright cities, had formed all across it, with various local governments and such, and it could take a person multiple days to travel between them depending on where they were going."
> "It was...rather overwhelming. But honestly, everywhere I went seemed perfectly well-organized within themselves, and there was some degree of cooperation between regions. Apparently the rate of incidents that needed specialized solvers had dropped dramatically as well. I mean, one particular region was in the midst of planning military takeovers of other nearby regions, but a couple of displeased incident solvers already had that region's leader in their sights."
> "Perhaps incidents simply went out of vogue, so to speak. I was told that humans and youkai had largely integrated with one another, and that the more insular youkai races were also starting to spread out. The tengu and the oni, in particular, apparently had a fair number of people leave their respective cities and settle down elsewhere, wherever they felt like. There were apparently also many more people that were human-youkai hybrids than there are now."
> "The mountain, and this village, were still here, doing perfectly fine, near as I could tell. I did make one visit here; the patrol that stopped me was actually led by someone kicking around right now. Miss Inubashiri tells me she's one of the newer recruits that hasn't really left the village yet for any reason, so I don't know how much information you want or are willing to print in that regard."
> Glance toward Sanae.
> "Oh, I already told her, since I had her signature from a pass she issued to me. She thought I had forged her signature and was trying to prank her. But we can discuss that at the end if we deem it prudent, yes."
> "Really."
> "I don't particularly mind telling, it's just that she's apparently a little-enough-known name that Miss Inubashiri got rather suspicious of me when I made note of her. Given that, I don't know how appropriate putting her name in the papers would be."
> "I suppose that is true. Hmm...ah. The Hakurei Shrine, the Moriya Shrine, and the Myouren Temple still existed, looking more elaborate than they do now. They also each had smaller 'branch' shrines and temples in the other far-reaching areas of Gensokyo."
> "Mmm...Ah, both of your papers are still circulating. You had both done quite well for yourselves, in fact. Large publication buildings, reasonably-sized work staffs. You both also covered entirely different regions, with entirely different reader bases, so with the total lack of competition, all of the mutual resentment just dried up and vanished."
> Smile just a bit.
> "Sorry, can't give that away. From what I could tell, though, it was entirely voluntary."
> Chuckle a bit.
> "That is fine, if you both think that now. But times will change. Most likely well after my time, but they'll change."
> "Anyway, there were also a fair number of foreign humans and youkai. This included a small Avalonian village that has apparently only arrived a few years before I appeared."
> "Yes, and foreigners joining existing towns as well."
>"Considering how vast Gensokyo became i suppose that wasn't such an concern anymore."
> "Most people weren't even aware they were there, despite them having been in Gensokyo for long enough to have learned our language."
> "Hmm, let's see...ah, there was also an established kobito village, somewhere nearby the Bamboo Forest. My travels did not take me in that direction, though, so I could not tell anyone anything about it."
> Shrug.
> "I was not told anything either way about that."
> "What do you mean?"
> "They are that are exceedingly likely to not change whether you know about them or not."
> "There probably isn't. But this was going to come up eventually. Besides, both of them helped me in different ways in the future, so this is the least I can do in return."
> "There is not really much more I can think of to say than that, really. I was able to collect the necessary materials to undo whatever was done to me and a powerful, trustworthy magic user sent me back to the present this morning."
> Shrug.
> "You are welcome to believe me or not, I suppose. What will be will be independent of what I say or whether or not I even live to see it."
> Give a wink with a slight smile.
> "I'd appreciate it if you at least think of me, just a little bit, when things come to pass, though."
> "Speaking of, is there anything either of you wish to ask? I can't promise an answer, but it's certainly possible I've not thought of something that should be fine to say."
> "... Large. Very large. And quite advanced. I could not find anything in the Human Village without help."
> Wait patiently for this conversation to end and to be asked about question.
> "Anything else?"
> "I cannot really answer those questions, for a few reasons. I suppose the best I can offer is that your leader was not terribly happy about the split, but recognized that it was most important to respect the wishes of those that departed. For what it is worth, they did not go too far away."
> Look to Aya.
> "The only really far away tengu I knew of were a couple of field reporters you had assigned to watch the region with dreams of military conquest. Ah, when that happens, if they get caught rummaging through the region's leader's laundry, try to go easy on them."
> "You assigned a couple of your subordinates to keep an eye on the militaristic region and report on anything worth reporting on. Apparently one of them got caught looting through the region leader's laundry, and so the whole region was after them at the time, wanting to arrest them. They were able to hide away, though, and sneak into the main city in disguise to continue doing their jobs. It sounds your future self was pretty mad at them about it, though whether it was for looting laundry at all or just for getting caught, I cannot say."
> "Well, like I said, try to go easy on them if it happens."
> "Anything else?"
> "Aside from the one particular wannabe-conqueror, who I never actually met, I couldn't really tell you. The only other incident I even heard about was one from fifty years prior, where an oni tried to capture a human child."
> Shrug.
> "Like I said, I couldn't tell you anything more than that. Researching incidents was fairly low on my list of priorities, you understand."
> "Anything else?"
> "There is either not much to say, or not much I can say."
> Smile a bit.
> "Not unless I want Sanae to shake her head clear off of her shoulders, anyway. They simply kept on keeping on over the years, both remaining popular and significant enough to expand as they felt appropriate across the various regions, as I noted earlier. I did manage to visit both of the originals, and they certainly looked nice enough. Their work over the years afforded them structural expansions onto the current buildings. Each also helped me in their own ways. The finer details of shrine maidens and deities, unfortunately, must of course be left a mystery, though everyone I talked to was certainly a reasonable enough person."
> Frown a bit.
> "Ladies, please, let's not do things that way."
> "Anything else?"
> "Unfortunately, I wish to keep my family's matters private. On the matter of Eientei, though, it is my understanding that no one had seen any of its residents in quite some time. Whether they went back to isolation or moved somewhere else, I do not know."
> "As with other things, investigating them was not terribly high on my list of priorities."
>"Looking into the future of the mansion and it's residents, and, of course, returning to my own time period. The latter was enough of an ordeal that I had quite the trip through much of future Gensokyo."
> "A rather boring set, I imagine. Investigating how my family fared over the years, investigating why I was dragged forward in time, and then working to undo what had happened to me. I did collect some messages from people I knew in the present, because there was no real reason not to as long as they were reasonable messages, and that did lead to some time spent exploring the enlarged Gensokyo. Ah, that reminds me, this is for you."
> Pull out Aya's message to herself and hand it over to Aya.
> Look to 'Tater once this is done.
> "I'm sorry I don't have anything for you, but I asked and you declined. It seemed you future self couldn't think of anything she thought worth telling your present self."
>Shrug. "I wouldn't know, honestly."
> "Huh. Perhaps I will actually get to see something come true, then."
> "It would be appreciated. If nothing else, for all the skepticism I've been met with, it would be nice to get some sort of gratification later."
> "Oh my."
> Get out of the way if need be.
> "Well then."
> "Of course."
> "I do, perhaps, regret mentioning Eientei as I did. The rest of it, however, I feel was acceptable to tell them. Reporting on them should not change then appreciably. I am glad they never thought to ask about how I got around to far-away places, though."
> "For the best, I'd say."
> Give a small smirk.
> "I'd have imagined you, of all people, would have guessed."
> Nod.
>"It is an incredible thing, that flying chariot, or whatever may be it's name, i am very grateful that they allowed me usage of it."
> "Ah, there we are."
> "In that case, I believe my business here is finished. Unless there is anything I can do for you, Sanae?"
> "Very well. Have a pleasant day."
> Exit Aya's house.
> Look to Meiling.
> "Shall we?"
> Head back out of the tengu village the way we came, and make our way down back to the foot of the mountain.
> "All right. I still need to stop over to see Saigyouji, Yakumo, and Margatroid before returning home. A real murderer's row there."
> "The thought is appreciated, but I think it would be easier for me to explain why we have it."
> Pull out Alice's book.
> "It is, after all, nearly one thousand years' worth of her own research."
> Grin a bit.
> "You're just doing this because you want to see the one person that will actually believe my story immediately."
> Hand the book over.
> "Do let me know how she takes that story, please."
> "Much appreciated."
> "See you later, then."
> Take flight and head to the Netherworld.
> Isn't this the same person Yuyuko was talking about? The apparent romantic interest?
> "Indeed, despite fate's best efforts. Is Konpaku in there?"
> "I'd rather go find her and be done with it."
> Give her a brief odd look, then return to our Neutral Face of Displeasure.
> "There will be no duel here unless she starts one. I am simply in a hurry, as I have other errands to run and home to return to."
> "We'll just have to find out."
> Take flight and head northwest.
> "Ah, how convenient."
> Wait for her with arms crossed and face neutral.
> Glance down at her right hand, than back up at her face with a slight grin.
> "Not completely unexpected, it would seem. You should know that I recently had a little surprise romp through time and spent yesterday wandering the Gensokyo of nearly one thousand years in the future. Save the incredulity and questions, you'll see it in the papers soon enough. As a result of my trip, I have learned two things immediately important to you."
> "The first is that, while I do not intend to forget what has happened in the past, I am inclined to at least coexist civilly, should our paths cross by chance. It would be appreciated, however, if you could stop by our home some time within the next week, if only so you and I can...work out our frustrations properly, shall we say."
> "Just let Meiling know you're there for me. I'll let her know to have me fetched and to leave you alone otherwise."
> "The second thing is that, unless you want to worry your samurai friend so much that her hair starts to look like ours, you should resolve whatever romantic concerns you're dealing with sooner rather than later."
> "What?"
> Is Kotohime still present?
> "You're in some romantic conundrum, correct? I'm simply telling you to figure out a solution, rather than continuing to do whatever you're doing."
> Grin just a little more.
> "Ah, good, there you go. Whatever it is you're struggling with, apparently you're on a collision course with never actually resolving it and letting it visibly bother you. You being so visibly bothered bothered your samurai friend as well, so here I am to tell you to resolve it."
> "Your samurai friend, the one with the Taoists, asked me to figure out why you were always acting like something was wrong. She had no clue what it was, but your mistress, the one in the future, was perfectly happy to tell me her best guess. It would seem she was correct, given your reaction."
> Frown a bit.
> "...For what it is worth, I really do know nothing of the details of this issue. And, of course, such private issues will remain private."
> "Of course. ...My apologies for treating the issue so lightly."
> "I offered her the opportunity to bring a message back to the past. She said she would rather I help you, as I recall, mentioning that 'something was eating at you in the old days', and that she 'hardly had the opportunity to ask'. Perhaps that little swordswomanship club she mentioned has something to do with this?"
> "Anyway, that is all I have for you."
> Shake our head.
> "In that case, I must be going."
> "See you soon."
> Wave a hand uncertainly.
> "And...good luck, with whatever this is."
> Take flight and head out of the Netherworld, back into Gensokyo proper.
> So our goals now are the Human Village and Yakumohaus, before heading back home for good. What travel path would make the most sense to minimize time traveled?
> Head back to the Village, then, aiming particularly for the Myouren Temple.
> Look down at our wound. Does it suddenly look worse than it used to?
> Are we wearing a one-piece dress or a short and a skirt?
> Lift up our shirt from below enough to be able to see our wound.
> Does the pain match what we felt yesterday morning, while we were stopping time?
> Are we anywhere of significance?
> Land, unless we can tell we're about Yuuka's land, or Medicine's poison flowers.
> Try sitting down and gritting our teeth to endure the pain until it hopefully subsides.
> Close our eyes.
> Keep breaths steady. There's nothing else we can do...
> Birdsong? That wasn't just there, was it?
> Open our eyes and look around.
> Frown.
> "Oh, you have got to be kidding me."
> Crest the canopy and look around.
>Hows that wound?
> Nothing for it. Head north.
> Make our way back to the Hijiri Temple.
> Enter and head for Flan's room, recalling how we got there last night.
>Look at Pocket Watch for anything out of the ordinary about it.
> Knock.
> "Hello. I'm looking for Miss Flandre Scarlet."
> Frown.
> "Months? That's no good...was this not her room?"
> "Do you know where she might live now?"
> "...No. My apologies."
> "Apologies for the intrusion. Have a pleasant day."
> Head back out of the Hijiri Temple.
> Take flight, as upward as necessary, and head to the lake by our home.
> Is it our home??
> Head there, posthaste!
> Enter the mansion proper.
>Do we recognize this woman at all?
>...how so ? Do we or do we not ? Who is she ?
>Describe the elder.
> ...When did we 'first' come to the Lake Shrine? Isn't this our first time here?
>"Pardon me, I've had a very unusual day; but when was the last time I was here?"
> This isn't Juza herself, is it? Or maybe the wumpus/marchstepper?
> Is it Amaya, perhaps? Or Elise?
> Frown.
> "I did? I thought I spent last night in the Hijiri Temple in Old Hometown."
> Frown deeper.
> "...I must see her about this myself. Please excuse me."
> Head toward the library.
> Maybe our warnings to the past altered the future? So that we remember what we actually went through, but are starting to remember what we would have gone through assuming those alterations were already in place...
> Is the Young Mistress visible anywhere? If not, begin systematically searching by glancing down the aisles of shelves as we pass by.
> Frown.
> "No, it worked. But whatever happened to me the first time happened again."
> Gesture around.
> "It is even stranger this time around. It would seem I have altered this time period through my warnings and messages to my present. The future I experienced yesterday had seen this building burn down many years prior."
> We did? But didn't we also find the rubble of this building?
> ...Do we remember what happened to the Mistress over the years?
>Wait... what date is it ? If we can even recall it.
>If this is the future, shouldn't we be dead ?
>Examine ourselves carefully.
>How old are we based on the memories that seemingly appeared on our mind ?
> Do we still have that silver bell from the shinigami?
> What happened during our encounter with Tenshi in Bhava-agra?
> What happened during our encounter with Shuuei in Kourindou?
> What happened during our encounter with Euphemia in the underground room below Kourindou?
> Where did we leave Dreamy Sky?
> Where did we find Alice?
> "Like I said, it would seem I have altered the future. Some of what I experienced yesterday seems to have never actually happened for you and everyone else here."
> Shake our head.
> "But that does not matter. What does matter is getting to the bottom of this. We have established it is possible to send me back to my proper time, but there is no reason to do so again unless we can make sure I won't just be yanked back here afterward."
> "...Thank you. Please give me a moment, Young Mistress..."
> Sit down in the most immediately convenient location.
> Who was at Kourindou, if not Shuuei?
> Go over our recollections of where we found Alice.
> Sigh.
> "Okay, I think I have an idea or two."
> Look to Flan with a frown.
> "Young Mistress, do you know if Alice ever cast the locator spell to find my pocketwatch?"
> Stand back up.
> "Then we go find out."
> "Yes. I have started to figure some things out. I should not need to brace myself in such a way again, unless there are more unexpected changes."
> Leave the library and head to Alice's secret lair.
> Nod.
> "Understood."
> Head through the door and onward to Alice. If her guard gives us problems, time-stop past it as we did before.
> "How goes the search?"
> Does she look more natural than 'before' as well?
> "Whatever pulled me here once did it again. I am currently thinking I need to find that pocketwatch to properly end this nonsense for good."
> "Need more time?"
> "Very well. I have another idea I can pursue in the meantime. It seems that extra millennium of research has served you well, by the way. See you later."
> Exit Alice's lair, time-stop-passing by the guard again as needed, return the lamp to its proper place, and rendezvous with Flan back in the library.
> "She needs more time. I have another idea of what to do in the meantime. After this, of course."
> Adopt a curious expression.
> Open the box.
>Begin reading it.
> Close the box with a sigh.
> Was Flan able to read the message given where she was positioned while it was open?
>If she was not: "Young Mistress, have you ever opened this box yourself?"
> "I...honestly don't know."
>"Things just seem to be even more complicated than they seemed before."
>What did we learn about what happened to the SDM in this timeline after our second departer to the future?
>What massages have we not sent yet to the people of the present?
>Recall if the meeting with the Hakutaku went much differently between the two timelines, apart from the matter of actually finding her.
> Wait, Meiling's alive? Did Flan say where she was?
>Do we know why ?
> "Well, this rather eliminated my time-killing idea. I suppose we now simply wait until Alice finds something."
> "Investigating the Mistress's whereabouts. Though, in thinking about it, I believe I have a new lead worth investigating."
> "I'm going to go see Ran again. I think she may know more than what she has shown us."
> "Oh, I doubt she tried to mislead us or anything. It is more that we, perhaps, did not think to ask her the correct questions."
> "Don't worry about it too much. I will do my best to be back when I can."
> "I do not believe so off the top of my head. Though, I suppose, if Meiling returns, it would not hurt to ask her to stay here a bit and wait for me as well."
> "Thank you. Farewell until I return, Young Mistress. And, ah, you can return that box to where you found it."
> Exit the library and the mansion-temple altogether.
> Then make the long trek/flight to the mountain, up the mountain by cart thingy, and then straight up into the sky, to return to Bhava-agra.
> Dwell on that message while we travel. Would this qualify as abandonment/abdication, or perhaps a simple release of contract? Is our employment at the mansion even that simple, given the personal circumstances surrounding Remilia and ourselves?
> Is anyone visible on it, Suika or otherwise?
> Head to where we found Suika several hours ago.
> If Suika is not there, begin systematically combing the island aerially, looking for anyone that may be on it.
> Wonderful.
> Well, whatever. She who hesitates is lost! And clearly she who gallivants off into the vast blueness of the sky has no chance of getting lost. Take flight and head northeast; hopefully the palace and its island are large enough that we'll see them even if it's moved from where it was a few hours ago.
> Phew!
> Make for the palace and retrace our steps to the Yakumo room.
> "Your master's efforts succeeded, if that is what you mean. To answer your question, though, it would seem that fate thinks that no, I am not supposed to be gone. I suspect your master and I solved the wrong problem; I am here to try to solve the correct one."
> Nod.
> "Thank you."
> Head to the door and knock.
> Open the door and step inside!
> Have a seat where indicated.
> "Your work was successful, but it would seem fate has other ideas. I have unwillingly been dragged back here accordingly, after feeling rather like I was having a heart attack."
> Frown a bit.
> "I have reason to believe we solved the wrong problem. I need you to bring me to the place beyond the barrier where my Mistress resides."
> "My Mistress currently inhabits some region, beyond the barrier, that your former Mistress guided her to. Apparently it was a potential threat to Gensokyo before your former Mistress pushed some buttons and pulled some strings and left it in chaos? The reason my Mistress disappeared from this land is because your former Mistress showed her that land with the intent of installing her as its new leader, in order to stave off societal collapse, and my Mistress agreed that she was needed there."
> Grimace just a tiny bit.
> "...You...were aware of this, yes?"
> "...Can you travel there?"
> Frown.
> "What am I to do to find my Mistress and end this time-travel misery, then?"
> "I have been informed that the late Keine Kamishirasawa believes I am caught in some sort of cycle in order to make sure whatever is supposed to happen happens. She is, or was, not 100% confident in that assessment, but it appears to be a better suggestion for why this has happened than anything else anyone has theorized."
> "What else would history need me here for?"
> "Being forced back to this time period despite both of our best efforts."
> "The fact that you were clearly not expecting me to show up at your doorstep again."
> Look a bit uncertain.
> "...I'm afraid we may be talking past each other. If you are asking me for anything remotely close to concrete proof that finding my Mistress will indeed fix everything, then I do not have any such thing. All I have is the message she left for me that mentioned your former Mistress as a driving force behind her disappearance. If you are asking me about why I think history itself wants me here, all I have for that are Miss Kamishirasawa's words, and the fact that I would rather not dwell on the idea that some other entity is doing this to me for who knows what reasons, an entity clever enough that the hakutaku knows nothing about it and powerful enough to do this to me a second time after you fixed the first instance."
> "My pocketwatch seems to have disappeared again. That it has now happened twice suggests it is of at least some significance, particularly given the hakutaku mentioned that an object was afflicted by the same force that has afflicted me. I have Alice Margatroid working on locating it, but her spell needs some more time."
> "Ah, sorry. When you sent me back to my time, it was in my possession again, as if it had never left me in the first place. When I checked after arriving in this time period again, it was once again no longer in my possession."
> "Indeed. With your confidence that my other ideas are not really worth pursuing, it would seem that watch is my only source of information."
> Frown a bit.
> "In my defense, my options while waiting for Alice were 'seek out a Yakumo' and 'sit around and do nothing'."
> "Performing some magic locator ritual, that apparently requires a good deal of concentration. She did not bother me with the details."
> "It told her the hakutaku was 'below the Forest of Magic'. I got the implication that it is capable of being more exact than that, though."
> "I would certainly not object to something more precise, if you are offering, or otherwise have an idea."
> Take a look at the shelves to our right. If we see any quartz, carefully take it and bring it to Ran.
> Hold the quartz out to Ran, but keep it in our hands.
> Grin a bit at the fan.
> Tighten our grip on the quartz.
> "Impressive. Thank you very much."
> Inventory
> "That would appear to be it, assuming you do not count money and ammunition expended while here."
> "It did not."
> "Very good. I think that is it, then."
> Frown a bit.
> "...Though, I must wonder...will I need to gather those ingredients for you again in order to go back?"
> "Ah, good. Thank you again."
> Adopt a thinking expression.
> "Hmm...I'm not sure. There's not really much for me to do other than wait for Alice to finish, I suppose. Mmm, do you want me to bring the watch to you once we have found it?"
> "In that case, I suppose I would like to be deposited at the Lake Temple, where the Young Mistress and Alice are at present."
> "Of course."
> Take the talisman.
> "Understood. Thank you again."
> Head outside and look for said gap.
> Close our eyes and step on through!
> The quartz isn't doing anything, is it?
> Head back inside the Lake Temple and locate Flan in the library.
> Does it sound like Dreamy?
> Turn the corner to see what's going on.
> Look down where Dreamy is pointing. How clean or dirty is it?
> Give the monk a light shrug and a bemused smile.
> Look to Dreamy (who we know is not looking at us).
> "I am glad to see you hard at work, Dreamy."
> Pat her on the head.
> "I was. But I forgot something, so I came back for a bit to get it."
> "Oh, I appreciate the thought, Dreamy, but it is something that is very difficult to find. I don't actually know where it is right now. I've had to ask two really powerful magic people to help me out."
> How did our conversation with Future Kazuha go?
> "Do you know where the Young Mistress went?"
> Did she not remember us from the message we gave her in the past?
> "Ah, I see."
> Where is the wooden bell? Do we know?
> "I'm going to attend to her, then."
> "Keep up the good work, Dreamy."
> Leave the library and head toward the old galleries.
> Mmm...
> ...We'll bother her later. Head back to Alice.
> "Hello again."
> "I have my ways."
> "Any luck?"
> What is northwest of here?
> "Will we need the flying chariot again?"
> "That far, huh? That's rather unpleasant."
>"Still, having it narrowed down is quite the help. Do you think you'll be able to narrow it down much further than that with time, or is this the expected end result?"
> Frown.
> "So that will take a while more, then."
> "Ah, alright."
> "Well, we have something else to take into consideration."
> Hold up the quartz.
> "This quartz will react when we get reasonably close to the watch, within a mile and a half or so. It will also ready more the closer we get."
> "Yakumo."
>"If your spell can narrow down the general area for me to search enough, this quartz will take care of tracking down it's exact location."
> "I actually didn't go to her about this. She simply asked about the watch, I explained the situation, and she offered."
> "In that case, how long do you estimate it would take you to get a more precise bead on the watch if you did indeed move outside?"
> "Let us do that, then."
> Is it Patchouli, perhaps? Or Marisa?
> "Hm?"
> "It's been a while, Marisa."
> Give Alice a curious look.
> Did she?
> Did Alice say anything about Patchouli being around or not?
> "We did, yes."
> Whisper back.
> "Understood."
> Raise our voice back to normal levels.
> "Of course."
> Put down the lamp and head toward the voice.
>Do we have the same feeling about Marisa's voice that we did the first time we came to the future and met Alice ?
> "It is. How have you been?"
> "Ah, my apologies."
> "It is...strange to hear you say such things, honestly."
> "How...long have you been back? Or did you never actually pass away?"
> "I see. How much has Alice told you about Gensokyo now?"
> "Did she tell you about Reimu?"
> Smile a bit.
> "Indeed."
> "When you're not you?"
> "Odd. Who is she?"
> "Huh. I wonder why you have such a roommate."
> "Next in line?"
> "Huh. My sympathies."
> "For both of you. It seems an unpleasant situation to be in in general. Particularly if you cannot control when you switch."
> Frown.
> "That makes me even more sympathetic."
> "That sounds even less pleasant."
> "Mmm...what about Lady Patchouli? Have you and Alice done anything for her as well?"
> Put on a curious face.
> Move closer.
> "Where?"
> We've never been there, have we?
> "I see...How can I get there?"
>"I'll have to pay that place a visit soon, then."
> "I can be as unfriendly as need be."
> "I don't believe I've ever said this in my life, but...here's hoping."
> ...Do we know her real name?
> "...Petite. Right, yes."
> Smile a bit.
> "Perhaps."
> Nod.
> "It appears to be known as the Lake Temple, now. It is related to the Myouren, or, now, Hijiri Temple."
>"It is, though it seems it's since been re-purposed into a buddhist temple. We're actually inside Flandre's old basement right now."
>"I'm sure Flandre would be happy to see you after all this time, she's a monk at the temple. I'm incredibly proud of her."
> "Ah, so that is not too long after my present time. Good."
> "Mmm, I see."
> "It would be good for both of you, I imagine."
> "That being said, I hope I am not around to see it."
> Nod.
> "It would be nice, yes."
> Grin.
> "Of course."
> "I shall."
> Give Marisa a little wave.
> "See you a thousand years ago."
> "You mean backward?"
> Did Alice tell Reimu about Marisa in the second version of events we remember?
> "That's what Reimu said, at least. Hmm, come to think of it, do you want me to tell Reimu about you? Perhaps she can come here."
> "If you don't want to, I won't do it. And I suppose you could just ask Alice if you need time to decide and I return home before then."
> "Shall I leave you to decide, then?"
> "Ah, apologies. See you around, then."
> Head back out, closing the door behind us.
> "I do what I can."
> "That's good. A shame about the other person, though."
> "Certainly."
> Frown.
> "Well, that's unfortunate."
> "Perhaps, but it being in the middle of nowhere would make it easy to retrieve once found. If it is in the Haihan region, I imagine it is because Teru has her mitts on it."
> Adopt a thinking expression.
> "... Perhaps even without any conflict, if done correctly."
> "Both."
> "Thank you."
> "It would probably be best to bother her again. Better that than bothering Yakumo again."
> "I don't believe so, beyond saying goodbye to the Young Mistress if she is available."
> Where are we at present, again?
> "All right. Best of luck."
> Head back to the entrance to the room where we were told Flan was.
> "Here I am. May I presume the Young Mistress will be busy for some time longer?"
> "Unfortunate. I will have to make sure to return here once my business in Haihan is concluded, then."
> "Please do. Thank you."
> Look a bit uncertain.
> "...Forgive me for passing the ☼, but that decision is entirely up to this Temple and its monks."
> Shrug.
> "If there has been one, I do not know what it is."
> "Very well."
> Head back to the planned meeting place with Alice.
> "As ready as it will ever be."
> Frown a bit.
> "I can try to find someone else if need be. Or perhaps we could bring Reimu here. Did she ask you about that at all, by the way?"
> "I suppose she is still thinking about whether or not she wants Reimu to even know. Mmm. Well, like I said, I can find someone else if you need to stay here."
> "...If you say so."
> Where did we leave Mitsu?
> "All right."
> Take flight and head back to Youkai Mountain, where we left Mitsu.
> Frown a bit.
> "Hmm. Perhaps she has gone back to Old Hometown."
> Is there anyone in the immediate vicinity?
> "As good an idea as any."
> Head down to the benches with people on them.
> Are some/most/all of them within reasonable conversation distance?
> Get closer.
> "Pardon me, but has anyone seen Lady Yasaka's flying chariot here recently with its kappa operator?"
> "In which direction did it go?"
> Does that include Haihan?
> "I see. Thank you very much."
> Look to Alice.
> "We go west."
> Take flight and head toward Old Hometown.
> "The thought crossed my mind. I hope that is not the case, but I can deal with it if it is."
> "Hmm?"
> "I recall talking to Reimu about that. It seems they have their own way of traveling quickly. ...I suppose it would be worth asking her about that if Mitsu is not in the Human Village."
> "Yes, it is something to consider."
> "Of course. If the flying chariot is not at Old Hometown, Reimu's will be our next destination."
> Continue on to Old Hometown.
> Point at the barn.
> "It would seem you are correct."
> "To the Hakurei Shrine, then."
> Change course and head back to Reimu's.
> "Huh. I wonder what the hubbub is?"
>"Ah, I'm used to the generally empty shrine of my own time." Chuckle, and descend.
> Approach the crowd and listen in.
> Is there any sort of line for the attention for any of the shrine maidens present?
> Is there a clear path to the shrine interior?
> Do so, to head into the part of the shrine interior where we last saw Reimu.
> Nod.
> Head through the indicated door.
>"I came back in more ways than one, I'm afraid; I was successfully sent back to my time, only to end up forced to this era yet again shortly after." Shake our head and sigh. "It seems that I have business in Haihan, or nearby, if I'm going to try to solve this properly... but the flying chariot Kanako granted me access to earlier is already in use by someone else."
> Blink.
> "...Wait, you remember the first set of events?"
>"I can sympathize with you there. I have two sets of memories of what happened the past couple days now... it's taken some getting used to."
> "You're telling me. Though that offers me a unique opportunity. What happened to the jeweler's apprentice poltergeist? The first time around she was the proprietress of Kourindou in this time period, but now the shop is just gone, and I have no idea what has happened to her."
> "Anything is better than nothing. I gave her past self a letter from her future self and she went completely ballistic, getting herself blasted into unconsciousness by Yuuka because she was so rage-set on pursuing me. If something unfortunate has befallen her as a result, it is my responsibility to make things right."
>Frown.
>"...'nuts' you say ?"
> "...I imagine that didn't end well for her."
> "I see...And I can't exactly visit Miss Nagae in this time period to prove my claim of time travel, either."
> "Does she even have any friends that are still alive? Nagae is gone for good, and I can't imagine the jeweler hasn't passed on."
> "Ah, I understand now. Perhaps she could talk sense into the poltergeist, yes...who is still around that she would have considered a friend, though? I suppose Hinanawi is still kicking around, but I'm not really sure about anyone else."
> "I suppose she is better than nobody."
> "Right. The first person I talked to when I first arrived there had not ever heard of her."
> "Right. Long story short, we need to get to Haihan."
>"My watch. I believe it to be there.
> "Normally, no. But it appears to be key to explaining why I was brought here in the first place, never mind why I was dragged back after returning to my time once already."
> "At least, this is what Sage Yakumo suggests."
> Nod.
> "I would have used the flying chariot, but it would appear Mitsu and Sachiko are already on their way there."
> Grin a bit.
> "I suppose the Young Mistress and I may be a bit to blame for that."
> "Well, maybe. If we're lucky enough, and Sage Yakumo is in a good enough mood, I may have an inkling of an idea that fixes this for good and makes everyone involved happy. But the details are too long, too private, and too insane-on-the-surface to really go into here and now."
> "Get my watch back with minimal aggression. I have already secured a means of return, if that matters."
> "Then I'm afraid I'm not sure precisely what you're looking for."
> Frown a bit.
> "I have already told you about the significance of that watch. If that combined with the prospect of removing Teru from power in Gensokyo for good is not good enough to warrant such travel, I don't think I can possibly offer anything that would be good enough."
> "What did you think I meant when I said 'fixes this for good and makes everyone involved happy'?"
> "Very well. My goal is to retrieve my watch, thereby putting an end to whatever is keeping both it and myself here, as well as remove Mikoto Teru from power in Haihan with minimal antagonism."
> "...And, once my watch is retrieved and I am free from the force keeping me here, I will use my newfound freedom to save the jeweler's poltergeist apprentice from herself."
> "...All right."
> "...Ah...hello."
> Get up and dust ourselves off.
> "You mean Kaori? Yes, in a way. Reimu brought us here to help her out."
> "We're not. But we go back many years with Reimu."
> Look back to Alice with a small sheepish grin.
> "On the contrary, for all we know, there is some deific reason to shove people like that to transport them long distances in an instant."
> "We're here to help, yes."
> Frown a bit.
> "What is she checking on?"
> "Ah. A shame I did not get here sooner, I could have told her they are not. Or, at least, two of them aren't."
> Look to Alice.
> "We find Teru."
> Look over to where Alice is indicating.
> "Seems reasonable enough to me. Let's go."
> Head on foot toward the castle.
> Point at it.
> "Looks like we're late. Fitting, to be here in search of a lost watch."
> Pick up the pace.
> How guarded are the walls?
> Is that new set of danmaku closer to us?
> Take flight and head toward the new source of danmaku, following an up-and-over-the-wall trajectory.
> Where did the the most recent danmaku come from?
> The 'separate source...closer to the front row'.
> Is any danmaku currently visible anywhere?
> Head to the gatehouse, then.
>Status of Ran's watch-tracking quartz
> Good to know!
> Can we see who is doing all the shooting?
> Follow the road to the central building.
> Maneuver so as to make the corner of the courtyard more visible so we can see who's fighting.
> Does it look like Sachiko?
> Who is she firing at?
>Then, at the last minute, push Sachiko off the swing from behind.