['Complete'] Rumia Quest V: The Further Adventures

[Hanzo K.]

>Sigh, and chuckle slightly. "That's Cirno for you. She just doesn't stay down. Kinda like Kaguya almost, only more fight-happy."
>Let's give Cirno a light rap on the noggin. "Oi, Cirno, why don't you go find those three Light Fairies to mess around with? They were tryin' to bug you when you were wakin' up earlier."

[Raikaria]

>Sigh, and chuckle slightly. "That's Cirno for you. She just doesn't stay down. Kinda like Kaguya almost, only more fight-happy."
>Let's give Cirno a light rap on the noggin. "Oi, Cirno, why don't you go find those three Light Fairies to mess around with? They were tryin' to bug you when you were wakin' up earlier."

> "But they're hard ta' find when they don't wanna be found! Besides, I got all eternity to bug them, not so much with these two I don't recognize."

> "How don't you recognize me..." Kaguya says.

> "Anyway, red maid lady, do you use those pad things like Hong said the the blue one does?"

> Cirno simultaneously gets knifed and sworded. You feel a massive burst of Killing Intent as it happens, which then dies down like nothing happened, as Cirno vanishes into ice mist, and then pops back into existence in the middle of the lake.

> Meiling almost looks relieved for some reason. You hear her tell Kogasa 'Sakuya doesn't remember my real name most of the time, she just calls me China or Gatekeeper'.

> "Would you be surprised if she suddenly remembered because she was told?" Kogasa asks.

> "N-N-No!" Meiling insists.

> "OK."

[Hanzo K.]

>Sigh, and facepalm.
>"Man...And here I was hoping she wasn't that stupid..."
>Sigh again. "Well, now that we've got everyone, let's see about finding that Absorber, and taking it apart, eh? Let's get going before Cirno remembers we're here, I don't wanna get her involved."
>Let's try around the area we found Chiyuri the first time!

[Raikaria]

>Sigh, and facepalm.
>"Man...And here I was hoping she wasn't that stupid..."
>Sigh again. "Well, now that we've got everyone, let's see about finding that Absorber, and taking it apart, eh? Let's get going before Cirno remembers we're here, I don't wanna get her involved."
>Let's try around the area we found Chiyuri the first time!

> Of course she's that stupid. Although you do find it interesting that Yumeko attacked too. Although since her body is a doll... they are technically fake...

> You first found Chiyuri over the Misty Lake. Technically, she found you. You're right next to the Misty Lake, and you'd think you would know if the absorber is there. Not to mention Cirno is in the middle of the lake.

[Hanzo K.]

>Right. Let's look deeper in the Forest we live in then. if it's not there, it might be back in the Forest of Magic then.
>"Alright, first location we're searching, the Forest I usually hang out in. If the absorber's not there, we'll try the Forest of Magic. Anyone able to sense the flow of Magic?"

[Raikaria]

>Right. Let's look deeper in the Forest we live in then. if it's not there, it might be back in the Forest of Magic then.
>"Alright, first location we're searching, the Forest I usually hang out in. If the absorber's not there, we'll try the Forest of Magic. Anyone able to sense the flow of Magic?"

> "Sounds like a good idea, it's local." Sakuya says.

> Everyone looks at each other. No-one answers, Sakuya vanishes for a few seconds, before she comes back holding Daiyousei.

> "She said Sprites were the first to notice magic fading from the outside world. That means they are the most sensitive beings. If anyone can detect magic flows, it's a Sprite specialized in magic." Sakuya says.

> "You don't have to carry me you know..." Daiyousei says, before adding, "Or abduct me from the Library. I'm not a shut-in like Patchouli... you could have just asked me."

[Hanzo K.]

>Sigh. "I didn't wanna get her or Cirno too involved though, I don't wanna lose 'em y'know. There's no tellin' what'll happen if she gets too close to the absorber, and we don't know just what the danger range is."

[Raikaria]

>Sigh. "I didn't wanna get her or Cirno too involved though, I don't wanna lose 'em y'know. There's no tellin' what'll happen if she gets too close to the absorber, and we don't know just what the danger range is."

> Daiyousei thinks.

> "Well, I guess there might be someone else who might be useful, but she'll be a bit harder to get to help than me." Daiyousei says. "It's not so much detecting magical issues, but more searching all of Gensokyo really quickly. We could try and get Aya to help us out in the search."

[Hanzo K.]

>Sigh. "And who knows where she is right now."
>Pause.
>"Wait, you got wind magic, don't you? Maybe you can fiddle around with it to draw her here."

[Raikaria]

>Sigh. "And who knows where she is right now."
>Pause.
>"Wait, you got wind magic, don't you? Maybe you can fiddle around with it to draw her here."

> "Well, there's one place where she's more likely to be, especially if this oddball group trek ther..."

> "You know, Aya isn't the ONLY reporter crow Tengu." a voice says.


Hatate Himekaidou
Modern Reporter of Fantasy

[Hanzo K.]

>Laugh. "Hatate! It's been ages! How've things been? We're looking for something that's sucking up the magic in Gensokyo, so we can bust it up, and capture the one who put it here, so we can make her take the ones she's stuck in other worlds, and turn 'em off."

[Raikaria]

>Laugh. "Hatate! It's been ages! How've things been? We're looking for something that's sucking up the magic in Gensokyo, so we can bust it up, and capture the one who put it here, so we can make her take the ones she's stuck in other worlds, and turn 'em off."

> "Well, the newspaper's picked up a little steam after the couple of joint reports me and Aya did, people actually realized that my paper exists, and isn't filled with all of the gossipy rubbish of the Bunbunmaru." Hatate says.

> "Anyway, I happen to have been investigating the same thing. I've noticed a few things seem a little off over the past year. For example, the crops grown by Minoriko in the Autumn taste good because they absorb magic to add flavor, however, this year, the flavors were ever so slightly weaker, I found out, when I spoke to Yuyuko. Then there were some readings in Kappa experiments that were a little off expectation. They put it down the mechanical inaccuracy. Fairies have been taking a little longer to re-spawn when they die for a while, only a second or two, but it's something."

> "You add those little things I found out with several other small things, and I was convinced I was onto something. I've actually been trailing you guys for a little while, Kaguya leaving Eientei in itself is a scoop, which I'm sure Aya is already going to be reporting on, seeing as I saw her going back to her home about an hour ago, but I'm more patient, as this is a scoop I've been researching for about 8 months now."

> "I guess if you guys help me get to the bottom of this mystery, even if I help out a bit, and it gives me a one-up over Aya, I can forgive you for that time with Remilia's tome." Hatate finishes, looking at you.

> Sakuya's hand twitches towards a pocket for just a moment when she hears that, but she shows restraint.

[Hanzo K.]

>Shrug. "Technically, we're helping each other. You're helping us find that absorber, and we're helping you get one over on Aya. But hey, help's help."
>Nod. "And keep your cool Sakuya, the book was recovered ages ago, so it's all water under the bridge I say."
>"Anyhow, any ideas on where the absorber might be?"

[Raikaria]

>Shrug. "Technically, we're helping each other. You're helping us find that absorber, and we're helping you get one over on Aya. But hey, help's help."
>Nod. "And keep your cool Sakuya, the book was recovered ages ago, so it's all water under the bridge I say."
>"Anyhow, any ideas on where the absorber might be?"

> "Finding the absorber is in everyone's interests. After all, as I said, I've been working on this for eight months. If I found solid evidence, even the location, I'd have notified Lord Tenma to rally the Tengu to act." Hatate says. "This way is probably more covert than a small army of Tengu, and probably safer too."

> "It still irritates me that she planned to publish a book with contained secrets of M'lady." Sakuya says, before adding, "Although one of them is no longer a major issue."

> "Hmm? What would that be?" Hatate asks.

> Sakuya gives a glare as if to say 'Don't ask'.

> "OK, OK, just the journalist in me. I'm not Aya, I'll only ask once."

> Hatate pulls out a notebook, and flips a few pages, before nodding.

> "I have it narrowed down to two locations. The Forest of Magic, due to the large amount of magic that naturally gathers there, or the Mountain Ranges around Youkai Mountain, due to it being largely unexplored, and uninhabited, so to make it that it would be less likly to be found than in the Forest of Magic. In fact, there may even be a magic source around there too. We don't know." Hatate says, before adding, "They're also the two areas I've not already searched while reporting."

[Hanzo K.]

>Nod. "Alright, those were mostly the same as my guesses too. Seems we're on the same page for the most part. Which one should we check first guys?"

[Raikaria]

>Nod. "Alright, those were mostly the same as my guesses too. Seems we're on the same page for the most part. Which one should we check first guys?"

> "I don't know." Kaguya says.

> "I'd think that if there was some sort of machine in the Forest of Magic, the kelptomaniac would have found it already." Sakuya says.

> "I agree with that one." Mima says, "If it was in the Forest of Magic, Marisa would have already found it, especially if it's been active for at least eight months. Not to mention the Maisma of the forest is thick enough it can be seen with the naked eye, and if it was being drawn somewhere nearby, you could follow it. We'd have seen the maisma collecting somewhere while we were there, and we did not."

[Hanzo K.]

>Nod. "So the last logical spot is around the Mountain."
>Laugh a bit. "S'funny, when there's no incident going, I'm a goofball. But when there is one going, I'm all 'whoosh', and competent for the most part. Strange, isn't it?"
>Nod. "Anyhow, I don't wanna risk Dai's safety, so she should stay behind and keep Cirno out of trouble. I know her magic-sensing ability will be a big help, but I don't wanna take any chances. I might go postal if her or Cirno end up fading away as a result of Yumemi's antics."

[Raikaria]

>Nod. "So the last logical spot is around the Mountain."
>Laugh a bit. "S'funny, when there's no incident going, I'm a goofball. But when there is one going, I'm all 'whoosh', and competent for the most part. Strange, isn't it?"
>Nod. "Anyhow, I don't wanna risk Dai's safety, so she should stay behind and keep Cirno out of trouble. I know her magic-sensing ability will be a big help, but I don't wanna take any chances. I might go postal if her or Cirno end up fading away as a result of Yumemi's antics."

> "Yes, the mountain ranges." Sakuya says.

> "The same ranges where Rika's lab was in the past, unless I'm mistaken." Mima says.

> "I wouldn't have gone anyway, unless I was made to. Last time I went to those mountains I *was* stuffed into a cage." Daiyousei says.

[Hanzo K.]

>Nod. "Alright, Chyuri did mention checking out Rika's old lab, so there's a good chance it's set up there."
>"Man, I hope those cloud guys are okay, they were pretty cool."
>Nod. "Alright,  seeya when we get back, Dai. Stay safe now, y'hear? And keep that screwball from getting into too much trouble, okay?"
>Let's take the crew and make for Rika's old lab!

[Raikaria]

>Nod. "Alright, Chyuri did mention checking out Rika's old lab, so there's a good chance it's set up there."
>"Man, I hope those cloud guys are okay, they were pretty cool."
>Nod. "Alright,  seeya when we get back, Dai. Stay safe now, y'hear? And keep that screwball from getting into too much trouble, okay?"
>Let's take the crew and make for Rika's old lab!

> "Maybe." Mima says.

> "Oh, those cloud guys! Ichirin has one!" Kogasa pipes up.

> "Keep Cirno out of trouble. You know that's impossible." Daiyousei says.

> You and the group start to head for the mountains which house Rika's old lab, and the Nuyydou's home mountain, as well as... whatever else is there. Nothing of note happens en route, and you arrive at Rika's old lab. It's still rather ruined, it doesn't look like Rika's been back here to construct anything.

[Hanzo K.]

>Does anything look like it's been moved in the past 8 months?
>"Hey Mima, feelin' anything?"

[Raikaria]

>Does anything look like it's been moved in the past 8 months?
>"Hey Mima, feelin' anything?"

> It's been 2 years since the Rika incident. 8 months is the period Hatate has been investigating. Still, you haven't been at the front of the base since before the fight with the giant robot and the spark that bored through part of the mountain happened. You presume the rubble is a result of that.

> "Nope. Nothing strange here. Although... I do sense an area with a large amount of magic that way. I can't tell if it's natural or not." the evil spirit says, indicating towards the Nuyydou's mountain.

[Hanzo K.]

>Nod. "We'll check that out then. Let's go. And let us know if you're feelin' funny, being a mage spirit probably means you're almost as susceptible to the absorber's effects as a Sprite. Just that low-end one Chiyuri had was enough to weaken us a decent chunk."
>Let's get going for that mountain!

[Raikaria]

>Nod. "We'll check that out then. Let's go. And let us know if you're feelin' funny, being a mage spirit probably means you're almost as susceptible to the absorber's effects as a Sprite. Just that low-end one Chiyuri had was enough to weaken us a decent chunk."
>Let's get going for that mountain!

> "Maybe. That said, I spent so much time in Makai I might be less sensitive now." Mima says. "I can detect areas with a large amount of magic, but that doesn't mean anything it's just a clue."

> You head towards the Nyuudou's mountain, when suddenly, and somewhat unexpectedly, several Nyuudou of varying shade and color appear.

> "All of you are not welcome here, with one exception, the one in black and white." a black Nyuudou says. "We owe her for stopping the explosion two years ago, we consider her an ally, so she may pass, as long as she swears to keep what she finds here a secret."

[Hanzo K.]

>"Secret huh? Not a problem. I'm out here looking for a strange device that's been sucking up magic. Mima here said there was a large concentration of magic around here, so we figured that the Absorber was somewhere on this mountain."

[Raikaria]

>"Secret huh? Not a problem. I'm out here looking for a strange device that's been sucking up magic. Mima here said there was a large concentration of magic around here, so we figured that the Absorber was somewhere on this mountain."

> "No, however, there may be someone who might have an idea, after all we Nyuudou know these mountains."

[Hanzo K.]

>Nod. "Alright, odds are one of you guys knows, or knows someone who does."
>Look to the others. "You guys stick around here, I'll go on ahead like the guy said, and gather info in here."

[Raikaria]

>Nod. "Alright, odds are one of you guys knows, or knows someone who does."
>Look to the others. "You guys stick around here, I'll go on ahead like the guy said, and gather info in here."

> "OK... we'll look around the other mountains, right guys?" Mima says.

> You go with the Nyuudou, onto their mountain. At this point, you can feel magical energy in the air, getting stronger as the Nyuudou lead you to a cave.

> "The magic is the one we own much to sending out a signal, hoping you would come here. We hide her. We protect her. We owe her." the black Nyuudou says, as the magic dies down.

> "Now now, stop being so formal towards me. I told you I don't like that." an unfamilar voice says. It is the type of voice that commands respect, and shows authority. "Come in, young one..."

[Hanzo K.]

>Raise an eyebrow. "Alrighty, here I come then."
>Let's head on in!

[Raikaria]

>Raise an eyebrow. "Alrighty, here I come then."
>Let's head on in!

> You head inside, and note that the Nyuudou do not follow.

> At the back of the cave, there is light from glowing moss. A figure sits at the back, on a rock, with long, unkempt black hair, and brown eyes. Shackles with broken chains are on her ankles and wrists. Her attire shows age, being not much more than a black rag over her, almost in the shape of the traditional ghost. Most striking, however, are the three horns on her head, one at the front, and one on each side. The left is white, the right is black, and the center is grey.

> "I figure I need to introduce myself... not many who know me still out there."