Kisume Quest IX - A Z-Machine Adventure

[Kilgamayan]

> "Don't even try that! I told you I was taking care of it! What do you think I mentioned the harvest goddess for?! But no, you just brush that aside to point out my flaws! I guess having the favor of the one that controls the harvest doesn't matter when there's a nag quota to be met!"

[Hello Purvis]

> "Don't even try that! I told you I was taking care of it! What do you think I mentioned the harvest goddess for?! But no, you just brush that aside to point out my flaws! I guess having the favor of the one that controls the harvest doesn't matter when there's a nag quota to be met!"

>Komachi looks like she is about to reply, then stops as her eyes focus elsewhere.
>"Do continue," comes another familiar voice behind you. "I'm sure there's some people in the far booths who couldn't hear you, Komachi."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Oh great. It's her, isn't it.
> Slowly turn around.

[Hello Purvis]

> Oh great. It's her, isn't it.
> Slowly turn around.

>It's her, definitely.
>You slowly turn around and see Shikieiki, same as she was the last time you saw her so long ago. Actually...not quite. Her hair is a bit disheveled, as is her uniform. That alone is rather rare, and you can't ever recall seeing her panting slightly  for breath like she is now.
>"You're hurt, Kisume" she says, frowning. "Are you going to be alright?"

>_

[Oldmansour]

>Does she look.. worried?
>Come to think of it, did she ever look worried about us?

[Hello Purvis]

>Does she look.. worried?
>Come to think of it, did she ever look worried about us?

>You think so. She's never been an easy person to read, but you think that frown is more about concern than disapproval.
>It's certainly happened, you've gotten into bumps and scrapes like anyone else. However, it's not so easy to immediately recall any such circumstance to mind.

>_

[Oldmansour]

>"I'll be fine. Haven't keeled over yet."

[Kilgamayan]

> "It looks really messy, but it's been treated already."
> Beat.
> "Not by me. By someone really smart, that knew what they were doing."

[Hello Purvis]

>"I'll be fine. Haven't keeled over yet."

>"It looks quite severe, judging from the blood" says Shikieiki.

> "It looks really messy, but it's been treated already."
> Beat.
> "Not by me. By someone really smart, that knew what they were doing."

>"Alright, then," says Shikieiki.
>She glances over toward Sariel, then says, "I see she has been up to nothing but trouble. Did you bring her here?"

>_

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "More or less. I didn't physically drag her from place to place myself, but I exposed her to the Canus Empire and incapacitated her."

[Hello Purvis]

> "More or less. I didn't physically drag her from place to place myself, but I exposed her to the Canus Empire and incapacitated her."

>She looks back to you, then says, "You've done well, then."
>She glances to Komachi and says, "Would you be so kind as to deliver Sariel to one of the off duty authorities, please?"
>"Wait, but-" Komachi says, but Shikieiki doesn't allow her to continue.
>"It would be a problem if she were able to escape or harm someone enjoying their holiday, wouldn't you agree?"
>Komachi frowns and for a moment it looks like she's going to argue, then she says, "Okay, fine, fine." Then she looks to VIVIT and says, "Hey, you have big ropy muscles, right? How about you help me haul Sariel away."
>VIVIT looks to you and says, "Shall I?"

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Nod.
> "Yeah, that'll be fine. And once that's done, you should try enjoying the fair day. It's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for you, since it sounds like Yukari wants this to be your last trip to Gensokyo. Might as well take advantage of it."

[Hello Purvis]

> Nod.
> "Yeah, that'll be fine. And once that's done, you should try enjoying the fair day. It's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for you, since it sounds like Yukari wants this to be your last trip to Gensokyo. Might as well take advantage of it."

>"Oh, okay," says VIVIT, "I'll do that!"
>With that, she and Komachi grab Sariel by the loops in her bindings and drag her away.
>Shikieiki watches them carry the former shinigami away, then says, "The Messenger and I couldn't find you. Why was that?"

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "Wait, she was looking too? Oh! Uh' well."
> Put on a small frown.
> "This, uh,  might be hard to believe, but...I was abducted and removed from Gensokyo."

[Hello Purvis]

> "Wait, she was looking too? Oh! Uh' well."
> Put on a small frown.
> "This, uh,  might be hard to believe, but...I was abducted and removed from Gensokyo."

>"She was with me for a short time," says Shikieiki, "But her duties called her back to the Dragon Palace."
>"It would be hard for many believe," She says after you explain, "But I can see the truth in your words."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Nod.
> "I'd figured you'd be able to if anyone. Lucky us, I actually ended up in Kosa, Sariel's old haunt."

[Hello Purvis]

> Nod.
> "I'd figured you'd be able to if anyone. Lucky us, I actually ended up in Kosa, Sariel's old haunt."

>"And I presume that you found her there," says Shikieiki.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "Eventually. She was working as a special advisor to the ruler there. The red-haired maid could tell you more about that, she's from there."

[Hello Purvis]

> "Eventually. She was working as a special advisor to the ruler there. The red-haired maid could tell you more about that, she's from there."

>"I will find the details from Sariel herself, but right now it is easier to ask you," says Shikieiki. "Who was it that hurt you?"

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Shrug.
> "Some Kosan soldier. They use deadly firearms instead of danmaku. It didn't kill me, but it hurt like all get-out at the time."

[Hello Purvis]

> Shrug.
> "Some Kosan soldier. They use deadly firearms instead of danmaku. It didn't kill me, but it hurt like all get-out at the time."

>"I see," she says.
>There is a long pause; you swear you can barely hear the fair around you. Then she says, "This is proving more difficult than I had hoped it would be..."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "Huh?"

[Hello Purvis]

> "Huh?"

>"This is not how I hoped our reunion would be," says Shikieiki, "I would have preferred many alternatives to asking questions about some unrelated event in the wake of you and Komachi squabbling openly in public."
>She sighs.
>"It's difficult to find words that won't ultimately make things worse."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Did we ever learn Kasen's family name?

> Take on a slightly embarrassed look.
> "...Oh...um...I didn't come here to make a scene, it just kinda...well...would you rather we all try to work this out in private? I'm sure Yamame wouldn't mind an excuse to browse the fair for a while longer."

[Hello Purvis]

> Did we ever learn Kasen's family name?

> Take on a slightly embarrassed look.
> "...Oh...um...I didn't come here to make a scene, it just kinda...well...would you rather we all try to work this out in private? I'm sure Yamame wouldn't mind an excuse to browse the fair for a while longer."

>You didn't learn it directly, but you think Yukari might have mentioned it.
>"There isn't much privacy to be found here, but that would be fine."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Oh yeah...Miss...Ibaraki, she said when came back with Yamame!
> "Then let's go somewhere and do this."

[Hello Purvis]

> Oh yeah...Miss...Ibaraki, she said when came back with Yamame!
> "Then let's go somewhere and do this."

>"I believe, if we proceed along the shore, we will leave the fair behind," says Shikieiki.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Nod.
> "Sounds good. Lead the way."
> Follow along if she starts moving.

[Hello Purvis]

> Nod.
> "Sounds good. Lead the way."
> Follow along if she starts moving.

>She does so without a further word, heading eastward.
>The walk from the festival is awkward, to say the least. While she isn't looking at you, you still can't help but feel that she's evaluating you in some manner. You're also keenly aware of the occasional glance that you get from the festival goers, and you can only imagine some of the ghosts are looking at you as well. Shikieiki says nothing, and being in the lead, you can't see her face to try to determine what she is thinking; not that you expect you could read her even if you could see it.
>Soon, though, the booths and crowds give way to an empty field, full of tall grass just beginning to take on spring's green shine once again. The river flows slowly and quietly to your left, stretching so far that you cannot see the opposite bank. You can still hear some of the festival's noise in the distance, but it is hardly a bother now.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "Should we wait for her, or did you want this to be just us?"