Hatate Quest

[Oldmansour]

>Prepare while they were talking and set up a nice shot to get both Yukari and Reimu.
>"Smile, please!"

>Despite Momiji's bout of pessimism, you're not one to pass up a photo op when you have one like this, so you set yourself up looking down slightly upon Yukari and the sleeping Hakurei. Aerial views are always best. The youkai of gaps, a mischevious light in her eyes, glances up in your direction out of the corner of her eye and smiles a little smile, as her hand gently strokes Reimu's thick black hair. Oh, that's just juicy, and you waste no time in recording the image.

>You do realize that Reimu's not going to be too happy about this. Momiji cautions you again.

[Hello Purvis]

>"Reimu's never happy."
>Check the photo's quality.

[Oldmansour]

>"Reimu's never happy."
>Check the photo's quality.

>Momiji sighs a voiceless sigh. Yukari's trick with the floating words evidently doesn't translate that sort of vocalization. The gap youkari herself gives Momiji a sideways glance, grinning at the long-suffering tengu.
>Knowing Yukari's penchant for mischief, you almost expect your picture to reveal nothing beyond the backside of a boulder, or something else that isn't what you shot. However, not only did you capture the image you wanted, the quality of it is perfect.

[O4rfish]

Of course it's perfect. Just like in that story about the Longnose who went golfing on Tengu Day.

[Hello Purvis]

>Bow. "Thank you very much."

[Branneg Xy]

:toot: I wish Happy Saint Silvester,Happy 2014 and a Future Happy Epiphany to anyone who reads this message.!/color]   :toot:


>Reach out to the White Wolf  and  pat her on a shoulder giving out a reassuring yet not condescending look :"Now,now Momiji. It is not the act of taking a picture in itself,but the use it will be done with it; as I was taught by our Tengu master journalists and photographers and have come to see realized by a few run-ins of a certain seasoned colleague of mine."
>"Oh ,to speak honestly,it is not like it is claimed she is the only one swayed by the prospects of....Untoward utilization...Certainly the most infamously famous out of the crow coterie.A topic I may need to look into for another time, for another informative experience as a Tengu reporter."

[Oldmansour]

:toot: I wish Happy Saint Silvester,Happy 2014 and a Future Happy Epiphany to anyone who reads this message.!/color]   :toot:

And to you and yours, sir.

>Reach out to the White Wolf  and  pat her on a shoulder giving out a reassuring yet not condescending look :"Now,now Momiji. It is not the act of taking a picture in itself,but the use it will be done with it; as I was taught by our Tengu master journalists and photographers and have come to see realized by a few run-ins of a certain seasoned colleague of mine."
>"Oh ,to speak honestly,it is not like it is claimed she is the only one swayed by the prospects of....Untoward utilization...Certainly the most infamously famous out of the crow coterie.A topic I may need to look into for another time, for another informative experience as a Tengu reporter."

>For your sake, my friend, I hope Reimu gives you the benefit of the doubt. Momiji replies with a dour expression. Her temper isn't always the longest in Gensokyo.
>Your esoteric phrasing makes the wolf pause for a moment, but Yukari butts in with her opinion, That sounds like quite an ambitious topic to explore. You think her expression means she approves of the idea. You're less sure whether or not this is a good thing.

>Bow. "Thank you very much."

>You're quite welcome. Yukari replies with an incline of her head. Now, about that other matter we discussed...

[Hello Purvis]

>"Mmm?"

[Oldmansour]

>"Mmm?"

>You said you could save us the trip? Momiji says.
>Yukari nods. Indeed I did. Unless, of course, you'd rather not see Miss Aya caught unawares? she adds with a mischievous smirk.

[O4rfish]

>Haha, no that sounds just fine.

[Oldmansour]

>Haha, no that sounds just fine.

>I thought you might approve. One moment, please. Slashing the air with her free hand, Yukari opens another one of her small gaps and plunges her arm into the void. The sound of an audible *thunk* coincides with Yukari wincing sharply, and she withdraws her hand quickly, muttering a short "Ow." The startled youkai of gaps looks into the still open slit in the air, shaking her hand. That hasn't happened in quite a long time.

[Hello Purvis]

>"Are you alright?"

[Oldmansour]

>"Are you alright?"

>Quite. Thank you. Yukari replies, examining her fingertips. I was merely slightly careless.
>It almost sounded like you struck your hand on a piece of wood. Momiji ventures.
>No, I don't believe it was wood. She glances into her gap once again. Wood isn't usually quite so orange.

[Hello Purvis]

>"What was it, then?"

[Oldmansour]

>"What was it, then?"

>With a small frown, Yukari replies, It's not altogether often I find myself saying this, Hatate, but, I'm not entirely certain.

[Hello Purvis]

>"Oh. Did you just hit you hand, or did something sting it?"

[Oldmansour]

>"Oh. Did you just hit you hand, or did something sting it?"

>Most definately the former. It's a shield of some kind, but I'm afraid it's not one I recognize instantly.

[Hello Purvis]

>"Well there's something I never thought I'd hear!"

[O4rfish]

>Let's not say this. We're not close friends with Yukari.
>Really? So, I guess you can't gap me to Aya then.

[Oldmansour]

>"Well there's something I never thought I'd hear!"

>Let's not say this. We're not close friends with Yukari.
>Really? So, I guess you can't gap me to Aya then.

>You decide to play it safe when dealing with the youkai of gaps.

>Well, I can't put you down directly in front of her, no. She pauses, looking thoughtful. No.... That's not entirely true. I could, but, I think I would prefer not to. I have somthing better in mind.

[Hello Purvis]

>"And that is?"

[Oldmansour]

>"And that is?"

>Yukari temples her fingers. How do you ladies feel about the prospect of a little investigation?

[O4rfish]

>That sounds intriguing to me.

[Oldmansour]

>That sounds intriguing to me.

>She smiles. I thought it might. Somehow, you find the combination of her words and her smile a bit unsettling. She glances in Momiji's direction. And you, Inubashiri-san?
>Momiji can't keep her nervous swallow as quiet as she'd probably have liked. I'll help if I can.
>Wonderful. I knew I could count on two such dependable tengu like yourselves. I wish you both good luck.

>Momiji starts to say something, but abrubtly you feel the floor fall out from underneath your feet. Yukari's speech-trick is still in effect, so your startled cry comes out as no more than a stream of letters as you fall through the floor of the Hakurei shrine. You have time enough to think to yourself, 'I probably should've seen that coming.' before your fall is abruptly halted by your back impacting with something solid. The ground, you believe. Grassy ground, and none too warm.

[Hello Purvis]

>Groan a good groan.
>Look around.

[Oldmansour]

>Groan a good groan.
>Look around.

>Freed from Yukari's trickery, your groan comes out audibly, which comes as some relief. It's good to have your voice back to normal.
>Looking to your right, you see that Momiji is already coming back to her feet, and rubbing her hips. She glances up at the still open gap in the sky above you, which somehow seems not to have been wide enough to transport you both, and bites her lip.
>Having gauged your partner's status, you take a look around. You are in a wooded area, and one that seems familiar. It strikes you just where you are when you see the green-tiled roof of the house to your east. You are in the Forest of Magic. Yukari has deposited you barely fifty feet away from the home of Marisa Kirisame, arguably Gensokyo's second most infamous incident-resolver, after Reimu herself of course. You and Momiji are the only ones that appear to be in the immediate vicinity.

[O4rfish]

>"Isn't this where we were going anyway? I wonder what Yakumo-sama had in mind if this was the backup plan."

[Oldmansour]

>"Isn't this where we were going anyway? I wonder what Yakumo-sama had in mind if this was the backup plan."

>Momiji waits for the gap to draw itself shut and vanish before, somewhat sourly, she replies, "Maybe she just thought this was funnier."

[Hello Purvis]

>"Yeah, probably. Want to go check on the witch?"

[Oldmansour]

>"Yeah, probably. Want to go check on the witch?"

>Momiji takes another glance around, then nods. "Seems the thing to do. Although...." The wolf narrows her eyes at Marisa's house. "Something doesn't feel quite right here...."