>Touch the clothes. Fuck the rules, woman!
>Look inside, see if something left of this 'Mitori' person has been left here.
>Take the note as evidence to throw in peoples' face if Hiro acts up.
>It's soft. Immaculate, even, some of the finest crafting you've ever seen. Fit for a queen, most definitely.
>Besides the note, there's no sign of anything.
>You take the note as a safety precaution.
>"Oh dammit, dad! What the fuck!"
>Vow to make a grave-kicking device.
>Back to Hiro.
>"You. Explain. Or Curses."
>You wonder momentarily if the dead can still feel pain as you make your way back to Hiro. He seems resigned, now, and makes no attempt to escape his fate. He sees the note in your hand.
"I see you are more likely to listen to me now. That tells the story as it is, but perhaps some clarification is in order."
He sighed, bringing up memories that he'd held back for years and clearly not enjoying it.
"Years before you were born, King Tachimura had a daughter. She was Princess Mitori Kawashiro, and as with all royal births her existence was to be kept a secret until her coronation. All the servants of the palace and members of the council were sworn to secrecy.
Mitori was a wonderful child - curious, intelligent, outgoing. Her father loved her, and so did everyone who looked after her - her smile had a brightness that was almost contagious. She would all too often slip out of the palace and walk among the people, making the most of her anonymity and bringing cheer to the people of Kuromizu in her own little way.
She was slowly led into the duties she would take on as queen. She understood, and was willing to be a beacon of hope for the people. Indeed, bringing smiles to her fellow kappa was a duty she was very much devoted to. Still, even on the days before her impending coronation as the next queen, she would engage in her frolics throughout the city.
It was one of these trips that caused everything to fall apart. The servants were aware of her walks, but she always returned home at a decent hour. Until that one night, when even as Kuromizu sank into slumber there was no sign of Mitori. Come morning, she still hadn't emerged, and within the palace there was pandemonium. The Serpents were called in, search parties were formed, everything that we could do to find her we did.
But we were too late. They found her in a forgotten back alley in Kuromizu, her throat slit open and her heart long since stopped. It was the first time anyone had seen a look of horror on her face, but it was not an expression they would want to remember.
...Not an expression that I would want to remember."
Hiro pauses, starting to get emotional. He takes a deep breath before continuing.
"The search for the killer began immediately, but there was nothing to follow - no prints, no marks, no traces of the murderer's existence whatsoever. This was clearly no random killing - someone was aware of the princess's existence and ordered her murder as an attempt to end the Kawashiro line. After a thorough investigation, all we could find was a mole - a low-ranking member of the council who in his last moments confessed that he was responsible for the death of Mitori Kawashiro. Those were his last words before he bit down on a pill filled with some obscure poison and took his own life. He was afraid of discovery, but moreso afraid of being caught confessing. A pitiful man, but even with his confession we were unable to track the guilty party. With some effort we found the killer - an underground assassin for hire, who'd been the bane of Kuromizu for months - but even after interrogation he confessed that he was in the dark, with no idea who his target had actually been. Nor did he know the identity of his employer - he just received a considerable payment and did what came naturally to him.
So in the end, we were powerless. We could do nothing to avenge Mitori. None of us slept for days without soaking our beds in tears. An innocent girl had died because we hadn't considered the dangers that could have been waiting for her. And now the throne of Kuromizu was once again without an heir, so the killer may well have succeeded in their plan.
At least, until you arrived, Nitori.
Your birth was a second chance for all of us. A chance to repent for past mistakes. We had all involved swear that Mitori Kawashiro had never existed, all for your sake. We played it safe. We kept you under guard in the palace so no-one could reach you. Perhaps we were heavy-handed, but you have to understand that we were afraid. Every time I looked at you I would see your sister's eyes, that same glint, that same beauty. You were different, though; we pressed your duties on you too harshly, maybe. You rebelled, you ran away. In attempting to protect you, we'd given you your reason to leave.
Shortly afterwards, King Tachimura passed away. It became necessary to explain your absence under any guise that seemed believable, but over the years doubt started to grow within the people. We were on the verge of being revealed regardless, only for you to come right back to us. That's why we were so desperate - without you, everything falls apart."
Hiro finally stops, looking at you with the utmost severity.
"So in short, Nitori, that is it. You are the last in the Kawashiro line. The only girl who could possibly replace you is dead, and unless you find some way to bring back the dead or prevent her death from ever happening, she isn't coming back. We need you here, Nitori.
Kuromizu needs you."
