Keine Quest (Part 4): Broken History

[DracoOmega]

>"Perhaps it means little now, but you could have used it to maintain Blazing Hell."

>"I did," she says. "Or I tried to. Still probably would, if I could. But you can't say that doesn't count as burning stuff. The name's not just for show."

[Hello Purvis]

>Nod.
>"I doubt you need any lectures, then. I wonder though, did you ever consider the people who live up here when you made that plan?"

[DracoOmega]

>Nod.
>"I doubt you need any lectures, then. I wonder though, did you ever consider the people who live up here when you made that plan?"

>Utsuho is silent for a moment. "And why should I care about them?"

[Hello Purvis]

>"Why shouldn't you?"

[DracoOmega]

>"Why shouldn't you?"

>"Because they hate us," she says, no sign of resentment in her voice, despite her words. "They hate all of us. That's why they cast us down there."

[Hello Purvis]

>"That may have been true long in the past. But, when you arrived, people had completely forgotten there was an Underground to begin with.  It's why the oni went there, people had forgotten about it. I don't think anyone hates underground dwellers simply for being there."

[DracoOmega]

>"That may have been true long in the past. But, when you arrived, people had completely forgotten there was an Underground to begin with.  It's why the oni went there, people had forgotten about it. I don't think anyone hates underground dwellers simply for being there."

>Utsuho jerks her head in Kanako's direction. "Why don't you try telling that to her?"

[Hello Purvis]

>"Like she has an idea what Gensokyo is like. She's only been here a couple years. But if you need proof, Orin came up here and she was fine."

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"Like she has an idea what Gensokyo is like. She's only been here a couple years. But if you need proof, Orin came up here and she was fine."

>"Orin's good at not being found." Utsuho pauses and shifts over onto her back. "So, say they don't. So what? What does it change?"

[Hello Purvis]

>"Well, it could change your assumption that we all hate you. Which, given how your tormentor is completely incapable of self reflection, is a thing you should cherish as a definite sign you're better than she is. To be honest, if most people knew what had happened to you, they would be at least somewhat outraged. And that is with the reputation you've gained from her version of events."

[DracoOmega]

>"Well, it could change your assumption that we all hate you. Which, given how your tormentor is completely incapable of self reflection, is a thing you should cherish as a definite sign you're better than she is. To be honest, if most people knew what had happened to you, they would be at least somewhat outraged. And that is with the reputation you've gained from her version of events."

>"I don't want their pity," she says. "Not theirs, not her's." She turns and scowls at you. "Not even yours."

[Hello Purvis]

>"Why not?"

[DracoOmega]

>"Why not?"

>Utsuho looks away and is silent.

[Hello Purvis]

>"Even if I left and never spared you another thought, you would still be prominent in Satori and Orin's hearts. Whatever mistakes you may have made, whatever has been done to you, that won't change."

[DracoOmega]

>"Even if I left and never spared you another thought, you would still be prominent in Satori and Orin's hearts. Whatever mistakes you may have made, whatever has been done to you, that won't change."

>"If... if you see them again... tell them I'm sorry."

[Hello Purvis]

>"I shall make a special trip to do so. But, in the meantime, I want you to promise me something. Alright?"

[DracoOmega]

>"I shall make a special trip to do so. But, in the meantime, I want you to promise me something. Alright?"

>She rolls over again. "Promise you what?"

[Hello Purvis]

>"Don't give up, for their sakes if not for your own.The world would forgive you."

[DracoOmega]

>"Don't give up, for their sakes if not for your own.The world would forgive you."

>Utsuho closes her eyes. "It's not worth it, anymore."

[Hello Purvis]

>"Would you say the same thing if I had cut that shimenawa?"

[DracoOmega]

>"Would you say the same thing if I had cut that shimenawa?"

>Utsuho shakes her head. "Wouldn't have mattered. You think that's the only thing keeping me in here?"

[Hello Purvis]

>"Perhaps not. But let's say it was so? Would you really have just languished in there?"

[DracoOmega]

>"Perhaps not. But let's say it was so? Would you really have just languished in there?"

>"I... don't know what I would do."

[Hello Purvis]

>Nod.
>"All I can say, Utsuho, is there is one thing you can hold close to your heart. Whatever mistakes you've made in the past, you are, at this moment, a better person than your tormentor can aspire to be. This may mean nothing to you now, but in the future it will. Hold fiercely to that, and do all you can to maintain it."

[DracoOmega]

>Nod.
>"All I can say, Utsuho, is there is one thing you can hold close to your heart. Whatever mistakes you've made in the past, you are, at this moment, a better person than your tormentor can aspire to be. This may mean nothing to you now, but in the future it will. Hold fiercely to that, and do all you can to maintain it."

>"I... don't really understand," she says. "Why does it matter to you?"

[Hello Purvis]

>"Because this isn't right. Whatever you may have done in the past, this is not the correct way to punish it; what has this done to show you the error of your ways? All it's done, I would wager, is deepen your resentment toward your tormentor and drive you to the brink of madness. That you've held on as strongly as you have, frankly, amazes me. So what does it matter to me? It's wrong, and you're suffering for it."

[DracoOmega]

>"Because this isn't right. Whatever you may have done in the past, this is not the correct way to punish it; what has this done to show you the error of your ways? All it's done, I would wager, is deepen your resentment toward your tormentor and drive you to the brink of madness. That you've held on as strongly as you have, frankly, amazes me. So what does it matter to me? It's wrong, and you're suffering for it."

>"She's not wrong, though, you know," Utsuho says calmly. "If they let me out, I might just turn this place into slag. And them along with it."

[Hello Purvis]

>"Perhaps. But, I think you're also wise enough to understand there's no point to it. It would just make you into something like her. There's better uses for that power. You could well use it to be loved by the underground and the surface alike."

[DracoOmega]

>"Perhaps. But, I think you're also wise enough to understand there's no point to it. It would just make you into something like her. There's better uses for that power. You could well use it to be loved by the underground and the surface alike."

>Utsuho snickers darkly then keeps going until it slowly turns into full-blown laughter; harsh, bitter, and humorless. "I don't know what world you think you're living in," she says when she finally stops.

[Hello Purvis]

>"Gensokyo. Are you saying that the oni would not be happy to have Blazing Hell stoked and lively again? Because they are most certainly not happy with the underground being cold as it is. Are you saying the people up here wouldn't be happy with power you could provide? I assure you that they would be."