Keine Quest (Part 4): Broken History

[Hello Purvis]

>"I am hoping that a god engaging in entrapment and torture while posing as a beacon of goodness will be enough to incense her to act. My real hope is she'll intervene for Utsuho's sake, and assign some sort of punishment that isn't being buried alive. If she also condemns Kanako publically, that will be all the better."

[DracoOmega]

>"I am hoping that a god engaging in entrapment and torture while posing as a beacon of goodness will be enough to incense her to act. My real hope is she'll intervene for Utsuho's sake, and assign some sort of punishment that isn't being buried alive. If she also condemns Kanako publically, that will be all the better."

>Ran nods. "I suppose a lot is riding on how she chooses to respond. If you even get the opportunity to speak with her."

[Hello Purvis]

>"True, but if we don't make the effort, nothing will happen. Even if we broke Utsuho free, it wouldn't change anything. This is pretty much the only path we have to correct the problem in the long term."

[DracoOmega]

>"True, but if we don't make the effort, nothing will happen. Even if we broke Utsuho free, it wouldn't change anything. This is pretty much the only path we have to correct the problem in the long term."

>"Perhaps that is true," Ran says. "Kanako does seem to be by far the largest authority in Gensokyo at the moment. Although there are probably still places beyond her reach."

[Hello Purvis]

>"There may be places beyond her reach, but I don't think that would stop her at this point."

[DracoOmega]

>"There may be places beyond her reach, but I don't think that would stop her at this point."

>Ran frowns. "Would she be so intent on pursuing her that she would seek to recapture Utsuho, even if she were to live quietly outside her domain?"

[Hello Purvis]

>"She's insistent there is no way Utsuho can be trusted. And all too happy to torment her via deprivation. I can't imagine Kanako wouldn't make it a personal mission to bury Utsuho again."

[DracoOmega]

>"She's insistent there is no way Utsuho can be trusted. And all too happy to torment her via deprivation. I can't imagine Kanako wouldn't make it a personal mission to bury Utsuho again."

>"Well...." Ran says. "Wouldn't she be proving her trustworthiness by not attacking again?"

[Hello Purvis]

>"Obviously. But Kanako has said if there's even a chance she might, she must be detained."

[DracoOmega]

>"Obviously. But Kanako has said if there's even a chance she might, she must be detained."

>Ran frowns. "Although I sympathize with her plight more than you can know, I... cannot say that I don't understand where she's coming from."
>Eventually, the banks of the Sanzu River come into view in the distance. You can vaguely see a figure slumped against a tree, although it's hard to make out more details.

[Hello Purvis]

>"I don't think anyone is really saying to just let her go free and do whatever. Even her family would certainly keep a very close eye on her if she were let go. The problem is that she can be restrained without being tormented, and if there's no effort to rehabilitate her, then she needs to be put in the care of someone who will."
>Approach the slumped figure.

[DracoOmega]

>"I don't think anyone is really saying to just let her go free and do whatever. Even her family would certainly keep a very close eye on her if she were let go. The problem is that she can be restrained without being tormented, and if there's no effort to rehabilitate her, then she needs to be put in the care of someone who will."
>Approach the slumped figure.

>"And I take it Kanako was not amenable to such suggestions?" Ran says. "Do you... have any ideas who else's care might be workable?"
>You move towards the slumped figure... and discover that it does not resemble the one you were expecting. Although you can only see part of her from around the tree, her build is much slighter than Komachi. She has short silver hair with a black ribbon tied in it, and is wearing a dark green dress. You think you can see a sword sheathed at her side.

[Hello Purvis]

>Approach. Do we recall this person from that night?

[DracoOmega]

>Approach. Do we recall this person from that night?

>You get a little closer. With a wider angle on the tree, you can see a ghostly form floating by her left side. While you saw her only briefly during the night the moon was stolen, you have seen her more than once since, and her appearance is distinctive enough not to mistake. You are fairly certain this is Youmu.

[Hello Purvis]

>"Hello, you are Youmu, right?"

[DracoOmega]

>"Hello, you are Youmu, right?"

>You move closer to her and inquire. She looks up at you as you do so, her eyes narrow and suspicious. You notice a prominent scar on the right side of her face, near her eye. You also notice a hand subtly moving towards her weapon.
>"And you know this how?" she says. "Declare yourself."

[Hello Purvis]

>Nod.
>"I am Keine Kamishirasawa. And I don't mean you any harm. I heard the name from Sakuya."

[DracoOmega]

>Nod.
>"I am Keine Kamishirasawa. And I don't mean you any harm. I heard the name from Sakuya."

>"You are hardly disarming suspicion by associating yourself with her, Keine Kamishirasawa," Youmu says. "What do you want with me?"

[Hello Purvis]

>"I was hoping to find the shinigami. And, I am not here on her behalf, no worries there."

[DracoOmega]

>"I was hoping to find the shinigami. And, I am not here on her behalf, no worries there."

>"Komachi is attending to her duties," Youmu says. "She will return in due time." She pauses and examines you. "You recognized me quite readily for having only a second-hand description, especially when you should otherwise have no reason to expect my presence here."

[Hello Purvis]

>"Have you encountered a number of white-haired swordswomen with a spectral thing floating around them? I've certainly not. Thought it does raise the question, why are you here?"

[DracoOmega]

>"Have you encountered a number of white-haired swordswomen with a spectral thing floating around them? I've certainly not. Thought it does raise the question, why are you here?"

>"I watch," she says. "And I wait."

[Hello Purvis]

>"What for?"

[DracoOmega]

>"What for?"

>"For someone to cross here, once more," she says. There is an unmistakable wistfulness in her voice.

[Hello Purvis]

>"Would it do no good to find her before it's time to cross?"
>Have a seat near her. Invite the others to do the same.

[DracoOmega]

>"Would it do no good to find her before it's time to cross?"
>Have a seat near her. Invite the others to do the same.

>"I do not think it possible," Youmu replies, shaking her head. "It is... an unusual situation."
>You sit down next to her, and gesture for Mokou and Ran to do the same.

[Hello Purvis]

>"How is it unusual?"

[DracoOmega]

>"How is it unusual?"

>"Because she died a long time ago." Youmu gazes out towards the river. "It... is a personal matter."

[Hello Purvis]

>"Alright. I won't pry. But, if I knew more, I would be happy to tell you if I met her."

[DracoOmega]

>"Alright. I won't pry. But, if I knew more, I would be happy to tell you if I met her."

>"You would not know her if you saw her," Youmu says. "I only hope that even I can, now." She stares out at the river in silence for a moment.
>"Years ago, I made a grave, grave mistake, and it cost me everything. This has been my vigil ever since. I pray only that I may someday atone."