Keine Quest (Part 4): Broken History

[Hello Purvis]

>"Why wouldn't I know her?"

[DracoOmega]

>"Why wouldn't I know her?"

>"I could describe what she once looked like," Youmu says, "but... I do not think she will be the same. She has shed the form I knew. I only hope that I can recognize her in my heart when she passes this way again."

[Hello Purvis]

>"What are you hoping to recognize? Speech? Mannerisms? Interests? Surely you have to feel something would have carried over beyond appearances."

[DracoOmega]

>"What are you hoping to recognize? Speech? Mannerisms? Interests? Surely you have to feel something would have carried over beyond appearances."

>"Her soul," Youmu says simply.

[Hello Purvis]

>"So even if you did see her alive, you wouldn't know her, huh?"

[DracoOmega]

>"So even if you did see her alive, you wouldn't know her, huh?"

>"I would," Youmu replies. "I... have to believe that I would."

[Hello Purvis]

>"Do you think she'd remember you, or be anything like her old self?"

[DracoOmega]

>"Do you think she'd remember you, or be anything like her old self?"

>"She would have to have something of her old self in her. The soul is immutable. But... I doubt she would know me."

[Hello Purvis]

>"How did she come to change forms? Would she remember anything of her former life, you think?"

[DracoOmega]

>"How did she come to change forms? Would she remember anything of her former life, you think?"

>"She... passed on," Youmu says, eyes staring into the distance beyond you. "It may sound like a strange thing to speak of the dead passing, but..." She shakes her head. "I not know what form she inhabits or where she would dwell. But when she returns, I will be waiting for her."

[Hello Purvis]

>"Who did she used to be?"
>Like Yuyuko, but...wait a minute...

[DracoOmega]

>"Who did she used to be?"
>Like Yuyuko, but...wait a minute...

>"She..." Youmu looks down and pauses. "I suppose there is no reason not to say. I have said so much already; I know not why I've done so. She... was my mistress, Lady Yuyuko. Ghost Princess of the Netherworld. I am her servant, and I will serve her to the end of my days, through death and life and death again. It is my failing which has caused this, and I will keep watch here until I can find a way to right it."
>That... sounds remarkable familiar, now that you think about...

[Hello Purvis]

>Oh hell, why didn't we see this before? She ever kinda looked like Yuyuko.
>"So. She would have an affinity for ghosts? Perhaps speak with them?"

[DracoOmega]

>Oh hell, why didn't we see this before? She ever kinda looked like Yuyuko.
>"So. She would have an affinity for ghosts? Perhaps speak with them?"

>Now that you think about it, yeah... Maybe it was just the incongruity of the connection at the time at the time, and the shock of seeing your home in shambles. Who would draw the connection between a human you don't know a ghost you also don't really know without any reason to suspect that something like that had changed....
>"I cannot say," Youmu says. "Her connection with the spirits of the dead was always extremely strong. It may be possible that some of that is still present in life."

[Hello Purvis]

>"The old human village. There was a woman who lives there; she refused to leave because she feels someone has to honor the dead. She said she could speak with ghosts. I met her there two days ago."

[DracoOmega]

>"The old human village. There was a woman who lives there; she refused to leave because she feels someone has to honor the dead. She said she could speak with ghosts. I met her there two days ago."

>Youmu gives you a curious look. "And? It is an uncommon, but not altogether rare ability."

[Hello Purvis]

>"Why would she honor those dead, in particular, Youmu? Even leaving herself in an abandoned village where an enterprising youkai might get her?"

[DracoOmega]

>"Why would she honor those dead, in particular, Youmu? Even leaving herself in an abandoned village where an enterprising youkai might get her?"

>"I certainly wouldn't know," Youmu says. "Some people have strange motives. And why do you bring this up?"

[Hello Purvis]

>"Call it instinct. But, I am willing to gamble it is her. You're supposed to be speedy, right? Go check, quickly, before Komachi returns. I'll do all in my power to distract her from ferrying anyone over until you get back."

[DracoOmega]

>"Call it instinct. But, I am willing to gamble it is her. You're supposed to be speedy, right? Go check, quickly, before Komachi returns. I'll do all in my power to distract her from ferrying anyone over until you get back."

>Youmu shakes her head. "Spirits that pass through the Netherworld end up in many places, and Gensokyo is but a small one of those. Merely finding someone who can speak with ghosts means nothing, and if her soul re-entered the cycle of reincarnation she would still be far too young. I appreciate your concern, but they cannot be connected."

[Hello Purvis]

>"What do you have to lose? I need to talk with Komachi anyways, and I'll make sure she doesn't ferry anyone off before you get back, so you won't miss anyone here."

[DracoOmega]

>"What do you have to lose? I need to talk with Komachi anyways, and I'll make sure she doesn't ferry anyone off before you get back, so you won't miss anyone here."

>Youmu fixes you with a penetrating expression. "You solemnly swear?"

[Hello Purvis]

>"Yes. But if it is her? Don't linger too long. Come back here and let me know, so I can take Komachi out of whatever headlock I have to put her into to keep her here, okay?"

[DracoOmega]

>"Yes. But if it is her? Don't linger too long. Come back here and let me know, so I can take Komachi out of whatever headlock I have to put her into to keep her here, okay?"

>Youmu rises to her feet. "I suppose it cannot hurt to investigate. Where does she live? I'm... afraid I'm unfamiliar with most of Gensokyo."

[Hello Purvis]

>Give her some quick and dirty directions to the old human village, and to Wossname the Ghosttalker's house.

[DracoOmega]

>Give her some quick and dirty directions to the old human village, and to Wossname the Ghosttalker's house.

>You give Youmu as good directions as you can, and she nods attentively at each step of the journey as you delineate it.
>"I will return as quick as I am able," she says, turning and flying off at a substantial clip.

>"So, I guess we just wait for this Komachi person to get back now?" Mokou says, after Youmu has left.

[Hello Purvis]

>"Yeah. Sorry for that, just...well, I feel bad for her. And I hope I'm right."

[DracoOmega]

>"Yeah. Sorry for that, just...well, I feel bad for her. And I hope I'm right."

>"Did you know these people in the other world, too?" Mokou asks.

[Hello Purvis]

>"Did you know these people in the other world, too?" Mokou asks.

>Nod.
>"They...kinda beat me up, during the whole moon incident thing. I sorta thought they were coming after the village, and...well... heh heh..."

[DracoOmega]

>Nod.
>"They...kinda beat me up, during the whole moon incident thing. I sorta thought they were coming after the village, and...well... heh heh..."

>Mokou starts to chuckle. "You? Jumping the gun? Who'd have thought it? Pretty nice of you to want to help if all they've ever done for you is beat you up. You really think that woman's this Yuyuko person? How does that even work?"