Keine Quest (Part 4): Broken History

[MysTeariousYukari]

> "I learned something you and Satori would likely wish to hear. May I come in?"

[DracoOmega]

> "I learned something you and Satori would likely wish to hear. May I come in?"

>"Sure," she says, opening the door wider, "come on in."
>You step inside, and follow her down the main hallway until you come to the entrance to the sitting room.
>"Satori's cooking supper at the moment," Orin says. "Go have a seat and I'll fetch her." She takes a step away and then stops. "...this is about Okuu, isn't it?"

[MysTeariousYukari]

> "Yes, it is about her."
> Don't look sad, that'll just give ideas that we don't want to give.
> If Orin goes to get Satori, wait patiently.

[DracoOmega]

> "Yes, it is about her."
> Don't look sad, that'll just give ideas that we don't want to give.
> If Orin goes to get Satori, wait patiently.

>You attempt to answer Orin with as neutral a tone as possible.
>"Is she ok? Did you-" Orin stops. "...sorry, I'll just go get her." She leaves the room.
>You wait patiently, and after a few moments Orin returns with Satori, a pair of cats trailing after her and nudging up against her leg.
>"You have some information about Utsuho?" Satori says.

[MysTeariousYukari]

> "Ok, good news and bad news. First of all, the good news, Utsuho is alive, a bit rough over all and kinda depressed, but alive, I spoke with her myself. She wanted me to tell you two that she loves you. Also, if all goes according to plan, you'll be able to see her again."
> "The bad news, Kanako is holding Utsuho captive, and is depriving her of any rights she would have. But, as I said, I have a plan to free Utsuho from her captivity."

I'm not so good at major importance bits, so if you see issues in what I post, feel free to fix/ suggest a fix.

[Hello Purvis]

Let's do it this way.

>"Let me begin with the the worst. Orin, all your suspicions about what Kanako was doing with Utsuho are true. She has more or less buried Utsuho under the mountain, depriving her of more or less everything. She insists, still, that Utsuho is perfectly fine despite the obvious toll it's taken upon the poor girl. She and I had...a rather bitter falling out over it.
>"That said, I have taken actions to deal with this. I have informed the Yama of Kanako's actions, and she has taken interest in this case. I hope to meet with her soon. While the Yama won't have any official power over Kanako, I am hoping the shame of being ruled against will be enough to convince her to change her mind.
>"And to that effect, Orin, I wish you to be there. We may need you to serve as a witness against Kanako, should she try to distort the truth."

[DracoOmega]

>"Let me begin with the the worst. Orin, all your suspicions about what Kanako was doing with Utsuho are true. She has more or less buried Utsuho under the mountain, depriving her of more or less everything. She insists, still, that Utsuho is perfectly fine despite the obvious toll it's taken upon the poor girl. She and I had...a rather bitter falling out over it.
>"That said, I have taken actions to deal with this. I have informed the Yama of Kanako's actions, and she has taken interest in this case. I hope to meet with her soon. While the Yama won't have any official power over Kanako, I am hoping the shame of being ruled against will be enough to convince her to change her mind.
>"And to that effect, Orin, I wish you to be there. We may need you to serve as a witness against Kanako, should she try to distort the truth."

>You relate your encounter with Utsuho and your plan for resolving the situations. Orin stares at you intently as you speak, doing her best not to blink. After a few moments, Satori simply looks down and slowly shakes her head.
>"Y- you want me there?" Orin says. "I... don't think I could help her case..." She looks away.

[Hello Purvis]

>"Why do you think you wouldn't be able to help?"

[DracoOmega]

>"Why do you think you wouldn't be able to help?"

>"I'm... not sure I could hold myself back if I saw her."

[Hello Purvis]

>"I can understand the feeling now, but think of it like this: If we can do this and do it properly, we will hit Kanako where it hurts the most; we will expose her deceptions to her faithful and reveal her as the monster she is. Your experience with  Utsuho would be invaluable for this."

[Blitzer]

>Calling Kanako a monster and considering her a monster was not the best idea, but it's too late.
>"If you're doing this for Utsuho, you'd better hold back."

[DracoOmega]

>"I can understand the feeling now, but think of it like this: If we can do this and do it properly, we will hit Kanako where it hurts the most; we will expose her deceptions to her faithful and reveal her as the monster she is. Your experience with  Utsuho would be invaluable for this."

>"I... I don't care about Kanako," Orin says, still looking away from you. "Her and her followers can rot! ...I just want Okuu back again."

>Calling Kanako a monster and considering her a monster was not the best idea, but it's too late.
>"If you're doing this for Utsuho, you'd better hold back."

>It may not have been the most tactical choice, but you just couldn't bring yourself to negotiate respectfully with someone whose actions were so abhorrent. Nevertheless, you will see this course through.
>"I..." Orin looks to Satori, who nods gently at her.
>"I have faith in you, Orin. I'm sure Okuu does, too. I know you can find the strength in yourself, for her sake."
>Orin slowly shakes her head. "I dunno...."

[Hello Purvis]

>Nod.
>"I won't force you. But, the stronger the case we can make, the more likely we'll be able to do something."
>"To be honest, I don't expect the Yama to free Utsuho. What I do expect, though, is that she'll be able to levy a punishment that is significantly less cruel and will allow you to see her again. If we're lucky, a year of isolation may well be enough in the Yama's eyes, given Utsuho didn't actually harm anyone but Sanae."

[DracoOmega]

>Nod.
>"I won't force you. But, the stronger the case we can make, the more likely we'll be able to do something."
>"To be honest, I don't expect the Yama to free Utsuho. What I do expect, though, is that she'll be able to levy a punishment that is significantly less cruel and will allow you to see her again. If we're lucky, a year of isolation may well be enough in the Yama's eyes, given Utsuho didn't actually harm anyone but Sanae."

>Orin nods, and then looks up at you, a pained yet determined expression on her face. "...I'll do it. For her. Whatever I can."
>"She has already done far more harm to Utsuho than Utsuho ever did to anyone," Satori says, shaking her head. "I have to believe that, even now, she'd listen to me."

[Hello Purvis]

>"I think she would listen to you. You might have to remind me her to be sensible, but I think in the end it would be fine."
>"I would invite you, Satori, but...to be honest, I am not sure what being exposed to the Yama's thoughts and possibly Kanako's thoughts would do to you."

[DracoOmega]

>"I think she would listen to you. You might have to remind me her to be sensible, but I think in the end it would be fine."
>"I would invite you, Satori, but...to be honest, I am not sure what being exposed to the Yama's thoughts and possibly Kanako's thoughts would do to you."

>Satori nods. "You have seen a time where she wields her great power with restraint. It gives me hope."
>"And you are right; there are too many people there, and there will soon be too many passionate minds in the one space. Orin can speak on my behalf."
>"Oh, come on," Orin says, "You know I suck at- well..." She pauses, then nods. "I'll do my best. I'll... make you proud. ...and I'll bring her home. I have to."

[Hello Purvis]

>"Very well then, let's be off. I do not want to risk missing the Yama."

[DracoOmega]

>"Very well then, let's be off. I do not want to risk missing the Yama."

>"Then what're we waiting for?" Orin says.
>"Good luck to you," Satori says. "And thank you for this, Keine. I cannot recall the last time an outsider cared enough to do us a kindness like this. I hope that you can fix what you've found broken. I wish to live in the world you've seen."

[Hello Purvis]

>Nod back to Satori. "You helped me, it's only fair I do the same."
>Depart and head back to the surface.

[DracoOmega]

>Nod back to Satori. "You helped me, it's only fair I do the same."
>Depart and head back to the surface.

>"I think the magnitude is more than a little different, nonetheless," Satori replies.
>You leave the palace with Orin, and head back towards the surface. It is an uneventful trip for the most part. You cross Parsee's bridge without incident and make your way back through the tunnels that you took to get there. As you pass through the watery passage, you can hear Kisume's laughter echoing. "Not gonna catch me!~"

[Hello Purvis]

>"Are we going to take that, Mokou?"
>Look for for buckets. We have one to catch.

[DracoOmega]

>"Are we going to take that, Mokou?"
>Look for for buckets. We have one to catch.

>Mokou snickers. "I guess I'm not supposed to burn it this time, am I?"
>"Why do I feel I've missed something?" Orin says.
>You keep a careful eye towards the ceiling for any signs of a bucket, or any hint of motion. You manage to cross half the passage without seeing anything but rock and water. Every now and again you hear Kisume giggle.

[Hello Purvis]

>Does the giggle seem to be coming from above, or below?

[DracoOmega]

>Does the giggle seem to be coming from above, or below?

>Above, as best you can tell. The echoes make it a little hard to locate; you think it may be moving. But you're pretty certain it's above you.

[Hello Purvis]

>Above, as best you can tell. The echoes make it a little hard to locate; you think it may be moving. But you're pretty certain it's above you.

>Glance toward Orin, "Just a game with Kisume."
>Look to Mokou, "See anything?"

[DracoOmega]

>Glance toward Orin, "Just a game with Kisume."
>Look to Mokou, "See anything?"

>Orin shrugs.
>Mokou shakes her head.
>You catch a flash of movement out of the corner of your eye, and turn your head towards it just quickly enough to see the edge of a bucket disappear behind a cluster of stalactites.

[Hello Purvis]

>Tap Mokou, point toward the stalactites, then motion for her to take the long way around them.

[DracoOmega]

>Tap Mokou, point toward the stalactites, then motion for her to take the long way around them.

>You gesture to Mokou and she nods, setting off quietly in the direction you indicate.

[Hello Purvis]

>Go the other way, ready to catch Kisume if she comes out from the other direction, or below.

[DracoOmega]

>Go the other way, ready to catch Kisume if she comes out from the other direction, or below.

>You slip around the stalactites from the opposite side as Mokou, keeping a careful eye on the ceiling. After a few steps, you catch sight of the bucket again, floating forward. Suddenly, she bolts to the right, away from you, and vaguely in Mokou's direction.