Maidens of the Kaleidoscope
~Beyond the Border~ => Rumia's Party Games => Mystia's Stored Games => Topic started by: 日巫子 on November 29, 2011, 10:08:37 PM
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> You are Sonozaki Meira, currently eight years old. You were born in the village of Mayohiga in the year 102, and have lived here for the entirety of your short life without ever leaving. Well, until now. The year is currently 110.
> Mayohiga was a small village within the secluded mountains of Gensokyo, parallel to Youkai Mountain, legendary for being filled with youkai. The village of Mayohiga itself was a quiet and peaceful, albeit sparsely populated. It was Sonozaki clan's duty to defend Mayohiga against youkai, which sometimes come into the village to spirit away or eat humans. You are a part of the Sonozaki clan, and the only one left alive.
> Two days ago, you found a conical hat in the forest where you frequently played with your cousins.
> Yesterday was the first day of summer, and you went back into the forest with the hat. While playing there, you discovered the original owner of the hat, a tanuki girl named Kouyoshi. Upon returning home from the forest, you found that the village was in ruins, on fire, and inhabited by monstrous youkai. Aided by Kouyoshi, you were able to get a katana from your house and flee from the village, but not before discovering that the blame lies in the hands of a kitsune, a rare and powerful youkai. You have resolved to get revenge, but there is the issue of finding somewhere to stay and learning how to fight, first.
> You have travelled with Kouyoshi through the Forest of Magic and met the youkai Rumia. You have travelled with her and Kouyoshi to the Human Village. You have befriended Rumia. You have come across two youkai, one of which knows of someone who may know a thing or two about the kitsune, and you have decided to go looking for them. You have explored the Bamboo Forest. You've started taking lessons from Mokou in using magic. You've gone into the Forest of Magic. You've employed the help of some faeries in finding the girl with the monster, and have learned of two possible locations: a shrine, and a "chapel" that's a day away from the Human Village. You've gone to the shrine and discovered that it was abandoned. You have prepared yourself and headed out on a day trip to this "chapel", picking up a kedama after accidentally setting it on fire. When you finally made it to the chapel, you discovered that it was more like a castle. You and Kouyoshi managed to sneak in and defeat Rika and the Evil Eye Sigma, who appear to be the only ones home...besides the winged girl Shikoba, that is.
> Now you have found out where the kitsune is: behind the "Hakurei Shrine" near the "Great Boundary". You're in the library with Shikoba right now, trying to figure out what this "1236" on the map means.
Quests:
> n/a
Inventory:
> Red and white robes (unequipped)
> A white kosode with a red pattern on the hems of the sleeves, with a hakama with the same design. Footwear is geta with tabi.
> Red haori (unequipped)
> A red haori you wear if it's colder out.
> x1 geometric yukata (dark blue) (equipped)
> A dark blue yukata with a geometric pattern on it. Made by Keine.
> ?15
> An accumulation of allowance money from the past three weeks.
> Satchel
> Your school bag. You keep your items in here.
> x1 Pack of Crayons
> Contains red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple, pink, brown, black, grey, and white.
> x1 Sketchbook
> Your sketchbook. There are already some drawings in here.
> x1 Net
> A net used to catch bugs, frogs, and the like.
> x1 Basket
> Used for storing said bugs and frogs.
> Blue jacket (unequipped)
> Lent to you by Kouyoshi.
> Katana
> A katana that belonged to your family. Very sharp and taller than you are.
> x2 wind chimes (equipped)
> Pretty wind chimes taken from the abandoned shrine. You're currently wearing them in your hair.
> x1 bed roll
> A sleeping bag borrowed from Mokou.
> x1 first aid kit
> Contains bandages, scissors, and the like.
> Mii
> A kedema. She may or may not eat any food you put in here from now on.
"But how can it be both 110 and 1995?"
> Shikoba writes on the paper again.
> they are the same year. it is 1995 right now but gensokyo calls it 110
> _
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> "Oh... but who calls it '1995', then? And why is it such a big number?"
> Help Koakuma pick up books from when she crashed through.
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> "Oh... but who calls it '1995', then? And why is it such a big number?"
> Help Koakuma pick up books from when she crashed through.
> Shikoba scribbles something again.
> the outside world
> "No, don't help me!" Koakuma puffs up her cheeks and scurries away from you.
> _
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> "Ohh... why didn't you say that earlier!"
> So... um... "If that map was made in, uh, 1236... then..."
> Count on our fingers. Frown. "Does that mean that years outside of Gensokyo are shorter?"
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> "Ohh... why didn't you say that earlier!"
> So... um... "If that map was made in, uh, 1236... then..."
> Count on our fingers. Frown. "Does that mean that years outside of Gensokyo are shorter?"
> I did
> You do some quick math on your fingers.
> Huh.
> If it's already 1995 out there, and it's only 110 in here, then that means Gensokyo years are longer.
> Shikoba shakes her head.
> _
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> "No? So... wait, so why are the years different, then?"
> What do we know about Gensokyo history?
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> "No? So... wait, so why are the years different, then?"
> What do we know about Gensokyo history?
> because we started recounting the years after the formation of the great boundary
> You know Gensokyo isn't very old, compared to much Japan itself. It was created as a safe haven for youkai, but some humans who were already living in the area got caught up in the mess, but were able to survive on their own. Of course, this area has been densely populated by youkai for hundreds if not thousands of years before "Gensokyo" existed...
> _
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> "Ohhh... that makes sense..."
> Finish copying the map. "Hey, hey, do you know anything about that shrine? Me and Kouyoshi went there, but there wasn't anyone there!"
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> "Ohhh... that makes sense..."
> Finish copying the map. "Hey, hey, do you know anything about that shrine? Me and Kouyoshi went there, but there wasn't anyone there!"
> You finish drawing the map. It's not very good compared to the original one, but it's a good enough copy that you should be able to find your way around...you think.
> Shikoba shakes her head.
> _
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> "Oh, okay." Roll up the cpoy of the map and put it in our satchel. "Thanks for your help!"
> Run back to where Kouyoshi is. "Kouyoshi, Kouyoshi, I got a map!"
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> "Oh, okay." Roll up the cpoy of the map and put it in our satchel. "Thanks for your help!"
> Run back to where Kouyoshi is. "Kouyoshi, Kouyoshi, I got a map!"
> Obtained: x1 map (copy)
> Shikoba nods again, and you leave the library.
> Upon returning to Kouyoshi, you see that a few flying eyeballs have appeared, floating around lazily. Rika is holding one, tugging its wings, while Kouyoshi is lying on her back and staring up at the ceiling. She turns her head to look over at you.
> "Oh, nice."
> _
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> Flop down, using Kouyoshi's tail as a pillow. "Here!" Hand her the map.
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> Flop down, using Kouyoshi's tail as a pillow. "Here!" Hand her the map.
> Kouyoshi takes the map from you and looks at it.
> "...this is kind of detailed for crayon, isn't it?"
> _
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> "Hee hee... I copied it! Shikoba found a map for me!"
> Get comfy... we're kind of tired, aren't we?
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> "Hee hee... I copied it! Shikoba found a map for me!"
> Get comfy... we're kind of tired, aren't we?
> "That explains it."
> You've had a long day; you're pretty tired, now that you think about it.
> _
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> Snuggle into Kouyoshi's tail. Let's go ahead and drift off...
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> Snuggle into Kouyoshi's tail. Let's go ahead and drift off...
> You curl up against Kouyoshi's tail and let yourself drift off.
> ...
> The day before yesterday, I saw a rabbit.
> ...
> It's still a little dark out.
> _
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> What did we do with the rabbit?
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>
Yesterday, I saw a deer. Today, I saw you.
>Where was the rabbit?
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>Do we happen to be holding a starfish sculpture?
>Who said those words, anyways? Did we?
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>What were you doing when we saw the rabbit?
>Do we remember eating some awful tasting bread?
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> What did we do with the rabbit?
> You try recalling what happened in your dream the best you can.
> You didn't do anything with it. It just was.
>Yesterday, I saw a deer. Today, I saw you.
>Where was the rabbit?
> "Kotomi..."
> It was in a forest, but it wasn't like the Forest of Magic. It was in a rather peaceful-looking forest with lots of sunlight.
>Do we happen to be holding a starfish sculpture?
>Who said those words, anyways? Did we?
> Do you think you're in a coma or something?
> You don't remember. You don't think anyone said them.
>What were you doing when we saw the rabbit?
>Do we remember eating some awful tasting bread?
> You weren't doing anything. In fact, you don't think you were even there. It was just the rabbit, and the forest.
> You spelled "hotpot" wrong.
> _
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> Where are we? Look around.
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> Where are we? Look around.
> You look at your surroundings. It's dark, but you're still in the room you fell asleep in. It looks like everyone's still sleeping. The full moon shines through the window far above.
> _
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>Well, err, if no one said them, then, uh... we DID see a rabbit two days ago. A bunch on them!
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>Well, err, if no one said them, then, uh... we DID see a rabbit two days ago. A bunch on them!
> Maybe all those rabbits are getting to you...
> _
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> Well... just in case, let's get out the ol' sketchbook and draw that dream. The rabbit in the forest...
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Pray to the frog. He helped us understand that one dream.
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> Well... just in case, let's get out the ol' sketchbook and draw that dream. The rabbit in the forest...
> Might as well draw what you saw.
> You get out your sketchbook and start drawing. It's not that hard, just some trees and sunlight, and the brown rabbit. It looks rather nice this time around, and you think you've gotten a little better at drawing.
Pray to the frog. He helped us understand that one dream.
> Not sure how to interpret the dream, you pray to Mr. Frog. You're not sure what to say, but hopefully this will help you understand a little better.
> _
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> It's missing something...
> ... Draw a frog in the corner of the picture.
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> It's missing something...
> ... Draw a frog in the corner of the picture.
> Somehow, it doesn't feel complete, so you draw a frog in the corner.
> It looks much better now.
> _
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> Grin, and put the sketchbook away.
> Hm... hug Kouyoshi's tail!
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> Grin, and put the sketchbook away.
> Hm... hug Kouyoshi's tail!
> That should do it.
> You sit around for a few moments, bored, and then hug Kouyoshi's tail. So soooft~
> She doesn't wake up from this. Looks like everyone's still soundly asleep.
> _
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> Let's go back to sleep too!
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> Let's go back to sleep too!
> You let yourself drift back to sleep.
> ...
> The sun's kind of bright...
> _
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>Look around; anyone there?
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>Look around; anyone there?
> You sit up and look around. Kouyoshi's still here, and still asleep, but Rika and Sigma seem to be gone.
> _
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> Yawn, and stretch.
> Hm... what should we do? We know the kitsune's weaknesses now, and where she might be...
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> Yawn, and stretch.
> Hm... what should we do? We know the kitsune's weaknesses now, and where she might be...
> You've gotten what you came here for, so now what? You could go hunt down the kitsune, if you wanted to.
> _
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> Sounds like a good idea! Hm... pull out the map and check it. What's the best way to get to the border?
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> Sounds like a good idea! Hm... pull out the map and check it. What's the best way to get to the border?
> You've learned some magic and got directions, you're pretty much good to go.
> You check the map. The best way to get to the border from here would be...going from the "Hakurei Shrine", probably. It's the closest landmark you see.
> _
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> So we'd be going back towards the Human Village, then? Hm...
> Reach over and shake Kouyoshi's shoulder. "Kouyoshi, Kouyoshi! It's morning!"
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> So we'd be going back towards the Human Village, then? Hm...
> Reach over and shake Kouyoshi's shoulder. "Kouyoshi, Kouyoshi! It's morning!"
> You ponder heading back to the Human Village.
> You try waking up Kouyoshi. She groans and rolls over.
> "Five minutes..."
> _
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> On the one hand... kitsune revenge awaits! On the other hand... fluffy tail...
> "Kaay." Plop down and hug her tail. So sooooft~
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> On the one hand... kitsune revenge awaits! On the other hand... fluffy tail...
> "Kaay." Plop down and hug her tail. So sooooft~
> Revenge...tail...revenge...
> Tail!
> You hug Kouyoshi's tail and wait for her to wake up. She lies still for a short while, and then sits up.
> "Huh...where'd that other girl go?"
> _
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> While nuzzling her tail with our face: "Dunno. Breakfast?"
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> While nuzzling her tail with our face: "Dunno. Breakfast?"
> Her tail is like a soft pillow! She's so lucky to have this.
> "Probably." Kouyoshi picks her hat up off the floor and puts it back on her head.
> _
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> "Hey, hey, I think the kitsune might be near the Hakurei Shrine!" Point it out on the map. "I can revenge my family now! But I just need to be prepared... do you know where I can find some dogs?"
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> "Hey, hey, I think the kitsune might be near the Hakurei Shrine!" Point it out on the map. "I can revenge my family now! But I just need to be prepared... do you know where I can find some dogs?"
> "Dogs?" Kouyoshi raises an eyebrow. "Why--no, nevermind. I have no idea."
> _
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> "Oh. Hm... maybe Keine knows... wait! Wolves are dogs, right? What if we put that wolf youkai boy in a pit? Would that count?"
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> "Oh. Hm... maybe Keine knows... wait! Wolves are dogs, right? What if we put that wolf youkai boy in a pit? Would that count?"
> "I certainly didn't think of that," Kouyoshi says. "Well, it's certainly safer than going after wolf tengu. I don't think he'd like it, though."
> _
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>"We could just try!"
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>"We could just try!"
> Kouyoshi brushes through her hair with her fingers. "Good luck with that."
> _
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> "Maybe if we give him a rice ball he'd do it..." Hm...
> Are we hungry? Maybe we could ask Rika if we could have breakfast before we leave...
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> "Maybe if we give him a rice ball he'd do it..." Hm...
> Are we hungry? Maybe we could ask Rika if we could have breakfast before we leave...
> You consider bribing him with a rice ball. Everyone likes food, right?
> You haven't eaten much yesterday, so your stomach feels uncomfortably empty. Maybe Rika will let you cook something again for breakfast.
> _
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>Hmm, maybe Mii would want something too!
>Best quickly check on Mii while we're here.
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>Hmm, maybe Mii would want something too!
>Best quickly check on Mii while we're here.
> Mii's a pretty big eater, she might want something.
> You check your bag for Mii, and find her rolling around on your haori with a piece of rice stuck to her fur. She sees you and squeals.
> _
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> Pick her up and pluck the rice off of her fur. "Good morning, Mii!"
> Feed her the grain of rice before standing up. "Hey, Kouyoshi, Kouyoshi, let's go to the kitchen! Maybe they're there!"
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> Pick her up and pluck the rice off of her fur. "Good morning, Mii!"
> Feed her the grain of rice before standing up. "Hey, Kouyoshi, Kouyoshi, let's go to the kitchen! Maybe they're there!"
> You take Mii out of the bag and feed the grain of rice to her. She trills and rolls over in your hand.
> Kouyoshi finishes brushing out her hair and stands up. "Ok. Do you know where it is?"
> _
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> "Yeah! Me and Rika cooked the hot pot there! Follow me!"
> Oh, are dishes left out? Take them with us.
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> "Yeah! Me and Rika cooked the hot pot there! Follow me!"
> Oh, are dishes left out? Take them with us.
> "Okay."
> You look to see if the dishes are still around, but they're not. Rika must have taken them with her.
> You lead Kouyoshi down to the kitchen, where you hear laughter from inside. It sounds like there are more people in there.
> _
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> Poke your head inside!
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> Poke your head inside!
> You open the door and take a look inside.
> Rika and Shikoba are in the kitchen, but there's one more girl, a little one with red hair and a purple dress. She's standing on a stool as she watches Shikoba slicing up some apples, while Rika is spreading a chocolate-looking paste on some toast. A few floating eyes are lurking in the corners of the room and the ceiling, just watching.
> It smells really good in the kitchen right now. There seems to be something in the oven, and on the stove.
> _
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> Run into the kitchen. "Rika! Good morning! Are you making breakfast?"
> Look at the red head. "Hey, who are you? I'm Meira, and this is Kouyoshi!" Do we look older than her?
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> Run into the kitchen. "Rika! Good morning! Are you making breakfast?"
> Look at the red head. "Hey, who are you? I'm Meira, and this is Kouyoshi!" Do we look older than her?
> Rika turns away from the counter. "Good morning. Of course I'm making breakfast, couldn't you tell?"
> You address the red haired girl. She turns her head and blinks, grinning in childish curiosity. She has to be at least a year younger than you.
> "I'm Marisa," she says, waving. Shikoba ignores you completely and keeps slicing the apples.
> Kouyoshi peeks around the doorway, and her ears flicker. Hers and the red haired girl's eyes meet.
> "Ah!" The red head points to Kouyoshi. "You let in something weird!"
> Shikoba still doesn't pay attention. Rika, however, looks up.
> "She already said who that was Marisa, geez."
> "...Oh."
> _
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> "Kouyoshi's not weird! She's a tanuki! And she's awesome! Hey, hey, what're you making for breakfast? Can me and Kouyoshi and Mii have some?"
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> "Kouyoshi's not weird! She's a tanuki! And she's awesome! Hey, hey, what're you making for breakfast? Can me and Kouyoshi and Mii have some?"
> Marisa puffs out her cheeks. "Still weird."
> Rika's smile goes from ear to ear. "Shikoba's making baked apples, so I have to make the toast. Not bad, right?"
> _
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> "Ohhh... that sounds delicious... right, Kouyoshi?"
> Peer at the stuff she's spreading on the toast. "Hey, hey, what's that?"
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> "Ohhh... that sounds delicious... right, Kouyoshi?"
> Peer at the stuff she's spreading on the toast. "Hey, hey, what's that?"
> "Yeah." Kouyoshi steps into the kitchen. "With cinnamon and stuff, right?"
> You take a closer look at the spread Rika's putting on the toast. That's definitely chocolate, but you've never seen it used like that before.
> "It's a chocolate sauce," Rika says. "You didn't not know, did you?"
> _
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> "Noooo..." Don't drool!
> "Hey, hey, wait." Turn to Marisa. "Are you a youkai too?"
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> "Noooo..." Don't drool!
> "Hey, hey, wait." Turn to Marisa. "Are you a youkai too?"
> "Well it's really really good," Rika says.
> You turn back to Marisa, who is stealing an apple slice from Shikoba.
> "I'm 100% human, I'll have ya know," Marisa says, waving the apple slice at you.
> _
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>
NOT ANY MORE YOU AREN'T :V
> "Woah! Two humans way out here?!" Try to snatch the apple slice. "Whaddya doing way out here?"
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> NOT ANY MORE YOU AREN'T :V
> "Woah! Two humans way out here?!" Try to snatch the apple slice. "Whaddya doing way out here?"
> shhhhhh
> You try grabbing the apple slice, but Marisa pulls it out of the way.
> "We live here, of course," Marisa says, and pops the apple slice into her mouth.
> _
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> Pout, and try to sneak an apple slice for ourself. "Way out here, with all these youkai? It's dangerous! Kitsunes might burn your house or kappa might
throw steal your soul!"
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> Pout, and try to sneak an apple slice for ourself. "Way out here, with all these youkai? It's dangerous! Kitsunes might burn your house or kappa might throw steal your soul!"
> You sneak up behind Shikoba and take an apple slice. She doesn't react.
> "If it were dangerous, we'd have been gone a while ago," Marisa says with an almost smug smile on her face. "We don't have to worry about that!"
> DO NOT THROW SOULS
> _
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> Split the apple slice between us and Mii. "Oh, okay. So whaddya doing here, anyways?"
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> Split the apple slice between us and Mii. "Oh, okay. So whaddya doing here, anyways?"
> You feed half of the apple to Mii, and wonder what two humans like Rika and Marisa are doing here, anyway. This place is so youkai-infested, so how could they live here in such a carefree way?
> "We just live here," Rika says. "There's nothing special 'bout it."
> _
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> "Huh. Okay. So when's breakfast gonna be ready? We're starved!"
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> "Huh. Okay. So when's breakfast gonna be ready? We're starved!"
> Rika points to the oven. "When the apples are done!"
> _
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> Puff up our cheeks. "That long?!"
> Wait in antici
> pation.
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> Puff up our cheeks. "That long?!"
> Wait in antici
> pation.
> You really want to eat the apples now--
> The oven makings a dinging sound. Shikoba shoos Marisa away from the oven, rolls up her sleeves, and goes for a pair of oven mitts.
> Rika puts her knife in the sink. "Marisa, go get the cart."
> "Fiiiine." Marisa patters out of the room. Shikoba has already retrieved the apples from the oven; they smell so good...
> _
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> Hover around the tray of apples. "Can we eat can we eat?" Don't drool, though!
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> Hover around the tray of apples. "Can we eat can we eat?" Don't drool, though!
> The apples smell so good...they have cinnamon and everything on them, you really want to eat them...
> "Wait 'til Marisa comes back with the cart," Rika says. "We need it to carry everything outta the kitchen."
> _
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> Sigh. "Kaaay..."
> Sit next to Kouyoshi and wait.
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> Quickly become antsy!
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> Sigh. "Kaaay..."
> Sit next to Kouyoshi and wait.
> Quickly become antsy!
> You take a seat next to Kouyoshi and wait. Shikoba uses a spatula to transfer the apples to a metal tray. There is the sound of clattering plates as Rika sets them on the counter, and then stacks the toast on them. Just watching and waiting makes you a bit restless, and the food smells so good...
> After a few moments, the door creeks open, and Marisa reappears pushing a short metal cart. There are two layers to it, and the wheels squeak loudly with every push. Marisa brings it to the counter and presents it to Rika.
> "Here."
> "Ohh, thank you." Rika starts moving the plates onto the cart. Shikoba picks up the tray of apples and stands by, watching and waiting silently.
> _
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> Help out! The faster it gets done the faster we can eat!
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> Help out! The faster it gets done the faster we can eat!
> You go over to help load the plates onto the cart. Between you, Rika, Marisa, and Shikoba, you're able to get all the plates onto the cart very quickly. Shikoba, at least, puts the tray of baked apples on the top of the cart.
> _
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> "Okay! Let's eat!"
> Finally!
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> "Okay! Let's eat!"
> Finally!
> "Yeah!" Rika wheels the cart around and starts pushing it out of the room. "We're going to eat in another room, though."
> "Why not heeere?" Marisa whines as she follows her out.
> _
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> "Awww..." Follow Rika.
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> "Awww..." Follow Rika.
> The rest of you follow Rika and Marisa out of the room and down the hall. It only takes a little while before Rika reaches another door and pushes it open to reveal a small table surrounded by chairs, with lit lanterns in each corner. Marisa and Shikoba instantly head for the chairs and take a seat.
> _
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>We shall be a little better...
>And help put stuff on the table!
>Can't let Rika do all the work.
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>We shall be a little better...
>And help put stuff on the table!
>Can't let Rika do all the work.
> You decide to help set the table. It wouldn't be fair to let Rika do all of it, after all.
> "Huh? You don't hafta do that," Rika says, "but thanks."
> _
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> "It's no problem! Besides, the faster it's put out, the sooner we can eat!"
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> "It's no problem! Besides, the faster it's put out, the sooner we can eat!"
> "She's right," Marisa says, and reaches for a baked apple.
> "Ah, wait, don't start without me!" Rika grabs a chair and takes a seat, and then grabs at a slice of toast.
> _
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> Grab toast. Grab apple. Combine.
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> Grab toast. Grab apple. Combine.
> You take a slice of toast and an apple slice, and in all your culinary wisdom, combine the two. This is going to taste great!
> Marisa sees you do this, and reaches for some toast herself.
> _
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> Eat! How does it taste?
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> Eat! How does it taste?
> You take a bite.
> ...You have to get the recipe for this.
> _
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> "It's good!" Devour and go for seconds! Oh, and let Mii have some, too. Make sure she doesn't gobble everyone's up, though!
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> "It's good!" Devour and go for seconds! Oh, and let Mii have some, too. Make sure she doesn't gobble everyone's up, though!
> Shikoba's wings flutter, shedding feathers onto the floor.
> No sooner than you finish eating do you go for seconds, splitting it between you and Mii. Everyone else seems to like the food--barring Shikoba; you can't tell what she's thinking at all--and soon enough, everything has been eaten. Rika sighs contentedly and leans back on her chair.
> "That was good."
> _
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> "Yeah! Who made the apples? Oh, that was Shikoba! Thank you! And the toast was good too, Rika!"
> Pat our tummy.
> "Hm... hey, do you have a recipe or something for those apples? I wanna try making them later!"
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> "Yeah! Who made the apples? Oh, that was Shikoba! Thank you! And the toast was good too, Rika!"
> Pat our tummy.
> "Hm... hey, do you have a recipe or something for those apples? I wanna try making them later!"
> Shikoba nods.
> That was a good meal...now you just need the recipe. You'll have to try making these apples yourself sometime.
> Rika nods. "Shikoba would have to write it down, though."
> _
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> "Okay!" Pull out our sketchbook and a crayon and flip it to an empty page. "Here!" Shove it in Shikoba's hands.
> Look over at Kouyoshi. "Hey, Kouyoshi, Kouyoshi, do you wanna make these apples too?"
-
> "Okay!" Pull out our sketchbook and a crayon and flip it to an empty page. "Here!" Shove it in Shikoba's hands.
> Look over at Kouyoshi. "Hey, Kouyoshi, Kouyoshi, do you wanna make these apples too?"
> You hand over your sketchbook and a crayon to Shikoba. She stares at it for a few moments, before starting to write.
> Kouyoshi nods, still picking off the last of her food. "Yeah. They're good."
> _
-
> "Yeah, they are! Hm... Rumia would really like it, too, huh?" Stroke Mii's head.
> Turn to Marisa. "So how long have you lived here? Are the four of you the only ones here?"
-
> "Yeah, they are! Hm... Rumia would really like it, too, huh?" Stroke Mii's head.
> Turn to Marisa. "So how long have you lived here? Are the four of you the only ones here?"
> Rumia might like the apples.
> You pet Mii. She makes a trilling sound and closes her eyes.
> "Uh...for a while?" Marisa guesses. "I dunno."
> She seems a little angry when you ask if it's just the four of them here.
> "How could you forget Mima-sama?! That makes five!"
> _
-
> "Oh, her."
> Beat.
> "Who's Mima?"
-
> "Oh, her."
> Beat.
> "Who's Mima?"
> Rika, Shikoba, and Marisa all stare at you.
> Marisa then stands up on the her chair and props a shoe on the table.
> "She's the greatest magician ever!" Marisa shouts. "How could you not know? She's famous around these parts!"
> "Don't stand on the table, that's dirty!" Rika snaps. Marisa ignores her.
> "Mima-sama's really, really cool! You couldn't even comprehend how cool she is unless you see her in person!"
> _
-
> "If she's so cool... then how come we've never heard of her? You've never met this Mima customer, right, Kouyoshi?"
-
> "If she's so cool... then how come we've never heard of her? You've never met this Mima customer, right, Kouyoshi?"
> Kouyoshi shakes her head. "Never heard of her."
> "Then you must not be from around here," Marisa concludes.
> _
-
> "Well ... we're not from around here!"
-
> "Well ... we're not from around here!"
> Marisa stares at you with her mouth open for a few moments.
> She then plops back into her chair. "It can't be helped, then."
> _
-
>"Wait, but if there's only five people here, what about those youkai children outside? Do they just live there or something?"
-
>"Wait, but if there's only five people here, what about those youkai children outside? Do they just live there or something?"
> "Those are the youkai that live in the forest 'round here," Rika explains.
> _
-
> "Oh, okay. So... where's this Mima lady anyways? Does she not like apples?"
-
> "Oh, okay. So... where's this Mima lady anyways? Does she not like apples?"
> "Mima-sama likes apples," Marisa pouts.
> "She's probably still out," Rika says. "Maybe she has some really important business to attend to. Like...um..."
> "Maybe she's going hunting!"
> "That's weird."
> "Is not!"
> Shikoba hands back the sketchbook and crayon.
> _
-
>"Ah, thank you."
>Take a look at the book; what did she write?
-
>"Ah, thank you."
>Take a look at the book; what did she write?
> Shikoba nods once.
> You take a look at the sketchbook.
> baked apples
> step 1: cut apples
> step 2: add cinnamon and sugars
> step 3: bake for five minutes
> _
-
> "Woah! It's easy!" It really is! "Thanks!"
> Put away the sketchbook and crayons. "So... um, Mima hunts? For what? Kitsune?"
-
> "Woah! It's easy!" It really is! "Thanks!"
> Put away the sketchbook and crayons. "So... um, Mima hunts? For what? Kitsune?"
> Shikoba nods again.
> Obtained: x1 baked apples recipe
> "I bet she'd hunt for cantelope," Marisa boasts. "They run real fast, but she could take them."
> At the mention of kitsune, her expression grows confused. "Would she hunt a kitsune?"
> Rika shrugs. "I dunno."
> _
-
> "Cantelope?" Blink. "Um... those can't run, can they? Don't they just roll? And she should hunt a kitsune! They're mean!"
-
> "Cantelope?" Blink. "Um... those can't run, can they? Don't they just roll? And she should hunt a kitsune! They're mean!"
> "Cantelope can run, really fast," Marisa insists. "I saw one go by once, like that." She claps her hands. "If she really wanted, she could take on a kitsune."
> _
-
> "Woah..." Look at Kouyoshi. "Hey, Kouyoshi, Kouyoshi. Should we ask Mima about any ideas about how to fight the kitsune? I dunno if the dogs in the pit will be enough."
-
> "Woah..." Look at Kouyoshi. "Hey, Kouyoshi, Kouyoshi. Should we ask Mima about any ideas about how to fight the kitsune? I dunno if the dogs in the pit will be enough."
> That is cool.
> Kouyoshi shrugs. "She sounds more competent than a pit full of dogs, judging by what these two are saying." She gestures to Rika and Marisa.
> _
-
> "And maybe easier, too..." Look at Marisa. "Hey, hey, where can we find this Mima person? We gotta ask her questions!"
-
> "And maybe easier, too..." Look at Marisa. "Hey, hey, where can we find this Mima person? We gotta ask her questions!"
> "Uhh...." Marisa blinks. "I dunno."
> _
-
>"But you have to know; you live with her..."
>"Does she leave you like this all the time?"
-
>"But you have to know; you live with her..."
>"Does she leave you like this all the time?"
> "It's normal for Mima-sama to go out all the time," Marisa says. Shikoba flaps her wings again. "But she never told us where she was going."
> Rika furrows her brow in thought. "Um...I remember once or twice a while ago, she said she was going to see friends."
> "But that wasn't the day...the day before yesterday!" Marisa protests.
> "Of course not!"
> _
-
> Puff up our cheeks. "Jeez! Is she ever around? She doesn't tell you anything, or even where she went?"
> This is lame: a good lead for kitsune fighting, and she isn't around!
-
> Puff up our cheeks. "Jeez! Is she ever around? She doesn't tell you anything, or even where she went?"
> This is lame: a good lead for kitsune fighting, and she isn't around!
> "She's around." Rika slumps back into her chair, pouting. "Just not now."
> She could've helped you fight the kitsune, and she's gone?
> _
-
>"Ugh. How long would we have to wait?"
-
>"Ugh. How long would we have to wait?"
> "Dunno. Sometimes she's gone for days on end," Rika says.
> _
-
>"But what happens if you're in trouble or get attacked? Can't you, like, summon her or something?"
>We can't really hang around for a whole day...
-
>"But what happens if you're in trouble or get attacked? Can't you, like, summon her or something?"
>We can't really hang around for a whole day...
> "Shikoba's here, so it's ok," Rika says. Shikoba nods.
> You don't think you'll have time to wait a whole day, just for Mima to come back. It's going to take about that long to get back, anyway.
> _
-
> "Oh, that's right, and Sigma, too."
> Look at Kouyoshi. "Um, um, what do you think? Should we try to find this Mima person? Or should we get some tofu to lure the kitsune?"
-
> "Oh, that's right, and Sigma, too."
> Look at Kouyoshi. "Um, um, what do you think? Should we try to find this Mima person? Or should we get some tofu to lure the kitsune?"
> Kouyoshi's ears flick back and forth. "It'd be easier to have someone help you get rid of the kitsune, but that sounds like something you'd want to do yourself. Tofu would certainly be better to attract the kitsune with than a magician, too. It depends, though: what are you going to do if you go looking for this Mima?"
> _
-
> "Um... ask her to help us? I guess we could get Mima AND some tofu, too..."
-
> "Um... ask her to help us? I guess we could get Mima AND some tofu, too..."
> "Oh. Well, do what you want, then."
> _
-
> Frown. "It's not gonna be easy, though. We don't even know where she is! Maybe we'll have to do without her..."
-
> Frown. "It's not gonna be easy, though. We don't even know where she is! Maybe we'll have to do without her..."
> You might not even be able to get her to help...
> "Did you want to find her really badly?" Marisa asks.
> _
-
> "If she can help me get revenge against the kitsune, yeah!"
-
> "If she can help me get revenge against the kitsune, yeah!"
> "Mima-sama can beat up anything," Marisa says. "Shikoba, do you know?"
> Shikoba nods, and then shrugs.
> _
-
> Frown. "That's no good, if even Shikoba doesn't know where she is."
> Clear up our plates. "Hey, Kouyoshi, Kouyoshi, it looks like we won't be able to find that Mima lady. Maybe we should head back?"
-
> Frown. "That's no good, if even Shikoba doesn't know where she is."
> Clear up our plates. "Hey, Kouyoshi, Kouyoshi, it looks like we won't be able to find that Mima lady. Maybe we should head back?"
> Shikoba lowers her head.
> You deposit the dishes into the sink. It can't be helped, if you can't find her...
> "We got what we came for," Kouyoshi says. "Might as well."
> _
-
> "Kaay..." Turn and bow to Shikoba and Rika. "Thank you for helping us and the food! I hope Sigma's doing better now."
-
> "Kaay..." Turn and bow to Shikoba and Rika. "Thank you for helping us and the food! I hope Sigma's doing better now."
> "Sigma recovers fast," Rika says. "And knock next time."
> _
-
> "We will!"
> Get our stuff. "Hey, Kouyoshi, Kouyoshi, do you want to leave now?"
> If she does, then depart with a wave.
-
> "We will!"
> Get our stuff. "Hey, Kouyoshi, Kouyoshi, do you want to leave now?"
> If she does, then depart with a wave.
> You make sure you have everything...no, you left the bedrolls back in the main room. You'll have to back and get them.
> Kouyoshi nods. "I don't see any other reason to stay here."
> "Bye!" Marisa waves as the two of you leave. You think Shikoba waves, but you're not sure.
> As you continue on down the halls and out of the basement area, you see that it's probably midday by now. The sun shines down through the windows, and it's kind of blinding just to look up.
> _
-
> Shade our eyes and get the bedrolls!
-
> Shade our eyes and get the bedrolls!
> You keep your eyes covered and your head down as you get the bedrolls. There are still bloodstains on the ground from last night's skirmish, although it's dried up now.
> _
-
> Ick, we avoid those as we roll them up and make our way out.
> "That was really cool, right, Kouyoshi?"
-
> Ick, we avoid those as we roll them up and make our way out.
> "That was really cool, right, Kouyoshi?"
> You try to avoid stepping on the blood stains as you leave the room and then the castle itself.
> Kouyoshi nods. "Uh-huh."
> The two of you leave through the front doors and find yourselfs on the bridge again. It's warm out, with leaves and motes floating through the air. You can see youkai picking their way through the labyrinth below, although most of them look kind of tired. You actually see some sprawled out on the rocks, sleeping soundly.
> _
-
> Are there any dog youkai?
> Carefully step past them, we don't want to wake them up. Unless they're dog youkai, so we can put them in a pit.
-
> Are there any dog youkai?
> Carefully step past them, we don't want to wake them up. Unless they're dog youkai, so we can put them in a pit.
> You think you see one. Not the boy from yesterday, but her hair, ears, and tail are the exact same color as his.
> _
-
> Is she asleep? It might be rude to wake her up...
-
> Is she asleep? It might be rude to wake her up...
> She's fast asleep with her tail curled around her legs and her chin tucked into her chest. She looks really comfortable, sleeping out in the open like that.
> _
-
> Aw man, it would be nice to curl up in the sun and nap like that, but we got revenging to do! We'll just remember that there's two wolf dog youkai that we should recruit!
> Continue on, towards the shrine! "Hey, Kouyoshi, should we go fishing today?"
-
> Aw man, it would be nice to curl up in the sun and nap like that, but we got revenging to do! We'll just remember that there's two wolf dog youkai that we should recruit!
> Continue on, towards the shrine! "Hey, Kouyoshi, should we go fishing today?"
> You'd like to take a nap, but you've already slept. Besides, you have to get revenge on that kitsune.
> You figure that you could just try getting this wolf youkai and the wolf youkai you saw last night to help you.
> You start walking away from the castle, and ask Kouyoshi what she thinks about fishing.
> "That sounds like a good idea," she says. "There's a big river that runs down youkai mountain with a lot of fish in it."
> _
-
> "But won't there be kappa in the river? I don't want my soul stolen..."
-
> "But won't there be kappa in the river? I don't want my soul stolen..."
> "If they try to do that, you can just beat them away, right?"
> _
-
> "Right!" Pause. "My sword's still stuck, though. I guess I can whack 'em..."
-
> "Right!" Pause. "My sword's still stuck, though. I guess I can whack 'em..."
> "That won't do, we'll have to get it unstuck somehow."
> _
-
> Try pulling on the sword again.
-
> Try pulling on the sword again.
> You tug at the katana, but it's still stuck in its sheath.
> A couple of faeries nearby laugh.
> _
-
-___- that's not very nice.
"Where do you think we should put our pit, Kuyoshi?"
-
> Glare at the fairies. "Hey! If you think you can do better, come here and try it!"
-
-___- that's not very nice.
"Where do you think we should put our pit, Kuyoshi?"
> That was dumb.
> Kouyoshi shrugs. "I don't know, probably near the shrine, I guess?"
> Glare at the fairies. "Hey! If you think you can do better, come here and try it!"
> "No waaay~" The faeries stick their tongues out at you and flutter off into the trees.
> _
-
> "Oh, right, I guess."
> And we're walking and talking all the way to the river.
-
> "Oh, right, I guess."
> And we're walking and talking all the way to the river.
> The two of you keep walking, across the bridge and away from the castle. It's cloudy again, but the sun is unblocked as it continues to shine on. Under the cover of the trees, it's pleasantly cool. You and Kouyoshi continue walking for some time, passing by more kedama along the way. They leave you alone, but Mii floats up a little above your head to make squeaking sounds at them. She settles back on top of your head as you near the edge of the forest, where the wheat field is.
> _
-
> Reach up and hold onto Mii. We don't want her eating all of the scarecrow's wheat!
> Keep walking.
-
> Reach up and hold onto Mii. We don't want her eating all of the scarecrow's wheat!
> Keep walking.
> As you keep walking, you keep a hold of Mii. She stares straight ahead at the scarecrow, which is still in tatters from yesterday.
> You keep walking. Youkai Mountain looms overhead as always.
> Kouyoshi looks up. "The river's on the mountain, unless you want to just follow it down past that."
> _
-
> "Um... lets go down from the mountain."
-
> "Um... lets go down from the mountain."
> "Ok." Kouyoshi stops walking and takes a look around. "Um...I wonder where the river would be from here..."
> _
-
> "Oh, I wonder... if only we had a map..." :3c
> Pull out the map and look!
-
> "Oh, I wonder... if only we had a map..." :3c
> Pull out the map and look!
> You do have a map.
> You take a look. OF all the bodies of water you sketched, there's one that snakes around Youkai Mountain and goes closer to the border, farther behind the shrine. It then disappears behind the mountains from there.
> _
-
> Can we figure out how close we are using the map?
-
> Can we figure out how close we are using the map?
> You're around the base of Youkai mountain. The river runs straight down, more to the west of where you're facing, but branches off and wraps around the other side.
> _
-
> "If we go... that way," point to the west towards where we think the river goes, "we can get to the river!"
> Roll up the map and put it away. Onward!
-
> "If we go... that way," point to the west towards where we think the river goes, "we can get to the river!"
> Roll up the map and put it away. Onward!
> "Back through the forest..?" Kouyoshi asks, but follows you anyways.
> The two of you turn back and start heading for the edge of the mountain. You'll have to climb it a little if you're going to want to reach the river, it looks like. You can't see it from here.
> _
-
> Just think about all the fish we can catch, and we can climb anything!
-
> Just think about all the fish we can catch, and we can climb anything!
> At the thought of fish, you feel spurred to go on.
> You start climbing the mountain. It's not as hard as you first thought; the ground doesn't elevate so badly, and there's a little bit of a natural path to walk on.
> Before you know it, you and Kouyoshi are in another forest. The trees seem a bit gloomier here, with lots of dead foliage on the ground. Isn't it still summer?
> _
-
> "Um... is this normal?"
> Keep walking, all the same.
-
> "Um... is this normal?"
> Keep walking, all the same.
> "Yeah."
> You keep walking. Nothing of note really happens, just walking along through this odd forest. The scenery doesn't change as much as you walk, but at least the roots are easy to step over.
> After a while, you think you hear a rustling sound in the distance.
> _
-
> Keep an eye on the rustling! Get ready to whack bad things with our sword!
-
> Keep an eye on the rustling! Get ready to whack bad things with our sword!
> You can't tell where it's coming from, but you can hear it. Either way, you put your hand on the katana, getting ready to use it if something happens.
> The rustling goes on for a while, and then goes away. You feel a slight breeze.
> _
-
> Oh, that's good. Relax and enjoy the breeze while we continue on.
-
> Oh, that's good. Relax and enjoy the breeze while we continue on.
> You enjoy the wind while it lasts, and continue on. Not much happens the rest of the way, and after a while you think you hear the sound of running water.
> _
-
> "It's the river!" Hustle!
-
> "It's the river!" Hustle!
> The two of you run through the rest of the forest, nearing and finally breaking through the trees.
> You see ahead of you, snaking down the mountain, a wide, rushing river. The ground from the edge of the forest to the river itself is pebbles that making small crunching sounds when Kouyoshi steps on them. Reeds and tall grass line the water, but you can still clearly see it frothing and surging down the mountain side with a dull roar.
> _
-
> "Woah... it's big! Hey, do you think there's huge fish here?"
-
> "Woah... it's big! Hey, do you think there's huge fish here?"
> "Maybe." Kouyoshi takes off her hat and takes a deep breath. "The air is nice up here. But I thought there were more youkai around. I wonder where they all went."
> _
-
> "More big catches for us, then!" Run up to the edge of the river and try to look in!
> "Hey, Kouyoshi, Kouyoshi, you have the fishing pole, right?"
-
> "More big catches for us, then!" Run up to the edge of the river and try to look in!
> "Hey, Kouyoshi, Kouyoshi, you have the fishing pole, right?"
> They'll miss out on all the fish!
> You go to the edge of the river. You think you can see the bottom, but the water is moving so fast. There's a fine mist spraying into the air, feeling nice and cool.
> "I have it. Be careful, the river's deep." Kouyoshi holds out the fishing rod.
> _
-
> Take the rod. Um... do we have bait?
-
> Take the rod. Um... do we have bait?
> You have the rod, but you don't have bait.
> _
-
> "Um... bait, bait, bait... Should we dig for worms?"
-
> "Um... bait, bait, bait... Should we dig for worms?"
> "I don't know if they'd be in these pebbles," Kouyoshi says. "Want me to go back into the forest and try the dirt over there?" She points back to the trees the two of you just emerged from.
> _
-
> "Thanks!" Get some practice flips with the rod, figure out how it works!
-
> "Thanks!" Get some practice flips with the rod, figure out how it works!
> You practice swinging the rod around. It's light, but sturdy, with a small iron hook at the end of a transuculent, sinewy thread that goes through smaller rings and into the reel at the end. This part is admittedly a bit heavier, but it should be fine. It looks like you have to use the reel to...well, reel in the hook, and to turn it different ways to lock it into place so the thread doesn't go all the way into the water...
> "I'll get on that, then." Kouyoshi turns and runs back into the trees.
> _
-
> "Kaaay!" Try throwing the hook in the river!
-
> "Kaaay!" Try throwing the hook in the river!
> You cast the rod, testing the river. The water immediately pulls the wire taunt, dragging it downstream with it. The rod feels a little harder to hold; the water's strong here...
> _
-
> Woah... fish who swim here must be big and strong! Reel in the hook and throw the hook out again.
-
> Woah... fish who swim here must be big and strong! Reel in the hook and throw the hook out again.
> You could feed a whole family with that kind of fish.
> With some difficulty, you reel in and cast out again. Hopefully, when you get bait, it'll stay on.
> _
-
> Hum a little song. Hm... how high is the sun? Will we need a hat for fishing?
> Wait for Kouyoshi to get back.
-
> Hum a little song. Hm... how high is the sun? Will we need a hat for fishing?
> Wait for Kouyoshi to get back.
> You hum to chase away the quiet.
> The sun is high in the sky right now, it's probably noon or early afternoon. You wouldn't mind a hat for fishing, if it would keep the sun out of your eyes.
> You wait at the edge of the river for Kouyoshi to return. Moments pass, and you think you see something bobbing out of the water. It's not Kouyoshi, though...
> _
-
> Is... is it a fish...? Start reeling in...
> Quickly determine appropriate combat techniques. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FLatyt_XgMs)
-
> Is... is it a fish...? Start reeling in...
> Quickly determine appropriate combat techniques. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FLatyt_XgMs)
> You reel in the line, only to find that nothing is on the hook at the end.
> You prepare the fishing rod as an improvised weapon. A head of blue hair pops out of the water, big blue eyes peeking out at you as it somehow manages to stay afloat above the water. It stays there for a moment before ducking back under the water's surface and out of sight.
> _
-
> "Ah! Kouyoshi, Kouyoshi! There's something in the river!"
> Back away from the river.
-
> "Ah! Kouyoshi, Kouyoshi! There's something in the river!"
> Back away from the river.
> You run from the riverside, calling out for Kouyoshi. You her farther off shout out a reply.
> "What?!"
> _
-
"Theres a Yokai in the river!"
-
"Theres a Yokai in the river!"
> Kouyoshi comes stumbling out of the trees with her dirt-covered hands held in front of her.
> "What was it? And I have the worms."
> _
-
> "It was blue! With blue hair!" Point at the river with our rod!
-
> "It was blue! With blue hair!" Point at the river with our rod!
> Kouyoshi makes her way over to the river's edge.
> "Maybe it was a kappa."
> _
-
> Noo... they'll steal our souls...
> "Should we beat them up so they go away...?"
-
> Noo... they'll steal our souls...
> "Should we beat them up so they go away...?"
> You don't want them to steal your soul...you don't even know what'll happen...
> Kouyoshi shakes her head. "They've already left on their own, haven't they?"
> _
-
> "Oh, they did? Good! Hey, you have worms, right? Thanks!"
> Hook a worm onto the hook, and toss it into the river!
-
> "Oh, they did? Good! Hey, you have worms, right? Thanks!"
> Hook a worm onto the hook, and toss it into the river!
> "Uh-huh." Kouyoshi holds out the worms to you. She didn't get a lot, but this should be fine.
> You take a worm and try hooking it. This proves to be hard at first: the worm is slippery and wriggles a lot, but you manage to get it around the hook.
> Kouyoshi drops the worms and dirt onto the ground, and dusts off her hands while you cast the line into the river. All that's left to do now is to wait.
> _
-
> Hum a little ditty. "Hey, Kouyoshi, Kouyoshi, did you catch all those fish at your place?"
-
> Hum a little ditty. "Hey, Kouyoshi, Kouyoshi, did you catch all those fish at your place?"
> You hum to pass the time.
> Kouyoshi keeps clapping the dirt off her hands. "I did. I mostly speared them, though."
> _
-
> "Woah! That sounds awesome!"
> Any fish biting yet?
-
> "Woah! That sounds awesome!"
> Any fish biting yet?
> Kouyoshi grins. "It's fun."
> Nothing's biting yet.
> _
-
> Draw the worm back in and cast it again. "Huh... maybe that's easier than fishing with a pole..."
-
> Draw the worm back in and cast it again. "Huh... maybe that's easier than fishing with a pole..."
> You reel in the worm. It's still on the hook, but it is very much dead.
> You cast it back out.
> "Not in these waters," Kouyoshi says. "You'd be in over your head and drowning in a second."
> _
-
> "Oh, okay. So where do you fish, then?"
> Come fish... bite already!
-
> "Oh, okay. So where do you fish, then?"
> Come fish... bite already!
> "Eh, the creeks in the forest near your village," Kouyoshi says. "I have to go farther downstream for the bigger ones, though."
> You wait for something to bite, but it's hard to tell in the first place: the water itself is making the line go taunt.
> Kouyoshi seems to notice this. "Hmm, maybe the waters are too strong right now."
> _
-
> "Maybe we can go upstream or downstream? Maybe the water's not as fast..."
-
> "Maybe we can go upstream or downstream? Maybe the water's not as fast..."
> "Upstream would just lead to the waterfall," Kouyoshi says. "Although there's a pool at the bottom of that, so either way is fine."
> _
-
> "Woah, a waterfall?! Let's go that way!" Reel in the line and gather up the worms!
-
> "Woah, a waterfall?! Let's go that way!" Reel in the line and gather up the worms!
> "You sure? There might be tengu there..."
> You reel in the line. The worm is gone, now; it must have come loose while it was in the water.
> You pick up the worms. They're so slimey, and you don't really know where to put them...
> _
-
> "Um... oh. Uh, let's go downstream, then." We have our basket to hold frogs, right? We'll put them in there!
-
> "Um... oh. Uh, let's go downstream, then." We have our basket to hold frogs, right? We'll put them in there!
> You remember that you have the basket you used to hold Mr. Frog.
> You put the worms in the basket. They wriggle around in protest, but don't really get anywhere.
> _
-
> Make our way downstream until the river is calmer!
-
> Make our way downstream until the river is calmer!
> You and Kouyoshi start walking down the river, back down the mountain. The water does eventually start calming down, although as you reach the forest again, it branches off into two different directions.
> _
-
> Huh? Did the map say anything about this?
> "Hey, Kouyoshi, Kouyoshi... which way should we go?"
-
> Huh? Did the map say anything about this?
> "Hey, Kouyoshi, Kouyoshi... which way should we go?"
> You're not sure.
> Kouyoshi looks at both forks in the river. "Um...I can't remember..."
> _
-
> Pull out that map and look.
-
> Pull out that map and look.
> You take a look at the map. It looks like the river branches out down the mountain and into the Forest of Magic, and the other branch goes around the mountain.
> _
-
> Let's follow the Forest of Magic branch! That takes us to where we want to go anyways!
-
> Let's follow the Forest of Magic branch! That takes us to where we want to go anyways!
> You decide to take river running through the Forest of Magic.
> _
-
> Let's find a suitable fishing spot, and start fishing!
-
> Let's find a suitable fishing spot, and start fishing!
> You look around for a good place to start fishing. You're still at the point that the rivers branch out, but the current doesn't seem too strong here.
> _
-
> "Hey, Kouyoshi, Kouyoshi, let's fish here!"
> Hook a worm to the hook, and fling it out into the river.
-
> "Hey, Kouyoshi, Kouyoshi, let's fish here!"
> Hook a worm to the hook, and fling it out into the river.
> "Okay."
> You hook another worm and cast out. The current tugs at the line, but not as much as it did upstream. Kouyoshi takes a seat on the ground and looks out at the water, whistling.
> _
-
> Kick off our geta and tabi and sit next to Kouyoshi, dipping our feet into the water.
-
> Kick off our geta and tabi and sit next to Kouyoshi, dipping our feet into the water.
> You take a seat as well, removing your footwear to dip your feet into the river. The water is pleasantly cool.
> Nothing much happens for a while. You actually see a few fish swimming down the river, but ignoring the line you have cast.
> _
-
> Jerk the rod a bit, to see if it attracts attention. "Those dumb fish aren't biting."
-
> Jerk the rod a bit, to see if it attracts attention. "Those dumb fish aren't biting."
> You tug at the rod, but nothing has bitten.
> "You have to be patient," Kouyoshi says. Her eyes are closed.
> _
-
> Hm... close our eyes just like Kouyoshi.
-
> Hm... close our eyes just like Kouyoshi.
> You close your eyes.
> Hahh...the wind is blowing.
> You hear a splashing sound in the water, and then feel a tug on the line.
> _
-
> Open our eyes. "Kouyoshi, Kouyoshi!" Tug back with the pole, and start reeling in!
-
> Open our eyes. "Kouyoshi, Kouyoshi!" Tug back with the pole, and start reeling in!
> You got something!
> Kouyoshi opens her eyes, but can only watch as you start reeling in the line. This is one tough fish!
> _
-
> Stand up and keep pulling! "I bet this one can feed a whole family!"
-
> Stand up and keep pulling! "I bet this one can feed a whole family!"
> You keep reeling in, pulling the line as you try to get the fish in. This is going to be a big one, you just know it...
> The water keeps splashing, before you finally yank the fish right out of the water. You catch a glimpse of a writhing, silver fish as it flails in the air, before the fishing line brings it crashing to the ground, where it flails helplessly.
> Kouyoshi stares at it, wide-eyed. "Whoa."
> _
-
> Yessss!
> Grin. "Hah, got you!" Put down the pole and run up to the fish.
-
> Yessss!
> Grin. "Hah, got you!" Put down the pole and run up to the fish.
> You did it!
> You approach the fish. It flops around on the ground, eyes bulging and gills flapping. It's trying to wriggle its way back to the river, but it's not making much progress.
> _
-
> ... Okay, this isn't as fun.
> "Um... can we cook it now?" Look away from the fish.
-
> ... Okay, this isn't as fun.
> "Um... can we cook it now?" Look away from the fish.
> You're not sure if you want to watch this...
> Kouyoshi stands up and walks over to where you and the fish are. "No, you have to take out the hook and gut it first."
> She crouches down and takes a look at the fish.
> "Oh, but we have to take the hook out first."
> _
-
Has mom done this?
-
Has mom done this?
> Yes. She must have gutted dozens of fish.
> _
-
> Then we can do this!..right?
-
> Then we can do this!..right?
> The fish's movements are getting weaker and weaker. It shouldn't be that hard to gut it at this rate, right?
> "Are you going to gut it, or do you want me to do it?" Kouyoshi asks.
> _
-
> Gulp, and try to take out the hook.
> "Um... do you have that knife?"
-
> Gulp, and try to take out the hook.
> "Um... do you have that knife?"
> You pick up the slimey fish and try taking out the hook. The fish squirms and thrashes around; you almost drop it, but you manage to rip out the hook.
> The fish goes limp. You think you see blood bubbling in its mouth.
> _
-
> It's dead... that's pretty sad, even though we were intending to eat it...
> "Um... can you help me gut it?"
-
> It's dead... that's pretty sad, even though we were intending to eat it...
> "Um... can you help me gut it?"
> You didn't really want it to die, did you?
> Kouyoshi nods and holds out her hand. "I'll take that."
> _
-
> Pick it up and hand it to Kouyoshi.
-
> Pick it up and hand it to Kouyoshi.
> You hand the dead fish over to Kouyoshi, who proceeds to take out her dagger and...ohh, there's fish blood everywhere...
> _
-
> Ick. Turn our eyes away.
-
> Ick. Turn our eyes away.
> You look away as Kouyoshi continues to slice the fish open. You don't want to see this.
> Some time passes, and finally Kouyoshi says, "You can look back now."
> _
-
> "Okay, do we have a fire started yet?"
-
> "Okay, do we have a fire started yet?"
> Kouyoshi looks at you.
> "...What? Fire?"
> _
-
> "Well, to grill fish! Though I guess we could stew it again..."
-
> "Well, to grill fish! Though I guess we could stew it again..."
> Kouyoshi looks at her bloodstained hands, and then at the pile of fish guts on the ground.
> "We never made a fire...You think you'd be able to get some wood for me? We could just grill it by the river, it'd be easier to put out."
> _
-
> "Kaay!" Hustle off and get some wood: fallen branches and the like should work. Then, bring them back!
-
> "Kaay!" Hustle off and get some wood: fallen branches and the like should work. Then, bring them back!
> You run back into the forest and retrieve a bundle of fallen branches; you have to snap some of them in half just to carry them.
> When you return, you see Kouyoshi dipping her hands into the water and washing them of the blood.
> _
-
> Put down the branches and start making a stick pyramid near the river. "Hey, Kouyoshi, Kouyoshi, do you have ma-"
> Oh! Light the branches on fire with our magic!
-
> Put down the branches and start making a stick pyramid near the river. "Hey, Kouyoshi, Kouyoshi, do you have ma-"
> Oh! Light the branches on fire with our magic!
> You stack the branches near the river.
> What are you thinking, you can use magic now! You focus on the pile of branches, and a spark soon appears. It grows into a small flame, which starts spreading across the rest of the wood.
> "Impressive," Kouyoshi says as she wrings the water off her hands.
> _
-
> Hee hee~! Let's get cooking!
-
(this thread is so awesome)
-
> Hee hee~! Let's get cooking!
> You feel kind of happy. Just a few days ago you couldn't even summon any magic, and here you are starting fires.
> You stick the gutted fish on a stick and let it roast over the fire. It's as simple as that. While you're waiting for it to cook, Kouyoshi pokes at the fish guts with another stick.
> "What am I going to do with this?"
> _
-
> "Ugh... dunno. Maybe we should throw 'em in the river or something?"
> Fan the fire.
-
> "Ugh... dunno. Maybe we should throw 'em in the river or something?"
> Fan the fire.
> "That's pollution," Kouyoshi protests. "I'll just bury them."
> She cups the fish guts in her hand, and heads back into the forest.
> The fish shouldn't take incredibly long to cook. It looks like it's doing it now, actually.
> _
-
Flip it around so it cooks sort of evenly.
then take it off, and eat our half.
-
Flip it around so it cooks sort of evenly.
then take it off, and eat our half.
> You rotate the fish around in the fire until it has cooked all the way through.
> You then go to eat it. It's really, really hot, but it's good.
> At this moment, Kouyoshi emerges from the trees, hands covered with dirt and fish guts. As she goes back to the river to wash them off, she says,
> "That cooked already?"
> _
-
> "Mm hmm!" Pluck the other one from the fire and hold it out for Kouyoshi while nibbling on our own.
-
> "Mm hmm!" Pluck the other one from the fire and hold it out for Kouyoshi while nibbling on our own.
> Kouyoshi takes the fish.
> "Hot, hot, hot." She tosses it around in her hands for a few minutes before finally starting to eat it.
> _
-
> "How do you like it?"
> Munch munch munch~
-
> "How do you like it?"
> Munch munch munch~
> "It's good."
> The both of you finish eating rather quickly. Kouyoshi sighs contentedly before going to put her footwear back on.
> _
-
> Put out the fire by splashing water on it, then put on our tabi and geta.
> "Ready?"
-
> Put out the fire by splashing water on it, then put on our tabi and geta.
> "Ready?"
> You splash water on the fire, which takes longer to put out than expected. You have to cup your hands to put it out, so not a lot of water gets thrown on the water at a time.
> After the fire has been fully extinguished, you put your tabi and geta back on.
> "Yeah." Kouyoshi adjusts her hat.
> _
-
> Grab our stuff and let's get going! To the border!
-
> Grab our stuff and let's get going! To the border!
> You gather your belongings and start walking along the river. Eventually, you find yourself surrounded by trees again, but it doesn't seem as gloomy as the last forest you were in. The river still runs strong, running down the mountainside and far beyond.
> _
-
> Hum while walking.
> "Hey, Kouyoshi, Kouyoshi, tell me a story! You must've done some awesome stuff, right?"
-
> Hum while walking.
> "Hey, Kouyoshi, Kouyoshi, tell me a story! You must've done some awesome stuff, right?"
> This walk could be a little more fun, so you ask Kouyoshi to tell you a story.
> "What kind of story?" Kouyoshi asks. "Off the top of my head, it's kind of hard to just pick an event that happened."
> _
-
> "Dunno, something cool! Have you fought any big monsters?"
-
> "Dunno, something cool! Have you fought any big monsters?"
> "I haven't had the chance to, but I remember there was one point where there was this really dangerous youkai roaming around," Kouyoshi says. "I forget, I think it appeared either right before or right after the Great Boundary came up. There were all sorts of rumors flying around and everyone was constantly on edge because of it."
> _
-
> "Ohh? What happened?!"
-
> "Ohh? What happened?!"
> "Well, everyone was saying how the youkai was eating everything that moved, even other youkai," Kouyoshi says. "I wasn't a youkai for very long back then, so I had to kind of lay low for a while until everything settled. I think it was actually a human who took down that youkai in the end, although she was aided by other youkai. I never saw it first hand. After that there was a while of peace, probably because everyone had had enough of all the carnage."
> _
-
>"What kind of youkai was that? Was it a kitsune?"
-
>"What kind of youkai was that? Was it a kitsune?"
> "No way, I'm pretty sure kitsune wouldn't eat their fellow youkai. Actually." Kouyoshi's ears flicker. "No one ever knew what kind of youkai it was. It felt like this thing that just was, looming over our heads and scaring us all half to death." She laughs.
> _
-
> "That sounds scary..."
> Hopefully the kitsune is easier to take out!
-
> "That sounds scary..."
> Hopefully the kitsune is easier to take out!
> You'd like to assume that the kitsune will be an easier fight than whatever was roaming around back then.
> "It was. It's kind of like 'you'd have to be there to experience it' sort of thing."
> _
-
> Shiver, and keep moving!
-
> Shiver, and keep moving!
> You wouldn't want to experience that.
> The two of you keep trudging on through the forest. The ground slopes for a while, until it flattens out again and you start seeing mushrooms. You must be in the Forest of Magic now.
> You notice that the river splits off yet again, although the branch is smaller than the last split on the mountain itself.
> _
-
> Double check our map, and go the right way!
-
> Double check our map, and go the right way!
> You check the map again. It'd be a better idea to follow the branch in the river.
> You'll have to cross the river, though, in order to get to the branch...
> _
-
> "Kouyoshi, Kouyoshi, we gotta cross!"
> Float across the river, LIKE A BOSS.
-
> "Kouyoshi, Kouyoshi, we gotta cross!"
> Float across the river, LIKE A BOSS.
> "Okay." Kouyoshi takes a step back, and then leaps across the river.
> You float across the river, just above the water. If you fell in, you'd be swept away.
> You reach the other side safely. Kouyoshi waits until your feet touch the ground before starting to walk again, following the river branch.
> _
-
> Hurry and follow after her!
-
> Hurry and follow after her!
> You follow Kouyoshi, and the two of you continue walking down the river. The long walk passes by with no incident: Mii is sound asleep in your bag, you don't see any youkai save for a few faeries, and the weather is pleasant. You're in the Forest of Magic for some time before the trees start looking more...well, normal, like they were in Mayohiga. The river winds on for a long while, and as time passes it gets narrower and calmer, until you can see the pebbles at the bottom. You also start seeing more mountains, and cherry blossom trees. You think you saw those kinds of trees at the shrine, actually.
> _
-
> "Hey, are we near the shrine?"
> Glance in the river to see if there are any frogs in there.
-
> "Hey, are we near the shrine?"
> Glance in the river to see if there are any frogs in there.
> Kouyoshi shrugs. "I don't know."
> You look into the river for any signs of frogs. A crayfish here and there, tiny schools of fish...maybe they're further along.
> _
-
> Keep following the river till we get to the border!
-
> Keep following the river till we get to the border!
> You keep following the river, walking for a long while until your feet start to hurt. Eventually, the river trickles down to a mere stream, and you can see the shrine in the distance. Other than that, it's just wilderness around you. The air somehow feels heavier here...
> _
-
> "Mnn... Kouyoshi, Kouyoshi, let's take a break... my feet hurt!"
> Sit down next to the stream and kick off our geta and tabi. Do our feet look okay?
-
> "Mnn... Kouyoshi, Kouyoshi, let's take a break... my feet hurt!"
> Sit down next to the stream and kick off our geta and tabi. Do our feet look okay?
> "Huh?" Kouyoshi stops walking. "Ok."
> You sit down and check on your feet. They're a bit blistered, but it's not too bad.
> _
-
> Dip them into the water, then rub them.
> "Woah... we've been walking a lot. Hey, Kouyoshi, Kouyoshi, are your feet okay?"
-
> Dip them into the water, then rub them.
> "Woah... we've been walking a lot. Hey, Kouyoshi, Kouyoshi, are your feet okay?"
> The stream water feels like heaven...
> "They do feel a little sore..." Kouyoshi sits down and starts to take off her footwear. "But, you know, youkai heal faster from wounds than humans do. I should be fine."
> _
-
> "You youkai are lucky!" Wriggle our toes in the stream.
> While we're here... take out our katana and pull on the hilt.
-
> "You youkai are lucky!" Wriggle our toes in the stream.
> While we're here... take out our katana and pull on the hilt.
> "Humans have their own good points too?" Kouyoshi suggests.
> You try to unsheath your katana, but it still feels a little stuck.
> _
-
> "Humans have lots of good points!" Grit our teeth and tug!
-
> "Humans have lots of good points!" Grit our teeth and tug!
> You keep pulling. Why won't it budge?
> "What do you think they are?"
> _
-
> "Um... we're... um..." Pull and pull and pull!
-
> "Um... we're... um..." Pull and pull and pull!
> Humans have to have something going for them.
> You keep pulling. It's not budging.
> "Resourceful? You guys invented the wheel, right?"
> _
-
"We did?"
"Kuyoshi, my sword's stuck!"
Try jerking it out.
-
"We did?"
"Kuyoshi, my sword's stuck!"
Try jerking it out.
> "Did you?" Kouyoshi shrugs. "You probably did."
> Your katana is still stuck.
> "Could I try tugging at it?"
> _
-
> Hand her the katana.
-
> Hand her the katana.
> Kouyoshi takes the katana and tugs at it. Her ears flatten against her hat in concentration as she pulls and pulls, but it doesn't budge.
> "It needs to be loosened up," she concludes, handing it back to you.
> _
-
"Do we have some oil? Would that be okay for the sword?"
Don't want to hurt our sword!
-
"Do we have some oil? Would that be okay for the sword?"
Don't want to hurt our sword!
> Kouyoshi shakes her head. "No, we don't. I don't know what that would do, anyhow."
> _
-
> "Maybe it would, dunno, loosen it or something? Ugh..."
-
> "Maybe it would, dunno, loosen it or something? Ugh..."
> "Hm...well, we don't have oil, but there's plenty of water here."
> _
-
> Hm... would it be a good idea to dunk the sword in the stream?
-
> Hm... would it be a good idea to dunk the sword in the stream?
> You consider dipping your katana into the water. You don't know if it'll even work, but if it'll get your katana unstuck, would it be worth it?
> _
-
> "Isn't water bad for metal? Like the farm tools would get all rusty.."
-
> "Isn't water bad for metal? Like the farm tools would get all rusty.."
> "Oh. I, I don't really know what else to do, then."
> _
-
> "Hm... I guess if we make sure it doesn't rust, it'll be okay!"
> Put the sword in the water and let it run over the sword, before trying to pull it out again.
-
> "Hm... I guess if we make sure it doesn't rust, it'll be okay!"
> Put the sword in the water and let it run over the sword, before trying to pull it out again.
> "Yeah."
> You dip the katana in the water, and then take it back out.
> You try pulling it out. It jiggles for a moment, before finally coming free. You did it!
> Now that you look at it, the katana's blade is still covered in blood from the last time you used it.
> _
-
>".....Oh. I think we should've cleaned it..."
>Let's set to cleaning it carefully. can't get cut!
-
>".....Oh. I think we should've cleaned it..."
>Let's set to cleaning it carefully. can't get cut!
> "So the blood made it stick?"
> You start wiping off the blood, trying to avoid the sharp edges of the katana. No wonder you couldn't get it out, it must have dried the katana to its sheath.
> _
-
> Ew... that was dumb of us!
> "Kouyoshi, Kouyoshi... what should I do...?"
> Scrub scrub scrub!
-
"Ugh..how are we going to get it out of the sheath."
-
> Ew... that was dumb of us!
> "Kouyoshi, Kouyoshi... what should I do...?"
> Scrub scrub scrub!
> You should probably be more careful when killing things.
> "You just need to keep cleaning it, don't you?"
> You keep scrubbing the blood off. It's starting to look a bit better now.
"Ugh..how are we going to get it out of the sheath."
> "It's already out of its sheath," Kouyoshi says, raising an eyebrow.
> _
-
"The blood!"
-
> "If the katana's this nasty, think about how the inside is!"
> Try using leaves to wipe off the gore.
-
"The blood!"
> "Oh."
> "If the katana's this nasty, think about how the inside is!"
> Try using leaves to wipe off the gore.
> "...oh."
> It's probably disgusting in there. You manage to get the rest of the guts off the blade itself, but the sheath might be more of a chore to clean...
> _
-
(Is the sheath straight or curved?)
-
> Let's... just keep our sword out. We'll ask Keine how to clean the scabbard.
> Stand up and put on our tabi and geta. "Okay, let's go!"
-
> Let's... just keep our sword out. We'll ask Keine how to clean the scabbard.
> Stand up and put on our tabi and geta. "Okay, let's go!"
> You decide not to take any chances.
> Kouyoshi stands up as well. "Ok. It doesn't look like we have much further to go, does it?"
> _
-
> "Nope!" One sword in one hand, scabbard in the other... we're like that Musashi guy!
> And we're walking and we're walking...
-
and walking and walking..
"Tanuki like playing tricks, right?"
-
> "Nope!" One sword in one hand, scabbard in the other... we're like that Musashi guy!
> And we're walking and we're walking...
> Not much farther to go.
> You and Kouyoshi start walking again, following the stream even as it dwindles down. Eventually, you start to see the edge of a lake...from the shrine? Somehow, you feel an intense pressure in the air.
and walking and walking..
"Tanuki like playing tricks, right?"
> "Yeah." Kouyoshi twirls around midstep. "There's never anyone to play tricks on, though. It's a shame."
> _
-
"Well when I have a family and we take back Magohia you can come live with us and there will be lots of people to play tricks on!"
-
>Leave that out. Our family isn't there anymore, we knew that already, right?
-
Right, that's why its a "when we have a family" its a probably forlorn hope to re-found Mayohiga.
-
"Well when I have a family and we take back Magohia you can come live with us and there will be lots of people to play tricks on!"
>Leave that out. Our family isn't there anymore, we knew that already, right?
> Yeah! Kouyoshi can...
> ...You decide not to say it, after all.
Right, that's why its a "when we have a family" its a probably forlorn hope to re-found Mayohiga.
> Maybe one day...
> You wonder if that's possible. After what happened, well...
> _
-
> Never mind all of that: first, we gotta beat the kitsune! Keep walking!
-
> Never mind all of that: first, we gotta beat the kitsune! Keep walking!
> You need to focus on getting that kitsune, first.
> The two of you keep walking.
> Eventually, you find yourself looking at the back of the shrine from a distance. Beyond that, it's just mountains and wilderness, but something feels strange.
> There seems to be a little color in the sky, there.
> "Is this it?" Kouyoshi asks.
> _
-
> "Um... maybe?" Double check our map, does this seem to be the right place.
> "... Oh, darn it. We forgot to get tofu."
-
> "Um... maybe?" Double check our map, does this seem to be the right place.
> "... Oh, darn it. We forgot to get tofu."
> You check the map again. You're behind the shrine, so...you should be right near the border.
> Only then do you remember that you forgot to get any tofu.
> "Do we have any other food with us?" Kouyoshi asks.
> _
-
> Inventory check.
-
> Inventory check.
Inventory:
> Red and white robes (unequipped)
> A white kosode with a red pattern on the hems of the sleeves, with a hakama with the same design. Footwear is geta with tabi.
> Red haori (unequipped)
> A red haori you wear if it's colder out.
> x1 geometric yukata (dark blue) (equipped)
> A dark blue yukata with a geometric pattern on it. Made by Keine.
> ?15
> An accumulation of allowance money from the past three weeks.
> Satchel
> Your school bag. You keep your items in here.
> x1 Pack of Crayons
> Contains red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple, pink, brown, black, grey, and white.
> x1 Sketchbook
> Your sketchbook. There are already some drawings in here.
> x1 Net
> A net used to catch bugs, frogs, and the like.
> x1 Basket
> Used for storing said bugs and frogs.
> Blue jacket (unequipped)
> Lent to you by Kouyoshi.
> Katana
> A katana that belonged to your family. Very sharp and taller than you are.
> x2 wind chimes (equipped)
> Pretty wind chimes taken from the abandoned shrine. You're currently wearing them in your hair.
> x1 bed roll
> A sleeping bag borrowed from Mokou.
> x1 first aid kit
> Contains bandages, scissors, and the like.
> Mii
> A kedema. She may or may not eat any food you put in here from now on.
> _
-
> "No..." Ugh... and we don't have a dog pit, either. This is suddenly turning out to be hard...
-
> "No..." Ugh... and we don't have a dog pit, either. This is suddenly turning out to be hard...
> You have no food to lure the kitsune out with, and you haven't dug a pit. You're going to have to think fast for this one.
> _
-
> "Um... hey, Kouyoshi, Kouyoshi! You could pull a trick on a kitsune, right? Like, pretend to be a dog or something and bark at her?"
-
> "Um... hey, Kouyoshi, Kouyoshi! You could pull a trick on a kitsune, right? Like, pretend to be a dog or something and bark at her?"
> "Transforming into a dog is easy," Kouyoshi says. "But that wouldn't lure the kitsune here, would it?"
> She goes quiet for a few moments, and then says,
> "How about I turn into tofu?"
> _
-
"But won't it hurt if she tries to eat you?"
-
> Imagine Kouyoshi the tofu going on a rampage (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4fN4W1EnQ-4)
-
"But won't it hurt if she tries to eat you?"
> "Then I'll just turn back before that happens."
> Imagine Kouyoshi the tofu going on a rampage (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4fN4W1EnQ-4)
> You're having a hard time imagining a block of tofu causing so much chaos.
> _
-
"Can you smell like tofu?"
-
"Can you smell like tofu?"
> "If I turn into tofu, then I'll smell like tofu," Kouyoshi says.
> _
-
"Awesome!" wave our arms.
-
> "Okay, sounds like a plan! So... um... where should we have you be tofu at?"
-
> "Okay, sounds like a plan! So... um... where should we have you be tofu at?"
> "Hm.." Kouyoshi takes a look at the surroundings. "If it's out in the open, it'd be too obvious. Maybe off to the side, but not completely under cover."
> _
-
> "Oh, oh! And I can hide in a tree above you! Then, when she comes... wham! I jump on top of her!"
> This will be awesome!
-
> "Oh, oh! And I can hide in a tree above you! Then, when she comes... wham! I jump on top of her!"
> This will be awesome!
> Kouyoshi laughs. "Just make sure she doesn't see you coming!"
> Revenge will be so, so sweet.
> _
-
> Find a good place for the bait, with a tree over it! It has to have good cover, though!
-
> Find a good place for the bait, with a tree over it! It has to have good cover, though!
> You start looking around. There are a lot of trees around here, but you see a particularly good one, a very big one. It's a little closer to the shrine. You could easily hide there.
> _
-
Send a quick prayer to uh..the god of tofu?...try to remember if Mom had any tips for this sort of thing.
Clime the tree.
-
Send a quick prayer to uh..the god of tofu?...try to remember if Mom had any tips for this sort of thing.
Clime the tree.
> Mother never taught you how to do these kinds of things!
> You head over to the tree and try to climb it, but it's very wide, and there's nothing to use as a foothold...
> _
-
> "Kou-"
> Wait. Float up the tree. D'oh.
-
> "Kou-"
> Wait. Float up the tree. D'oh.
> Wha--oh, that's right. You can fly.
> You fly into the tree, and find yourself surrounded by branches and leaves. You can barely see beyond all of them.
> You hear Kouyoshi walk across the grass.
> "Wow, I can't see you at all up there."
> _
-
> "Hee hee~. The perfect spot! Kouyoshi, Kouyoshi, become
meguca tofu!"
> Now we wait!
-
> "Hee hee~. The perfect spot! Kouyoshi, Kouyoshi, become meguca tofu!"
> Now we wait!
> mumi why
> Looks like you're all set.
> "Ok!" Kouyoshi says. A few moments pass, and you can't hear her anymore. Did she really turn into tofu?
> You start to wait. This shouldn't take too long...
> _
-
> Muster as much patience as an eight-year-old possibly can!
-
> Muster as much patience as an eight-year-old possibly can!
> You have to be patient. Kouyoshi went as far as to turn into a tofu, after all.
> ...You still don't hear anything. This tree is really blocking everything out.
> _
-
> Carefully peek down through the foliage. She IS tofu, right?
-
> Carefully peek down through the foliage. She IS tofu, right?
> You take a peek through a gap in the leaves.
> Instead of Kouyoshi, there's a block of fried tofu, sitting in the grass. You can smell it from here...
> _
-
> Ohhh... she smells delicious...
> ... Stop drooling! That's our friend, and we're trying to ambush! Hide again!
-
> Ohhh... she smells delicious...
> ... Stop drooling! That's our friend, and we're trying to ambush! Hide again!
> If you didn't know any better, you'd think she was an actual tofu.
> But this is your friend, and you don't want to eat her. You withdraw back into the trees and wait.
> A long while passes, where nothing shows up. Still, Kouyoshi stays a tofu, not moving an inch.
> Eventually, you think you hear rustling a little ways away.
> _
-
> Tense up, and get ready to pounce!
-
> Tense up, and get ready to pounce!
> You prepare yourself to leap out of the tree.
> You hear more rustling, and then the sound of heavy footsteps along the grass. There's something coming, but the leaves are in the way...!
> _
-
> Gr... carefully push a few leaves out of the way, so we can see!
-
> Gr... carefully push a few leaves out of the way, so we can see!
> You move the leaves out of the way and look down.
> There, slowly walking towards the tofu, is the biggest fox you have ever seen. A sleek gold coat, muscled but somehow graceful-looking, but what catches your eyes are the long nine, soft-looking tails fanned out behind it. It's easily the size of a small house, with menacing jaws and piercing eyes, but...this is it, isn't it?
> The kitsune walks up to the tofu-disguised Kouyoshi and sniffs her, as though unsure of whether or not the tofu is real.
> _
-
> Woah... it's so pretty...
> Wait, it's an evil kitsune! It doesn't matter if it's pretty or not, it destroyed Mayohiga!
> Leap out of the branches and onto it, brandishing our sword! "I got you now!"
> If it tries to shake us off, then grab onto its fur!
-
> Woah... it's so pretty...
> Wait, it's an evil kitsune! It doesn't matter if it's pretty or not, it destroyed Mayohiga!
> Leap out of the branches and onto it, brandishing our sword! "I got you now!"
> If it tries to shake us off, then grab onto its fur!
> It's surprisingly beautiful..
> ...But it's the kitsune's fault that Mayohiga is gone!
> Katana in hand, you let yourself fall from the branches and land on its back. The kitsune growls and turns its head, but you cling onto its fur.
> You then feel sharp teeth sink into your sides, wrench you off the kitsune's back, and toss you across the clearing. As you roll across the grass, you hear Kouyoshi shouting something, and then a loud shriek.
> _
-
> Was that Kouyoshi shrieking?! Jump to our feet and charge the kitsune! "You'll pay, monster!"
-
> Was that Kouyoshi shrieking?! Jump to our feet and charge the kitsune! "You'll pay, monster!"
> It was.
> You leap up and run at the kitsune. You can see Kouyoshi back in her human form, slumped on the ground and clutching at her head. There's blood trickling through her fingers and down her arm.
> The kitsune turns back and growls again, before roaring and spewing a pillar of flames from its mouth.
> _
-
>Wah!
>Quick! Fly over the flames and attack from above!
-
>Wah!
>Quick! Fly over the flames and attack from above!
> Remembering you can fly, you leap over the flames and lunge at the kitsune, katana drawn. Your katana plunges into the back of the kitsune's neck, but it doesn't even seem to be in pain. Instead, it starts to thrash, trying to throw you off.
> _
-
> Hold on tightly! "Get a taste of your own medicine!" Try to light it on fire!
-
> Hold on tightly! "Get a taste of your own medicine!" Try to light it on fire!
> You concentrate your energy, and a flame spreads from the katana down to the kitsune's fur. The kitsune roars and bucks you off, sending you sprawling to the ground once more. It kind of hurts...
> _
-
> Wheeze, and stand back up, using our katana if need be. "You don't like being burned, do you?! Well guess what Mayohiga felt like when you burned it!"
> Catch our breath, and get ready to attack again!
-
> Wheeze, and stand back up, using our katana if need be. "You don't like being burned, do you?! Well guess what Mayohiga felt like when you burned it!"
> Catch our breath, and get ready to attack again!
> You use your katana to push yourself off the ground. That kitsune has no right to not like being burned, not after what happened.
> You prepare to attack again, but the kitsune makes the first move. It charges at you, fangs bared--
> Then, out of nowhere, Kouyoshi appears from the left and stabs her dagger into the kitsune's shoulder. It snarls and turns back to tackle her to the ground. The dagger is still in its shoulder, spurting blood. Kouyoshi disappears from under the kitsune's claws in a puff of smoke and reappears a few feet away, covering her face with her hat and reeling. She's pretty bloodied up by now.
> The kitsune keeps growling, but it's limping from its front right leg, where Kouyoshi stabbed it. It stands there for a moment, staggering, and then lunges at you. As it does so, you see Kouyoshi charging at it again.
> _
-
> Run forward, but dive to the ground under it! Try to stab it's belly and burn it at the same time!
-
> Run forward, but dive to the ground under it! Try to stab it's belly and burn it at the same time!
> While the kitsune is distracted, you dive under it, set your katana on fire, and stab it in the belly. You feel one of the kitsune's paws ram into your head, and a sharp pain as one of the claws rakes into your skin. The kitsune bounds away from you and Kouyoshi and runs across the clearing. You've definitely hurt it!
> _
-
> Climb to our feet again, and chase after it. "Come back here!"
-
> Climb to our feet again, and chase after it. "Come back here!"
> The kitsune stops and whirls around.
> I was not running.
> _
-
> Uh oh. Stop short of it and hold our katana up to block. "U-uh, g-good!"
> Gulp, then narrow our eyes. "Then you'll pay for what you did!"
-
> Stare.
-
> Uh oh. Stop short of it and hold our katana up to block. "U-uh, g-good!"
> Gulp, then narrow our eyes. "Then you'll pay for what you did!"
> It talks.
> The kitsune starts to walk back towards you.
> I see.
> Stare.
> You stare. The kitsune stares right back.
> _
-
>"I-im gonna make you pay for what you did to my village, you know!"
>Start running towards it again!
-
>"I-im gonna make you pay for what you did to my village, you know!"
>Start running towards it again!
> You charge towards the kitsune again. When you get closer, it leaps at you, fangs bared.
> _
-
> Leap towards its weak side, the one Kouyoshi injured, and flame strike it!
-
> Leap towards its weak side, the one Kouyoshi injured, and flame strike it!
> You leap to the side and shoot flames at the kitsune's side. The kitsune leaps back and retaliates by shooting out more fire of its own, pushing your attack back towards you.
> While it's doing this, another knife lodges itself into the kitsune's belly. In a poof of smoke, it turns back to Kouyoshi, who is promptly trampled beneath the kitsune's paws. This seems to have significantly hindered the kitsune, however: blood gushes from the wound, and it howls in pain.
> _
-
> "Kouyoshi!" Run and jump on top of the kitsune, and grab hold near its neck! Stab at it!
-
> "Kouyoshi!" Run and jump on top of the kitsune, and grab hold near its neck! Stab at it!
> While the kitsune is distracted, you jump on its neck and stab it. You feel blood seep over your hands and arms, and then the kitsune's teeth sinking into your legs.
> _
-
>Try to kick out feet into it's teeth while continuing to stab it.
>Yell loudly to boost power!
-
>Try to kick out feet into it's teeth while continuing to stab it.
>Yell loudly to boost power!
> Stabbing it is easy, but you can barely move your legs. Above all the commotion you hear Kouyoshi's strangled cries.
> FUS ROH DAH oh wait you can't do that
> _
-
> Whack it in the nose with the flat of our blade. "aaaaa... let go!"
-
> Whack it in the nose with the flat of our blade. "aaaaa... let go!"
> This just serves to make the kitsune angrier, and shake its head back and forth. You swing upside down and nearly drop your katana. Your legs hurt...
> _
-
> Scream, and throw fire into its face!
-
> Scream, and throw fire into its face!
> You hit the kitsune square in the face with a fireball, singing your own legs in the process. The kitsune drops you to the ground and leaps away from you.
> _
-
> "Ohh..." Take a moment to breath. How hurt are we? Where's Kouyoshi?
-
> "Ohh..." Take a moment to breath. How hurt are we? Where's Kouyoshi?
> You don't think you'd be able to get up immediately, anyway.
> You're winded and hurting all over, but your legs are in agony. You aren't looking at them right now, but you can feel the blood sticking to the skirt of the yukata. Your sides are also hurting; you think they're bleeding, too.
> Kouyoshi's laying on the ground a few feet away. She's covered in blood and wheezing.
> _
-
> Try to stand up, if we can. "Kou-kouyoshi... are you...?"
> Glare at the kitsune. How bad does it look?
-
> Try to stand up, if we can. "Kou-kouyoshi... are you...?"
> Glare at the kitsune. How bad does it look?
> You try to stand up, but it hurts too bad.
> Kouyoshi turns her head, and behind her hair you can see a bloody gash on her forehead. "Huh...?"
> That kitsune...
> It's bleeding profusely onto the grass; Kouyoshi's dagger is still stuck in its shoulder. One thing's for sure, it's definitely not as tough-looking as it did when you got here.
> _
-
> Try to float, then, towards Kouyoshi. "Ah... hey, evil kitsune! Are you ready to give up yet?!"
-
> Try to float, then, towards Kouyoshi. "Ah... hey, evil kitsune! Are you ready to give up yet?!"
> Floating is less painful, you think.
> You float over to Kouyoshi. Her eyes follow you, but she doesn't try to move. Now that you're closer, you can see the rips in her clothing and the deep scratches, oozing with blood. She's laying at a slightly awkward angle, and her right shoulder somehow looks out of place.
> The kitsune doesn't do anything, but then it's surrounded by a puff of mist that settles quickly. The ears and tails are still there, but the kitsune has been replaced by a taller woman. You can see similarities between her and what the book said about kitsune: her facial features and the aforementioned ears and tail. Her golden hair only goes as far as her neck, and her eyes are of the same color. She's wearing a long dress that looks unsuited for summer: white-sleeved and long, with a blue panel overtop, and in her left hand she's clutching a white tassled hat. She has visible burn marks and singed clothing, and her clothes are blood soaked where she has been stabbed. The dagger is still in her shoulder.
> The kitsune pulls the dagger out of her shoulder and throws it to the ground. "You're quite strong for a child."
> _
-
> Oh no... Kouyoshi looks pretty bad...
> Glare at the kitsune more. "That's right! Now surrender, or I'll beat you up even more for attacking Mayohiga and hurting Kouyoshi!"
-
> Oh no... Kouyoshi looks pretty bad...
> Glare at the kitsune more. "That's right! Now surrender, or I'll beat you up even more for attacking Mayohiga and hurting Kouyoshi!"
> She's going to be okay, right?
> "So you're from there," the kitsune says. "Are you doing this for peace of mind?"
> _
-
> "No, to revenge my family! I won't stop until you say sorry to my family, and the other families, and Mr. Frog!"
-
> "No, to revenge my family! I won't stop until you say sorry to my family, and the other families, and Mr. Frog!"
> The kitsune sighs. "It's a little late for that at this point."
> _
-
> Growl, and point our katana at her. "Why did you do it?! Why?!"
-
> Growl, and point our katana at her. "Why did you do it?! Why?!"
> "Because I was following orders," she says.
> _
-
> Blink. "Orders?" So she's not the head honcho?
> "Who the heck said it was a good idea to attack us?!" Grip our katana, and get ready to beat the truth out of her!
-
> Blink. "Orders?" So she's not the head honcho?
> "Who the heck said it was a good idea to attack us?!" Grip our katana, and get ready to beat the truth out of her!
> Kouyoshi manages to gasp, "You weren't...?"
> She wasn't even in charge of this?
> "I can't tell you that," the kitsune says. You're just about ready to stab her again...
> _
-
Try to cut one of her tails.
-
Try to cut one of her tails.
> You try to run up and slash at one of the kitsune's tails, but your legs give way after about two steps. It hurts...
> _
-
>Owww... This... is nothing!
>Stand back up and maintain our previous stance.
>"Then... why not?"
-
>Owww... This... is nothing!
>Stand back up and maintain our previous stance.
>"Then... why not?"
> You have to endure!
> Even standing back up is excruciating, but you do it anyway.
> "I had promised I wouldn't say anything, but that was out of my own personal interests," the kitsune says. "It would keep things less complicated if I kept silent."
> _
-
>What is she waiting for... why won't she attack us?
>Can we see Kouyoshi? How is she looking?
>"Do you mean that... you didn't want to do that?"
-
>What is she waiting for... why won't she attack us?
>Can we see Kouyoshi? How is she looking?
>"Do you mean that... you didn't want to do that?"
> She's not attacking, is she trying to lower your guard?
> Kouyoshi is still on the ground behind you. She's not looking too good.
> "Mayohiga was originally youkai territory," the kitsune says. "However, I didn't care what happened to it either way."
> _
-
> "That doesn't matter! My family lived there! If you or whoever told you to attack was so mad about it they shoulda just ASKED!"
> Float towards her with weapon in hand... but glance back at Kouyoshi. Will she be all right while we beat up the kitsune?
-
> "That doesn't matter! My family lived there! If you or whoever told you to attack was so mad about it they shoulda just ASKED!"
> Float towards her with weapon in hand... but glance back at Kouyoshi. Will she be all right while we beat up the kitsune?
> "It's too late for that now," the kitsune says.
> You float forward, looking back to Kouyoshi as you do so. She certainly doesn't look all right, but she should be fine, right...?
> You then hear the thudding of paws across the grass, and then fangs sinking into your arm.
> _
-
>"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!"
>"No! You killed everyone else! You're not getting me! You're going to pay for what you did!"
>Fire to the face with as much power as we can give it.
-
>"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!"
>"No! You killed everyone else! You're not getting me! You're going to pay for what you did!"
>Fire to the face with as much power as we can give it.
> You scream, loudly. You're not going to die, not after everything that's happened!
> You summon as much energy as you can, and throw fire in the kitsune's face. In a whirl of flames, you feel the fangs leave your arm, and you go tumbling to the ground.
> _
-
> Keep wildly throwing fire at the kitsune!
> How is our arm doing? Can we move it?
-
> Keep wildly throwing fire at the kitsune!
> How is our arm doing? Can we move it?
> You keep throwing fire, even if you can't see where she is now.
> Your arm is still in one piece, but it really hurts just to move it.
> _
-
> Stop throwing fire, and look around. Where the heck did she go?
-
> Stop throwing fire, and look around. Where the heck did she go?
> You let the flames die down, and look around for the kitsune.
> ...She's gone?
> _
-
> "Raargh!" Darn it, she ran away?! "You better run away! I'll get you next time!"
> ... Oh no! Kouyoshi! Float over to her. "Kouyoshi, Kouyoshi!"
-
> "Raargh!" Darn it, she ran away?! "You better run away! I'll get you next time!"
> ... Oh no! Kouyoshi! Float over to her. "Kouyoshi, Kouyoshi!"
> How could she just run?! You're going to kill her next time you se her!
> You then remember Kouyoshi, who is still sprawled in the grass, and float over to her. Even floating hurts now.
> Kouyoshi squints at you through the blood. "Hi."
> _
-
> "No... I'm so sorry Kouyoshi..." Try not to cry as we find that first aid kit.
-
> "No... I'm so sorry Kouyoshi..." Try not to cry as we find that first aid kit.
> "Why..?"
> The first aid kit is close by. It seems to have dropped to the ground during the skirmish, but it's unharmed.
> _
-
> Quickly retrieve first-aid kit.
> Examine Kouyoushi's wonds and our own.
-
> "Um... because I asked you to help, and then that kitsune hurt you..."
-
> Quickly retrieve first-aid kit.
> Examine Kouyoushi's wonds and our own.
> You grab the first aid kit--ow, you shouldn't have used your right arm...
> Kouyoshi is pretty torn up. She has deep gashes all over her, including her head. Her right shoulder looks dislocated, and you think you can see a bit of bone showing through her other arm, and maybe a rib poking through her shirt, you can't even tell. Her clothes are soaked with blood; she looks really pale.
> You look down at yourself, and see bite marks oozing with blood from your sides. Your right arm is especially bad, but your legs are even worse. The skirt of your yukata from the knees down, as well as your footwear, are going to need some serious repairs. Your are still intact, but they're quite bloody...you don't think you want to look.
> "Um... because I asked you to help, and then that kitsune hurt you..."
> "It's fine," Kouyoshi wheezes.
> _
-
> "Oh... oh... um... what should I...?"
> Do we know anything about first aid?
-
> "Oh... oh... um... what should I...?"
> Do we know anything about first aid?
> "Uh..." Kouyoshi's eyelids droop a little. "Dunno."
> You know how to put on a band aid and tie bandages, but you don't think there will be enough for the both of you, let alone one of you.
> _
-
> Um... um... um...! Try at least bandaging her head!
> "I'm so sorry... I'm so sorry..."
-
> Um... um... um...! Try at least bandaging her head!
> "I'm so sorry... I'm so sorry..."
> You haphazardly try to bandage Kouyoshi's head. Her hat isn't in the way anymore, at least.
> "'S fine.."
> _
-
> Where'd her hat go?
> "Ohh... what should we do...? You're so hurt..."
-
> Where'd her hat go?
> "Ohh... what should we do...? You're so hurt..."
> It's laying on the ground about ten feet away. It's going to need fixed, too.
> "I'm a youkai...so..'s fine..."
> _
-
> "A-are you sure...?" Try to bandage our arm... we're losing a lot of blood...
-
> "A-are you sure...?" Try to bandage our arm... we're losing a lot of blood...
> "Yea...it usually takes more to kill youkai...for good.." Kouyoshi takes a deep breath and closes her eyes. "I guess.."
> You start wrapping bandages around your arm. They're soaked through with blood pretty quickly, but after you've wrapped your arm thoroughly enough, it seems to have stemmed the bleeding. You feel a little dizzy, though.
> _
-
> Gulp, and lift up our yukata to look at our legs.
-
> Gulp, and lift up our yukata to look at our legs.
> You lift your yukata just enough to see the state of your legs, and you immediately regret it.
> They're still in one piece, no broken bones as far as you can tell, but the blood...just the skin is ripped up, all from bite marks.
> Kouyoshi glances over from where she's lying on the ground.
> "That kitsune tore you up that badly..."
> _
-
> Whimper, and wrap bandages around it.
-
> Whimper, and wrap bandages around it.
> You don't want to look at it anymore...
> You wrap bandages around your legs, almost going through an entire roll just to cover up your wounds. They still hurt, but at least they won't get infected.
> _
-
> Is there anything we can bandage on Kouyoshi?
> "Mnn... what should we do...?"
-
>"We really got beat up huh....? I'm going to have to get a lot stronger..."
-
> Is there anything we can bandage on Kouyoshi?
> "Mnn... what should we do...?"
> You could put a bandage anywhere on Kouyoshi's body and you'd be covering up a wound.
> "Dunno..."
>"We really got beat up huh....? I'm going to have to get a lot stronger..."
> "Uh-huh.." Kouyoshi closes her eyes. "A loooot stronger..."
> _
-
> "Um, um... you have bones, um..."
> Do we push them back in or something...?
-
> "Um, um... you have bones, um..."
> Do we push them back in or something...?
> "I know."
> You don't know how to treat broken bones..or bones sticking out for that matter. You consider just pushing them back in, but you don't know if that work or not.
> _
-
> "Should I... um... can you uh... can we get back to, uh, the Human Village?"
-
> "Should I... um... can you uh... can we get back to, uh, the Human Village?"
> "Uh.." Kouyoshi's voice comes out as a sigh. "I guess..."
> _
-
> "... Can you even move?"
-
> "... Can you even move?"
> "Uh..." Kouyoshi lifts her arm about an inch, and then grimaces.
> "About that much.."
> _
-
> "Oh... I-I could go get help... but... then that kitsune might come back to hurt you!"
-
> "Oh... I-I could go get help... but... then that kitsune might come back to hurt you!"
> "That could...be a problem..."
> _
-
> "What do I do, Kouyoshi?" Sniffle. We're in a tight spot!
-
> "What do I do, Kouyoshi?" Sniffle. We're in a tight spot!
> "It's fine if...you go for help..." Kouyoshi tries lifting her arm again, but it doesn't go very far before twitching and falling back.
> _
-
> She's too weak to fend off a frog, much less any youkai or kitsune... Wait!
> "Kouyoshi, Kouyoshi, could you turn into something small? Then, then, I could carry you!"
-
> She's too weak to fend off a frog, much less any youkai or kitsune... Wait!
> "Kouyoshi, Kouyoshi, could you turn into something small? Then, then, I could carry you!"
> A grasshopper could hop across her and she wouldn't be able to lift a finger to swat it away.
> Unless...
> "I change into my tanuki form..." Kouyoshi says. "You can just...wrap me up like that."
> _
-
> "O-okay!" Take off our hakama, and get ready to wrap up Kouyoshi.
-
> "O-okay!" Take off our hakama, and get ready to wrap up Kouyoshi.
> You retrieve your hakama from your bag, not wanting to use your bloodsoaked skirt. Kouyoshi shakes her head.
> "No, what I'm wearing is fine..."
> She then closes her eyes, and in a puff of smoke, she's gone. Or rather, she has turned into a small raccoon dog. It should be easier to carry her like this.
> _
-
> Did she leave behind clothing? If she did, then carefully wrap her in them and pick her up. If she didn't, then wrap her in our hakama and pick her up.
> Make sure we have everything before floating up. How far away is the Human Village?
-
> Did she leave behind clothing? If she did, then carefully wrap her in them and pick her up. If she didn't, then wrap her in our hakama and pick her up.
> Make sure we have everything before floating up. How far away is the Human Village?
> Yes, she's sort of underneath the shrine maiden clothes. Those will need repairs, too.
> You make sure you've gotten everything, including Kouyoshi's hat, and then wrap up Kouyoshi herself and pick her up. You float up and try to look for the Human Village from here, but you'll probably have to travel farther to get to it. The load you're carrying won't make it a quick trip, either, but the sun doesn't look like it's about to set.
> _
-
Fly fly and then fly some more.
Tired.
Try not to get lost.
-
Fly fly and then fly some more.
Tired.
Try not to get lost.
> You start flying, flying away from the clearing, over the small lake and the shrine, and then over the forest.
> You fly until you really start to feel the burden of all of your items and Kouyoshi, and start to descend slowly into the trees. You don't want to get lost, and you can at least still see the shrine from here, but you don't remember how to get back to the Human Village.
> _
-
> Maybe we should go to the shrine... at least we can rest, and maybe the fairies are still there...
> "Kouyoshi, Kouyoshi... I'm gonna fly to that shrine..."
> Start floating towards the shrine.
-
> Maybe we should go to the shrine... at least we can rest, and maybe the fairies are still there...
> "Kouyoshi, Kouyoshi... I'm gonna fly to that shrine..."
> Start floating towards the shrine.
> The shrine might be your best bet for now.
> Ok.
> Kouyoshi is still somehow able to speak to you, despite not being in her human form.
> You float back to the shrine, slowly. Fortunately, you get back without incident, and find yourself standing on the cobblestone pathway again.
> _
-
> Hobble into the shrine. There was a futon here, right?
-
> Hobble into the shrine. There was a futon here, right?
> You limp to the shrine, your legs burning with each step. You finally get through the doors, and then try to remember if there was a futon here.
> You honestly can't remember, but if there were clothes, there would have to be a futon somewhere.
> _
-
> Stumble our way to that room where we found the clothes and look for a futon.
-
> Stumble our way to that room where we found the clothes and look for a futon.
> You trudge on into the room where the clothes and the photo were, and deposit Kouyoshi on the floor. You then start poking around for a futon, eventually reaching another drawer in the wall.
> You do find futons here, although they're dusty; it's obvious they haven't been used in a very long time.
> _
-
> Dusty's better than nothing. Try to dust it off as best as we can, lay it out, and put Kouyoshi inside.
> "Maybe... maybe if I rest, I can find the village..." Lay down next to tanuki-Kouyoshi.
-
> Dusty's better than nothing. Try to dust it off as best as we can, lay it out, and put Kouyoshi inside.
> "Maybe... maybe if I rest, I can find the village..." Lay down next to tanuki-Kouyoshi.
> You'd rather sleep in a dusty futon than no futon at all. You set it up nevertheless, tucking Kouyoshi between the covers.
> You lay down, feeling the immense relief of taking pressure off your legs. You can find the village after resting, definitely.
> Yeah. Kouyoshi, still bundled up, stares up at the ceiling.
> _
-
Sleep.
We need to find out who the god of Tofu is..
Sleep.
-
> ... Pet Kouyoshi's head. "Are you going to be all right?"
Sleep.
We need to find out who the god of Tofu is..
Sleep.
> Not yet.
-
Not yet?
-
Not yet. Plus, we're not trying to sleep. We're just going to "rest our eyes" for now.
-
Sleep.
We need to find out who the god of Tofu is..
Sleep.
> ... Pet Kouyoshi's head. "Are you going to be all right?"
> Not yet.
> You're tired, but, you can't sleep yet...
> Yeah. Youkai heal, eventually.
> _
-
> "Okay, but, but, you'll heal better if you get help, right? I'll just rest a bit, then I'll get Keine..."
> We can't sleep... but it wouldn't be bad to just shut our eyes for a moment...
-
> "Okay, but, but, you'll heal better if you get help, right? I'll just rest a bit, then I'll get Keine..."
> We can't sleep... but it wouldn't be bad to just shut our eyes for a moment...
> That's true.
> You'll just rest your eyes for a moment. Not sleep, but rest. Once you've regained your strength, you can go get Keine.
> You stay there on the futon, as the sky outside slowly starts to darken. Just a few more...minutes...
> is there again
> Your eyes snap open.
> _
-
> Oh no, did we fall asleep? Look around.
-
> Oh no, did we fall asleep? Look around.
> You must have fallen asleep.
> You take a look around. The sun is lower in the sky, probably starting to set. Kouyoshi is still in tanuki form and fast asleep. She looks rather silly.
> You think you hear some chattering coming from outside the shrine, as well as footsteps coming from other rooms.
> _
-
> Carefully get up, pick up our sword, and sneak to find those footsteps.
-
> Carefully get up, pick up our sword, and sneak to find those footsteps.
> You take your katana and sneak into the hallway.
> You think you see the glittering of wings go around the corner.
> _
-
Did we meet a fairy here before?
-
Did we meet a fairy here before?
We did: we went here with another fairy, whose name I don't recall. She took some windchimes.
> Sneak after! How are our arms and legs?
-
> Sneak after! How are our arms and legs?
> You sneak down the hallway, towards where you saw the wings disappear. Your arms and legs are still sore, but it's bearable.
> When you hear the corner, you here the pattering of bare feet and giggling. It sounds like the voices of little girls.
> There's another sound, something you think sounds like Mii's contented trilling.
> _
-
> Wait, Mii's gone? Check our satchel and pocket.
> Peek around the corner.
-
> Wait, Mii's gone? Check our satchel and pocket.
> Peek around the corner.
> Oh, no.
> You check your satchel and then your pockets, sleeves...Mii isn't there.
> You take a look around the corner, and see a group of faeries, the three you originally encountered in the Forest of Magic. One of them has Mii cupped in her hands, while the others are reaching out, trying to pet the kedama. Mii herself is trilling like she does when you pet her, but now that you listen closely she sounds a bit disgruntled.
> _
-
> "Hey you guys!"
-
> "Hey you guys!"
> The faeries pause in their talking and look back.
> "Geh, it's that human again!"
> "Didn't you get that fluffy thing from her bag?"
> "Uh..."
> The faerie opens her hands, and Mii floats out to come to a rest on your head.
> _
-
> "Hey it's... um, you fairies. What're you doing kidnapping Mii?"
> Put our hands on our hips like we're a tough girl. Cause we are.
-
> "Hey it's... um, you fairies. What're you doing kidnapping Mii?"
> Put our hands on our hips like we're a tough girl. Cause we are.
> One of the faeries puffs up her cheeks. "We're not kidnapping it!"
> _
-
> "Fine, Miinapping. What're you doing here, anyways?"
> Step forward in an intimidating manner.
-
> "Fine, Miinapping. What're you doing here, anyways?"
> Step forward in an intimidating manner.
> The faeries huddle closer together, but they don't seem threatened.
> "We always come here."
> "This place is fun to explore."
> "No one ever comes here."
> _
-
"Okay."
How do we feel?
-
"Okay."
How do we feel?
> You still feel pain in your legs and right arm, but you can at least walk around now.
> _
-
> What time does it look like?
> "Well, can you keep it down? Kouyoshi is resting, you know."
> Hm... "Hey, do you know where the shrine maiden went that lived here?"
-
> What time does it look like?
> "Well, can you keep it down? Kouyoshi is resting, you know."
> Hm... "Hey, do you know where the shrine maiden went that lived here?"
> It's sunset right now.
> "Oh...ok."
> "The raccoon thing?"
> "What shrine maiden?"
> _
-
>"This is a shrine right? Then that means there's usually always a shrine maiden here to keep the place going right?"
>"And she's not a raccoon, she's a Tanuki!"
-
>"This is a shrine right? Then that means there's usually always a shrine maiden here to keep the place going right?"
>"And she's not a raccoon, she's a Tanuki!"
> One of the faeries tilts her head. "Yeah, but we've never seen a shrine maiden here before."
> "Or anyone."
> "Ohh, that was a tanuki?"
> _
-
> "Yes that was a tanuki! Hm... how long have you been hangin' around here?"
> Is there food around?
-
> "Yes that was a tanuki! Hm... how long have you been hangin' around here?"
> Is there food around?
> "Ohhh."
> "We've been here for a few hours?"
> "We're leaving soon."
> You don't see any signs of food here.
> _
-
> "Okay. Tell Cypress I said hi!"
> Head back to the bedroom, petting Mii. "We should probably find something to eat..."
> About how far is the village from the shrine?
-
> "Okay. Tell Cypress I said hi!"
> Head back to the bedroom, petting Mii. "We should probably find something to eat..."
> About how far is the village from the shrine?
> "Ok?"
> You leave the faeries behind and return to where you had the futon you set up. When you get back, you see that Kouyoshi is still asleep.
> Mii trills again and chews on a lock of your hair.
> You're not sure how long it's going to take you to get to the village from here. It can't be too long, at least.
> _
-
> It's getting dark... but... if we hurry, we'll be all right, won't we?
> Get our katana, and securely close the doors to the shrine. Float up, to see if we can see the village from here.
-
> It's getting dark... but... if we hurry, we'll be all right, won't we?
> Get our katana, and securely close the doors to the shrine. Float up, to see if we can see the village from here.
> You figure that if you move quickly, you'll be able to beat the dark.
> Katana in hand, you close the doors to the shrine and fly up to the roof. You look out, and see some lights in the distance among the Forest of Magic. You think that's it.
> _
-
Are we rested enough to take our tanouki friend to the village?
-
Are we rested enough to take our tanouki friend to the village?
> You think you've slept enough, and you didn't even mean to sleep.
> _
-
> Then lets do this!
> Wrap her up in the cloth again and get flying.
-
> Then lets do this!
> Wrap her up in the cloth again and get flying.
> You run back into the shrine and get Kouyoshi. She's still asleep, only stirring a bit when you pick her up.
> Leaving the shrine behind, you start to fly off over the Forest of Magic. Above the trees you can see a brilliant sunset, and hear the chattering of bugs down below.
> _
-
This would be really nice if our arms didn't hurt.
:(
-
This would be really nice if our arms didn't hurt.
> This is nice, seeing the sunset, but your aching arm and legs are distracting you.
> Urgh...
> Kouyoshi's ears flicker, and then her eyes open. She looks around, but doesn't say anything.
> _
-
Keep flying.
"Not much longer now.."
-
Keep flying.
"Not much longer now.."
> You keep on flying over the trees, racing against the sunset.
> The village doesn't seem that far after a while, but the sun's almost down; the moon should be coming soon. By the time you can get a good look at the Human Village from the air, not a lot of the lights are on there.
> _
-
> Swoop down to Keine's place!
-
> Swoop down to Keine's place!
> You float down to the schoolhouse. The lights are still on there; she must be awake.
> _
-
"Keine! Keine!"
Knock on her door.
-
"Keine! Keine!"
Knock on her door.
> You head over to the front doors of the schoolhouse and knock. No one answers.
> _
-
Fly up and knock on what ever window or crack lets us tell that a light is on.
-
Fly up and knock on what ever window or crack lets us tell that a light is on.
> You fly up to one of the windows and knock. There doesn't seem to be anyone in that room, though.
> _
-
"Keine!!!" yell..."Rumia!!!"
-
> Why don't we just walk in, first? You know, open the door and all that.
-
> Doh!
-
"Keine!!!" yell..."Rumia!!!"
> Your calls are met with silence.
> Why don't we just walk in, first? You know, open the door and all that.
> Doh!
> You then remember that you can walk right in.
> You go back to the front door and walk right in. There's only the light on upstairs.
> _
-
Do we actually need something from Keine?
-
Medical help.
> Take off our shoes, still carrying Kouyoshi, and run to that scroll room of Keine's. "Keine! Keine!"
-
> Take off our shoes, still carrying Kouyoshi, and run to that scroll room of Keine's. "Keine! Keine!"
> You kick off your shoes and make a beeline for the Keine's study.
> When you get to the room, however, Keine isn't there.
> _
-
"Kenei?"
But where else would she be?
The Kitchen!
run around the house.
-
> First, though, let's let Kouyoshi rest in that room that Keine set up for us. Roll out the sleeping bag for her.
-
>Let's not run around too much either; we aren't exactly in the best of shapes, remember.
-
"Kenei?"
But where else would she be?
The Kitchen!
run around the house.
> First, though, let's let Kouyoshi rest in that room that Keine set up for us. Roll out the sleeping bag for her.
> But she's always there!
> You start for the kitchen, but you decide that you probably shouldn't run around with Kouyoshi, and head over to the room where you were allowed to sleep last time. As you're rolling out the sleeping bag, you notice Mokou on her back on the other side of the room, fast asleep.
> You head back to the kitchen. She isn't there.
>Let's not run around too much either; we aren't exactly in the best of shapes, remember.
> Your legs do still hurt...you make note not to overexert yourself.
> _
-
> Wait, Mokou's here? Run to her and shake her awake. "Mokou, Mokou, wake up!"
-
> Wait, Mokou's here? Run to her and shake her awake. "Mokou, Mokou, wake up!"
> After realizing that Mokou is here, you run back and try to wake her up.
> Mokou groans and squints up at you with bleary eyes. "Hrgh..."
> _
-
> "Mokou, where's Keine! The kitsune hurt Kouyoshi and she needs help!"
-
> "Mokou, where's Keine! The kitsune hurt Kouyoshi and she needs help!"
> "Mrrr...the fields..." Mokou sits up and smacks herself across the face a few times.
> "Wait, what?"
> _
-
"She turned into Tofu, and we couldn't remember the right god to prey to and then the Kitsune bit us and bit Kouyoshi and it was really scary, but we hurt her and we will *get her* but it hurts and I miss my family and Kouyoshi is bleeding all over and *sob* and *hickup* and.."
-
"She turned into Tofu, and we couldn't remember the right god to prey to and then the Kitsune bit us and bit Kouyoshi and it was really scary, but we hurt her and we will *get her* but it hurts and I miss my family and Kouyoshi is bleeding all over and *sob* and *hickup* and.."
> You start explaining to Mokou the best you can, but so much happened and the kitsune ran away and there was so much blood...
> "Hey." You can't see very well through the tears, but Mokou sounds like she's not sure what to do. "Slow down, just start from the beginning. What happened to Kouyoshi?"
> _
-
"The Kitsune tried to eat her!" get up and try to pull her to where Kuoyoshi is.
-
"The Kitsune tried to eat her!" get up and try to pull her to where Kuoyoshi is.
> "Wha..."
> Mokou seems speechless, as you drag her by the hand to where you left Kouyoshi. She takes one look at the tanuki and frowns.
> "Well, damn."
> _
-
> Does she look just as bad as a tanuki than she did before, with blood and bones and stuff.
> "I-I thought that Keine might know how to..."
> How do our bandages look, by the way?
-
> Does she look just as bad as a tanuki than she did before, with blood and bones and stuff.
> "I-I thought that Keine might know how to..."
> How do our bandages look, by the way?
> She doesn't look as bad as she did when the kitsune clawed her up. At least, you can't see her bones anymore.
> Mokou crouches down next to Kouyoshi and starts to unwrap her. "Oh, yeah, Keine would know how, but now might be a bad time to ask her."
> You discreetly check your bandages. They're pretty bloodstained.
> Mokou looks over. "What about you? You don't look much better."
> _
-
>"Kouyoshi...She was the one who got hurt the worst. There were bones sticking out and everything at first..."
[Insert the next commands from anyone else here]
>"...Compared to the injuries she got, mine are just scratches. I'm gonna have to get a lot stronger...So I can make sure none of my friends get hurt like this again."
-
>"Kouyoshi...She was the one who got hurt the worst. There were bones sticking out and everything at first..."
>"...Compared to the injuries she got, mine are just scratches. I'm gonna have to get a lot stronger...So I can make sure none of my friends get hurt like this again."
> "Ouch." Mokou's voice is flat.
> She listens to you talk until you're finished, before saying something herself.
> "That's cool and all, but keep in mind that you're only human. If you're bleeding out onto the floor, then it's not just 'scratches'." Mokou gestures to your feet.
> _
-
"Well, uhm" start to wave arms before it hurts too much.
"What should I do?"
-
>"What was Keine doing out in the fields, Mokou?"
-
"Well, uhm" start to wave arms before it hurts too much.
"What should I do?"
> Ow, ow, waving your arms hurts.
> "Well...you should probably change those bandages and change into something that isn't covered with blood. I'll handle this." Mokou pokes Kouyoshi in the stomach.
>"What was Keine doing out in the fields, Mokou?"
> "Cooling her head," Mokou says.
> _
-
> "Cooling her head?" Cock our head at her.
> Go find bandages and a new yukata to change into. "Ugh... Keine's gonna be so mad about the new yukata being messed up..."
> Hopefully she doesn't headbutt us! That hurt!
-
> "Cooling her head?" Cock our head at her.
> Go find bandages and a new yukata to change into. "Ugh... Keine's gonna be so mad about the new yukata being messed up..."
> Hopefully she doesn't headbutt us! That hurt!
> "Yeah." Mokou starts unwrapping Kouyoshi from the shrine maiden clothes. "Is this her true form or something? She's kind of shrimpy for a tanuki."
> You retrieve the rest of the bandages from your first aid kit. You don't have another yukata, but you do have your original clothes.
> Hopefully, Keine will understand your predicament.
> "Not really," Mokou says. "She's not too particular about that kind of stuff."
> _
-
> Start unwrapping our old bandages. "But she headbutted me when I borrowed a fishing pole from the rabbits..."
> How do our wounds look? Should we wash them or something?
-
> Start unwrapping our old bandages. "But she headbutted me when I borrowed a fishing pole from the rabbits..."
> How do our wounds look? Should we wash them or something?
> "She won't headbutt you for getting chewed up," Mokou says. "Just calm down."
> You unwrap the bandages from your legs and right arm. Both the bandages and the wounds are pretty bloody; if you're not careful, they could get infected.
> _
-
> Whimper. Um... what should we do to disinfect them?
-
> Whimper. Um... what should we do to disinfect them?
> Oh, no...
> You'd probably need to get them clean, and then get clean bandages...that's the best you can think of.
> _
-
>We can only do so much on our own...
>"Ca... Can you help us then?"
-
>We can only do so much on our own...
>"Ca... Can you help us then?"
> It takes more than one person to lift a stone wall, after all.
> "'Kay." Mokou picks up Kouyoshi and reaches for the bandages.
> Kouyoshi's eyes open, and she squirms a little. What's going on?
> _
-
> "Kouyoshi, Kouyoshi! Mokou's gonna help! And, uh..." Look at our wounds. "Um... I'm gonna clean up, and then I'll help, too!"
> Grab some clean bandages. "Thanks, Mokou!" Try to find our way to the water pump outside.
-
> "Kouyoshi, Kouyoshi! Mokou's gonna help! And, uh..." Look at our wounds. "Um... I'm gonna clean up, and then I'll help, too!"
> Grab some clean bandages. "Thanks, Mokou!" Try to find our way to the water pump outside.
> Kouyoshi's tail twitches. Ok.
> "'S dark out there," Mokou warns.
> You take a roll of bandages and head out of the schoolhouse.
> It got dark fast out here; you can see the full moon rising in the starry sky. It's really pretty, especially with the cries of the bugs. As you trudge through the grass to the water pump, you even see fireflies, floating in the air. Their movements are not unlike Mii's, who you left back with Kouyoshi and Mokou.
> _
-
> Mii will be fine... though she's probably hungry. Go find a water pump, using a ball of flame as a light, and start washing our wounds.
> ... ohhhh this is going to hurt...
-
Maybe we should use some sake on the wounds? that would hurt though...
-
> Mii will be fine... though she's probably hungry. Go find a water pump, using a ball of flame as a light, and start washing our wounds.
> ... ohhhh this is going to hurt...
> It's a miracle Mii didn't get hurt at all.
> You make a note to get her something to eat later.
> You summon a ball of light that illuminates the back yard. With it, you make your way over to the water pump a little ways away. You then turn on the water pump, bracing yourself for the worst.
> Freezing cold water gushes out of the faucet, shocking you. However, within a few minutes, it actually feels a little nice. The blood is caked on your legs and washes away slowly, but surely.
Maybe we should use some sake on the wounds? that would hurt though...
> You try to remember if alcohol would make a good disinfectant. Then again, it would sting.
> _
-
> Wash away the blood on our legs and arms, then inspect them with the light of the fire. How do our wounds look, now?
-
> Wash away the blood on our legs and arms, then inspect them with the light of the fire. How do our wounds look, now?
> You wash away the rest of the blood, which takes about a few minutes. You bring the fireball closer to you and inspect your wounds. They don't look as bad as they did earlier.
> _
-
> That's good. Bandage them nice and tight, then!
> Let's go back inside and check on Kouyoshi.
-
> That's good. Bandage them nice and tight, then!
> Let's go back inside and check on Kouyoshi.
> You rebandage your legs and arm; it feels a little tight, but you should get used to it.
> Now that you have fresh bandages, you run back into the schoolhouse.
> You walk back into the room to find that Mokou has put fresh bandages over Kouyoshi's head, and wrapped them around her torso. She's now brushing through Kouyoshi's matted fur while Mii rolls around on the floor, chirping.
> _
-
> Kneel next to Kouyoshi. "Will she be all right?"
-
Pet mii some.
She's been a loyal friend.
We should figure out who the god of Toufou is. Or the god of retribution.
-
> Kneel next to Kouyoshi. "Will she be all right?"
> Kouyoshi looks over at you.
> Yeah, I'm fine. Phew, I was clawed up really bad, though...
Pet mii some.
She's been a loyal friend.
> You reach out and stroke Mii's fur. She makes some squeaking noises.
> _
-
> "Oh, that's a relief... sorry about letting her hurt you that badly... I knew I should have dug that dog pit, first... are you hungry?"
-
> "Oh, that's a relief... sorry about letting her hurt you that badly... I knew I should have dug that dog pit, first... are you hungry?"
> It's fine. Kouyoshi rolls over as Mokou brushes the fur out on her stomach. I wouldn't mind something to eat, but are you ok?
> "Nope." Mokou pokes Kouyoshi in the stomach.
> Pffft. Kouyoshi squirms.
> _
-
> "I'm okay. I changed my bandages, see? I'll get that kitsune next time. Her and that person that said that she should attack Mayohiga. And Mokou shouldn't poke people when they're defenseless." Poke Mokou in the tummy.
> Stand up. "I'm gonna get a snack. What do you want, Kouyoshi?"
-
> "I'm okay. I changed my bandages, see? I'll get that kitsune next time. Her and that person that said that she should attack Mayohiga. And Mokou shouldn't poke people when they're defenseless." Poke Mokou in the tummy.
> Stand up. "I'm gonna get a snack. What do you want, Kouyoshi?"
> Cool. Kouyoshi's ears perk up. We'll have to be sneakier next time, though.
> Mokou's cheeks puff out, and she nearly drops Kouyoshi as she tries not to laugh.
> Nothing in particular, Kouyoshi says.
> _
-
"You were really good toufu!"
-
"You were really good toufu!"
> You didn't try to eat me, did you?
> _
-
> "N-no! But it probably won't work next time! We'll need to make a pit, and put dogs in it, then figure out how to lure her! I'm gonna get snacks!"
> Rush downstairs to the kitchen.
-
> "N-no! But it probably won't work next time! We'll need to make a pit, and put dogs in it, then figure out how to lure her! I'm gonna get snacks!"
> Rush downstairs to the kitchen.
> Ok..?
> Mokou raises an eyebrow. "A dog pit...?"
> You run back into the kitchen. It's much more clean than you remember it.
> _
-
"That's Kitsunes' secret weakness!"
-
"That's Kitsunes' secret weakness!"
> Why are we talking to the wall? Stop that.
> Look around in the storage pantry for some snacks.
-
"That's Kitsunes' secret weakness!"
> Why are we talking to the wall? Stop that.
> Look around in the storage pantry for some snacks.
> You start to say something, but then you take it back.
> You take a look around the kitchen for anything to eat. Everything so far is just stuff you have to prepare, but..
> ..oh, there are apples! They must have been harvested.
> _
-
> Get a handful of apples and take them up to the room. "I found apples!"
> Put the apples down, and find that knife so that we can cut slices for Kouyoshi. "Here you go."
-
> Get a handful of apples and take them up to the room. "I found apples!"
> Put the apples down, and find that knife so that we can cut slices for Kouyoshi. "Here you go."
> You grab some apples, find a knife, and run back to the other room.
> Mokou sets Kouyoshi to the side and flops on her back again. "Keine picked those earlier today. Nice, huh?"
> You cut up some apple slices for Kouyoshi. She rolls over on her stomach and takes a few bites.
> They taste good~
> _
-
Eat some of the apples slices our self.
Relax.
-
Eat some of the apples slices our self.
Relax.
> You have some apple slices. These aren't just any apples.
> Considering you were almost ripped apart by a kitsune, this is pretty nice.
> _
-
> "Yeah, they're really good!" Feed Kouyoshi some more of them, and Mii too.
> "So when'll Keine get back, anyways?"
-
> "Yeah, they're really good!" Feed Kouyoshi some more of them, and Mii too.
> "So when'll Keine get back, anyways?"
> Mii is really enthusiastic about eating these. At least Kouyoshi is taking her time and chewing.
> Mokou just rolls over on her stomach and rests her head on her arms.
> "When the sun comes up," Mokou says.
> _
-
> "Woah, that late?! What's she doing, making sure no youkai cause trouble?"
> Oh, we should change. Take off our bloody yukata and put on our old one.
-
> "Woah, that late?! What's she doing, making sure no youkai cause trouble?"
> Oh, we should change. Take off our bloody yukata and put on our old one.
> You should probably change into something cleaner.
> "I don't know," Mokou says as you get changed. "But that's probably it."
> You are now back in your old clothes. You'll have to wash the yukata Keine made you, though...
> _
-
'maybe next time we have a fight we should wear something ugly.'
-
'maybe next time we have a fight we should wear something ugly.'
> "What difference will that make?" Mokou asks.
> _
-
>"So we don't mess up an outfit we like."
-
>"So we don't mess up an outfit we like."
> "That's still a perfectly good outfit wasted," Mokou argues. She rolls back onto her back and picks up Kouyoshi. "Man, your fur's soft. You stay in this form often?"
> No. It's inconvenient...
> _
-
ask "How is it inconvenient?"
-
ask "How is it inconvenient?"
> Eh... Kouyoshi's tail bristles as Mokou scratches her behind the ears. Youkai usually take on human forms, since they're more convenient. I don't really know how to explain it, actually.
> _
-
> "Oh... is that right...? Well, I guess if you have hands, it's more convenient..." Stroke her fur. "But at least you keep the tail and ears!"
-
> "Oh... is that right...? Well, I guess if you have hands, it's more convenient..." Stroke her fur. "But at least you keep the tail and ears!"
> Hiding those would be going a little over the top. Kouyoshi closes her eyes.
> _
-
> Finish off the rest of the apples with Kouyoshi and Mii, then yawn.
> "Ugh... will you be all right, Kouyoshi?"
-
> Finish off the rest of the apples with Kouyoshi and Mii, then yawn.
> "Ugh... will you be all right, Kouyoshi?"
> You'd finish off the rest of the apples, but you realize that Mii has eaten all of them.
> Kouyoshi nods. Yes.
> _
-
> Just how much did Mii pack away...?
> "Okay..." Lay down and curl up against Kouyoshi. "We'll figure something out in the morning..."
> Go to sleep.
-
> Just how much did Mii pack away...?
> "Okay..." Lay down and curl up against Kouyoshi. "We'll figure something out in the morning..."
> Go to sleep.
> You have no idea.
> You can figure something out in the morning, and decide to curl up and go to sleep.
> ...
> ...
< You are Sonozaki Meira, but you somehow feel a little different. Your hair is blonde, even though you have already confirmed your hair color as being dark purple. You're also wearing a strange dress that most certainly does not work like a yukata. What is this? And what is this strange black void you seem to be standing in? Above your head, in glaring, blocky letters, the words "GAME OVER" are spinning.
< You hear a clacking sound: faint at first, but steadily getting louder.
< You look up to see a narrow set of stairs materializing, heading straight for you. They stop right at your feet, and you can see a woman descending down them. She is beautiful. Her blue-white hair tumbles down past her knees, and many white wings sprout from her back. She is dressed modestly, in a white gown with flowing sleeves and a dark blue panel. Her boots are lace-ups and seem odd compared to the rest of her outfit, but you can't help but be drawn to her eyes that look down at you almost critically. In her right hand is a staff: you try looking at it, but your head throbs when you do so.
< "Do you know why you are here?" You don't know how to answer. Once you've gotten over the initial shock of just seeing this woman, you're just confused. But she might have answers. However, you find that you can't seem to say anything.
< "You're here because you have died," the woman says. She raises her arms as she walks down the stairs for emphasis.
< You get a tight feeling in your gut, a weird feeling that says "oh, man, I screwed up". Regret, maybe?
< "However." Her voice jolts you back to attention. She...smiles? "I can give you a second chance."
< "I am here to give you a second chance." She stops right in front of you, and you realize how familiar she looks. Where have you seen her before?
< Who is she? You can't quite put your finger on it...
< "I can revive you, but on one condition." And that is?
< "The condition is that I can revive you, but not as a human
> ...
> ...
> The sun's pretty bright.
> _
-
Yawn.
Whine at the sun.
-
>Can we recall anything from that weird dream we just had?
-
Yawn.
Whine at the sun.
> Curse that sun for waking you up at the good part!
>Can we recall anything from that weird dream we just had?
> Yes, you remember everything, clear as day.
> _
-
>Quick! find our paper and crayons!
>We gotta draw it all! And maybe write some down too!
-
>Quick! find our paper and crayons!
>We gotta draw it all! And maybe write some down too!
> You scramble around the room in search of your sketchbook and crayons, miraculously not waking up Mokou, Kouyoshi, and Mii in the process.
> Once you've found your drawing materials, you set to scribbling down your dream with as much detail as you can. The drawing you wind up with is pretty surreal, but it'll do.
> _
-
>Phew...That was close, we could've forgotten!
>Let's check on our injuries, see how they're healing.
-
>Phew...That was close, we could've forgotten!
>Let's check on our injuries, see how they're healing.
> You get the feeling that you don't want to forget your dream.
> You check on your legs. They feel sore, but you can walk on them.
> Your arm feels like lead whenever you lift it.
> _
-
>...Take a deep breath.
>Check our hair colour... Itshouldbepurplerightthatdreamcan'tberealcan'tberealcan'tbe!
-
>...Take a deep breath.
>Check our hair colour... Itshouldbepurplerightthatdreamcan'tberealcan'tberealcan'tbe!
> You're almost afraid to, but you take your ponytail in hand and bring it in front of you.
> It's still purple. It was just a dream.
> _
-
> Sigh in relief.
> Head downstairs to the pump to wash our face.
-
> but first draw the Frog too, to guard it.
-
> Sigh in relief.
> Head downstairs to the pump to wash our face.
> but first draw the Frog too, to guard it.
> You draw Mr. Frog for good measure, and then head out of the schoolhouse.
> It looks like it's going to be a sunny day. There are clouds in the sky, but not enough to block the glare of the sun.
> You head out to the water pump and splash some water on your face. You're feeling much more awake now.
> _
-
> Okay! Let's get some breakfast! Make our way to the kitchen!
-
> Okay! Let's get some breakfast! Make our way to the kitchen!
> Feeling refreshed, you return back into the schoolhouse, and then to the kitchen. Looks like you're still the only one awake.
> _
-
> Huh... let's cook some rice for delicious onigiri breakfast! Get the kettle, rice, and water, and start boiling!
-
> Huh... let's cook some rice for delicious onigiri breakfast! Get the kettle, rice, and water, and start boiling!
> You get some rice out of the cupboard and set to boiling it on the stove. It takes a while, but after a few minutes, it finally starts to bubble.
> _
-
> Make sure the rice is done before taking it off the heat. While we wait for it to cool, let's find some fillings for the onigiri, then make onigiri for everyone, even Keine!
-
> Make sure the rice is done before taking it off the heat. While we wait for it to cool, let's find some fillings for the onigiri, then make onigiri for everyone, even Keine!
> You watch and wait for the water to evaporate, before turning off the stove and moving the pot to a cooler place. You then start searching the cupboard for onigiri fillings.
> Well, there's not much you could use here, unless you want to use apples again.
> _
-
> Oh... guess we'll just do plain onigiri, then.
>When we finish, bring them up to the bedroom!
-
> Oh... guess we'll just do plain onigiri, then.
>When we finish, bring them up to the bedroom!
> Plain onigiri should be fine.
> You take the rice and start molding it into little balls, until you have a dozen of them.
> You pack them onto a plate and take them back into the room you had been sleeping in. Everyone's still asleep.
> _
-
> Put them on the table, and carefully pick up Mii: we don't want her to wake up and eat everything!
> Explore and find Keine!
-
> Put them on the table, and carefully pick up Mii: we don't want her to wake up and eat everything!
> Explore and find Keine!
> You leave the food on the table and head back out into the hall, taking Mii with you. The little fuzzball is still fast asleep.
> You start looking through the house for Keine, but you can't seem to find her.
> _
-
> Did we search everywhere? The bedroom? The bathroom? The classroom? Weird, where could she be?
-
> Did we search everywhere? The bedroom? The bathroom? The classroom? Weird, where could she be?
> You haven't searched downstairs, which includes the classroom.
> Mokou said she would be back by morning...
> _
-
>Head downstairs.
-
>Head downstairs.
> You head down the stairs and into the hallway. It's eeriely quiet.
> _
-
> Gulp, and look around. Outside, even.
-
> Gulp, and look around. Outside, even.
> You look everywhere. The closet with the cleaning supplies, the classrooms, even outside. There's no one there.
> You the notice that there's a classroom you missed. The door is ajar.
> _
-
>
What kind of jar? One that has apple butter? That would be tasty.
> Peek inside the classroom.
-
> What kind of jar? One that has apple butter? That would be tasty.
> Peek inside the classroom.
> It's mind-your-own-business butter!
> You look through the door.
> Sure enough, Keine is slumped over on one of the benches. Her hair is a mess, and her dress is horribly wrinkled, although she does look good in green.
> _
-
> "Keine, Keine!" Run up to her, NOT waving our arms. Does she look hurt? And why is she wearing green?
-
> "Keine, Keine!" Run up to her, NOT waving our arms. Does she look hurt? And why is she wearing green?
> You run to Keine's side. She doesn't look hurt, just a bit ruffled and sleeping like a rock. You're not sure why she's wearing green, though.
> _
-
> Huh... she must've stayed out real late... We should tell Mokou to help her to bed or something.
> At least we found her. Let's go back upstairs and check on Kouyoshi, to see how she's doing. If she looks fine, wake her and Mokou up for breakfast.
-
> Huh... she must've stayed out real late... We should tell Mokou to help her to bed or something.
> At least we found her. Let's go back upstairs and check on Kouyoshi, to see how she's doing. If she looks fine, wake her and Mokou up for breakfast.
> You won't be able to carry Keine upstairs on your own. You'll have to ask Mokou.
> You head back up and see how Kouyoshi's doing. You find her sitting around in her human form, still wearing her bloodstained shrine maiden clothes, picking a grain of rice off her cheek. There is one less rice ball on the plate you have set out.
> She looks over and waves her tail, perhaps in greeting, and you notice that she's still all bandaged up. "Good morning."
> _
-
> "Kouyoshi, Kouyoshi!" Run up and check on her. Does she still have bones sticking out? "Are you all right?"
-
> "Kouyoshi, Kouyoshi!" Run up and check on her. Does she still have bones sticking out? "Are you all right?"
> You run up to get a better look at Kouyoshi. There aren't any bones sticking out of her, thank god.
> "Yeah." Kouyoshi pokes the grain of rice into her mouth.
> "Youkai heal quickly."
> _
-
> "Whew, that's good." Take a riceball for ourself and eat. "So you're good, then? Hey, I found Keine, she's asleep in one of the classrooms. I wonder what she was doing..."
> Poke Mii awake and feed her some of our rice ball. Don't let her eat everything!
-
> "Whew, that's good." Take a riceball for ourself and eat. "So you're good, then? Hey, I found Keine, she's asleep in one of the classrooms. I wonder what she was doing..."
> Poke Mii awake and feed her some of our rice ball. Don't let her eat everything!
> "Yeah. All good. Sleeping in a classroom?" Kouyoshi folds her tail over her lap and starts to groom it. "Weird."
> You gently wake up Mii and feed her some rice, holding the rice ball at a safe distance above her head. She looks too sleepy to jump at it, anyway.
> _
-
> Let her sleep, then, and chomp down the riceball. "Hey... Kouyoshi, Kouyoshi, who would the boss of a kitsune be?"
-
> Let her sleep, then, and chomp down the riceball. "Hey... Kouyoshi, Kouyoshi, who would the boss of a kitsune be?"
> You leave Mii to her slumber and finish off the riceball.
> As you're eating, you as Kouyoshi about the kitsune's alleged boss. She frowns a little.
> "The boss of a youkai that powerful? They'd have to be some sort of space abomination to be the boss of that."
> She goes quiet for a moment, and then adds as an afterthought, "But maybe I'm just blowing things out of proportion."
> _
-
> "Woah... something that powerful?!"
> "... What's 'space'?"
-
> "Woah... something that powerful?!"
> "... What's 'space'?"
> "Yeah. A monster," Kouyoshi says.
> You don't know what space is, though.
> "Space is...um, you know how the sky's all dark at night and there are all those stars? That's what space looks like. You can only see it at night for some strange reason, otherwise the stars get in the way," Kouyoshi explains. "I heard about it once. We're on the Earth, and then space is everything else ever. Forever. The sun's up there, too."
> She stops grooming her tail. "It kind of overwhelms me to think about it. I've only known Gensokyo, after all. How can there be so much everything else?"
> _
-
>Jawdrop.
>"That big?!"
-
>Jawdrop.
>"That big?!"
> "Yeah. Everything."
> _
-
>"Space is.. everything? It continues forever?"
>Get dizzy imagining everything ever.
-
>"Space is.. everything? It continues forever?"
>Get dizzy imagining everything ever.
> "Yeah. Everywhere all the time."
> You don't think your single digit brain can process all of this.
> _
-
"But there's like a hundred stars! What's an 'abomination'? I think I heard some call Dad's cooking that.."
-
"But there's like a hundred stars! What's an 'abomination'? I think I heard some call Dad's cooking that.."
> You have a hard time remembering how your father's cooking was, but...
> "An abomination is something really terrible," Kouyoshi explains. "Loathsome, hateable, ungodly to behold. I think that was it."
> _
-
"Oh! grrr."
-
"Oh! grrr."
> "Basically, a jerk," Kouyoshi says.
> How is Mokou sleeping through all of this?
> _
-
> "I guess whoever that kitsune has as a boss must be really ugly: that kitsune was really pretty... even though she's evil."
> Munch on another rice ball. "So... what should we do about that kitsune? We can't beat her, not when she's expecting us now..."
> Poke Mokou in the belly to wake her up.
-
>If she doesn't react too much, get her sides!
-
> "I guess whoever that kitsune has as a boss must be really ugly: that kitsune was really pretty... even though she's evil."
> Munch on another rice ball. "So... what should we do about that kitsune? We can't beat her, not when she's expecting us now..."
> Poke Mokou in the belly to wake her up.
> "If she wasn't a huge jerk she'd probably be like the princess forced to work for the evil old hag," Kouyoshi says. She looks like she's about to smile, but doesn't.
> Defeating the kitsune is going to really suck now, considering the two of you were nearly killed by her the first time and she knows you're after her...
> "Huh..." Kouyoshi keeps combing her fingers through her tail fur.
> You poke Mokou's belly. She mumbles something in her sleep and turns over.
>If she doesn't react too much, get her sides!
> You tickle her sides. Her eyes snap open and she lets out a startled laugh-shriek sort of sound.
> _
-
> "Good morning! We have riceballs! Oh, and Keine's sleeping in the classroom downstairs."
-
> "Good morning! We have riceballs! Oh, and Keine's sleeping in the classroom downstairs."
> "Guh...Keine's back?" Mokou rubs her eyes and sits up from the ground. Rather than take a riceball, however, she stands up and heads out of the room.
> _
-
> Call out after her: "If Keine's hungry, bring her some riceballs!"
> Lean against Kouyoshi and watch her groom herself. "Is your tail okay?"
-
> Call out after her: "If Keine's hungry, bring her some riceballs!"
> Lean against Kouyoshi and watch her groom herself. "Is your tail okay?"
> "Yeah, yeah." Mokou disappears around the doorway.
> Kouyoshi continues brushing through her tail. "There's just some dried blood in it."
> _
-
> "Maybe you should take a bath, and get it out!"
-
> "Maybe you should take a bath, and get it out!"
> "Oh." Kouyoshi blinks. "Should probably get these clothes cleaned, too. I'll be right back."
> Kouyoshi heads out of the room, leaving you alone with the still-sleeping Mii.
> _
-
> Hm... we need our yukata cleaned, too! And maybe mended! Pick up our yukata and follow her. "Wait for me!"
-
> Hm... we need our yukata cleaned, too! And maybe mended! Pick up our yukata and follow her. "Wait for me!"
> Your clothes aren't in the best shape, either.
> Yukata in hand, you run out into the hall to catch up with Kouyoshi. She has her hand on the bathroom doorknob before you call out to her.
> "Huh?"
> _
-
> Hold up our clothes. "I need these washed and fixed, too!" Pause. "And a bath, too!"
-
> Hold up our clothes. "I need these washed and fixed, too!" Pause. "And a bath, too!"
> Kouyoshi's ears flicker. "Oh, yeah. Okay."
> _
-
"Are you going to go in?"
-
"Are you going to go in?"
> "Um, yeah?" Kouyoshi looks confused. "Weren't you the one who suggested I take a bath to get the blood out of my tail?"
> _
-
> "Then what are you waiting for?" Push Kouyoshi in the bathroom, and join her in the bath!
-
> "Then what are you waiting for?" Push Kouyoshi in the bathroom, and join her in the bath!
> The two of you head into the bath. The water feels so nice and warm, and getting cleaned after the fight yesterday feels even better. While you're at it, the two of you wash your blood-stained clothes as well. You will have to hang them up outside later.
> You now feel refreshed and clean. You should probably get dried off, though.
> _
-
> Dry off, get dressed, and rebandage self and Kouyoshi. "Don't you feel better now?"
-
> Dry off, get dressed, and rebandage self and Kouyoshi. "Don't you feel better now?"
> You proceed to re-equip your clothes and bandages. Completely refreshed!
> "Yeah." Kouyoshi is already dressed, and is in the process of rewrapping the bandages Mokou originally put around her head.
> "My ears and tail feel real nice and clean now, too."
> _
-
> Feel her tail. "Yep! Nice and clean!"
> ... Oh! "Right, I need to clean that sword! I bet Mokou or Keine know how!" Run to grab the sword and sheath, then find Keine!
-
> Feel her tail. "Yep! Nice and clean!"
> ... Oh! "Right, I need to clean that sword! I bet Mokou or Keine know how!" Run to grab the sword and sheath, then find Keine!
> Her tail is so sooooft~
> Oh, you're going to have to clean your katana, too.
> You head on out with your katana and sheath, and start looking around for Keine. You eventually find her back in the room you had been sleeping in, covered with a blanket. Mokou sits nearby with an onigiri half stuffed in her mouth.
> _
-
>Quitely, so as to not wake Keine if she's sleeping. "Hey Mokou? I dunno how to clean out my sword's sheath. It got all gunked up because I didn't think to clean the sword off before sticking it in."
-
>Quitely, so as to not wake Keine if she's sleeping. "Hey Mokou? I dunno how to clean out my sword's sheath. It got all gunked up because I didn't think to clean the sword off before sticking it in."
> Mokou glances over at you and whispers back, "That's disgusting. Just go find a stick, wrap a towel around it, and clean it like that."
> _
-
>"...Oh. Okay."
>Let's go find a stick and towel!
-
>"...Oh. Okay."
>Let's go find a stick and towel!
> You head off into the hallway, past Kouyoshi, and then into the bathroom for a towel.
> Obtained: x1 fluffy white towel
> You might have to go outside for a stick, though...
> _
-
> Then we shall go outside and look for a stick! That we can stick inside the sheath.
-
> Then we shall go outside and look for a stick! That we can stick inside the sheath.
> You head outside and start looking around for a stick. This isn't particularly hard; there are lots of sticks around. You choose one that could easily fit inside the sheath.
> Obtained: x1 stick
> _
-
>
Utilize alchemy Stick plus towel = sticktowel!
> Sit down somewhere comfy and clean the sheath.
-
> Utilize alchemy Stick plus towel = sticktowel!
> Sit down somewhere comfy and clean the sheath.
> You created: fluffy gohei!
> You take a seat under a tree, fit the towel over the stick, and start cleaning out the sheath. The towel gets bloody pretty quick, a small sacrifice to make for a clean sheath.
> _
-
> Clean away, making sure to pull it out and continue cleaning with cleaner parts of the towel: no sense in just moving the ick from one place to another.
-
Hum a song.
-
> Clean away, making sure to pull it out and continue cleaning with cleaner parts of the towel: no sense in just moving the ick from one place to another.
Hum a song.
> You continue cleaning out the sheath, making sure you're not using the parts of the towel that have already been bloodied. You're running out of clean spots fast.
> You hum a pleasant tune as you work away. It makes the morning seem much nicer.
> _
-
> Take the towel to the pump, rinse it off, wring it dry, and clean some more!
-
> Take the towel to the pump, rinse it off, wring it dry, and clean some more!
> You head back to the pump and clean off the towel. It doesn't take much long after this for the sheath to become completely clean; after a little bit, there isn't much more than bloody residue on the towel.
> _
-
> Awesome! Put our sword in the sheath, and pull it out, inspecting it for gore!
-
> Awesome! Put our sword in the sheath, and pull it out, inspecting it for gore!
> You sheath and unsheath your sword. No gore here!
> _
-
>Hooray! It's clean!
>Put our sword away and let's head back in doors...
>And remember this lesson well.
-
>Hooray! It's clean!
>Put our sword away and let's head back in doors...
>And remember this lesson well.
> Finally. Next time, you won't make this mistake.
> You head back inside the schoolhouse. The summer heat is starting to pick up, so being under a roof is at least a little better than being out in the sun.
> _
-
> Find Kouyoshi. "Kouyoshi, Kouyoshi, I cleaned it!"
-
> Find Kouyoshi. "Kouyoshi, Kouyoshi, I cleaned it!"
> You run back upstairs and look around for Kouyoshi. She's in the room you were all sleeping in earlier, drying her hair with a towel. Nearby, you see Mokou sleeping on the floor again. Keine is nowhere in sight.
> "Oh, nice." Mokou glances over at you. "It didn't take long."
> _
-
> Marvel about Mokou's ability to hold conversations while sleeping. "Nope! Hey, Mokou, train me! I gotta get tough to fight the kitsune again, now that I know she's got a boss!"
-
> Marvel about Mokou's ability to hold conversations while sleeping. "Nope! Hey, Mokou, train me! I gotta get tough to fight the kitsune again, now that I know she's got a boss!"
> She was asleep, right?
> Mokou opens an eye. Looks like she was awake the whole time. "Sure, I'll train ya. It's not going to be easy like last time, though."
> _
-
> Last time was easy?!
> "I... like that's gonna scare me!"
-
> Last time was easy?!
> "I... like that's gonna scare me!"
> You nearly passed out last time!
> "Heh." Mokou smirks. "Okay, then, I'll meet you outside."
> She sits up and stretches her arms. "Oh yeah, tanuki, wanna wait here 'till Keine wakes up?"
> "Uh..." Kouyoshi looks confused. "Okay?"
> "Great, great." Mokou stands up and heads out the door.
> _
-
>Follow!
>"See you when I'm done then, right Kouyoshi?"
-
>Follow!
>"See you when I'm done then, right Kouyoshi?"
> "Yeah. Bye." Kouyoshi waves.
> You head out of the room and follow Mokou as she walks down the hallway, down the stairs, and out of the schoolhouse. She walks straight past the school gates and on to the street, before heading out towards one of the fields surrounding the village.
> _
-
"So what are we doing today?"
-
"So what are we doing today?"
> Mokou keeps walking. "I'm thinkin' about that right now."
> _
-
Keep walking. "Can we learn how to turn into a dog?"
-
> "Or a super quick way to make a pit?"
-
>"Or maybe make tofu appear out of thin air?"
-
Keep walking. "Can we learn how to turn into a dog?"
> "Or a super quick way to make a pit?"
>"Or maybe make tofu appear out of thin air?"
> You bombard Mokou with questions as the two of you leave the village and head out into the field.
> "No, yes, and...probably not."
> _
-
>"What about our sword? Could we use it for more then just slashing?"
>We're going to train hard today!
-
>"What about our sword? Could we use it for more then just slashing?"
>We're going to train hard today!
> "Yeah, actually...You can."
> You're going to get even stronger today!
> You continue following Mokou through the field until you're almost at the edge. There are trees here, but not too far past them you think you see...flowers?
> Mokou stops and looks around, putting her hands on her hips. She looks like she's satisfied with something, and then turns back to you.
> "Okay, we're trainin' here today," she declares. "And after that, I'm showing you around this area. You ready?"
> _
-
>Take a quick glance around... without being distracted by the flowers.
>Grip the hilt of our sword and nod.
-
>Take a quick glance around... without being distracted by the flowers.
>Grip the hilt of our sword and nod.
> You look around. It's just grass around here; all the crops are planted closer to the village, you think, but there still seems to be some wear and tear here. Grazing fields for sheep, maybe?
> The flowers beyond the trees look pretty, but you're training right now...
> "Okay, good." Mokou puts her hands in her pockets. "We're gonna play tag. It's like normal tag, except you have to catch me with magic or that katana of yours, and no flying. Ready? Go."
> She promptly turns and starts running away from you.
> _
-
"Ready!"
Wait, she's allready running!
Run after and try to hit her with the Katana.
-
Run after and try to hit her with the Katana.
> Wait, what?! Don't hit her with the katana! She might die! Throw fire instead!
-
"Ready!"
Wait, she's allready running!
Run after and try to hit her with the Katana.
> Wait, what?! Don't hit her with the katana! She might die! Throw fire instead!
> Mokou is already a good distance ahead of you, catching you completely off guard.
> You run after her and almost swing your katana, but then you remember that she is also human.
> Instead, you lob a few fireballs. Mokou casually leaps out of the way, and the attack misses completely.
> _
-
> Form a ball of danmaku, and toss it at her! But... throw fire in front of where we think she'll move!
-
> Form a ball of danmaku, and toss it at her! But... throw fire in front of where we think she'll move!
> You form some danmaku, much easier than last time, and toss it in front of her. Mokou steps on it and trips, falling forward but somehow managing to catch herself with her hands. She does a somersault, leaps up, and continues running without missing a beat.
> _
-
> Woah! That was cool! Time to show her OUR stuff! Float up high, and use the new angle to toss danmaku in front of her! Try to herd her into walking into some!
-
>Don't hold back any on the danmaku, make it rain!
-
> Woah! That was cool! Time to show her OUR stuff! Float up high, and use the new angle to toss danmaku in front of her! Try to herd her into walking into some!
>Don't hold back any on the danmaku, make it rain!
> You decide to pull all the stops, and fly up.
> The sheer effort of creating so much danmaku makes you feel light-headed, and as Mokou dodges the bullets, she turns back and yells at you.
> "I said no flying! Get back on the ground!"
> _
-
> Oh, right! We forgot!
> ... Hee hee! "Kaaaay~!" Divebomb at her, then throw a danmaku at close range while landing!
-
> Oh, right! We forgot!
> ... Hee hee! "Kaaaay~!" Divebomb at her, then throw a danmaku at close range while landing!
> You suddenly remember what Mokou told you, and start to land.
> To make it more fun, though, you divebomb her. In an attempt to jump out of the way of the danmaku, Mokou loses her footing and falls flat on her face.
> Mokou stands back up, but she doesn't look mad.
> "Phew."
> She brushes grass off her clothes.
> _
-
> Sneak up on her, and fire a very very small danmaku bullet at her butt. :3c
-
> Sneak up on her, and fire a very very small danmaku bullet at her butt. :3c
> You try to sneak up on Mokou, but she turns around before you can get much closer.
> "Hey, I may or may not have said that flying is important in Gensokyo, but you have to know how to do without," Mokou says. You'll get her next time!
> _
-
> "Kaaay..." Pause, then throw more danmaku at her!
-
> "Kaaay..." Pause, then throw more danmaku at her!
> You wait a little bit, and then shoot more danmaku at Mokou. She jumps away, moving her hand to brush her hair back.
> _
-
We should learn to do that.
It looks cool.
..Can we make danmaku that comes towards us instead of leaving? Catch her from behind!
-
We should learn to do that.
It looks cool.
..Can we make danmaku that comes towards us instead of leaving? Catch her from behind!
> One day, you'll be able to dodge danmaku like that...
> You try firing more danmaku, but maybe you could harness it and bring it back.
> You try it out. Mokou dodges at first, but is a little caught off guard by the bullets coming back. She weaves in and out, all the while asking,
> "You're able to do that already?"
> _
-
>"The idea just came to me, so I gave it a shot!"
-
>"Is it normal for me to know it so quickly?"
-
>"The idea just came to me, so I gave it a shot!"
>"Is it normal for me to know it so quickly?"
> "Well, it's pretty creative." Mokou stops trying to dodge and lets the bullets hit her. The pellets burn her skin and singe her clothes, but she doesn't seem to care.
> "Looks like you've got the hang of this. Wanna skip ahead to the tour?"
> _
-
> "Heh? Tour? What're we touring?"
> Relax a bit.
-
> "Heh? Tour? What're we touring?"
> Relax a bit.
> "The area around here." Mokou gestures to the trees surrounding the forest. "If you're gonna be running around Gensokyo, there are some places you might not already know about, so..."
> _
-
>Put our sword away, if we haven't already.
>"Okay! Where do we start? The forest? Those flowers past there?"
>Point to wherever we saw them.
-
>Put our sword away, if we haven't already.
>"Okay! Where do we start? The forest? Those flowers past there?"
>Point to wherever we saw them.
> You sheath your sword. It won't get stuck this time.
> "I guess we start through the forest 'round here, then continue on past that," Mokou says.
> _
-
> "Kaaay. Let's go!"
> Follow Mokou. "Hey, hey, are we gonna see that rabbit princess again? How do I get her to admit that she's a rabbit?"
-
> "Kaaay. Let's go!"
> Follow Mokou. "Hey, hey, are we gonna see that rabbit princess again? How do I get her to admit that she's a rabbit?"
> The two of you start off for the forest.
> As you walk, you ask Mokou about the rabbit princess. She grimaces.
> "Hell no. Don't go near her."
> It doesn't even take a few minutes to reach the forest. The cicadas are very loud here, and everything is lush and green. Just beyond, you can see the flowers. They're very pretty.
> _
-
> "Why not? Are you still mad at her? I bet if she stopped trying to pretend she wasn't a rabbit, and looked like those fluffy rabbits, you two would get along!"
> Scamper ahead to look at the flowers.
-
> "Why not? Are you still mad at her? I bet if she stopped trying to pretend she wasn't a rabbit, and looked like those fluffy rabbits, you two would get along!"
> Scamper ahead to look at the flowers.
> "Interesting way of putting it," Mokou says, but she doesn't sound very convinced. "Actually...she would be much more tolerable as a rabbit."
> You go on ahead to get a better look at the flowers. Through the trees, you can see them. A tower field of sunflowers, stretching out as far as the eye can see.
> Mokou takes notice.
> "You wanna know what that is?"
> _
-
>"Know? I wanna go in it! I've never seen flowers this big!"
>Excited & intrigued!
-
>"Know? I wanna go in it! I've never seen flowers this big!"
>Excited & intrigued!
> "Another strong youkai lives there," Mokou explains, trudging through the foliage to join you. "But she's only physically strong. She sucks at danmaku. She likes kids, so she won't attack you if you go in there, but anyone older than that would be considered trespassers."
> Mokou scratches her chin. "She's pretty unpopular, if you ask me. Pain to deal with."
> _
-
> "Huh, really? But they look really pretty, and she likes kids, right? Anybody who likes kids is okay! Not like kitsune!"
> Maybe we should check it out... "Hey, she's stronger than kitsune, right?"
-
> "Huh, really? But they look really pretty, and she likes kids, right? Anybody who likes kids is okay! Not like kitsune!"
> Maybe we should check it out... "Hey, she's stronger than kitsune, right?"
> "Yeah, she takes nothing seriously," Mokou says. "I guess she'd be stronger physically."
> You wouldn't mind taking a look.
> Mokou shrugs. "That's really the only thing I've seen her be genuine about, though. Being nice to kids, that is."
> _
-
> "Maybe she knows how to beat up the kitsune and the kitsune's boss!"
> Stride towards the sunflowers!
-
> "Maybe she knows how to beat up the kitsune and the kitsune's boss!"
> Stride towards the sunflowers!
> "If you say so..."
> You start off towards the sunflowers, emerging from the trees to be greeted by the glare of sunlight. The sky stretches endlessly above, much like the field of gold below. There must be thousands of sunflowers here. Even the grass looks more lush and vibrantly green here.
> _
-
> "Woaaaaah! It's so pretty!"
> Approach the edge of the field, and carefully go in.
> Realize we can't see, and float until our head is poking over the sunflowers.
-
> "Woaaaaah! It's so pretty!"
> Approach the edge of the field, and carefully go in.
> Realize we can't see, and float until our head is poking over the sunflowers.
> This might be better than the wheat field.
> You slowly walk into the field, and find yourself surrounded by sunflowers. Their brown dials are turned in your direction, as if looking down at you. To get a better look at the place, you float above the field just enough to see the tops of the sunflowers.
> This really does seem to go on forever, or maybe that's just what it looks like?
> _
-
"Hello? Can you understand me?" Wave hi to the flowers.
-
"Hello? Can you understand me?" Wave hi to the flowers.
> That's silly, they're flowers: why would they understand us? Float around through the flowers, and look back at Mokou. "How far do these flowers go?"
-
"Hello? Can you understand me?" Wave hi to the flowers.
> That's silly, they're flowers: why would they understand us? Float around through the flowers, and look back at Mokou. "How far do these flowers go?"
> You try conversing with the local flora, and suddenly feel very silly. Flowers can't talk, after all.
> You try flying further into the field. You've never been in very deep water, but this must be what it's like, being in a sea like this.
> Mokou shrugs. She's already walking through the sunflowers, her head just barely poking above the golden petals.
> "Beats me."
> _
-
> Can we pluck a seed from one of the sunflowers?
> Also, do we see any bugs or stuff around here? They must really like all these flowers, right?
-
> Can we pluck a seed from one of the sunflowers?
> Also, do we see any bugs or stuff around here? They must really like all these flowers, right?
> You probably could if you wanted to.
> You look around for any bugs. You see a butterfly or two flitting about here or there, but bugs are small. You would have to look very closely to see anything.
> _
-
Try to make a little tiny danmaku move like a buterfly..all fluttering.
-
Try to make a little tiny danmaku move like a buterfly..all fluttering.
> You try making a butterfly-like danmaku, but the energy just dissolves into the air.
> "Hey, don't shoot anything at the flowers," Mokou warns.
> _
-
> "Whoops, sorry..." Look around to see if we can find some fallen sunflower seeds. If we do, then start gathering them.
-
> "Whoops, sorry..." Look around to see if we can find some fallen sunflower seeds. If we do, then start gathering them.
> You try looking around for sunflower seeds.
> There are some in the grass, that wouldn't count as hurting them if they're already on the ground.
> You float back down to the ground and start collecting them. There really are a lot of them, but the sunflowers don't even look like they have anything wrong with them.
> _
-
> Pop one into our mouth and crack the shell to eat the seed.
> "Want some, Mokou?"
-
> Pop one into our mouth and crack the shell to eat the seed.
> "Want some, Mokou?"
> You try eating a seed. It tastes pretty good.
> Mokou shakes her head. "I'm fine."
> _
-
> Well, okay. We'll just save some for Mii and Kouyoshi! Put some in our pocket, but continue picking them up and snacking.
> "So where's this youkai, anyways? Does she live in the field or something?"
-
> Well, okay. We'll just save some for Mii and Kouyoshi! Put some in our pocket, but continue picking them up and snacking.
> "So where's this youkai, anyways? Does she live in the field or something?"
> Obtained: sunflower seeds
> "I have no idea," Mokou says. "She's only ever seen in this field, but sometimes she'll just disappear into thin air. There aren't any houses in this field, at least."
> Mokou pauses for a moment before continuing. "Well, she's probably here now. She's here even during broad daylight."
> _
-
> Poke our head above the sunflowers and look around. Do we see her? "Then where does she live? Underground?"
-
> Poke our head above the sunflowers and look around. Do we see her? "Then where does she live? Underground?"
> "I said I had no idea."
> You try looking above the sunflowers, but you can't even see the ground from this view; the sunflowers are too thick.
> _
-
> "Huh... it's no good if we can't find her! Should we go on?"
-
> "Huh... it's no good if we can't find her! Should we go on?"
> "Did you want to try looking for her?" Mokou asks. "If not, we can go on."
> _
-
> Look around. If it looks like we can find her, uh, within the next hour, then say "Yeah, let's look for her!"
> Otherwise, say, "Uh... we can look later. Where d'ya want to go next, Mokou?"
-
> Look around. If it looks like we can find her, uh, within the next hour, then say "Yeah, let's look for her!"
> Otherwise, say, "Uh... we can look later. Where d'ya want to go next, Mokou?"
> You take a look around. The sunflower field is pretty big, but it shouldn't take that long to find her.
> "Okay, then." Mokou starts trudging past the sunflowers, hands in pockets. "I think there are a few clear spots in this field, I'll see if I can find her in any of those."
> _
-
Split up, but try to stay close enough that we can hear Mokou.
-
>Are the flowers still looking at us?
>Also, let's keep collecting the odd seed we find~
-
Split up, but try to stay close enough that we can hear Mokou.
>Are the flowers still looking at us?
>Also, let's keep collecting the odd seed we find~
> You head off in a different direction from Mokou, but stay close enough that you can hear her footsteps trudging through the grass.
> There are still a few sunflowers with their dials turned towards you.
> You go on through the sunflowers, picking up sunflower seeds here and there.
> _
-
> Bob up and down, above and below the sunflowers, and hum a song.
-
> Bob up and down, above and below the sunflowers, and hum a song.
> You float amongst the sunflowers, humming. It's a pleasant day.
> There's a pleasant breeze. Something smells good, a little further out into the field; the wind is blowing it out from there, you think.
> _
-
Go towards the good smell.
"Ohhh, smell that Mokou?"
-
Go towards the good smell.
"Ohhh, smell that Mokou?"
> You see Mokou's head appear above the flowers briefly as she jumps up.
> "Yup."
> You start flying towards the smell. Looks like it's taking you right to the center of the field.
> _
-
> Follow our nose!
Become a toucan!
-
> Follow our nose! Become a toucan!
> What are toucans?
> You follow the smell across the sunflower field, flying and flying until the smell becomes almost overwhelming.
> As you get closer to it, you notice that there seems to be a break in the sunflowers. You also feel a little sleepy, but the flowers smell really good. You still hear Mokou jogging behind you, and the rustling of the sunflowers she pushes out of the way.
> _
-
Push on!
-
Push on!
> You continue on until the sunflowers recede into a small clearing.
> The sweet scent is overwhelming here, and you see what instead of sunflowers, there are small lavender bulbs sprouting from the ground. They make popping sounds every now and then, releasing white clouds of spores into the air and making you feel extremely drowsy. Laying amongst them is what appears to be a large bundle of dark red, plaid fabric. A large, light pink flower sprouts nearby, shading the fabric pile from the sun.
> You hear a thud behind you.
> _
-
>Turn around quickly; keep a hand on our sword in case we need to use it.
-
>Turn around quickly; keep a hand on our sword in case we need to use it.
> You wheel around to see...
> ...oh, it's just Mokou. She's collapsed face first on the ground.
> _
-
"Moku..at least fall asleep on the blanket." try to drag her to the blanket.
-
>Don't move her; but say the above line anyway.
>Poke her first; see if she reacts.
>If she doesn't...
>"...Mokou? Hey Mokou."
>Shake her.
-
"Moku..at least fall asleep on the blanket." try to drag her to the blanket.
>Don't move her; but say the above line anyway.
>Poke her first; see if she reacts.
>If she doesn't...
>"...Mokou? Hey Mokou."
>Shake her.
> You consider dragging her over to the blanket, but decide against it.
> You call out to her, but she doesn't respond.
> You then try poking her, but that doesn't work either.
> You take it a step further and shake her. She's out like a light.
> _
-
>... This can't be good; and we probably can't lift her...
>"Mokou... erm... erm... wait there!"
>Run over to the blanket and grab it.
[Apologies in advance; but hey, a child's mind is a simple one :P ]
-
>... This can't be good; and we probably can't lift her...
>"Mokou... erm... erm... wait there!"
>Run over to the blanket and grab it.
> Mokou's probably heavier than you. You'll have to bring the blanket to her.
> You head back over to the blanket and go to pick it up, only to be met with a surprising amount of resistance. It feels like it's attached to something much heavier.
> You hear a grunt coming from beneath the folds of fabric, and then silence.
> You're going to have to hurry with this, the spores are really starting to get to you...
> _
-
>Slap self across the face. It works for the grownups!
>Then look around the fabric to see what it's connected to.
-
>Slap self across the face. It works for the grownups!
>Then look around the fabric to see what it's connected to.
> You slap yourself across the face, but that's not really going to accomplish anything.
> You try moving the fabric around to see what's going on. There's just so much of it.
> You eventually move enough away to catch a glimpse of a single arm, bent around a head of flowing, dark green hair. This fabric isn't a blanket, it's a woman's dress. Her eyes are closed, and a bit of hair is caught between her lips. Her breathing is slow and steady, with the small spores settled on her like a dusting of snow.
> Unless she's a very good actress, she's fast asleep.
> _
-
>Why is everyone sleeping?!
>Dust some of those spores off her...
-
>Why is everyone sleeping?!
>Dust some of those spores off her...
> You're not sure why you're the only one awake.
> You try dusting the spores off, but they just stick to your hands. They're all over the place.
> _
-
>Maybe it would be a good idea to get out of here...
>Run over to Mokou; does she have any of the spores on too?
>Wait... we can't leave whoever that was though...
>Try picking Mokou up.
>"Mokou! Hey, Mokou, wake up!"
-
>Maybe it would be a good idea to get out of here...
>Run over to Mokou; does she have any of the spores on too?
>Wait... we can't leave whoever that was though...
>Try picking Mokou up.
>"Mokou! Hey, Mokou, wake up!"
> You get the feeling that it'd be better to leave now.
> You leave the woman and head back over to Mokou. She doesn't have any spores on her. You try lifting her off the ground, but she's so heavy. You don't think you'll be able to pick her up.
> Mokou rubs her eyes and yawns. Her eyes are still drooping when she notices the spores.
> "Oh, ergh...whoops, fell asleep."
> _
-
>"That's all you can say?"
>Pout.
>"I thought something bad was happening!"
-
> She won't stay awake? Poke her in the tummy.
-
>"That's all you can say?"
>Pout.
>"I thought something bad was happening!"
> "Ugh, I don't know, one minute I was just walking and then I'm on the ground..."
> She still looks kind of out of it.
> She won't stay awake? Poke her in the tummy.
> Mokou squawks.
> "Okay, I'm awake! Quit it!"
> _
-
>Giggle; this is kind of fun...
>Look toward the sleeping terror girl.
>"What about her?"
-
>Giggle; this is kind of fun...
>Look toward the sleeping terror girl.
>"What about her?"
> It's an eventful trip, at least.
> You look over at the sleeping woman. She hasn't budged an inch.
> Mokou follows your gaze.
> "That's her. The youkai who owns this field, that is."
> _
-
> Yawn. "What's she sleeping around for? Should we wake her up?"
-
> Yawn. "What's she sleeping around for? Should we wake her up?"
> You're still feeling drowsy.
> "Youkai tend to sleep during the day," Mokou says. "I don't know what'll happen if we wake her up, I'll be honest."
> _
-
> "So... we come back at night? Kaaay..."
> Rub our eyes. "Let's go back, then."
-
> "So... we come back at night? Kaaay..."
> Rub our eyes. "Let's go back, then."
> "I guess so." Mokou pushes herself off the ground. "Yeah, these spores are messin' with us."
> _
-
> "We'll mess with them back! Uh... later!"
> Leave the sunflower field, but look back one last time at the sleeping youkai.
-
> "We'll mess with them back! Uh... later!"
> Leave the sunflower field, but look back one last time at the sleeping youkai.
> "Yeah. Later."
> You give one last look to the sleeping youkai. She looks so peaceful and harmless sleeping there. Could she really be dangerous?
> You and Mokou head out of the sunflower field, and after some walking you start to feel the effects of the spores less and less. When you've reached the edge of the field, Mokou puts her hands in her pockets again.
> "Okay, our next destinations are gonna be way more fun than that."
> _
-
>"Where are we going next?"
-
>"Where are we going next?"
> "The Sanzu River," Mokou says. "And there's this hill I'll show you the location of, so you don't accidentally go wandering into it."
> _
-
> Have we heard of these places?
-
> Have we heard of these places?
> You've heard of the Sanzu River, but you had no idea it was actually in Gensokyo.
> _
-
"isn't that where you go when you die?"
-
"isn't that where you go when you die?"
> "Sure is," Mokou says.
> _
-
"Okay." Mokou seems okay with it so must be okay. Right?
"So lets go!"
-
> "We aren't going to die, though, right?"
-
"Okay." Mokou seems okay with it so must be okay. Right?
"So lets go!"
> "We aren't going to die, though, right?"
> "Okay, then." Mokou turns and starts walking off, around the edge of the flower field. "And you'll only go across the river if you're already dead, so don't worry."
> _
-
"That's good!" Follow her.
-
"That's good!" Follow her.
> You follow Mokou around the edge of the flower field, and eventually you reach the forest again. Walking through you see more kedamas, floating lazily in the breeze. The air in here is cooler and more shaded from the hot summer sun, and you even hear the babbling of a creek somewhere. A faerie or two flit by ever once in a while, strangely disappearing into the foliage.
> It's not long before you and Mokou break through the trees again, and find yourselves in an open plain. You see some water off in the distance. By some miracle, the air smells even fresher than it did back in the trees. The grass is short and soft under your feet, with no weeds or flowers or anything around.
> Mokou keeps walking in the direction of the water.
> _
-
> Catch up! "Woah, this place is weird!"
-
> Catch up! "Woah, this place is weird!"
> You follow Mokou as she strolls along the grass. The water is closer in sight, now, but you can't seem to see the other side.
> "It is." Mokou stretches her arms.
> You're nearing the riverbank now. The water's surface is glassy, with gentle waves lapping up against the grainy shore. You can see the bottom of a river to a certain extent; as it gets farther out into the water, the view gets murkier until it's just a black haze. There doesn't seem to be much here, anyway.
> Dotted along the riverbank are small docks, although only a few have small, wooden boats teethered to them.
> You can't see the other side of the river, either. Not even any mountains like you'd normally see from any point in Gensokyo. It just spans on forever. There also seems to be a draft. It's strangely chilly.
> _
-
> Wrap our arms around us to protect us from the chill, and run to one of the docks to peer in the water!
> "Woah, is there fish in here?!"
-
> Wrap our arms around us to protect us from the chill, and run to one of the docks to peer in the water!
> "Woah, is there fish in here?!"
> It's unusually cold.
> You head over to one of the docks. You can see into the water, foamy-looking sand sloshing around at the bottom. There's some equally fuzzy-looking algae here, but nothing else.
> "I heard they were only in the deeper parts," Mokou says. "Although the shinigami I met told me that there were a lot of abominations down there, whatever that means."
> _
-
>"A...Abominations?"
>Peer closer.
>"Does that mean the water's dirty?"
>If she says yes, pull ourselves away from it.
-
>"A...Abominations?"
>Peer closer.
>"Does that mean the water's dirty?"
>If she says yes, pull ourselves away from it.
> It looks so disarming...could it really be...?
> "Yeah. Dirty with evil."
> You move away from the water. Quickly.
> Mokou hops up onto the dock and squints out into the horizon, as if looking for something.
> _
-
> "Evil?! Like kitsune evil?"
> Look at Mokou, then out at the horizon. "Who are you waiting for? Godot?"
-
> "Evil?! Like kitsune evil?"
> Look at Mokou, then out at the horizon. "Who are you waiting for? Godot?"
> "Worse than that. Kitsune's boss-level evil," Mokou insists.
> "Who the hell is Godot?"
> "Usually there's a shinigami who makes rounds here frequently. There shouldn't be any reason she's wouldn't come here in this fine weather."
> _
-
>"Boss-level?!"
>But... it's just water...
>No, we won't be scared by this!
>"So... where is she?"
-
>"Boss-level?!"
>But... it's just water...
>No, we won't be scared by this!
>"So... where is she?"
> That's pretty terrifying, but you don't let yourself be disheartened.
> Mokou shrugs. "She usually shows up in broad daylight. I'm really hoping she shows up; it'd be better to get information about the river from someone who spends so much time on it."
> _
-
"So do you think Mom and Dad are still crossing? It much take a long time, because it looks bigger than all of Gensokyo."
-
"So do you think Mom and Dad are still crossing? It much take a long time, because it looks bigger than all of Gensokyo."
> "Huh?"
> Mokou looks a bit taken off guard.
> "Huh. Probably."
> _
-
"I LOVE YOU, MOM AND DAD AND BIG SISTER AND EVERYBODY. I'M GOING TO GET THE EVIL KITSUNE! AND TAKE BACK " Yell as loud as we can. They are probobly too far..but we have to try.
"Mokou, did you ever have a mother. Yokai don't have family, right?"
-
"I LOVE YOU, MOM AND DAD AND BIG SISTER AND EVERYBODY. I'M GOING TO GET THE EVIL KITSUNE! AND TAKE BACK " Yell as loud as we can. They are probobly too far..but we have to try.
"Mokou, did you ever have a mother. Yokai don't have family, right?"
> You yell out to your family across the river as loud as you can, and get a whistle of wind in response.
> Hopefully they can hear you from the afterlife.
> Mokou scratches her head. "Yeah. Where else do humans come from?"
> "Some youkai do have families or blood relatives, I think. Otherwise the little ones'll just kind of form makeshift groups." She shrugs. "I dunno, it's been ages since I've thought about that kind of stuff."
> _
-
"You don't even think about your family?" How does that work..?
-
"You don't even think about your family?" How does that work..?
> Mokou shrugs. "No one to think about, I guess."
> She takes a seat on the dock, swinging her legs out over the water. "Shinigami should probably be coming any minute now."
> _
-
>"But... there has to be someone you think about... Surely."
>Sit beside Mokou.
-
>"But... there has to be someone you think about... Surely."
>Sit beside Mokou.
> "Eh."
> You take a seat. The wind continues to blow, creating rippling waves in the water. You think you see something in the distance.
> _
-
>Squint our eyes.
>Can we make out what it is?
>"Hey Mokou. Something's coming."
-
>Squint our eyes.
>Can we make out what it is?
>"Hey Mokou. Something's coming."
> You're not sure...a boat, maybe?
> "That's gotta be the shinigami."
> _
-
>Look a little further. Is it really a boat, or is it an abomination from the depths of the river?
-
>Look a little further. Is it really a boat, or is it an abomination from the depths of the river?
> You try getting a closer look, but it's coming closer itself, so you don't really have to try hard...
> ...That's definitely a boat.
> _
-
Shoo..Abominations are scary! Wonder what the shikigami is like.
-
Shoo..Abominations are scary! Wonder what the shikigami is like.
> You'd rather not see what lives in this river.
> Now, as for this...shiki...shini...shinigami? You must have mixed up the words. Is shikigami even a word?
> The boat is getting closer. Even from where you're sitting it doesn't look like much, and there is a single person on it.
> _
-
> Peer at the boat. "Hey, Mokou, is that a shikinigami?"
-
> Peer at the boat. "Hey, Mokou, is that a shikinigami?"
> "A shinigami, yeah."
> The boat is getting closer. You think you see the person in the boat lean forward a little, then wave.
> _
-
>Wave back.
-
>Wave back.
> You wave. Mokou just looks on ahead, watching as the boat gets closer.
> As it nears the dock, you can clearly see the woman steering it. She looks very imposing; she's probably even taller than Mokou or Keine. Her white and blue dress gives you the impression of a uniform, although the coin tied onto her obi seems a bit odd. Her hair, especially, is something to look at: it's as red as Marisa's, and pulled back into two half-twintails with baubles.
> She's plowing through the water with...something. From here it just looks like a big stick. She seems happy enough when she reaches the dock, but when she sees you and Mokou, her smile fades.
> "Neither of you are dead," she says.
> "We weren't waitin' to be carted off," Mokou explains. "I was showing this one around the area."
> The woman lifts the oar out of the water, except on the end is a huge, curved blade. That's no oar.
> "Oh, really?" She looks over at you and grins. "And who're you?"
> _
-
>Pull back slightly at the sight of the blade.
>"M... My name is Meira Sonozaki."
>Remember our manners and bow.
>"Who are you?"
-
>Pull back slightly at the sight of the blade.
>"M... My name is Meira Sonozaki."
>Remember our manners and bow.
>"Who are you?"
> You introduce yourself, albeit a bit hesitantly. That's one big blade there...
> The woman chuckles. "Onozuka Komachi. Nice to meet ya!"
> _
-
"Nice to meet you!"
-
"Nice to meet you!"
> "That's not a greeting I get often," Komachi says. She sounds wistful. "Thanks!"
> "I don't see any ghosts around," Mokou says. "Slow day?"
> "Yeah. I was just takin' a straggler across. It's been pretty slow on the other side, actually." Komachi shrugs. "Compared to what we normally get, that is."
> "Wow."
> "Yeah. So, what brings you two to this fine river today?"
> _
-
>"Mokou was showing me around!"
>Armflail.
-
>"Mokou was showing me around!"
>Armflail.
> Komachi grins at Mokou. "This isn't exactly a tourist destination."
> "Figured it'd be knowledge-inspiring or some shit." Mokou folds her arms and leans against one of the dock posts.
> Komachi looks back at you. "You wanted to know about the Sanzu River?"
> _
-
> "Yeah! Is it really the river of the dead? Do youkai cross the river? What's on the other side? Did my family come by? I really hope they didn't, because that would mean that they're still alive!"
-
> "Yeah! Is it really the river of the dead? Do youkai cross the river? What's on the other side? Did my family come by? I really hope they didn't, because that would mean that they're still alive!"
> "Yes, what else would it be here for? The Sanzu River is where dead people cross," Komachi says. "Basically, it's not picky. We'll ferry anyone across, as long as they're dead. Of course, everyone shows up as a little white wil-o-wisp, so we can't tell who's who."
> She chews her lip. "Actually, we can tell if a ghost is a child, if they're stacking rocks by the riverbank."
> _
-
>"Huh? Why would they do that?"
>"Isn't there anyway of telling? What about when they get to... wherever they get to?"
-
>"Huh? Why would they do that?"
>"Isn't there anyway of telling? What about when they get to... wherever they get to?"
> Komachi frowns. "As punishment. I don't really want to talk about it."
> "Oh, and you never really know when they died. Just because they show up at a certain time doesn't necessarily mean they died right then and there. The way the system works is that no one knows until they get to my boss or someone else."
> _
-
> "Oh, okay... wait, boss?"
-
"is your boss an abomination?"
-
>"Is your boss evil? Does it control a kitsune?"
-
Be brave.
Hope mokou wont be mad at us being rude to the shinikinini..shinigami.
-
> "Oh, okay... wait, boss?"
> "Yeah. My boss."
"is your boss an abomination?"
>"Is your boss evil? Does it control a kitsune?"
Be brave.
Hope mokou wont be mad at us being rude to the shinikinini..shinigami.
> You bombard Komachi with questions, and with each one she looks more and more confused. Mokou doesn't seem any angrier than usual, at least.
> Komachi takes a rope and starts tying her boat to the dock. "I don't know what you're going on about, but there is no way that could be my boss, no sir. The least abomination-like person I know. I mean, unless you get on her bad side."
> She chuckles to herself again. "But no, she's someone you see after you die."
> _
-
>"That still kind of sounds like a scary person. So in the end, I'll meet her too? My parents are meeting her right now?"
-
>"That still kind of sounds like a scary person. So in the end, I'll meet her too? My parents are meeting her right now?"
> "Everyone somehow makes it to her at the very end," Komachi says. "Everyone. Don't worry, she's pretty stern but she's a good person."
> _
-
"That's good. Stern can be good. What does she meet them for?"
-
"That's good. Stern can be good. What does she meet them for?"
> Komachi leans in and grins toothily. "She's gonna decide whether you're gonna go to Heaven or Hell, chickadee, so watch yourself and the decisions you make."
> Mokou snorts.
> _
-
> "W-wait, why does she get to decide? How come I don't?!"
> "... What's a chickadee? Is it delicious?"
-
> "W-wait, why does she get to decide? How come I don't?!"
> "... What's a chickadee? Is it delicious?"
> "Because that's cheeeating, and also really unfair. Hell would go out of business!" Komachi explains. "Everyone would choose to go to the good places, even if they didn't deserve it. It'd also get overcrowded, and some genuinely nice people would miss out on a happy afterlife. You've gotta be fair."
> Komachi looks a bit confused at your question. "It's a bird."
> "Well, I've never eaten one."
> _
-
> "Oh... but would she really send me to where I belong? Though... I really don't wanna die anyways. I don't like the sound of it, and I gotta revenge my family, first!"
-
> "Oh... but would she really send me to where I belong? Though... I really don't wanna die anyways. I don't like the sound of it, and I gotta revenge my family, first!"
> Komachi nods. "You can trust her. But really, it's best not to worry about death. Just focus on living: it's more fun that way."
> _
-
> Consider this a moment.
> "Okay!"
-
> Consider this a moment.
> "Okay!"
> Well, you didn't die the first time you encountered the kitsune...
> Komachi grins. "That's the spirit!"
> _
-
> So, we'll just hang around here until we or Mokou or Komachi get bored, then move on to the next stop in the tour.
-
> So, we'll just hang around here until we or Mokou or Komachi get bored, then move on to the next stop in the tour.
> You keep sitting at the dock for a short while. Mokou and Komachi exchange small talk, until Komachi finally waves and starts walking down the shoreline, away from the two of you.
> Mokou waves as she watches her go.
> "Well, only one stop left, and then you can go do whatever," she says. "We won't be there long."
> _
-
> Wave at Komachi. "Where're we going?"
-
> Wave at Komachi. "Where're we going?"
> You wave to Komachi. You think she waves back.
> "Some hill," Mokou says. "I'm just gonna show you where it is, so you know how to avoid it."
> She gets up, hops off the dock, and starts walking.
> _
-
> Trot after her. "What's so bad about the hill?"
-
> Trot after her. "What's so bad about the hill?"
> "Well, if you're not careful, it'll kill you," Mokou says. "And after all Komachi said about not worrying about that..."
> She puts her hands in her pockets and shrugs. The two of you continue on past the river, until you've entered another small stretch of forest. You pass through that surprisingly fast, and when you reemerge, you find that the ground is sloping up. There's a sweet, somewhat intoxicating fragrance in the air.
> "It's a shame, too," Mokou says, almost to herself. "This hill's a nice-looking place otherwise."
> _
-
> Can we identify that smell?
> "Hey, what's that smell? It smells really nice!"
-
> Can we identify that smell?
> "Hey, what's that smell? It smells really nice!"
> It smells like flowers.
> "It's the lily-of-the-vallies," Mokou says. "The actual field is farther off, so we won't get poisoned."
> _
-
"Poisoned?"
Wave arms, just a little.
-
"Poisoned?"
Wave arms, just a little.
> "Yup." Mokou climbs to the top of the hill. "That's why you don't go near them. Come take a look for yourself."
> _
-
"Okay!"
Scramble up!
-
"Okay!"
Scramble up!
> You join Mokou at the top of the hill, and look out.
> There's a small plain that goes out for a while, before rising up into a small hill. Beyond that is more forest, with mountains in the horizon. The entire area looks like a sea of purple, because it's completely covered in flowers. You can only see bits of grass from here.
> It all smells very nice, and doesn't look too bad of a place, but could it really be so deadly?
> _
-
"Are those the flowers smelling good."
-
"Are those the flowers smelling good."
> Mokou nods. "But don't be fooled. Take one step in there and you're done for."
> _
-
> "Woah. That's kind of scary."
> Pause.
> "Hey, if you're done after one step... how do people know this place is dangerous?"
-
> "Woah. That's kind of scary."
> Pause.
> "Hey, if you're done after one step... how do people know this place is dangerous?"
> There wouldn't be any survivors to live to tell the tale, now would there?
> "Because others go near the hill and see the corpses of the poisoned in the flowers," Mokou explains. "A long time ago people would abandon their children here if they couldn't afford to take care of them, and they'd be lulled into a sweet, flowery death within minutes."
> _
-
>"Th-th-th-that'a just mean! Komachi's boss should send those people to hell!"
-
>"Th-th-th-that'a just mean! Komachi's boss should send those people to hell!"
> Mokou just stares out into the field with a furrowed brow.
> "Yeah..."
> _
-
> Give the field another look. It's so pretty, but its past is so scary...
> "Um... so what's next?"
-
> Give the field another look. It's so pretty, but its past is so scary...
> "Um... so what's next?"
> You take one last look at the field. Looks are only skin-deep, in this case.
> "That's it," Mokou says. "We can go home, and then you're free to do whatever you want."
> _
-
> "Oh, kay! Thanks for showing me around, Mokou!"
> Follow her back to Keine's.
-
> "Oh, kay! Thanks for showing me around, Mokou!"
> Follow her back to Keine's.
> "No problem."
> The two of you head back the way you came, through the forest, past the flower field, and all the way back to the Human Village. It takes a little while, but you finally make it back to the schoolhouse.
> When the two of you are at the gates, Mokou turns and heads for the school yard.
> "I'll be out here if Keine asks anything," she says with a yawn.
> _
-
"Shouldn't you sleep inside?"
Oh wait..she's probobly not going to be sleeping.
feel silly.
-
"Shouldn't you sleep inside?"
Oh wait..she's probobly not going to be sleeping.
feel silly.
> "Nope. The sun's warm," Mokou replies as she saunters off.
> You start to feel silly for asking, but then realize she really is going to sleep inside.
> _
-
Adults are wierd.
Go inside.
"[that thing Japanese say when they arive at home]
Oh, take off our shoes, they are probobly a little dirty.
-
Adults are wierd.
Go inside.
"[that thing Japanese say when they arive at home]
Oh, take off our shoes, they are probobly a little dirty.
> You'll never understand grown-ups.
> You head inside the schoolhouse, leaving your shoes at the door. No one seems to be around to answer your calls.
> _
-
> Pitter patter up to the room that we stayed in.
-
> Pitter patter up to the room that we stayed in.
> You head back upstairs.
> You hear some voices coming from Keine's study, but head back into the room you were staying in.
> When you enter the room, you see Kouyoshi reading a scroll on the table, her tail swishing back and forth.
> "Hi," she says, without looking up at you. "How was training?"
> _
-
>"I surprised Mokou by making danmaku come from behind her when she was facing me!"
>Excited armflail!
>"She said I shouldn't have been able to do that so soon, but I ended up having an idea and running with it!"
>BIG smile.
-
>"I surprised Mokou by making danmaku come from behind her when she was facing me!"
>Excited armflail!
>"She said I shouldn't have been able to do that so soon, but I ended up having an idea and running with it!"
>BIG smile.
> Kouyoshi looks up. "Really? You really are a natural at this."
> She smiles a little in return.
> "Keine's already awake, she's tutoring someone in the other room, though, and told me not to bother her," she continues. "She let me borrow this to read, it's mostly tales about oni and stuff, though. Did you do anything else interesting today?"
> _
-
> "Yeah! Mokou showed me this biiiiig sunflower field with a sleeping youkai in it! Mokou fell asleep, too, and I almost did! Then, we went to the Sanzu River, and I talked to a shikigami who was really nice! Then, she showed me this pretty hill that... that a lot of people died at..."
-
> "Yeah! Mokou showed me this biiiiig sunflower field with a sleeping youkai in it! Mokou fell asleep, too, and I almost did! Then, we went to the Sanzu River, and I talked to a shikigami who was really nice! Then, she showed me this pretty hill that... that a lot of people died at..."
> "A sunflower field?" Kouyoshi's ears flatten. "She took you there?"
> _
-
>"Yeah!"
-
>"Yeah!"
> Kouyoshi's tail keeps swishing back and forth.
> "...Wow."
> "Well, it can't really be more dangerous than oni. This scroll says that humans had to resort to tomfoolery to keep from getting kidnapped by them."
> _
-
"Really? Any neat tricks?"
-
"Really? Any neat tricks?"
> "They'd do stuff like leading them over pits filled with spikes, have a shrine maiden disguise as a normal civilian, trick the oni into eating stuff with soy beans..." Kouyoshi lists them off on her fingers. "They'd trick the oni into thinking that they wanted to be friends, and set up ambushes and stuff. A lot of oni died that way...Tricked and then exorcised and killed, that is. Even the ones that didn't go near humans."
> Kouyoshi chews on her lip.
> "That kitsune would deserve to get tricked, but how would you outsmart a kitsune?"
> _
-
"That's mean. I guess humans can be bad guys too."
Frown.
"You did pretty well with your tofu!"
"hmm.."
Put on our thinking face!
"Moku said she would teach me how to make pits with magic. So I just need to get magic dogs..Those Echo yokai are suposed to have dog ears right? What were they called?"
-
"That's mean. I guess humans can be bad guys too."
Frown.
"You did pretty well with your tofu!"
"hmm.."
Put on our thinking face!
"Moku said she would teach me how to make pits with magic. So I just need to get magic dogs..Those Echo yokai are suposed to have dog ears right? What were they called?"
> "It's complicated," Kouyoshi says as she starts to roll up the scroll. "Human-oni relations."
> Kouyoshi grins. "You mean Yamabiko? How would they help?"
> _
-
"errrrr..make dog noises? Because they have dog ears!"
-
"errrrr..make dog noises? Because they have dog ears!"
> "No, they'd just echo the sounds of dogs..."
> _
-
"mou..this is hard.."
Time for more thinking..
"Are there any powerfull artifacts we could use?"
-
"mou..this is hard.."
Time for more thinking..
"Are there any powerfull artifacts we could use?"
> Killing a kitsune isn't easy.
> "Not an artifact, but a shrine maiden would probably be best at exterminating," Kouyoshi says. "Aside from that, no idea."
> _
-
"are there any shrines other then the abandoned one?"
-
"are there any shrines other then the abandoned one?"
> "Not that I know of," Kouyoshi says.
> _
-
"Then where would we find a miko?"
-
"Then where would we find a miko?"
> "Uh...."
> Kouyoshi rests her chin on the table. "I could always pretend to be one, but I don't have the abilities to be convincing...I wonder what happened to the previous owner of the shrine, anyway? Shrine maidens exterminate youkai, right? I bet the woman in the photo wouldn't have any trouble helping us do that."
> _
-
> "That's right!" Pause. "But Keine said she doesn't know who she is! How can we find out where she is if no one knows who she is?"
-
> "That's right!" Pause. "But Keine said she doesn't know who she is! How can we find out where she is if no one knows who she is?"
> "Maybe there's someone besides Keine who knows," Kouyoshi says. "The shrine didn't look that dilapidated when we saw it, so she couldn't have disappeared that long ago."
> _
-
"Will the villagers be annoyed if we ask them all?" Tap our lips with a finger.
-
"Will the villagers be annoyed if we ask them all?" Tap our lips with a finger.
> "Uh...I don't know..."
> _
-
"Lets go ask any way."
Jump up and start towards the door.
-
"Lets go ask any way."
Jump up and start towards the door.
> "Yeah.."
> Kouyoshi stands up and follows you out.
> You're now in the hallway again, and can still hear voices coming from Keine's study.
> _
-
Poke our head in real quick just to say where we will be.
-
Poke our head in real quick just to say where we will be.
> You take a quick peek into Keine's study. Keine herself is sitting at her table with a cup of tea in front of her, although it seems relatively untouched. Sitting across from her is a woman with longish, dark hair, wearing a simple yukata. Her back is to you, so you don't see her face, but Keine does notice you and looks up.
> "I'm busy right now," Keine says. "What is it?"
> _
-
"Sorry, Keine, just wanted to tell you that Me and Kouyoshi are going to be in the village asking about mikos. Sorry to disturbe you oneesan."
Bow your head to the dark haired girl.
-
"Sorry, Keine, just wanted to tell you that Me and Kouyoshi are going to be in the village asking about mikos. Sorry to disturbe you oneesan."
Bow your head to the dark haired girl.
> The dark haired woman turns back and nods, smiling a little.
> Keine sighs. "In that case, I'll see what I can scrounge up, too. Good luck."
> _
-
"Scrounge up? You have plenty of food don't you?"
-
"Scrounge up? You have plenty of food don't you?"
> "Haha, run along, now," Keine says, but she doesn't really seem to be laughing.
> _
-
Grown-ups are _really_ weird.
"Okaay.."
"Nice to meet you, Oneesan"
Leave.
To Kouyoshi, "I think these humans are even weirder then youkai."
-
Grown-ups are _really_ weird.
"Okaay.."
"Nice to meet you, Oneesan"
Leave.
To Kouyoshi, "I think these humans are even weirder then youkai."
> You'll never understand adults.
> You leave Keine and the woman, and go back to where Kouyoshi is waiting in the hallway.
> You voice your complaints to her, and she flicks her ears.
> "Really?"
> _
-
"Uhuh(said the yes way)! I mean what does getting food have to do with mikos?"
Say as we put on our shoes.
"And then she went 'haha'. What does that even mean?"
Mou-!
Make sure to close the door behind us as we leave. Oh and wait if Kouyoshi needs to get something.
-
"Uhuh(said the yes way)! I mean what does getting food have to do with mikos?"
Say as we put on our shoes.
"And then she went 'haha'. What does that even mean?"
Mou-!
Make sure to close the door behind us as we leave. Oh and wait if Kouyoshi needs to get something.
> The two of you head down the stairs and to the front door.
> Kouyoshi listens to you talk, although she doesn't look like she quite understands what's going on.
> "...Food? Wasn't she just laughing?"
> The two of you leave the schoolhouse, and are now standing outside. Off to the side you see Mokou laying under a tree, fast asleep.
> _
-
"maybe . . But at what? Did some one tell a joke?"
Start looking for people.
"and look there, Mokou is sleeping.."
-
"maybe . . But at what? Did some one tell a joke?"
Start looking for people.
"and look there, Mokou is sleeping.."
> "I wouldn't know."
> You take a look around. Looks like there are some people on the streets still.
> Kouyoshi turns her head. "Must be a nice place to sleep..."
> _
-
> "Yeah... but we don't have time to sleep!"
> Go around the town, asking people about the miko!
-
> "Yeah... but we don't have time to sleep!"
> Go around the town, asking people about the miko!
> "Yeah."
> You and Kouyoshi start heading around town, asking the first people you see about the miko. While walking through the streets you get lost a few times, but by the time you've made your fourth round around the place, you think you have a good idea of the set up, and the people who live here.
> Unfortunately, no one seems to know about the miko. Everyone you ask either has no idea what you're talking about, or says that it sounds familiar, but they can't quite put their finger on it.
> Eventually, your search leads you out into the fields, but not even the farmers have any information for you.
> It's later in the afternoon, now. You're tired from walking around, and you haven't learned a single thing.
> _
-
"Mou! Whats the point of a shrine that no one remembers!" cross arms. "This seems weird. I mean the shrine wasn't _that_ abandoned."
-
"Mou! Whats the point of a shrine that no one remembers!" cross arms. "This seems weird. I mean the shrine wasn't _that_ abandoned."
> "Maybe the original owner was a recluse or something," Kouyoshi guesses. "They didn't get out enough, so no one knows who they really are."
> _
-
> "But who would set up a shrine like that? And where would they get food and all that? I didn't see a farm behind that shrine!"
-
> "But who would set up a shrine like that? And where would they get food and all that? I didn't see a farm behind that shrine!"
> "That's what I'd like to know..." Kouyoshi looks out towards the hills. "I wonder if there are any youkai who know."
> _
-
> "Hm... hey! Maybe Rumia knows! Or that bird that makes the lamprey! Or even the rabbits!"
> Start heading... uh... wherever we think Rumia is!
-
> "Hm... hey! Maybe Rumia knows! Or that bird that makes the lamprey! Or even the rabbits!"
> Start heading... uh... wherever we think Rumia is!
> "Yeah, they'd probably get around more."
> You'd go and find Rumia, but you're not exactly sure where she'd be.
> You guess she'd be somewhere near the village, so you start heading out of town and across the fields, Kouyoshi following.
> _
-
> Look for youkai!
-
> Look for youkai!
> You look around the fields, and only see human farmers working with the crops.
> _
-
> Ask around, see if they've seen a girl with a black dress and goes arms outstretched all the time. She might be riding a sheep.
-
> Ask around, see if they've seen a girl with a black dress and goes arms outstretched all the time. She might be riding a sheep.
> You start asking around again.
> Again, no one seems to know, but eventually you do find a few people who say they have seem someone like that heading off towards the forest, sans sheep.
> _
-
"Well..Koyoshi..lets go into the forest!"
Do so!
-
"Well..Koyoshi..lets go into the forest!"
Do so!
> Kouyoshi nods wordlessly, and the two of you proceed to head across the field and into the forest.
> The forest is just as fresh and clear as you remember it, but it's suspiciously dark compared to last time you were in it.
> _
-
> "Heeeey, Rumiaaaa! Where are youuuu?"
> Keep looking for Rumia.
-
> "Heeeey, Rumiaaaa! Where are youuuu?"
> Keep looking for Rumia.
> You call out for Rumia. The wind blows, and you hear some birds chirp in the distance. All is quiet, and then you hear a voice in the distance.
> "Helloooooo?"
> _
-
> Run towards that voice. "Hey, Rumia! I gotta question for you!"
-
> Run towards that voice. "Hey, Rumia! I gotta question for you!"
> You run in the direction you think you heard the voice coming from, and in turn, you hear footsteps crashing through the foliage.
> "What is iiiiit?"
> _
-
> "
Could we borrow a cup of miko? Have you seen any shrine maidens around here?"
> Where the heck is she?
-
> "Could we borrow a cup of miko? Have you seen any shrine maidens around here?"
> Where the heck is she?
> "What the heck kind of measurement is that?!"
> "Uhhhhhhhh..."
> More crashing sounds from the bushes, and Rumia stumbles out into the open, leaves in her hair and a goofy grin on her face. Her dress is stained with mud again.
> "That sounds kinda familiar," she says.
> _
-
> "Really? We're trying to find a miko on a hill! Or, uh, she was on a hill."
-
"Have you been doing something fun?"
-
> "Really? We're trying to find a miko on a hill! Or, uh, she was on a hill."
> "...The hill? That place on the hill?"
"Have you been doing something fun?"
> Rumia's grin is still there. "I was taking a walk."
> _
-
"did you find any thing cool?"
-
"did you find any thing cool?"
> "No...but I remember once, when I went to a shrine, there was a lady there. That feels like a looong time ago, though..."
> _
-
"Really! Your the first one to remember anything about her!"
-
"Really! Your the first one to remember anything about her!"
> "Really?" Rumia looks a bit deflated. "I guess shrine maidens are easy to forget about 'cause there aren't any around."
> _
-
"I need one though..think we can find one?"
-
"I need one though..think we can find one?"
> "There has to be one somewhere," Rumia says. She giggles to herself. "I can feel it in my bones."
> _
-
"Well, lets get looking then!"
-
"Well, lets get looking then!"
> "We're going to the shrine?" Rumia asks. She sounds a bit hopeful.
> _
-
> "Uh... sure! Maybe you can find something we missed! Right, Kouyoshi?"
-
> "Uh... sure! Maybe you can find something we missed! Right, Kouyoshi?"
> Kouyoshi looks over and nods. "Yeah, we weren't in the shrine itself for that long, were we?"
> "Yesss!" Rumia throws her arms in the air. "I bet there's food you just didn't find!"
> _
-
> "Uh, I'm pretty sure the food is all icky and rotted..."
> Back to the shrine!
-
> "Uh, I'm pretty sure the food is all icky and rotted..."
> Back to the shrine!
> "Aw..." Rumia's face falls.
> The three of you start off towards the shrine again. The trek past the Human Village and into the forest takes longer than you thought, and by the time you've reached the stone stairs again, the sun is starting to set. Last time you were here, you were certain it was fairly abandoned, but as you ascend the stairs you see that there are many faeries here: flitting around the steps, and sitting on the torii. You hear more chattering beyond that.
> Rumia keeps herself covered with a roof of what can only be described as pure black, but as the sun dips further down into the sky, it slowly dissolves. Both Rumia and Kouyoshi look rather happy to be here, somehow.
> _
-
> "What're you guys so happy for?" Wave at the fairies.
-
> "What're you guys so happy for?" Wave at the fairies.
> "The sunset!" calls out a yellow-winged faerie. A few others near her wave back to you. Still more are giggling at you, and you hear the words "sunset, sunset" being repeated over and over again.
> _
-
> "Oh, wait, all you guys are more active at night, right?" Keep walking up the stairs. "Hey, fairies! Have you seen mikos around?"
-
> "Oh, wait, all you guys are more active at night, right?" Keep walking up the stairs. "Hey, fairies! Have you seen mikos around?"
> You get a few shouts in reply: "yes, yes, we do!"
> You continue up the stairs, asking anyone in the vincity if they've seen a shrine maiden lately.
> "We've seen shrine maiden clothes," says a faerie.
> "Maybe yes maybe no, I can't remember!"
> "Shrine maidens don't exist!"
> "Bluh bluh yes they do!"
> _
-
> Oh, great. We forgot they're fairies. Continue up the stairs to the shrine. "Hey, Rumia, can you think of anything now?"
-
> Oh, great. We forgot they're fairies. Continue up the stairs to the shrine. "Hey, Rumia, can you think of anything now?"
> Faeries aren't exactly the brightest candles on the wall, you think.
> The three of you continue on up to the shrine. There are faeries here, too: in the grass, on the room, pattering around the donation box. You think you hear a commotion going on inside.
> "Uhhhh..."
> Rumia stands there, mouth slightly agape.
> "...Uh...uh...houses have...basements, I think, maybe there's preserved food down there," she guesses.
> Kouyoshi just kind of wanders ahead and looks around the edge of the shrine. "I wonder if the kitsune's still around here."
> _
-
> "Sh-she better not be! Or I'll show her!"
> Wait, a basement? "Hey, where do you think a basement might be? I didn't see anything like that!"
-
> "Sh-she better not be! Or I'll show her!"
> Wait, a basement? "Hey, where do you think a basement might be? I didn't see anything like that!"
> You don't think you want to see that kitsune around right now.
> Although the idea of a basement has never crossed your mind. Rumia nods.
> "Houses have basements, under the house."
> _
-
> "Oh."
> ...
> "... Uh... so how do we get there, then?"
> Start looking around for a basement!
-
> "Oh."
> ...
> "... Uh... so how do we get there, then?"
> Start looking around for a basement!
> That should be obvious.
> Rumia's smile wavers. "Dunno."
> You take a look around. You don't see any obvious openings leading into a basement, unless there's a trap door hidden somewhere.
> _
-
> Hm... search for trap doors! Pound our feet while going around until we hear something suspicious!
-
> Hm... search for trap doors! Pound our feet while going around until we hear something suspicious!
> You wander around the courtyard, stomping on the ground every few steps to see if you can find anything. You don't have any luck so far, and some faeries in the grass nearby are laughing at you.
> A few mock your movements, and soon there's about a dozen or so faeries stomping on the concrete. A gaggle of faeries have poked their heads out the door to see what's going on.
> Kouyoshi and Rumia, in the meantime, look like they have no idea what's going on.
> _
-
> Blush, and rush inside to look for trap doors!
-
> Blush, and rush inside to look for trap doors!
> How embarrassing.
> You run inside, past the loud giggles of the faeries, and nearly run into some faeries standing by the door. They're all congested in one part of the hallway for some reason, chattering loudly as usual and squealing over something. You think you'd still be able to look under the tatami mats or something.
> _
-
> Frown, and go back to those fairies. "Hey, what're you giggling over?"
Are they torturing poor Hourai again?
-
> Oh, and put one of those substitution wards Kouyoshi showed us on a fairy. We don't want to get shanked.
-
> Frown, and go back to those fairies. "Hey, what're you giggling over?" Are they torturing poor Hourai again?
> error: hourai.png could not be found in this timeframe
> "Heheheh, we found something really cool over here," one of the faeries calls out.
> Oh, and put one of those substitution wards Kouyoshi showed us on a fairy. We don't want to get shanked.
> You'd like to, but you're interrupted by someone smacking you in the back of the head. Owwww...
> _