> "Try not to poke or squeeze too much while we're in the air, okay? Let's head off."
> Take flight and head to Kirisame residence.
> Did we mention the play to Marisa earlier?
> "Marisa's house."
> Stop suddenly.
> "Oh wait, I forgot! We were to rendezvous at the pub, not at her house. I apologize for wasting our time."
> Change course and head back toward the Human Village.
> Return the wave and make our way over.
> "Ah, you two are acquainted?"
> "Ah, I see. Well, that aside, Marisa, Kotohime is here because she fits the profile of the sort of person I was asking you about earlier."
> Gesture to our ghost half.
> "That, and she finds my ghost half enthralling."
> "Some. I did find their leader. She is on her way to the Scarlet Devil Mansion now, presumably for the same reason I asked you to take me there. We will be meeting at the Hakurei Shrine afterward. Were you able to find anything?"
> "I see. I encountered a woman on horseback earlier today, but she was a recluse in the forest that seems entirely unrelated to my problem."
> "Anyway, all I can do is wait until I hear the results of her visit to the Mansion. In the meantime, though, there is something else unrelated I meant to ask you about. Did I actually tell you precisely why I was looking for a red-haired woman?"
> "I am sure Patchouli's familiar would be more than willing to offer, but no. Yuyuko-sama has written a play, and I have been tasked with finding five players for it, one of which was someone with red hair. Kotohime has graciously agreed to play this role."
> "I bring this up because the one role for which I do not have anyone at least strongly considering is 'someone in really good shape'. All cheesy flattery and alleged life-partner pursuit aside, I cannot think of many in better physical condition than you."
> "Understandable. I am sure we can accomodate, though. You are not the first to have scheduling concerns."
> What has Kotohime been doing this whole time?
> Float our ghost half up and down a little bit in Kotohime's line of vision. Let's see if we can distract her from glaring at Marisa.
> "Very well. Thank you for your consideration. If it interests you, the other players will be Reimu, Miss Miko, and, once I have a chance to provide the information she request, possibly Miss Byakuren. And before you say anything, yes, I am aware, and I am not concerned."
> Good. Hopefully she stays distracted.
> "That may be, but rehearsals would provide more opportunities to watch. Though, as I said, I am not concerned."
> Nod.
> "Very well. Please let me know when you have arrived at a decision, so I can inform Yuyuko-sama."
> "I will do so, then."
> Slowly bob out ghost half up and down a tiny bit.
> "Hmm...in the event your schedule does not allow you to commit, I would not refuse advice on who to ask instead. There are some other people I can think of to ask, but one of them would never be allowed to work with Yuyuko-sama, and the others are people I am not convinced are the best people to involve in such a thing."
> Slowly list our ghost half so it is a little more in front of Kotohime.
> Frown a tiny bit.
> "I...am not sure naming names out loud is very polite, given what I have said. Perhaps a whisper is in order?"
> There we go. Good, stay entertained and distracted.
> Make our way over to Marisa's side and lean into her ear for whisperin'. Try not to twitch or fidget too much while we're up close like this.
> Drop our voice to a whisper.
> "The oni are content to stay underground, and having one in the Human Village may not be the best idea. Meiling will never receive permission, Utsuho is a bit of an attitude risk, and I want little to do with Tenshi until she cleans up her act."
> Lean back away.
> Nod.
> "I had heard this myself, but I was not completely sure. If you are suggesting it, however, then I will talk to her. I will let you know if she agrees, so that you know you no longer need to keep it in mind."
> Give Marisa a slight bow.
> "That is all I had. Thank you for your assistance. I will keep you abreast of things you wish to know as I know more."
> "Of course. Until then."
> Make our way over to Byakuren's table, gauging the stage her meal appears to be at.
> Okay, that's acceptable. Traverse the rest of the way there.
> Didn't we take Little Miss Yakumo on a field trip through deep parts of the Netherworld once? What was up with that, anyway?
> "Good afternoon to you both. Please forgive my interruption. Miss Byakuren, I have obtained the information you requested."
> Is Kotohime still poking us?
> "Yes. Yuyuko-sama says that the play is about 'extraordinary people living ordinary days. Then the days stop being ordinary.' She did not elaborate beyond this, though she confirmed that there is no inappropriate content, unless one takes great personal offense to palindromes."
> Give Byakuren a slight bow.
> "Excellent. I do feel I should let you know now, though, that Miss Miko is indeed also participating, along with Reimu and my current companion, Miss Kotohime."
> Okay, no, we don't need any of that. Casually float our ghost half back in front of Kotohime.
> "I have faith that it will be fine. If nothing else, I would not have asked both of you if I thought there would be problems. But I did want to make sure both of you were okay with it as well, since the feelings and opinions of both of you matter more than mine in this context."
> Give Byakuren a slight bow.
> "On behalf of the Netherworld, I thank you. I will be sure to provide further details when I have them."
> "I will detain you no longer, then. When you return home and your followers tell you I visited, you can let them know that we met here."
> Give another slight bow, 'aimed' slightly more at both patrons than just Byakuren.
> "Farewell to you both."
> Exit the pub, hopefully with Kotohime in tow.
> Turn to her.
> "Kotohime, the next part of my journey is rather personal, and potentially very dangerous. I also do not know how long it will take, or where I will go. You are welcome to join me if you wish, but I cannot guarantee your safety, or that you will not spend long periods of time doing nothing of interest."
> "Very well. Come."
> Take flight and head toward the Hakurei Shrine.
> Wave as we approach once she looks in our direction.
> Land with a grin.
> "Greetings once again. It seems I simply cannot stay away from this place, does it not?"
> "Your offer is tempting, but sadly, I am here a quick bit of important business. If your librarian is not busy, I require her services in tracking down a certain someone."
> "Of course. Thank you for the warning."
> Head on in!
> Nod to the boggling fairy with a small.
> "Good day."
> Head into the library.
> Give a wry smile.
> "Hello again. It seems we have cursed ourselves with our earlier conversation, as I have an urgent need of one of those trivial tasks you mentioned."
> Pull out the talisman.
> "What is the necessary compensation for locating the owner of this talisman?"
> Inventory
> "Of my current possessions, I would be most willing to part with some of the money I have recently come into. How much would this service cost?"
> Frown.
> "If you insist. I must compensate you some time in the future, however."
> Hand the talisman to Patchouli.
> "Yes. Her master is a former attendant of mine. This former attendant is in possession of a dangerous force that does not belong to her. I must see to it that this force is return to its rightful owner. I admit I am not completely sure that this will lead us to the master instead of the jiangshi, but I have no better options, and Miss Yakumo believes it is worth attempting."
> Raise an eyebrow.
> "Of course not."
> "I do not believe so, unless a name or physical description of my former attendant and/or her jiangshi would be of any benefit, or perhaps the origin and nature of the force she stole."
> "My apologies, I am not completely clear on how this process works. Anyway, my former attendant is named Seiga Kaku. She wears a teal dress with a white vest, and her dark blue hair is put up into two large loops. The jiangshi is named Yoshika Miyako, and she wears a red shirt, a black skirt, and a blue hat. Seiga has performed a method similar to the basic Taoist rituals for transmigration to take possession of the life force of a large youkai tree in..."
> Frown again.
> "...the Netherworld. Mmm, I hope that will not be an issue."
> "That is fine. For what it is worth, it seems likely Seiga has escaped the Netherworld. I was more concerned because it is my understanding that your Mistress and the Netherworld's Mistress are at odds at present."
> Such delicious political intrigue! It seems that not all of the old ways have been lost.
> "I see. I will not pry further, as it is not my business. Regardless, I am not aware of anything else important about this situation related to Seiga or that tree."
> Intriguing! Do the lines look like anything?
> Let's not interrupt this process, Patchouli doesn't seem the type to appreciate disruptions. If something goes wrong, she'll probably say something.
> Keep watch quietly.
> Can we tell what she is holding? ...Is it that girl's wand, or, worse, our sword?
> Frown slightly. If she really did steal our sword...
> Keep watching.
> So she's with someone. Maybe she found a way back to someone in that otherworld army?
> Continue observing.
> Did the 'How does it feel' sound like it came from Seiga or someone else?
> "Are you all right? I hope that was not too strenuous."
> Frown.
> "Shall I or one of the maids fetch something for you?"
> "Of course."
> Follow! And help Patchouli into her chair if she looks and acts like she needs it.
> "I learned a couple of intriguing things, yes. Unfortunately, where Seiga is presently located was not one of them, but what I know now is certainly better than the nothing I knew before."
> Let's just act like that didn't happen, for Patchouli's sake.
> "You did succeed in finding her, though. I suppose that means she is at least in Gensokyo."
>"Was there any hint of a direction?"
> How far away from this mansion are the following notable landmarks: Hakurei Shrine, Kirisame House, Margatroid House, Kourindou, Human Village, PrismRiver Manor, Eientei, Youkai Mountain, Entrance to the Underground?
> Do we know approximately where the Sanzu River's dock is? IF so, how far away is it from this mansion?
> "Hmm. Well, that does narrow down the major landmarks of which I am aware."
> Rub chin.
> "I almost wonder if she would be so bold as to hide out near the Sanzu River docks? Doubtful that many would think to look there for a hermit on the lam."
> Nod.
> "Indeed. I cannot assume she has not holed up somewhere simply because it is dangerous. Particularly if she has taken that tree's life force into herself and discovered how to channel it, which is not impossible."
> Wait for Patchouli to finish writing, glancing around the library in the meantime.
> "Ah. My apologies, I did not wish to interrupt your writing."
> "This will be done."
> Take the paper.
> Do we know where the Moriya Shrine is?
> Do we know one Kanako Yasaka?
> "Sanzu River aside, my admittedly-limited experience suggests that the notable landmarks in the areas I should search include the Hakurei Shrine, Eientei, the PrismRiver Manor, and possibly also Youkai Mountain, since I now need to go there regardless. There is also the possibility of the Human Village, but that seems like a risky place for one to hide, given it is well-populated for its size."
> Nod.
> "I will not entirely rule it out. Are there other notable locations in those general areas, though?"
> What do we know about this place, if anything?
> Nod.
> "I will keep that place in mind as well. I am aware of the stories surrounding that place and one particular denizen thereof; it would make for a good hiding place as long as Seiga could keep that person placated, as I doubt many people conduct business there or wander there aimlessly."
> "What can you tell me about this individual? I would like to be as prepared as possible if I am to investigate her domain."
> "A rival for Miss Yakumo? That is formidable indeed. A youkai of flowers, you say...hmm. I may have an idea...were you able to catch any of what those ashes were projecting, or was your concentration too focused on maintaining the spell?"
> Was Seiga still looking over her shoulder when she asked her mystery companion how 'it' felt?
> "I saw Seiga moving as if cleaning something in her hands, something of similar size and shape as either of the day's missing weapons. She was speaking, though her speech was largely unclear. At one point, she turned her head to look over her shoulder, and before your connection was lost, she seemed to ask 'How does it feel?' of her mystery conversation companion. If this youkai in the Garden of the Sun is as powerful and capricious as you say, and she also has an affinity with flowers, is it possible that she could be partaking of the life force Seiga stole, given that life force came from a tree? Would its botanical origin be of particular use to a youkai of flowers?"
> Does that theory sound plausible to ourselves, given what we know about youkai?
> Frown slightly.
> "You look like an academic expert on a wide variety of subject matters. But if neither of us know if this theory is plausible, then I may simply need to investigate directly."
> Chuckle a bit.
> "I assure you that I am no slouch myself. But I will see to it that your request is completed before I put myself in harm's way."
> Nod.
> "One of my most trusted advisors has given me fair warning about this person. I have no intent of disregarding her words. As well, not fighting to the best of one's capabilities is an insult to one's opponent."
> "In any case, unless you have further information you wish to offer, I believe our business here is concluded. I will be off to see your delivery completed and my former attendant located."
> Nod.
> "I will keep this in mind, thank you. Farewell, then. And, ah..."
> Glance over to the shoe tea briefly before returning our gaze to Patchouli.
> "Would you like me to dispose of that on my way out?"
> Give a small grin.
> "That makes me wish I had the time to stay. But alas. Thank you again for your assistance. Do be sure your familiar only almost perishes."
> Give Patchouli a short box, and then exit the library.
> Exit the mansion and head back out through the front gate.
> "I did not learn everything I wished to learn, but I have learned everything I am going to with the resources I have at present, and it is still a fair bit more than what I knew when I first got here."
> "Indeed it is. I do at least have a quality lead, even if I am not completely sure exactly where I must go. Unfortunately, time is of the essence, so I must depart into the sea of fairy rage once again. Have a pleasant day, Miss Meiling."
> Take flight and head to the Hakurei Shrine, giving any enraged cloud of fairies a respectable berth.
> Give Reimu a wave as we make our way over to her on foot.
> Float our ghost half across Kotohime's path.
> "Indeed. May I assume the same has happened to you before?"
> No one else is around, are they?
> Keep our ghost half in front of Kotohime.
> "Anyway, are we the first here? I do not see any of the Taoists."
> Eh, whatever.
> "I have also heard this. Miss Miko also told me to wait here for her. It seems she has, uh, volunteered herself for my investigation. Probably because of who is responsible."
> Whisper back.
> "She really likes my ghost half."
> "You're telling me."
> Is Kotohime really not following all of this?
> "She's been relatively harmless, at least. Also she'll be in the play."
> Nod.
> "I have little reason to send her away, and it is a simple matter to keep her distracted as need be, so it is not a problem."
> Frown.
> "Yes, I do wonder. She invited me into her home earlier. A...great number of her possessions sensed very strongly of death."
> "It's...possible, maybe, but I rather doubt it. If nothing else, with the volume of death surrounding those weapons, you would have noticed a lot of deaths by now."
> "Actually, I do have a curiosity you may be able to answer. Is she a Lunarian?"
> "I may have to ask Reisen, then, the next time I see her. assuming Eientei's domestic issues have cleared up to some degree."
> How much about that situation did we gather, again?
> "The rabbits are picketing. It seems they're not happy about not being allowed to dig holes."
> Wave a hand dismissively.
> "I would let them worry about it themselves, yes."
> "Only a little. It seems Seiga has taken the Saigyou Ayakashi's life force for herself, but we do not know what for, nor where she has gone. Miss Miko is investigating the latter issue at present; she has taken the talisman placed on Yoshika's forehead to Patchouli in the hopes of locating Seiga that way."
> "Thank you, Reimu. Truly. I promise I will not let you or Yuyuko-sama down."
> "Of course."
> "In other matters related to you, I have confimed that both Miss Miko and Miss Byakuren will be in that play I asked you about previously."
> Nod.
> "I had asked Marisa if she was willing to be the last player, because Yuyuko-sama requested someone in very well-built, but she was not sure she could commit. She did recommend asking the hell raven Utsuho, though, who may join as repayment for the help I have given her today."
> "Yes, she has been no problem to work with at all."
> Miko: Ah, good, Youmu is here. Land close to where Youmu and Reimu are and walk over to them.
> Miko: Do we recognize the redhead?
> Miko: "Hello again, ladies."
> Youmu: "Greetings."
> Miko: "So I have less information regarding Seiga than I would like. In particular, Patchouli was not able to discern precisely where she was located."
> Youmu: Frown. "That's not good. What did you learn, then?"
> Miko: "I can tell you what I saw in the ashes made by the talisman."
> Miko: Recount the entire vision in the ashes, including the speech parts.
> Youmu: "So Seiga is with someone else?"
> Miko: Nod. "It seems so. Patchouli did also say that Seiga was quite far away from the Scarlet Devil Mansion, though she seemed to still be in Gensokyo."
> Youmu: "Then she is at least not still in the Netherworld. That is, at least, some good news."
> Youmu: "It is not the most useful information, but at least we can narrow our search."
> Miko: "Indeed. I do even have one possible theory as to who Seiga is with, and thus where she may be hiding. The information we have is that Seiga has stolen the life force of a tree, a life force that is a tremendous amount of power. She is also currently far away from the Scarlet Devil Mansion, and she asked her mystery companion how 'it' feels. It also stands to reason that, if Seiga is hiding, she would not want to hide somewhere where she could be easily discovered. Now, again, this is only a theory, but it is possible that Seiga is sharing the power of the Saigyou Ayakashi's life force with her mystery companion, and was asking this companion how that power felt. I can think of one person that lives far away from the Scarlet Devil Mansion, in a place where random Gensokyo citizens are extremely unlikely to wander upon them intentionally or by accident, and who would be interested in obtaining a great power of botanical origin."
> Youmu: Go a little whiter than usual. "...Surely not?"
> Miko: "I cannot be certain this is the case. Truthfully, I am not even certain the fact that the life force comes from a tree would make a difference in how well it would be received. But...it seems more likely than other possibilities."
> Youmu: How aware are we of Yuuka's anti-trespassing policies?
> Youmu: How aware are we of any connection between Yuuka and Medicine?
> Youmu: "...Reimu, is there anyone whose presence she tolerates?"
> Youmu: Which 'good squad' is this?
> Youmu: Look a little bit puzzled. "Um...which 'goon squad' is this?"
> Youmu: Did we know about this mansion?
> Youmu: "Ah, I see. So there are no known outsiders that we could ask for help."
> Miko: "Hmm? Surely you could ask Miss Yakumo, if nothing else."
> Youmu: Shake head. "Yukari-sama and Yuuka are not on the best of terms. Yuuka is very territorial; I was hoping there was someone that she would not immediately consider a trespasser who could at least check to see if anything is amiss."
> Miko: "Hrm. That is unfortunate."
> Miko: "And if she is indeed harboring Seiga in return for greater power, the likelihood of success of that first option drops dramatically."
> Youmu: Frown. "And we would then have to deal with both of them, possibly enhanced by the Saigyou Ayakashi."
> Miko: "Indeed. Though I do hope I can at least talk Seiga down from a violent confrontation."
> Miko: Are we aware of the tengu penchant for journalism?
> Miko: How problematic were the tengu back in our day?
> Miko: "Anyway, given the uncertainty and danger surrounding this theory, perhaps it would be best if we tried to gather more information before we make our next move."
> Youmu: "What other leads do we have, though?"
> Miko: "Well, if nothing else, it would not be a bad idea to ask your mistress and Miss Yakumo their opinions on our theory, particularly as it pertains to whether or not a flower youkai would be particularly compatible with life force from a tree. We can also investigate other, less hostile areas, to see if Seiga has been spotted there recently. She may not be in Higan, as Reimu pointed out, but she may have traveled by the Sanzu River on the Gensokyo side. Seiga may believe not many people would think to search for a hermit in a shinigami's domain."
> Youmu: "...Maybe. What about you, though? Surely you're not volunteering for going there."
> Miko: Shake head. "I have a delivery to make to the Moriya Shrine, as part of the agreement made to obtain Patchouli's services. I can investigate Youkai Mountain while I am there."
> Youmu: Has that been our experience as well?
> Youmu: Under what conditions were we not supposed to open the oni's box?
> Youmu: Are we presently under a roof?
> Youmu: "That...seems to have worked for me in the past, now that I think about it."
> Miko: "I see. I will defer to the professionals on that matter, then. Though, Reimu, I assume you will still want me to return so my companions do not intrude upon your hospitality for too long."
> Youmu: Is it presently raining?
> Youmu: Does the shrine porch offer a roof?
> Youmu: Did we think to ask the rabbits if they had seen Seiga (or someone matching her description)?
> Miko: "Then perhaps we should make one last plan to reunite here, at least. If nothing else, I assume you do not wish to risk having to confront Seiga and Yuuka on your own, and I do not wish to bring my companions there without extra assistance. The poor dears have dealt with enough today already."
> Youmu: Raise an eyebrow. "What did they get into now?"
> Miko: "They ran afoul of an oni most rude while searching for my sword's thief underground. Their victory was not without cost."
> Youmu: "I see. Ah, that reminds me. I received something from the oni swordswoman, but I have yet to actually inspect it properly. I suppose now is as good a time as any."
> Youmu: Take out the box and open it.
> Youmu: Remove the scroll from the box and check for what is rattling.
> Youmu: !!!?!?!?
> Youmu: "Wow..."
> Miko: "Hmm?"
> Miko: Glance into the box, if we can.
> Miko: How much of a jeweler are we?
> Miko: "Ah, carnelians and sapphires. Quite a generous gift. What does the scroll say?"
> Youmu: What's our jewelry knowledge?
> Youmu: What's a carnelian?
> Youmu: Nod absently and open the scroll, closing the box and putting it away if we need to.
> Miko: Can we read the scroll from where we are?
> Youmu: Reroll the scroll. "Sorry, Miss Miko, but given what is written on this scroll, I suspect the oni would rather you earn one of your own by besting her in a duel."
> Miko: "Ah."
> Youmu: Put the box away.
> Both: Do we know of any jewelers in Gensokyo?
> Youmu: "Reimu, I believe there is a jeweler in town, yes? Could you tell me where they are located?"
> Youmu: Nod. "Thank you. I think I shall ask her, then."
> Miko: "Let us work out who should investigate where, then. Garden of the Sun aside, the most notable Gensokyo locations of which I am aware that are far away from the Scarlet Devil Mansion are this place, Youkai Mountain, the Human Village, Eientei, the musical ghost manor, and the shores of the Sanzu River. Both of you are more familiar with this land than I; is there anywhere I have missed?"
> Youmu: Is there?
> Youmu: Where is the underground entrance relative to other notable landmarks?
> Youmu: "There is also the entrance to the Underground, but it seems unlikely that she is down there, based on our travels there."
> Miko: Nod. "Does this seem to cover everything, Reimu?"
> Miko: Consider logistics of someone ourselves from here to Youkai Mountain to Eientei to here and Youmu from here to Sanzu River area to PrismRiver Manor to Human Village to here. Does this seem like a reasonable course of action, or is one itinerary clearly lengthier than the other?
> Miko: Eh, she'll just have to wait for us, then.
> Miko: "Then this is what I propose. I will investigate Youkai Mountain while making my delivery, and then make my way back to Eientei and investigate there before returning here."
> Miko: Gesture at Youmu. "You will investigate the shores of the Sanzu River, then make your way back to the Human Village and ask around for information there before returning here. You may wish to confirm with your musical ghost friends that they have not seen out of the ordinary, particularly since I imagine I will be back here later than you. If neither of us finds anything meaningful, then once we have both returned here, we will decide precisely how to approach the Garden of the Sun. Is this agreeable?"
> Youmu: Did we actually ask the PrismRiver Sisters about Seiga (or anyone fitting her description)?
> Youmu: How difficult would it be to add a stop at Meira's to Miko's proposed itinerary for us?
> Youmu: Is Kotohime still wandering around out of sight?
> Both: Exchange uncertain looks for a couple of seconds, then look back to Reimu.
> Miko: "...I suppose."
> Youmu: "I will not expose Kotohime to this danger, though."
> Miko: "You should probably go fetch her, then."
> Youmu: Nod, and then head off around the back of the Shrine in search of Kotohime.
> Youmu: Make our way over to them.
> Miko: "So, Reimu, what can you tell us about these mansion subordinates?"
> Youmu: ...eh, why not?
> Youmu: Give a slight bow to the turtle. "Greetings."
> Miko: Chuckle lightly. "I have met Patchouli's familiar, yes. Quite the personality, that one. By chance, is this vampire related to the Scarlets?"
> Youmu: Turn to Kotohime.
> Youmu: "I must let you know that, due to Miss Miko's information, she and I will be undertaking a task far more dangerous than I had originally anticipated. I know what we discussed earlier, but I cannot, in good conscience, allow you to accompany me where I am about to go."
> Miko: "Ah, I do believe there was mention made of a younger sister in a basement. A shame to hear this assessment of their family situation.
> Miko: As we are speaking, make our way over to the shrine porch steps, locate a not-terrible place to sit, and sit there with a small exhale. Sitting next to Reimu is fine, though we should not be uncomfortably close.
> Youmu: "The Garden of the Sun."
> Miko: Nod absentmindedly while looking over the shrine grounds.
> Miko: "...Reimu, may I ask you a forthright question, and request a frank answer?"
> Youmu: Pause for a moment, frowning.
> Youmu: "...I must warn you, if Miss Miko's theory is correct, Yuuka will be much more powerful than she normally is, and she will be accompanied by someone who is no slouch normally, but may also be experiencing a boost in power. Is this clear?"
> Miko: "There is a part of you that suspects I am responsible for this. Am I correct?"
> Youmu: "You...have you met Yuuka before, or at least heard the warnings surrounding her?"
> Miko: Was the mass of divine spirits that accompanied our resurrection a natural by-product of the process, or did someone(s) in our party actively and knowingly produce them?
> Miko: Sigh. "Of course not. In fact, that reaction is exactly my concern."
> Miko: Would the divine spirits have actually caused any harm?
> Miko: What issues have we caused, beyond the divine spirits and the odd minor disputes with the Buddhist faction?
> Youmu: "I just wanted to make sure, since you seem to expect to be able to detain her physically."
> Miko: "And what 'history' is this, precisely?"
> Youmu: "Um...I...don't know if I'm going to be much better at detaining her physically."
> Miko: Frown. "I ask genuinely. The spirits were harmless, and a byproduct of my resurrection besides, so the one way to prevent them would have been to not awaken in the first place. I am pointedly aware of my disagreements with that Temple, but those are personal; certainly nothing close to land-threatening."
> Youmu: "...Very well. But I am not responsible for anything that may befall you. Understood?"
> Miko: "I am well aware of the problems that panic and terror can cause. What I do not understand is the logical leap from unintentionally frightening parts of the populace to intentionally placing the entire land in very real danger."
> Youmu: Turn to the turtle. "You have seen her in action before, then?"
> Miko: Say nothing for a few seconds, then stand up.
> Miko: "There was, but I have heard what I needed to hear to make my decision. I will intrude upon your hospitality no longer."
> Youmu: "Huh. All right then, I suppose, if you insist. Are you ready to go, then?
> Miko: In which direction is the underground?
> Miko: In which direction does the shrine walkway lead away from the shrine?
> Miko: Look down the length of the walkway. "There seems to be much of that situation you do not know. It is clear that trying to bestow such knowledge would fail in the face of pre-existing prejudices, however, so I will not waste your time or mine with the attempt."
> Youmu: "Very well. Let us meet back up with the others."
> Youmu: Make our way back out to the front of the shrine.
> Miko: "I will see to it that neither Futo nor Tojiko will intrude upon your hospitality. Good day, Reimu."
> Miko: Take to the air, and, unless Reimu tries to stop us, head back toward the Underground.
> Youmu: "What the- Wait! What happened here?"
> Youmu: Look positively worry-baffled."What? What am I supposed to do now, then?! I'm not going into the Garden of the Sun without her!"
> Youmu: Look back and forth between Reimu and the departing Miko a couple of times, then turn to Kotohime and point emphatically at her.
> Youmu: Take on a sharp, no-nonsense tone.
> Youmu: "Stay here."
> Youmu: Take flight and speed off after the departing Miko.
> Miko: Wonderful. Well, there's no way we're going to outpace her, so we may as well not even try.
> Miko: Stop and turn around to face our pursuer.
> Youmu: Do we know anything about an incident a few years back, where Reimu found a UFO on her lawn and flipped the hell out at the Buddhists, even though it wasn't their fault?
> Youmu: How are we 'supposed' to act after an incident, anyway?
> Youmu: "Wait! What are you doing?!"
> Miko: Wait for Youmu to get into proper conversational range.
> Youmu: Have we ever known Reimu to be wrong about who's responsible for an incident?
> Miko: Did we actually knowingly terrorize the populace with spirits?
> Miko: Could we have stopped the gathering of spirits without actively interfering with our resurrection?
> Miko: At what point in the process did Byakuren try to stop our resurrection?
> Miko: So Byakuren's actions came after the spirits started gathering, then?
4/20 SHIP IT MIKOMYON FOREVER
> Miko: Put on a passive face. "My place in Gensokyo has been made clear to me. I see no reason to stick my neck out for a land that would rather I lose the battle to defend it."
> Youmu: "...What on Earth are you talking about?"
> Miko: "Simply put, Gensokyo does not desire my presence."
> Youmu: "What? Who told you th...oh, wait, never mind. Well, um, what about the Scarlet Devil Mansion? Or the swordswoman oni? Or, well, I bet there are plenty of humans in the village that like you, and Eientei probably would enjoy your company as well."
> Miko: "...That may be, but that still excludes the majority of Gensokyo's 'heroes'."
> Youmu: "Well, um...what about me?"
> Miko: Look slightly taken aback, but say nothing.
> Youmu: "...Look, I will not lie to you, only hearing about how you have supposedly dismissed Seiga after she attacked my home is...rather coincidental. But you have been patient with me and helped me out on multiple occasions today. And I am very grateful for that. But I really need you for what I am about to face."
> Miko: "...Very well. I...am sorry for suddenly leaving you to deal with this danger yourself."
> Youmu: "Think nothing of it. Now...can we return to the Shrine briefly, before heading off?"
> Miko: Look back at the Shrine. Is any activity visible?
> Miko: Frown. "...If I must. I am not sure I am much in the mood to deal with Reimu again so quickly, however."
> Youmu: "Yeah, what happened, anyway?"
> Miko: "Among other things not worth the energy to discuss, she seems to disagree about my level of aggression and malice when I first properly made my presence known."
> Youmu: What was our impression when we first met Miko?
> Youmu: Are we aware of any Buddhist attempts to prevent Miko's appearance?
> Youmu: "Well...to be honest, you were kind of intimidating. And Reimu does deal with threats for a living."
> Miko: Frown. "It was most assuredly not my intention to come off as hostile."
> Youmu: "I understand. But sometimes, intent is less important than perception."
> Miko: "...Perhaps so."
> Youmu: "...Come on, let's head back."
> Miko: "...Very well."
> Both: Return to the Shrine.
> Miko: Does she appear to be dead, or maybe a youkai?
> Miko: Look nowhere in particular. "Yes. I, ah...may have been a little hasty earlier. Perhaps my true concerns are best left for a less charged time."
> Youmu: Look to Miko, then to Reimu, staring meaningfully right into her eyes with a carefully neutral expression.
> Youmu: "Regardless, are we ready to proceed?"
> Miko: "Wait. There is one other thing."
> Miko: Could we store our cloak in our bag? Or is the clock too big?
> Miko: "Pardon me a moment."
> Miko: Remove our cloak, fold it up as necessary, and store it in our bag.
> Miko: "Ah, thank you." Smile. "It is a gift from my companions. As much as I would love to continue wearing it, given where we are going, it would not do to put such an expression of love and faithfulness in harm's way."
> Miko: "Ah, I nearly forgot! As you are still here in relative calm, may I trust that your gohei was not stolen?"
> Miko: Nod. "Very good. At least only the two weapons are missing, then."
> Youmu: "I think it is time we were off. Farewell, Reimu. I hope to have good news next we meet."
> Miko: "Yes, farewell. And...apologies for my poor and unbecoming attitude."
> Youmu: Look to Kotohime. "Don't worry about it. Let's go."
> Both: Take flight and head toward the Garden of the Sun.
> Along the way...
> Youmu: "Okay, just to be absolutely clear, let us not accuse Yuuka of anything until we can see that Seiga is there and is working with her. In the event that she is innocent, accusing her of something will only make her mad, and get us in trouble."
> Miko: Nod. "This is sound."
> Youmu: "Just to be safe, of course. We are not even completely sure yet that she is guilty."
> Miko: "By the, Miss, I do not believe we have been properly introduced. I am Toyosatomimi no Miko, a simple Taoist hermit."
> Youmu: Could we use our ghost half to possess someone? Or is that 'talent' full-ghost-only?
> Miko: Would simple conversation qualify as 'further study'? Or would we need more focused methods than that?
> Miko: "I see. So your job is similar to that of Reimu and Marisa, then?"
> Miko: "I suppose that explains why you were not present for my first appearance in this land, as they were."
> Miko: Remove our earmuffs and see what desires Kotohime has to offer.
> Youmu: Raise an eyebrow at Miko, but say nothing.
> Miko: Look Youmu in the eyes, then flit our gaze in the direction of Kotohime for a brief moment (and without turning our head) before looking back at Youmu.
> Miko: Wait, by 'attracted', do we mean romantically and/or sexually?
> Miko: Oh my, that's adorable! But it's also none of our business, and irrelevant to the task at hand, so let us not concern ourselves at present.
> Miko: Wince slightly, then put our earmuffs back on.
> Youmu: "Is something wrong?"
> Miko: Give Youmu a calm look with a slight and sheepish grin. "Only that I have again forgotten just how sensitive my hearing is. There was not too much pain, thankfully."
> Youmu: "Ah, Well, please do be careful with yourself. We do not need any self-inflicted handicaps."
> Miko: Chuckle a bit. "Of course." Look back to Kotohime. "Anyway, yes, the mass of spirits was an unfortunate-but-necessary part of the awakening process. They were ultimately harmless, but I do regret the panic they caused."
> Miko: "I suspect it would be best for everyone here if I were not detained at present anyway."
> Youmu: "Ah, this is unrelated to that, but it occurs to me that I should mention that you two will be working together in Yuyuko-sama's play."
> Miko: Look to Kotohime. "Really now? That is splendid news."
> Youmu: Look a bit sheepish. "To be honest, even I do not know yet. Yuyuko-sama wanted players that fit certain specific descriptions, but she did not tell me what roles they would take on."
> Miko: Wave a hand dismissively with a small grin. "I am sure she has her reasons. Besides, there is a little extra entertainment to be had in a mystery."
> Miko: "Quite so."
> Miko: We should try to corner Kotohime later and ask if anything earth-shattering has happened in her life that would cause such oddly muddles desires. With delicacy, of course. But we can worry about that when an opportunity arises.
> All: Continue onward to the Garden of the Sun.
> Both: Is there a mansion visible anywhere in the field?
> Youmu: "Keep to the air. No one should touch any of the flowers for any reason unless they absolutely have to."
> Miko: Nod. "I was also warned not to turn my back to the sunflowers. We should perhaps glance behind us every so often, to make sure no shenanigans are afoot."
> Both: Fly onward into the field, keeping an eye on the sunflowers.
> Youmu: Drop voice volume very low. "That's her."
> Miko: Frown and also drop voice volume low. "No disrespect, ladies, but I think I should speak on our behalf."
> Youmu: "Just do not agitate her, please."
> Miko: Put on a gentle, diplomatic smile in preparation for some fancy word-dancing.
> Miko: Can we feel anything from this woman?
> Miko: Give the woman a slight bow. "A pleasant day to you. I do not believe we have yet met. I am Toyosatomimi no Miko, a simple Taoist hermit and a newcomer to this land of Gensokyo."
> Miko: "I hope this is not because you have been harassed by a certain intruder?"
> Miko: Frown. "As I feared. This intruder, did she have blue looped hair?"
> Miko: Let the frown give way to ever-so-slight confusion. "Really? I see...ah, to explain why we are here, we are looking for this individual. It seems she has wronged my half-ghost companion here, and we are hoping to track her down before she does the same to others, such as yourself."
> Youmu: Give a slight bow of our own. "Hello again, Miss Kazami. Please pardon our intrusion."
> Miko: "My investigations have shown that this person has stolen the life force of a great youkai tree in the Netherworld. To what end, I cannot say, but I can tell that Gensokyo would be in a fair amount of danger if this life force were turned loose somehow."
> Miko: "If I may ask, does this mean she has visited you in the past'?"
> Miko: Raise an eyebrow. "Really now? I hope she was not too much of a burden."
> Miko: "She did not say where she was going, did she?"
> Miko: Nod. "Understandable. In that case, I believe I have intruded on your time and land for long enough, though if you have any questions or requests of me, I would be happy to address them. If nothing else, I would not be surprised if she spoke of me while here."
> Miko: "Yes, unfortunately. She is a former advisor of mine. I dismissed her in the hope that she would see the error of her wicked ways and better herself, but if today's events are any indication, it seems my hopes may be in vain."
> Miko: Rub the side of our face in exasperation. "Seiga, what will I do with you..."
> Youmu: "Um, Miss Kazami, you mentioned an intruder problem earlier? Is that something we can help with?"
> Youmu: Shrink back a bit. "Oh."
> Miko: "If this is what you desire, then we shall be off."
> Miko: "Mmm...I suppose I do have a few remaining curiosities. How long ago did she leave your domain?"
> Miko: "How did she pass the time while in your company?"
> Miko: Nod. "And, if I may ask a more personal question, what prompted you to allow her to stay?"
> Youmu: Have all of these answers sounded reasonable, based on our experience?
> Miko: "I see. Very well, that exhausts my curiosities." Look to Youmu. "Do you have any?"
> Youmu: Shake head. "If Seiga is long gone, then we have no further reason to be here."
> Miko: Look back to Yuuka. "That will be all from us, then."
> Miko: Give a slight bow. "Your time and assistance is most appreciated. Best wishes until we meet again."
> Youmu: Give a bow of our own. "Farewell, Miss Kazami."
> Both: Turn around and head back the way we came until we're out of the Garden.
> Miko: "Well. I must say, that was...rather anticlimactic."
> Youmu: Nod. "At least we are safe. What do we do now, though?"
> Miko: "I believe the plan I laid out earlier is still worth following, doubly so now that we have eliminated this place as a possible hiding location. Pardon me for something unrelated for a moment, though."
> Miko: Pull out the Iron Key.
> Miko: "Do either of you recognize this, or have an idea as to what it might go with?"
> Youmu: Do we recognize the key?
> Youmu: "Is that the key from the shop in the forest?"
> Miko: "The very same."
> Youmu: Shake head. "That is about all I know about it."
> Miko: Look to Kotohime. "Do you think you could give me a rough time estimate of the era from which keys of this make come?"
> Miko: Twirl the key in our hands a bit while inspecting it, before returning it to our bag. "I see. I suppose that may help narrow down the origins of this particular key."
> Youmu: "Why did you buy it, if you did not know anything about it?"
> Miko: Give a small grin. "There is a little extra entertainment to be had in a mystery."
> Miko: "Anyway, with that matter discussed, I believe we should continue our investigation of the remaining suspicious areas as I outlined earler. Is this agreeable?"
> Youmu: Nod. "That is fine. I will also be stopping by Meira's home, to ask about her interest in what we discussed earlier."
> Miko: "I suspect that my itinerary will take me longer to complete, so that should not be a problem."
> Youmu: Look to Kotohime. "Miss Miko and I are going to conduct separate investigations before meeting at the Hakurei Shrine again. What would you like to do? Do you wish to go with either of us, or do you wish to return to the Human Village?"
> Miko: Nod. "Very well. I would like to speak to each of you individually in private later, however. I have nothing earth-shattering to say; it is simply something to keep in mind, for a time after the immediate issues are resolved. Youmu, I trust you will retrieve the missing sword and wand should you come across them?"
> Youmu: "Of course. Farewell until we meet again."
> Miko: "Best of luck to all of us."
> Youmu: Fly to Komachi's section of the Sanzu River, avoiding fairy chaos and flying back over any part of the Garden of the Sun.
> Miko: Fly to Youkai Mountain, avoiding fairy chaos and flying back over any part of the Garden of the Sun.
> Could we avoid them if we landed and continued traveling on foot?
> Let's land, then, and see how the situation changes.
> Are there any obvious paths into the forest?
> Head toward the road, keeping an eye out for ground-level fairies.
> Isolated fairies are not a problem. Head into the forest along the path.
> Can we tell what she is painting?
> Interesting! Can we tell what she is (human, youkai, celestial, god, etc)?
> Are there any general proper ways to greet/introduce oneself to a god, particular one in a position such as ours?
> Watch the god work for about thirty seconds or so, admiring the colored of the already-changed leaves around us in the process.
> Very well. A shame we do not have time to spend watching the chaning of the leaves unfold right before us. Perhaps some other day, though...
> Continue on down the path without disturbing the god. Once we are out of reasonable hearing range of the god, stop and put our cloak back on before continuing again.
> Smile.
> "I did not wish to interrupt. But yes, I would like to thank you for your work."
> "I must confess, I have never actually met a god before. May I ask your name?"
> Do Futo or Tojiko have a particular penchant toward the aesthetic of turning leaves?
> Nod.
> "I will have to return when you have finished. Hopefully I will have my regular traveling companions in tow by then, so they can also appreciate the aesthetic of your leaves first-hand."
> "I am sure I can arrange something."
> Add Quest: Family Picnic in the Autumn Leaves
> "Not to change the subject, but before we can reach that point, I do have an investigation to conduct at present. Have you, perchance, seen a woman with blue looped hair pass through here recently?"
> Take our cloak out of our pack.
> "Ah, that is unfortunate. If you do see her, take caution. She may be hostile."
> Put our cloak on.
> "In that case, I shall press on. Farewell until we meet again."
> Wave our goodbye, then head further on up the road (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=78gR3Dlj7l0).
> Keep walking forward and act like nothing is wrong, but remove our earmuffs and see if we can tell the direction of the person watching us from the sound of their desires.
>Put our earmuffs back on and mentally shake our fist at the faeries.
>Sneak a look over our shoulder.
> Let's just keep going up the road a bit, then, and see if someone deigns to reveal themselves. WE have a sharp enough eye to spot if something is going to go wrong.
> Not Shizuha, surely?
> Keep watch to the right as we walk along.
> Is this another god? Can we even tell yet?
> Make our way closer to her, speaking when we are in reasonable conversation distance.
> "Pardon me. I hope my presence is not disturbing your dance."
> Inventory
> "...I'm afraid I don't understand."
> "Well, yes, that I understood. But I do not understand what you mean when you say I 'carry a doom'."
> Put on a thoughtful expression.
> "Unless you are making a literal reference to one of my possessions..."
> Fish that key out of our bag.
> "...which would most likely be this."
> Give the key a second, ever-so-slightly disgusted look.
> "How do you know this? No one I have asked about this key today has known anything about it, beyond the most general of information."
> Look back at the dancer.
> "...May I ask who you are? I am new to this land, and I do not believe we have met."
> Give Hina a slight bow.
> "Well met, Hina. I am Miko, a simple Taoist hermit."
> Look back at the key.
> "I am afraid that whatever you see in this key is beyond my capabilities to detect, however. It seems an ordinary iron key to me."
> "Then what is this doom of which you speak?"
> Frown.
> "That mouse will hear about this. What can you tell me about the doom surrounding this key?"
> What was Hina's tone with that last line? Did she sound genuine, or is she angling for a favor that would help jog her memory?
> "Would that be hundreds of years, or perhaps thousands?"
> "Strange. The key's design is not very new. I wonder how long it has spent in that shop?"
> "Is it possible it originated from this area?"
> "Is there such a manufacturer in the area?"
> "I see. Would they have anyone capable of inflicting doom upon a material object such as this?"
> Frown slightly.
> "I suppose that is true. It is interesting to know this much about this key, at least, even if this knowledge seems to have created more questions than it answers."
> "I...don't suppose you can discern the nature of this doom? Or if it even has a nature?"
> "Ah. A shame, for I have not an inkling as to what that may be."
> "I can only hope that makes the origin easier to find."
> Nod.
> "That is the most logical conclusion, yes. Are there perhaps others local to this area that may also recognize it?"
> "I did encounter Miss Shizuha a little bit earlier on this path. I may have to inquire about this key when I return here later and see her again."
> "...I suppose that is true."
> "That is fair. Very well, I shall instead pick the minds of those higher up on the mountain."
> "I can defend myself as necessary. Ah, and speaking of, have you seen a blue loop-haired woman pass by here recently?"
> "That may help narrow down the person I had in mind, as she is not a kappa."
> Nod.
> "If you do see her, be wary. She may be hostile, and may be dangerous."
> "It seems she has taken the life force from a great youkai tree. I am in pursuit, in the hopes that I can restore it to its rightful owner."
> Shake head.
> "She and I have...much to discuss about her behavior when I encounter her."
> "Regardless, I must press onward, as I have a delivery to make to the Moriya Shrine. If I learn more about the history of this key, I will let you know."
> Nod.
> "I will keep this in mind. Thank you for all of your assistance. Farewell until we meet again."
> Continue our trek up the mountain.
> What has been our past experience with kappa?
> What's with the kappa around that large building? Does there appear to be some specific major activity? Can we even tell from this distance?
> Mmm, if there's nothing immediately interesting going on, then we can maybe return here once our errand is complete.
> Continue on up the mountain.
> Let's take to the air and continue up the path, then. No point in exhausting ourselves if we're going to have to deal with Seiga at some point.
> No sense in trying to avoid a confrontation if we've been spotted. Let them approach.
> "Good day. I have a message from the Scarlet Devil Mansion, to be delivered to the Moriya Shrine."
> Nod.
> "That is fine. I apologize for the intrusion and inconvenience."
> Nod and follow.
> Follow and enter through the torii as indicated.
> Ah, splendid, someone we know.
> Make our way over to the shrine maiden.
> Frown.
> "Must everyone greet me this way?"
> When we first ran into our incident solver welcoming party, did they all attack us at once, or was it a one-at-a-time affair?
> In what order did they combat us?
> As unpleasant as it is to consider, we were presumably suppressed each time, yes?
> "Even ignoring that I have absolutely no interest in such, given past experiences and the current situation, calling an attempt to conquer or destroy your shrine by myself 'foolhardy' would be generous. But arguing my own merits is not why I am here."
> Pull out Patchouli's note and hand it over.
> "This note was written by Patchouli of the Scarlet Devil Mansion. It is to be delivered to this shrine."
> "As long as I am here, I feel I must mention that I am currently searching for Seiga. If you see her, I advise caution, as she may be hostile, and she may be dangerous."
> Nod.
> "It seems unlikely that you would have, given the apparent state of tengu territory."
> "If I may ask an aside, can you tell me about a woman named Hina that I encountered on my journey here, before I reached the kappa village?"
> "Yes, I suppose. Hrm."
> Take the key out and study it again.
> "That would certainly explain why she saw a doom on this key."
> Offer the key to Sanae.
> "Would you like to take a look? I must admit, I completely missed whatever it is about this key that Hina saw."
> "That is what I wish to know. It also seems to me to be an unremarkable iron key. But this Hina claimed to see a doom surrounding it. If what you say of her is true, then there is probably merit to her assertion, unless she is known to lie for her own amusement."
> "The curio shop in the forest."
> "The shop or the key?"
> Chuckle a bit.
> "Very well. To be perfectly honest, I know extremely little about this key, other than that this particular style of key went out of fashion a couple hundred years ago. Hina seemed to recall having seen it once before, which implies it was in this area not too long ago. The doom itself is probably related to what this key unlocks, which Hina suspects is 'something quite momentous'."
> Marisa said that the key has been there as long as she can remember, yes? Or, at least, it was there before the current 'ownership' took hold?
> "It is my understanding that the shop mostly runs on a trading system. Presumably, the key's previous owner used it to purchase something else."
> !
> Raise an eyebrow.
> "Who is this Wriggle?"
> Nod.
> "Where can I find this youkai?"
> "I will look into this. Thank you for your information."
> Gesture to the note in Sanae's hand (or whever she ended up putting it).
> "I will leave you to whatever is written in that note, then, as I must continue my search for Seiga."
> Nod.
> "Farewell."
> Head back to the tengu that brought us here.
> "I am. Before we depart, however, since I made mention of this to the shrine maiden, I should make mention to you as well. Has a blue loop-hiared woman attempted to make her way into your territory today?"
> "I see. Should any of you spot her, be careful. She may be hostile, and she may be dangerous."
> "Excellent. In that case, I am ready to depart."
> "Thank you very much for your assistance. May I ask your name?"
> Smile.
> "A pleasure, Koyomi. I am Miko, a simple Taoist hermit. My apologies again for intruding upon your time."
> "Still, your work is apprciated. I must be off to my destination, so farewell until we meet again."
> Nod.
> "Thank you."
> Head back down the mountain to where Hina was, traveling by air until we pass by the kappa village, then landing and proceeding on foot.
> Head back down the mountain, keeping an eye out for Hina.
> "I have returned with a little more information."
> "I know nothing more about the history of this key or the doom behind it. However, I did learn that it was that this key was discovered by an insect youkai on her way to the Moriya Shrine several years ago. She is the one that traded it to the curio shop in the forest."
> Nod.
> "It is my understanding that she lives somewhere in the western portion of the Forest of Magic. I will be making my way there to seek her out eventually."
> "Is there anything else you can tell me about this doom? If not, that is fine."
> Nod.
> "Very well. I will keep this in mind."
> Head back down to the foot of the mountain.
> Assuming we reach the foot of the mountain uninterrupted, take flight and head toward the Bamboo Forest, avoiding any agitated fairy clouds.
> Is it Yukari?
> Let's keep going, then, unless she prompts us to stop. Give her a generic friendly greeting as we pass by, though.
> Make our way the rest of the way down the mountain.
> Take flight and head toward the Bamboo Forest, avoiding fairy clouds and aiming for that large boulder we started at the first time around.
> Here's hoping we can get through here without being accosted. Losing our way would be dreadful.
> Start following the path delineated by the boulders and arrows as we did before.
> All we can do is trudge forward. If a fairy or two gets immediately in our way, we'll have to shoot them down. Otherwise, we can just run past them until we get to the next rock.
> Drat.
> Slowly and quietly make our way forward, trying to get into proper hearing range without getting into visible range.
> Oh for fuck's sake.
> We know what each of these things are, yes?
> Might as well get on with it. Keep moving forward. Hopefully the two groups will be too angry with each other to pay us much mind.
> A score of fairies or a score of groups of fairies?
> Are the fairies staring at each other across our path?
> Are any fairies actually directly in our path, i.e. we would smack into them if we continued on a perfectly-straight route?
> Are there any notable landmarks in our path on the other side of the fairies?
> Take a couple steps more toward our destination.
> Has nobody noticed our presence yet?
> Might as well keep on walking, then.
> How large is this fairy?
> Could we duck under her?
> Is she looking at us?
> How far down does our skirt hang?
> Time for MAXIMUM DIGNITY
> Grab the bottom of our cloak with one hand and lift it up enough that we can also grab the bottom of the back of our skirt in the same hand. Use our other hand to help maneuver this as needed.
> Once we have both our cloak and skirt in one hand, grab the front of our skirt with our other hand.
> Pull our grabbed clothing up enough that it is above our knees.
> Once all of this is done, carefully step over the fairy in our path. Use high steps and be sure to keep our weight balanced on our planted leg until we have completely passed over the fairy.
> Phew.
> Take another step to make sure we are well-clear of the fairy, then let our clothes drop back down.
> Once this is done, continue on our path.
> Oh for the love of-
> Stop, keep our body oriented in its current direction and turn our head to look over our shoulder.
> "Hmm?"
> Tap a finger to our chin, as if in thought.
> "...Can it not be both?"
> "Are you certain? Because it was both in my time, countless years ago."
> Take on a sharper tone and a slightly steelier look.
> "Hmm? What is this?"
> Turn back forward, retrieve our baton, place it on the ground between our feet and pointed in the direction we want to go, then turn around on the spot (without kicking the baton) so we can face the fairy group properly.
> If we know which fairy said the last thing, stare at her. If not, look quickly back and forth between the two groups.
> "Do I stand accused of falsehoods? Has my assistance been requested in resolving your quandary only for my generosity and wisdom to be met with scorn? Is this what I hear?"
> Give the fairy an evil-eye look as we approach her.
> Pause for a moment, then relax our expression to a neutral one with just the tiniest hint of displeasure. Relax our tone as well, to one that is calm but still firm.
> "Very well. I see sincerity in your apology. You are forgiven. However..."
> Look around the assembled crowd of fairies. Make sure our baton is where we left it while doing this.
> "May I trust there are no others here prepared to assert that I do not speak the truth?"
> "Ah, a valid question. I suppose none of you may know who I am. I was quite influential in my time, and had access to swathes of information from trusted sources. Rest assured, it was indeed both."
> Frown in thought.
> "Hmm. That is quite the broad question. Perhaps you should detail me as to your understanding of the issue, and I will see if I can offer any extra information you may find important."
> We presumably know what this is, yes?
> "Ah, I believe I see the confusion. Perhaps my previous word choice was poor. To be clearer, I suppose I could say that they look equally good."
> "It works quite elegantly, my dear. Could you imagine telling a kitty in a bonnet that she does not look as splendid as a penguin in a bonnet, or vice versa?"
> Nod with a smile.
> "Precisely. It would be abhorrent to say either of those things. The only logical thing to say, then, is that the kitty and the penguin look equally splendid in their bonnets."
> Make our way back over to our baton, but don't pick it up or leave just yet.
> "I grant that it can be difficult to fully comprehend. But truth is often strange, and sometimes unexpected."
> Oh well, that's for the best anyway.
> "Have a pleasant day, my dears."
> Reorient our direction based on our baton, then pick our baton up and resume our journey.
> Phew! We'll get this path down yet.
> Make our way to the manor, visually checking for anything out of the ordinary (using our previous visit as a basis). If nothing sticks out as unusual, make our way to the front gate area.
> What time is it?
> Make our way over to a less asleep group.
> Shake head.
> "I am only here with a couple of minor curiosities, the first of which is how things have progressed since I was here last."
> Purse our lips.
> "Mmm, I see. I hope my suggestion does not cause too much long-lasting ill will among any parties involved."
> "Anyway, my other curiosity is if a blue loop-haired woman has ventured this way recently."
> "She has been there before, then?"
> "Interesting. What does she do while here?"
> "I see. Unfortunate that she seems to be skilled at not leaving much to trail her by."
> !
> "Hmm! I don't suppose you are aware of what part of the forest?"
> Look around. How many others are awake?
> "May I assume I can only ask those gathered here?"
> "I meant as opposed to those inside."
> "If Seiga spent as much time with your Princess as you say, then it is possible she let slip some information about her next destination. But I will respect the current state of this house."
> Make to address the general rabbit population, though don't be too loud for fear of waking anyone that is sleeping.
> "Is there anyone here, then, that may know what part of the forest she has dwelled inrecently?"
> Return our attention to the couple of rabbits that we have been speaking with and frown.
> "I suppose I did not think that all the way through."
> "Very well, if you do not believe I will be a bother in doing so."
> Make our way amongst the awake rabbits, asking each that did not previously shrug in response to our question if they know anything about where in the forest the 'blue loop-haired woman' currently resides.
> Raise an eyebrow.
> "The 'body woman'? Do you mean Komachi?"
> Frown.
> "What happened between you two?"
> "I see...what are you going to do, then?"
> "I would rather not get on Komachi's bad side if I can avoid it. Mmm...you can come with me, but you must promise to be on your best behavior. Stay close to me, and don't get in her way. And definitely don't go wandering off into the trees. Understood?"
> Nod.
> "Very well. Come."
> Continue on to the shores with Komachi's dock.
> Walk over to Komachi, hailing her when she looks up or when we get into reasonable conversation distance, whichever comes first.
>"Wait, what do you mean by ghost girl?"
> "It is. She has promised to not cause any trouble, however, and with luck, we will not be here for too long."
> Well. That certainly explains a lot.
> Give a sideways look at Kotohime, then return our gaze to Komachi.
> "Thank you."
> "Right, yes. Have you seen a blue loop-haired woman around her recently?"
> Frown.
> "I see. She has stolen the life force of the Saigyou Ayakashi and has escaped from the Netherworld, so I must find her as soon as possible."
> "You're telling me. She is quite good at eluding me, as well. I really wish we had more to go on than 'far away from the Scarlet Devil Mansion'."
> "I can imagine. Anyway, if you do see her, be careful. I do believe she is a hermit, but who knows what she may do with that life force."
> "Of course."
> Gesture at the book.
> "If I may ask, what are you reading?"
> "Is it any good?"
> Can we see the title?
> "Huh, I see. ...Wait, is it actually dry enough to read?"
> "Ah. I suppose that is true."
"I am a professional, after all," says Komachi.
>_
> Nod.
> "Very well. I suppose we will continue our investigation elsewhere. Thank you for your help."
> Did we ever actually ask the Prismrivers about Seiga?
> "Thank you. Farewell until we meet again."
> Take flight and head back to the Human Village.
> "Ah, you're quite welcome. Though I suppose what she said explains why you are fascinated with my ghost half."
> "I understand. You are certainly not the first person that has been so curious."
> "Many other people that I have met in my travels have been curious. A human that is also a ghost is not exactly a common occurrence."
> "I am not sure I have met such a person either."
> How common is death amongst Lunarians? Is it notably different from Terrans?
> "I understand. I suppose that you, as a Lunarian, would not have much experience with death."
> "Speaking of, have you ever spoken with the other Lunarians here in Gensokyo?"
> Nod.
> "There are a couple of Lunarians living in the Bamboo Forest."
> Where is the Bamboo Forest relative to Kotohime's trap door?
> "They are far to the south of your home."
> Frown.
> "Are you all right?"
> "Then why are you looking at me like that?"
> "I asked you about the Lunarians in the Bamboo Forest, and you stared at me as if I had grown a second head."
> Frown.
> Speak a little bit slower.
> "I asked you about the Lunarians in the Bamboo Forest, and you stared at me as if I had grown a second head."
> "You are doing it again."
> Frown.
> "...You are not aware that you keep zoning out, are you?"
> "You completely zone out whenever I mention certain things, and once I move away from those subjects, you snap back to reality, without any memory of what I've said."
> "Quite sure, yes. If you do not believe me, though, then we can test you when we get to the Human Village."
> "Sorry. I just want to help whatever it is that's doing that to you."
> Frown.
> "Very well. If I cannot convince you, then I will leave it be for the time being. But if someone else notices what I notice, then I think we should revisit this."
> "Setting that aside, to answer your original question, we are traveling back to the Human Village, in order to ask around and see if anyone has seen Seiga lately."
> Nod.
> "I was hoping for your help to make the process go quicker, yes."
> "It might be best to just divide the village in half, and then meet at the pub when we're done."
> What would be a reasonable way to divide the Human Village in half for investigative purposes?
> What would that leave for the other person?
> "I think it would be best if one of us investigated the marketplace and the housing rows, while the other checked the other areas of town."
> "Yes."
> Nod.
> "Your help is very appreciated."
> "In that case, I will check with the temple, the shops away from the market, and the other less dense parts of the village."
> "Correct. Her name is Seiga Kaku. If you do find her and somehow avoid her noticing you, do not engage her or draw attention to yourself. Come find me, and we will take care of her."
> Provide a description of Seiga's body type and typical dress. Within tasteful reason, of course.
> "That should do just fine."
> Give a small smile.
> "Thank you."
> Continue on to the village.
> What notable establishments are about on the line that we've used to divide the village up for investigative purposes?
> Let's make our way to the pub, then.
> Look to Kotohime.
> "Let's ask here first, in case someone knows something. If we do not get any leads, then we will split up as planned."
> Make our way to the bar.
> ...What does she mean by that?
> Put on a confused look.
> "I beg your pardon?"
> ...Actually, what IS our preferred level of alcohol, if we even drink at all?
> "Oh, um, not right now. I am actually on investigative duty."
> Make a rueful face.
> "Though perhaps I will need one or two by the day's end, with the way it has gone so far."
> "Sadly, we cannot stick around for long. I only wish to know if you have seen a blue loop-haired woman around, or if you have heard about anyone else seeing her around."
> Provide a description of Seiga's body type and typical dress. Within tasteful reason, of course.
> "I am searching for her because she stole something important from the Netherworld."
> "Ah. That is unfortunate, as this thievery happened this morning."
> "Very well. Thank you."
> Look to Kotohime.
> "Shall we commence our search, then?"
> "Splendid. Then let us begin."
> Exit the pub.
> What is the closest major establishment on our half of the town?
> Where is the Temple from here?
> North
> The nun will almost certainly be glad to tell us if a Taoist is on the loose and causing trouble. Enter the chothing store.
> "Hello again."
> Make our way to the counter where the nun is.
> "Ah, she is actually currently helping me investigate the town. We are investigating whether or not Seiga Kaku has been in the village today."
> Did Miko ever discuss what Futo and Tojiko are up to today?
> "I hope they did not cause too much trouble?"
> "I don't know precisely where the lackeys are, but Miko has been helping me look for Seiga. Apparently Miko and her lackeys made plans to regather at the Hakurei Shrine."
> "For however long that lasts. I would assume they will be joining the search for Seiga once they arrive."
> "It seems Miko's sword has been stolen."
> Shrug.
> "If they were causing you trouble earlier, perhaps they thought your faction had taken it?"
> Shrug.
> "Anyway, based on what Miko said, it actually sounds like Seiga may have stolen it. Which would be nice, I guess, because it means both of our issues can be solved in one fell swoop."
> "Seems like it. I was skeptical initially, because it is really to claim that you have dismissed one of your advisors after being told that said advisor has committed some malicious act, but their separation was verified by Yuuka, which whom Seiga had apparently stayed for some time several weeks ago."
> Nod.
> "She did not seem to have much interest in the details."
> "Regardless, if Seiga has not been seen here, then I must continue my investigation. If you do see her, be very careful. She knows that I, at least, am after her, and it is quite possible she is substantially more dangerous than she is normally."
> Nod.
> "I will intrude upon your time no further. Have a pleasant day."
> Exit the shop.
> Continue northward, keeping an eye out for notable shops.
> Enter the lantern shop.
> Figures that we'd start seeing redheads everywhere now.
> Is this woman human?
> How much of a use would we have for lanterns at home?
> "Pardon me. I am on an investigation for a potentially dangerous individual. Have you seen or heard about a woman with blue looped hair today?"
> "She has stolen a powerful energy from the Netherworld, and is both knowledgable and amoral enough to enhance her own power with it. She also knows I am after her, and so is likely on the defensive."
> Look slightly taken aback.
> "Um...maybe? I'm not actually sure where she lives, or what she does in her free time."
> Are the lantern prices visible anywhere?
> How much money do we have again?
> "I suppose that may be true. Still, if she does appear here, be cautious."
> "It is...admittedly possible, if she is looking for a place to hide out. We have information that she is 'far away from the vampire manor', and while that leaves a lot of Gensokyo to search, we have established that she is not at the Hakurei Shrine, the Garden of the Sun, the Sanzu River's shinigami boat dock, or underground. The local constable and I are currently searching this village, while the Taoist hermit that caused all those spirits to appear is investigating Youkai Mountain and the Bamboo Forest mansion."
> "For your sake, I hope things stay that way. I do not want innocents dragged into this situation."
> Did Miko tell us about a bamboo forest huntress?
> Nod.
> "I will keep an eye out for her if I make my way there."
> "Will do. Have a pleasant day."
> Exit the shop and continue north.
> Make for the Temple proper.
> Shake head.
> "Unfortunately, I am only here to let you know that you should keep an eye out for Seiga. As I told your sister nun, it is quite possible she is substantially more powerful and dangerous than she normally is."
> "Indeed. She is working by herself, though, for whatever that is worth."
> Nod.
> "It seems Seiga was dismissed from their company some time ago. Whatever happened seems to have been bad enough that their leader is actually helping search for her."
> "I know little of the details, beyond Seiga being dismissed for being too wicked or some such. I did not pry very much, since it is not really my business. And, well, truth be told, I was rather skeptical of the claim given it came on the heels of Seiga stealing an important energy from the Netherworld, but their falling out was independently verified by Yuuka, so I suppose it actually happened."
> "Regardless, may I assume you have not seen or heard of Seiga being around here today?"
> "I assume this is because of the trouble caused this morning that your sister nun mentioned?"
> "It seems their leader's sword was stolen. I cannot say for sure, but it is possible that any trouble caused was a result of investigating that theft."
> "Well, possibly related to that, I should let you know that Lady Yuyuko Saigyouji, Mistress of the Netherworld, has written a play that will be performed in this village at some point in the future, and both your matriarch and theirs have agreed to perform in it."
> Nod.
> "Both of them are fully aware of the other's involvement, of course. I would certainly not try to deceive anyone in that way."
> "Anyway, I figured your group and theirs would want to know ahead of time. I hope you are able to attend."
> Smile.
> "Splendid. I hope as many as your sisterhood can attend as possible, though I do understand that you all have many other responsibilities and obligations."
> "That would be splendid."
> "I do not believe so, unless you have any personal curiosities."
> How much further North can we go until we leave town entirely?
> Shrug.
> "I have a little bit of time. My investigative path is notably shorter than hers. But I will not press the issue if you do not want me to."
> "Very well."
> Give the ghost a short bow.
> "Farewell until we meet again."
> Head back south through town toward the upper-class district.
> Might as well start wandering the roads.
> Have we seen this girl before?
> Give her a wave and a small smile.
> "Good day, miss."
> "I was, yes. I hope I did not give you cause for alarm."
> Look a bit sheepish.
> "...Technically, that was the doing of the person I was chasing. But I apologize for the intrusion nonetheless."
>Did we take anything?
> Wave our hands defensively in front of us.
> "Nothing! I did not take anything! Like I said, I was chasing someone!"
> Nod.
> "The person I was chasing has the ability to make the people around her not see her. I only thought to check the house I assume is yours because I saw the door sliding shut, when it was already closed the first time I passed it."
> "I entered the house and saw a piece of clothing enter the kitchen. When I followed it in there, the person had vanished again, so I pretended to leave the house and took watch up against the ceiling above the kitchen door. While the person remained invisible, they had an aura of death about them, and I was able to sense them leaving the house through the same door we used to enter it, despite the door itself not moving. In the interest of not losing what little sense I had of their presence, I left the house myself and continued pursuit."
> "A satori from the underground."
> Frown.
> "I...would rather not name them, out of concerns for their privacy."
> Blink.
> "...Um..."
> Lower voice.
> "...How do you know this?"
> Does that sound familiar at all?
> "I see. Well, yes, it was her."
> Look ever-so-slightly offended in a disgusted way.
> "All personal distaste aside, Lady Saigyouji would have my hide if I were to shame her house by engaging in such matters. And I would well deserve it."
> "If you like, 5he next time I see her, I can ask her to return here and apologize for giving you such a fright."
> Give a small smile.
> "I understand what you mean. She may be more willing to do it than you might think."
> Tap chin a couple of times in thought.
> "In fact...hmm, you say you record chronicles about people?"
> "I wonder if perhaps you would be willing to write about her based on things she wants to be known. Sort of like a very open-ended interview, I suppose."
> Nod.
> "I will find out if she is interested, then. Hopefully, a satori telling her story will reduce the social stigma of being a satori, even if only a little bit."
> "Regardless, is there anything I can do for you while I am here?"
> "Oh! Right. On the subject of suspicious people, have you seen a blue loop-haired woman pass through this area today?"
>How long has it been since we lost sight of Seiga?
> Opinion of Mystia Lorelei
> "It has been several hours since I began my pursuit of her, so at least since then. if she passed through here before that, however, then I will take whatever information I can get."
> How did Meira come into her horse, again? Did she even say?
> "A horse, you say? What color was it?"
> Was Meira's horse brown?
> "Hmm. I did meet someone this morning that said she recently acquired a horse. I think I will ask her about this, since I was planning on meeting her again anyway."
> "Regardless, if you do see the blue loop-haired woman again, be cautious. She may be hostile, and she may be dangerous."
> Nod.
> "That would be wise. In that case I must press onward. Before that, however, may I have your name?"
> That name is not familiar, is it?
> "Well met, Miss Akyuu. I am Youmu Konpaku, gardener of the Netherworld."
> Give a light chuckle.
> "I suppose you would have some information on me if you know of the lost Komeiji."
> How much further do we have to go in this direction before we hit the edge of town?
> "If I return here with Miss Komeiji in tow, where may I find you? Should I visit your home, or do you frequent other places?"
> "Very well, I shall seek you out when I have her in my company again."
> Give Akyuu a short bow.
> "Farewell until we meet again."
> Continue on down the street in our investigation.
> What other notable areas of our half of the town have we not visited yet?
> Where is the jeweler's shop, and on who's side of town is it?
> Head toward that area, then, looking out specifically for the jeweler's shop.
> Let's walk by them both and see if either of them is the jewelery shop.
> The two houses, sorry.
> Ah, perfect!
> Enter, assuming the store is open.
> Nod.
> "Thank you."
> Walk toward the counter. While on our way, take out the box with the jewels in it and open it, removing the scroll but leaving the jewels inside.
> "I was actually wondering what you could tell me about what I have here."
> How does the woman's hair compare to ours?
> "Certainly."
> Hand the box over.
> Let our eyes light up a little bit.
> "Really now? I would not have pegged the oni swordswoman for a jeweler. I suppose this is a lesson in making assumptions. Regardless, I will need some time to dwell on your offer, as I am rather preoccupied with other concerns at the moment. I can at least promise that if I do conduct any such business, it will be here."
> "Oh, you mean Nue? I did not realize she was a jeweler either. She seems to be rather multi-talented. Which I suppose is to be expected of a shapeshifter."
> "Anyway, yes, I will keep this place in mind. Regarding my more immediately pressing issue, however, have you seen a blue loop-haired woman in town today?"
> "Mmm. That is probably for the best. If you do happen to see her, be cautious. She may be hostile."
> Put the box away.
> "I will take my leave, then. Farewell to you both."
> Exit the shop and head further toward the edge of town in the same direction we were just traveling.
> Any part of our half of town that we haven't covered yet?
> At least we didn't go away empty-handed.
> Head back to the tavern.
> Wait for Kotohime to arrive.