>"Thank you."
>Follow along
>The tall woman folds her wings in close to her body as she makes her way down the staircase, leading you and Rin back down to the door you used the last time you came here. She explains that there is an elevator that goes down to the pool area when White Rose asks, but she states that it's often faster to walk. Better for a body, too. She also informs you that the freshwater pool is presently occupied by two recently ascended youkai who haven't quite got comfortable breating atmosphere yet, but they shouldn't disturb you. As is not uncommon among 'newborns', one of the two, the shark, isn't all the outgoing just yet. Evidently she bites strangers.
>The large room where you swiped your bagel the last time you were here is nowhere near as empty this time. Half a dozen seats are filled with the employess of the CRA, all either on break or on lunch. A tan-skin man with a rather ridiculous mohawk calls out to you and your Rin, but Hatoko informs him that you two are here on business and that he still needs a haircut. The colorful bird sits down to join him at his table, leaving you and Rin to carry on unencumbered by civilians.
>The air down here is no longer oppressive or ominous, apart from being a couple stories below ground. But even so, you have to fight to keep a shiver from running down your back. The memories of your experience the last time you were here, both with the Tar and then the Water Champion, may follow you for a long time.
>Just as Hatoko described, that sheet of lead is still there, right where you left it. A very innocuous leaving by a very malevolent thing.