Magical Lotus - Mahou Shoujou Byakuren - Episode 5, Part 2

[Oldmansour]

>Nod

>Hiyori swallows loudly. "Okay, calm down." she says to herself. "He can't hurt you in this room. He can't want to hurt you, he would have done it already."
>"Hiyori, who is this Razorclaw?" White Rose asks, now visibly on guard.
>It takes the white winged youkai a moment to collect herself and reply, "Razorclaw is a Red Jeweled Warlord Prince. He's the leader of coven called the Animatrons. They're among the most dangerous Blackblood covens on Earth, and Razorclaw is the most dangerous of them all."
>"Thank you, Hiyori." the man's voice says as the big lion casually pads his way out of the ladies' room. Instantly Hiyori jumps back, using her wings to propel herself, and White Rose assumes a fighting stance. "You can relax. You were right, Hiyori, I can't hurt you here. Any more than you could hurt me, Magical White Rose." he says to the kasha. "Stand at ease, kasha. I mean you no harm."

[DracoOmega]

>But Red jewels are several steps away from the top of the Blackblood hierarchy, aren't they?
>Did we really not sense anything about his jewel that was different from a Brightblood?
>To Razorclaw: "I feel like your presence here may require additional explanation now."

[Oldmansour]

>But Red jewels are several steps away from the top of the Blackblood hierarchy, aren't they?
>Did we really not sense anything about his jewel that was different from a Brightblood?
>To Razorclaw: "I feel like your presence here may require additional explanation now."

>Actually Red is the third most powerful Blackblood Jewel. Black is the strongest, then Grey, then Red.
>No. In fact, you can't sense his Jewel at all now.
>"Like I told you, I came to speak with one of the two leaders of this shrine, Konpaku-san or Sawashiro-san." Razorclaw replies casually. "It was not my intention to interrupt this exercise, but that appears to be what I'm doing. I didn't expect to be found."

[DracoOmega]

>"Well, we are tracking Jewel magic."

[Oldmansour]

>"Well, we are tracking Jewel magic."

>"No doubt. The Protectors are all around us."

[DracoOmega]

>"Well, now that you have been found, I'm not so certain our allies here would be comfortable with leaving you unescorted - regardless of how peaceable your intentions."

[Oldmansour]

>"Well, now that you have been found, I'm not so certain our allies here would be comfortable with leaving you unescorted - regardless of how peaceable your intentions."

>"You'll never finish your exercise with me along with you. Every one of the Protectors would abandon the exercise to try and kill me."
>"Even if they can't?" White Rose asks.
>"That won't matter. I'm Blackblood, they're Bright. Even Camille would rather see me dead, and she's a healer."

[DracoOmega]

>"You don't feel likewise?"

[Oldmansour]

>"You don't feel likewise?"

>"I have a broader view of the conflict. But are you sure you'd like to discuss that right now?" Razorclaw asks curiously. "You sent the Protectors reeling when your broke their psychic dampening, but they'll recover completely soon. In fact, Kenyu probably has already."

[DracoOmega]

>To Rin: Go check that map on the wall. Find the nearest path downstairs to the northeast.
>To Hiyori: "Thoughts?"

[Oldmansour]

>To Rin: Go check that map on the wall. Find the nearest path downstairs to the northeast.
>To Hiyori: "Thoughts?"

>Understood. As Rin moves to comply with your order, seemingly comfortable with the idea of leaving you that close to a powerful Blackblood youkai, she asks, Am I looking for a particular destination?
>"Thoughts?" Hiyori repeats dumbly. You're not sure she's blinked since Razorclaw emerged.

[DracoOmega]

>Reisen's fighting nearby, in that direction. I think we should meet up and lend a hand.
>"By your own words, he cannot harm anyone while in this field, correct?"

[Oldmansour]

>Reisen's fighting nearby, in that direction. I think we should meet up and lend a hand.
>"By your own words, he cannot harm anyone while in this field, correct?"

>Right.
>"Harm... Yes. That's right, he can't." Hiyori confirms.
>The beautiful lion nods. "I may be able to slip around and through a number of barriers and energy fields, but I do not have the ability to overcome this one. If I wore the Black, perhaps, but I do not. And nor do I wish to disrupt your exercise."
>"But why?" Hiyori asks. "You're an enemy of the shrine, and I can't imagine you're a friend to Lotus."
>"And I'm certainly no friend of the Protectors." Razorclaw agrees. "But you're all working together to better yourselves in order to overcome another threat. One that threatens us all. I have no need or desire to hinder you."

[DracoOmega]

>"And is that threat what brings you here today, then?"

[Oldmansour]

>"And is that threat what brings you here today, then?"

>"No. I have information pertaining to another common threat to the city. One the Fire shrine mikos have tangled with before." He looks at you speculatively with his golden eyes. "I don't know if she's the kind of threat your people deal with, Magical Lotus, but I suppose you might be able to help them if they choose to go after her."

[DracoOmega]

>"I suppose this would be best-discussed after we're all together, wouldn't it?"

[Oldmansour]

>"I suppose this would be best-discussed after we're all together, wouldn't it?"

>"It would be more efficient. I don't enjoy repeating myself if I don't have to."
>"You're sure Onee-sama or Konpaku-sama will listen to you?" Hiyori asks him.
>"I know, my kind is not welcome here. But Haruka will hear me out. She and I have some history. She knows I would not have come here if it wasn't important."
>"You have history with Onee-sama?" Hiyori seems more than a little surprised at the idea.
>"Your Onee-sama has some history with a lot of people. She and I are far older than we look." says Razorclaw.

>I have a way mapped to the back door. Rin informs you. At least I hope it's the right back door. There's a lot of 'em.
>Lotus? Kiku's voice comes over the line as Rin finishes.

[DracoOmega]

>To Rin: Good.
>To Kiku: Yes?

[Oldmansour]

>To Rin: Good.
>To Kiku: Yes?

>The tiger youkai replies, Both Sen and Wataru have been eliminated. The two eliminated each other before we found them.

[DracoOmega]

>Well, we outnumber our adversaries, so I'll consider an even trade a win for us. Though I do wish she'd been less reckless.
>"Under the circumstances, I'm prepared to give you the benefit of the doubt. Please do not give me cause to regret this."

[Oldmansour]

>Well, we outnumber our adversaries, so I'll consider an even trade a win for us. Though I do wish she'd been less reckless.
>"Under the circumstances, I'm prepared to give you the benefit of the doubt. Please do not give me cause to regret this."

>As do I. Still, it hurts their chances more than ours. We are now pursuing Camille, albeit with difficulty.
>"Was that a threat?" Razorclaw asks you. There is no malice or insult in his friendly voice, just simple curiousity.

[DracoOmega]

>"It is a request. That we stand opposed to any attempt to harm the people here should go without saying."

[Oldmansour]

>"It is a request. That we stand opposed to any attempt to harm the people here should go without saying."

>Did you find Cynthia? Kiku asks you.
>"Then you have nothing to fear from me. And if I might make my own request, I would ask you keep an eye on the more aggressive people around us. I have no desire to leave this place naked should I assume my humanoid form, and one of them tries to stab me in the back."
>"We're shrine maidens, not assassins." Hiyori says sharply, Razorclaw seeming to bring the bird's temper.
>"Tell that to Sen." the lion remarks casually. "Or Subala. Or Arashi."
>"You know Arashi?"
>"I know all of you mikos." Razorclaw replies. Though his tone does not change, something in that remark sends a bit of a chill down your spine.

[DracoOmega]

>Found and eliminated.
>"Then I'd suggest you go back to keeping a low profile until this is over; we have other Protectors to hunt down."

[Oldmansour]

>Found and eliminated.
>"Then I'd suggest you go back to keeping a low profile until this is over; we have other Protectors to hunt down."

>Excellent.
>"Good hunting." the big lion bids you, and pads into the still-intact women's washroom.
>"Well he was sure different than the last Blackbloods we met." White Rose remarks as she walks back over to you.

[DracoOmega]

>"Indeed. But the inevitable discussion of that point can wait until we've settle this; if you'd be so kind to lead the way?"
>And let's make sure Hiyori isn't too shaken up to follow us after Reisen

[Oldmansour]

>"Indeed. But the inevitable discussion of that point can wait until we've settle this; if you'd be so kind to lead the way?"
>And let's make sure Hiyori isn't too shaken up to follow us after Reisen

>"Understood." Obviously thinking like you, Rin first turns to Hiyori, who outwardly at least seems to be more collected. "You okay?"
>"I'd like to think it takes a lot to rattle my cage." the avian replies. "I'd be lying if I said that didn't do it. I have met Blood before, Blackbloods I mean, but none as powerful as Razorclaw. Or with the kind of reputation he has. How'd he even get in here? This temple is warded against people with powers like his, layered with wards. No Blackblood should be able to get this far in undetected. Did he tell you, Lotus?"

[DracoOmega]

>"Tell me how he got here? No - just that he had not anticipated being detected at all. But Jewel power is extremely hard to detect while inactive, no?"

[Oldmansour]

>"Tell me how he got here? No - just that he had not anticipated being detected at all. But Jewel power is extremely hard to detect while inactive, no?"

>"Practically impossible. Even for the other Blood. I think one has to be a great deal stronger than the inactive Jewel to sense it."

[DracoOmega]

>"Would that not also apply to the wards here?"
>"Also, I suggest we move as we talk: Poppy seemed to have her hands full and we ought to assist."
>Move out!