>Beat Dolphin with Kasen in hopes of instilling usefulness into one or the other via impacts.
>"Guess I'll have to go back to Moriya Shrine and hope she shows up there."
>Actually, how long ago was it?
> "Not too long ago? It was a pain getting her to wake up, but she must've left as soon as I did."
> Update the flooding quest as completed, and update the missing persons quest with Sanae's current status.
>"Yeah, it's just a question of whether I'll overtake her or not."
>Koishi still pretending to hide?
>Nod. "Maybe. I'll see what I can find."
>Glance toward Koishi and gesture for her to join us.
> "Okay, number one," put a finger up for emphasis, "have you seen any green mikos hustling around in the last, oh, hour?"
> Seriously, Koishi, you're going to be coy? Give her the most unamused stare we can manage.
> Step closer. Staaaaare.
Now we make a playdate with Flandre a punishment.
>"Well, who have you seen in the past hour?"
> Seriously, you couldn't have just said that? Sigh.
> "Okay, well, I was thinking about introducing you to an 'interesting' person, but if you're gonna be like that..."
> Sigh. Why is she so difficult?
> "Well, guess we'll have to work on your social skills before I introduce you to Flandre..."
> "A little girl who could use a mature, wise, not giving sass to shrine maidens friend. She lives in a big mansion under a library and likes dolls. I guess I'll have to find someone who fits those requirements..."
>"No, I'll just have to go find someone like Chen."
>"You guys really need to learn who your neighbors are, you know that?"
>"Oh don't act like you both don't go running all over the place. Anyway, it doesn't matter."
>Look to Koishi, "I was going to ask if you were interested in making a friend with a little youkai at the Scarlet Devil Mansion, but if you're gonna be like this, I dunno if I should."
>"I don't know... Can you share nicely?"
>"Can you play nice?"
>"No fires?"
>"Alright, then. Once this flooding business is cleared up, I'll arrange for it."
>"I better go too, if I'm gonna catch up with that dumb wind priestess. I'll be back later."
>Assuming Kasen does not detail us, make our way toward the front and take to the air toward the main exit of the underground, let's see if we can find any signs of Sanae along the way. Or people who might have seen her.
> Float down over Rumia. "Hey, have you seen a green shrine maiden hustle past here?"
> Is it that spider that's scuttling around up there?
>Point toward the exit to the surface.
>"That way?"
>"What do you mean, like a bee?"
> "Buzzing and flinging honey everywhere?"
> "Oh. So, straight on back up, then. Hey, thanks for the info, you've been the second most helpful person today."
> Let's make a mikoline right up through the tunnel.
>They just have to be careful when they *puts on shades* go into the light.
> Shade our eyes and fly on through the entrance!
> Well we WERE in a dark cave.
> Our intuition says that... Sanae'd be beelining it to her home. So let's go thataway.
>Keep heading toward the shrine.
>Gauge the activity around the both of them at a glance.
>Well, if the former is closer, let's investigate.
>Well, if we got their attention...
>"Hey! Any of you guys seen Sanae recently?"
>"I'll explain later!"
>Head for the Moriya shrine.
>Take a lap around the premises, see if anyone is around or if any doors are open.
>Swoop down near the hat.
>"Hey, Suwako! Have you seen Sanae?"
>"Well she's up and about and ran off! I don't have any idea where she is!"
>"Probably guilt over the whole thing? I dunno. Where does she generally run off to? She's not at that other shrine, no one saw her there."
>"Well great. There's a whole lot of Gensokyo to be alone in."
>"You know, that's not a bad idea. Normally I wouldn't have thought of going to those guys."
>Chuckle.
>"Yeah, just rivals. Anyways, thanks!"
>Once proper goodbyes are made, make course back toward where the Palaquin ship set shore.
>Land near the dock and scan for mouse youkais.
>Approach the crowd, and look for any familiar faces. Should none present themselves, go float over to the bathing beauties.
>"Hey, have you guys seen Sanae today?"
>"Just looking for Sanae. Or Nazrin, if I can't find Sanae."
>"Alright, thanks!"
>Head for the ship.
>Check feets.
>Let him up.
>"Sorry about that, li'l guy."
>Assess the boat for good places to wander.
> Did we step on another mouser? They shouldn't be underfoot!
> "Hey, Nazrin!"
> "Grey."
> "Yeah. Sorry for stepping on you, little guy."
> Look back up at Nazrin. "Anyways, well, before I get to the meat of the thing, did you guys ever find Seiga or wake up her zombie?"
> "Need me to quiet her down?"
> Is there any way we could, dunno, fake her head talisman thing?
> Is there any way we could, dunno, fake her head talisman thing?
> Well, it controls her, right? So putting something like "sit quietly" or something might work, right?
> "Just distract her with bacon or something. Can you grab me an ink brush and ink stone? I'd use crayons but the oni miko wanted them back."
>Enter.
>"Also, while we're talking about doing things, can you do me a favor and dowse out a person for me?"
>"Dry land."
>Follow dat murine!
>"Geez."
>"Okay, I'm going to need some stuff to write the charm with, and something really chewy and hard to swallow quickly to distract her with."
>From our prior observations, does Yoshika seem to be the kind of jiangshi that can only move at 90 angles?
> Can our talismans be used as her forehead seal? In fact, if the idea doesn't pan out can we just wrap her in sealing talismans until she can't move an inch?
> Tap our foot waiting for mousies. After making sure none are underfoot.
> "So... anything interesting happen since I stopped by yesterday?"
>"And while they're getting stuff, anything you'll need for that dowsing?"
> "Cucumbers up the wazoo? So, why here? I heard that Remilia was pretty steamed that no one wanted to take up refuge with her."
> "Yeah, that's true."
> Wait for mauses.
>"Perfect."
>Inscribe "Sit Politely In The Corner" on the Talisman.
> Inscribe a few more talisman, just in case, with variations on "Don't eat people", "Be a good girl and follow directions" and "Property of Hakurei Shrine". If the other ones don't work, then that last one likely won't anyways, so what's the harm?
>Can we effectively ward off a bit of the hallway to make it so youkai cannot pass through it, or at least so zomberts can't pass, and thus trap Yoshika in this hall if she gives us the slip?
>If so, how long would it take?
> Eh, we've handled Yoshika before, she'll be no problem. But, just in case...
> "Hey, make sure to let that tiger, Mokou, and the captain know we're handling Yoshika. If things go ugly the captain might need to start chucking anchors."
>Let Nazrin get out of the way, and get some jerky in one hand, and a talisman in the other. We'll start with the property one first; might as well try to win big!
>Once prepared, open the door and be ready to leap out of the way!
>Ease the door shut behind us. If she isn't alerted by this, slowly approach. Do be ready to evade grab and tackle attempts.
>"Alright, you. You want something nice to eat?"
> Take a chunk of jerky and wave it in the air so she can see it and smell it, then toss it a little in front of us so that we're out of arm's reach.
>Quick, nab that talisman!
>"Sorry about that."
>Read the talisman
> Whats the problem with her, anyways? Water making her bloated or something?
> Hm... Well, let's try science. And by that we mean let's put tags on her until she doesn't eat anyone unintentionally.
> We'll start with the "Property of Hakurei Shrine" one.
> Carefully watch her, and be ready to avoid being eaten.
> "Yo, Yoshika. Awake yet?"
>"You gonna be good this time?"
>"So what happened, anyways?"
>Toss her a bit of jerky, in a manner not unlike feeding a duck.
>"Right. Then what happened?"
>"You woke up at some point, right?"
>"And then what?"
>"Keep going."
>"What happened then?"
>"Is that when you busted this place up?"
> "Yeah. You're gonna have some cleaning to do, little missy. Then apologize to these people."
>"You're in the Myouren shrine. Well...Myouren ship now. You' re not the only one who got flooded out."
>"So, where can I find that master of yours so I can hand you back over, anyways?"
>"No, I'm Reimu you half-baked zombie! Geez, use your eyes!"
> Whoops, that seal we put on her might've confused her a bit.
>"So, where do all the other Taoists stay at?"
> Well, while it's probably not peachy to just steal someone's zombie, we COULD use her to help around the shrine until we find her owner. Assuming she doesn't try to eat Akyuu or something.
> Oh, we should probably check on her eventually. But after Sanae.
> Pick up the jerky and hand it to Yoshika. "Hungry?"
>"Lift it up over your head and drop it into your mouth."
> Get ready to catch it in case she misses.
> "C'mon, let's take you up."
> Lead her outside and find that mouse.
>Call ahead, "Everything's fine!"
>"It wasn't as bad as you made it sound, really."
>"By the way, who's handwriting is this?"
>Show her the "Wake Up" talisman.
>"Well, then she screwed up."
>How's the zombert doing?
>"Anyways, I'll lug Yoshika along with me, so you guys don't have to worry about her anymore."
>"Now, about Sanae."
>"Yeah."
> Stick a piece of jerky in Yoshika's mouth. "No drooling at the mice."
>Then hand the rest back to Nazrin.
> Lightly flick Yoshika on her forehead. "Hey, watch the chompers."
>Be sure not to hit that talisman.
>"You ready to get going, then?"
> "All right. Come on, Yoshika."
> Upwards and onwards.
>Make sure Yoshika can get up there, too.
>"Okay, Yoshika, I got some orders for you, okay?"
>"I want you to crawl into my sleeve, so we don't worry people. And once you get in there, just have a seat and be a good girl. Don't eat or rifle through anything in there, alright?"
>"Yup."
>"Yeah you can, just get in there. Trust me."
>Hold our sleeve open.
>"Just go arms first, it's easy. People bigger than you have pulled it off."
>"Fine, whatever. Just keep close and try not to drool on anything."
>"Right, let's go. Sorry about that, just trying to make it so people don't have to look at a walking corpse after what happened."
>Follow the rodent!
>What do we know about those mountains?
>Follow dat maus.
>"We about there?"
>Follow along.
>Keep an eye out for interesting things.
>Follow that vermin! Float if we have to in order to keep up.
>Why are we walking in water like a stooge? Get to hovering.
>"How closer do you think it is?"
>Keep on following.
>Head toward the opposite side of the rock ourself.
> Whisper to Nazrin: "Hey, thanks. I'll take it from here."
> Tell Yoshika to check out that grey lump while we talk to Sanae, but don't eat it and get us if it starts attacking or shooting lasers or something.
>Approach Sanae and kneel down beside her.
>"Hey."
>"Sanae, I know you're feeling terrible right now, but there's work to be done. "
>"That isn't true at all. I always have teammates for incident solving, and you did a lot of work during the Buddhist and Taoist invasions."
> Blank look.
> "What do you mean, what am I?"
>"That's exactly right. I'm not THE incident solver; I'm AN incident solver. You're one as well. "
>Hug Sanae.
>"And you know it too. This flooding incident is too big for one person to handle. I need your help. Please Sanae?"
>Don't hug Sanae, we have a reputation to maintain.
>Do an arm around the shoulder instead.
>Also, we don't NEED her help, we just want it. So instead say, "And we need to get this solved as quick as possible."
>"You did alright with the buddhist thing, and the taoist thing, didn't you?"
>We'll not mention the Brocken Spectre thing right now.
>"Yeah. We'll have to unscrew it. But don't worry, not like you'll be completely alone."
> "Well, first we need to figure out WHAT needs to be fixed: still dunno what caused all of this. Then when we can prove that Kanako didn't flood everything, there'll be more faith in her and *poof* she's back."
> "Then we need to figure out who really caused this incident. Now, are you gonna help me?"
> Give Sanae a hearty slap on the back. "Glad to hear it."
> Pop up to our feet and pull Sanae up. "So, here's the deal..." Summarize the going ons, with the flooding, the sky, the Yakumo disappearance, and the shards.
>Let her see them.
>Do we see any kind of wound on her where the bloody one may have come from?
>Yeesh.
>Actually, now that we have this many, does it look like they can be partially assembled?
> "It's the same color as your glow."
> Do we have a handkerchief or something? If so, give it to Sanae.
>Take them back. Is she still glowing?
>Idly try to fit them together.
>"Rinnosuke made it. It's been kinda helpful, since I spent a lot of time in the water yesterday."
> Oh come on, where's that energetic interloper from before?
> "Hey, head up." When she looks up, wipe her face with our sleeve vigorously.
> "You look like a mess. Now hold still or wipe those tears away."
>Clean dat face off.
>"So, do you know where the Taoists stay at these days?"
>"Why wouldn't you? Anyways, we need to drop off their zombie too, at some point."
> Did they say Seiga was spotted in these mountains?
> "Why'd you come over here, anyways? Nothing's here."
>"Now, are you ready to make this world a better place by dealing out some punishment?"
>"Okay. So...uh, what kind of things are around here, anyways? I've never actually been out this way?"
>"Think I heard a rumor that that one ghost with the Taoists was around here a little while ago... Wanna check it out?"
>Look around. What are Nazrin and Yoshika up to?
>"Oh hey, that solved itself."
>Shout: "Hey! Keep a better eye on your zombie next time, or I'll just bury her!"
> "Hey, lost and found. It's a lot better than her trying to eat a ship. Where were you, anyways? We found her floating face down near the village."
> Approach as well. "Yeah, so I guess that means you don't have insight either, huh."
> Geez, so many leads, er, drying up. We might either have to take a chance and hop into the broken sky or figure out where those dumb fringed orchids are.
> "Not everything's about you." Arrogant hermit. "So, know anything 'bout that?" Point up at the sky.
>Look to the other Taoists
>"What about you lot?"
>Is that ghost around here?
>"Hey, Princess, where's your ghost at?"
>"Last you heard? Aren't you keeping an eye on your ghost or something?"
>"Yeah, you can go home. Thanks for the help!"
>Look back to the Taoists. "So, I assume your place is flooded out now, too?"
>"You know where Scarlet Devil Mansion is? They'll probably let you stay in some guest rooms."
>"Yeah, sure. There's a flood and stuff. Just don't give the gatekeeper a hard time. She did a lot of work to help clean up the flood."
>"Yeah, the gatekeeper could do with a gift."
>Accept.
>"Hey, thanks."
>Wave as they leave.
>"Well, that's wrapped up nicely. Too bad you didn't get a chance to feed the zombie, though. It's kinda fun."
>"Okay. So, I think the first thing we need to go is go back to the Moriya Shrine. I want to see if Suwako has any ideas about dealing with your issues. And she probably missed you."
>"Don't worry, it'll be okay. I'll make sure of it."
>Take to the air. Once we're sure sadsack's along for the ride, head back to Moriyatown.
>"Just a bit further."
> Frown. This just won't do.
> "Hey. Hey. Is that the face you want to be showing Suwako and all the worshippers here?"
>"I'm not saying you have to be all smiles and stuff, but try to put on a brave face for everyone."
>"Oh, whatever, let's just get this over with, okay?"
>Offer her a hand.
>Give her a reassuring squeeze, and continue on toward Suwako's pond.
>Land near the hat.
>"Your idea worked like a charm."
>"Early lunch sounds fine by me!"
>Follow along.
>"Yeah, yeah she does. Can't convince her that it isn't her fault."
>Make sure she isn't coming back and speak low before continuing.
>"Can't say it isn't partially her fault, either. I don't know all the details. She's having a hard time wanting to make it right again, though."
>"Pretty much since I told her about Kanako. She was in some weird stupid dream world I don't wanna talk about."
>Don't give them any ideas.
>"Had to chase her down in there and make her wake up. Then she ran off to those mountains over that way."
>Gesture in the proper direction.
>"So all morning, pretty much."
>"I still have an incident to solve. And I'd like her help with it."
>"I'll try not to."
>Check again to make Sanae isn't going to overhear.
>"But the way things are going, I have to push her pretty hard just to get her to move from one place to another."
>"Everything. And yeah, maybe. I'm hoping we can give her something to work toward, at least."
>"That's fine. And it's okay if you want to fill me in before I see her again."
>Take dat sammich.
>"Thank you!"
>Have a seat, and start on it.
>Take a quick look. Is it? If so, where do we think it came from?
>"Ran into a claw fish. It didn't win."
>"Well, unless you count exploding into a bunch of jewels and a bronze shard as a win."
>Shrug
>"Never had a go set turn into jewels."
>"You don't know where her pet umbrella got off to, do you?"
>"Maybe. I kinda breezed by it the first time."
>"Best go talk to her now, I suppose."
>Finish sandwich.
>Have a drink; or obtain a drink if there are none to have.
>And, while we aren't trying to eavesdrop on this important parent/child talk, can we hear anything?
>Well, that's better than angry shrieking and crying.
>Do they have any pets around here? Let's go find a pet to pet.
>Poke around the kitchen. Pets love the kitchen.
>Anything else of interest in those places?
>Well, we'll just make another sandwich.
>And maybe snoop around a bit while doing it.
>Drift back toward the kitchen and nibble on this one, and give them about five minutes.
>Any sign or sound that Sanae is following her?
>If so, wait for her to enter.
>If not, ask, "Any luck?"
>"Any ideas?"
>"I could toss her in the pond."
>"It'd liven her up for a moment, at least."
>"So...what are we going to do about this Kanako situation. I mean, you guys are kind of a pain, but I don't want Kanako gone. Sanae does miracles, doesn't she? Can she miracle Kanako back?"
>"What do you mean attained divinity? She's still the same kid she's always been. I mean, she's got some powers and stuff, but she's no more of a god than I am."
>Nod.
>"Yeah, it was kind of an annoying dream, though."
>"So she did erase the Hakurei line and get rid of the spellcard system! I knew it!"
>"She wasn't that omnipotent when asleep, either. Kind of normal, actually. Well, except for the wings, but that was a dream thing."
>"So ... you guys need to recruit two or three more shrine maidens then. Humans, or would youkai do as well?"
>"Could probably get the umbrella to do it, then."
>"Wait. Isn't there a god who's also a shrine maiden? Because I've seen her before."
>"Wow, She sounds pretty useless."
>Grumble grumble friggin' Yorihime...
>"So, back to the Umbrella, you think she could leave that shrine and drop in? I get the feeling Sanae would be a pain to drag over there."
>"Alright, I'm going to go fetch her."
>Head out to do this thing.
>Head out to do this thing.
>Head inside.
>"Hey! Anyone in here?"
> ...Check our sleeves for any errant umbrellas.
>"Sanae's back. You got five seconds to get out here!"
>"Sorry. But I figured you'd find this more important. She's kinda depressed right now."
>Join her and quietly say,
>"I'll tell you once we have the sky to ourself."
>Head shrineward. Once we're away from the crowds, says. "She feels real bad about playing god and Kanako vanishing, essentially."
>"She didn't even know about Kanako til I told her. She was in some weird dream world thing. The problem is, since she's supposed to be a god now, she can't be an effective shrine maiden. Personally, I don't even think she is a god and she's just letting that get in the way of what she's supposed to be doing. But Suwako thinks different."
>"About that: what would you say to having a new job helping Sanae?"
>"Well, she's a god now, so she needs her own shrine maiden."
>"She thinks she's one, anyways, and it doesn't look like she intends to change her mind about it. And, well, think of yourself as a temporary one or something? Til Sanae comes back to her senses, anyways."
>Nod.
>"Right. Going to want me there while you're talking to her, or would you rather I just wait outside?"
>Nod and continue onward.
>Follow dat umbrella!
>"This way."
>Lead her in the proper direction.
>Gesture toward her.
> Facepalm.
>Don't laugh don't laugh don't laugh...
>Let 'em hug and cry it out.
>Probably better that Kogasa gets the first words in, here.
>Let 'em have their conversation for now.
>That's fine. They'll raise their voices when they are ready.
>To Kogasa: "Think you got an idea what's gone on?"
>Match her tones.
>"Well, tell her to tell me. I won't laugh at her."
>Probably.
>"Kogasa tells me you said something impotant to her, but she can't tell me because it's something you don't want her to just blab to anyone. Can you tell me, too? I won't laugh or anything."
>Shoulder pat.
>"No, I don't get it. So, why can't you?"
>"Try me."
>"If you like. So, what's your plan for helping Kanako come back, then?"
>"Well, the way I understand it, she needs a shrine maiden to go whip up faith for her, right?"
>"Yeah, that was my next point. You have the god thing, which seems to stop you. I can't do it since I don't have faith in Kanako to start with. Am I right?"
>"Okay, then I have two ideas. The good one you won't like, and the not so good one. Which do you wanna hear first?"
>"Alright. The best solution is you give the whole god thing up and go back to doing what you do."
>"Says who?"
>"Do one of those miracles and get rid of it?"
>"Go to the highest mountaintop and scream to the heavens that you reject your divinity?"
>"Maybe if you dunked that slug clip in some salt, or stomped on it at the same time? You know, something to scream defiance at the heavens and fate and stuff?"
>"We make her do it."
>Gesture toward Kogasa.
>"Well, if you can't do it anymore then someone has to."
>"Wait. Why are we guessing? I know who'd love to figure out how to deal with the whole god thing. We'll go ask Patchouli, she'll probably cackle with glee at the problem!"
>"And if she doesn't know, I'd bet Yukari would! Just we'd have to find her."
>Follow!
>Oh she ain't outrunning us again.
>Follow, top speed. Let us remind her who is Player 1 around here!
>Judging from the angle she took, do we think she would have been ascending, descending, or keeping about the same altitude?
>the Human Village is that way too, isn't it?
>Let's follow that angle of descent at max speed, and see where it takes us. If she's going for max speed, she shouldn't be up to any fancy evasions.
>Continue that way. Is there anything else that way, aside from the entrance to the underground?
>Keep an eye out for Sanae-like objects.
>Bank right!
>"Can't talk chasing doofus!"
>Don't slow down, keep going.
>Examine the shrine. Are there any signs of Sanae, or activity in general?
>Is there any sign of the faeries?
>Oh faeries, can you never be useful?
>"Think she's inside, or went underground?"
>"I'll catch up if I don't find anything! Shout if you do!"
>Head for the front doors and enter. Immediately scan for signs of Sanae or Akyuu.
>"Quick! Is Sanae here?"
>"Thanks!"
>To the backyard!
>"Sanae! What the hell do you think you're doing!"
>"Purge what?"
>Stay ready for outbursts in the form of danmaku or other hostilities.
>"What's she up to, Suika?"
>"Alright. Sanae? It's time you either make us understand, or I'm going to have to beat you down again. I'd rather not have to do that, but frankly Suika is a whole lot more reliable than you are at this point."
>Do be ready for resistance from Sanae.
>"That's not what you said a second ago. You need to purge something. What, exactly?"
>How's Suwako taking this whole scene?
>"Can get a good enough grip to let her pop her head up so we can talk, Suika?"
>Shout, "Hey! If you don't calm down right now, the moment you get free you're gonna deal with me!"
>Prepare assbeatin' Gohei.
> What's around here that would be so special? It can't be the shrine: even if it's our home, it was still flattened, like, twice by Tenshi, and nothing big happened.
> Tap our gohei against our shoulder. "Just listen to Suwako, and stop freaking out."
>Where is our honden or goshintai?
>So, if there is a god of the Hakurei Shrine, it is inside the yin-yang orb?
>Do the freakouts seem to getting worse or less intense?
>"You ready to to stop pretending everything is okay?"
>"That's for her to say, isn't it?"
>Take flight and get a bit closer. Stay ready to dodge any inconvenient danmaku or possibly Suika's hands, though.
>Motion for Suika to put her down.
>"Yeah. If she bolts, nab her."
>Do be ready to and intercept if the above happens and Suika is too slow.
>"Good work, Suika!"
>"Sanae, you have about five seconds to calm yourself before I have Suika dunk you in the pond."
>Nod to Suika. "Just a wake-up splash."
> Float on behind Suwako, ready to take down Sanae again if she runs. "Hey, you cool off yet?"
> "Yeah? I don't like being rough on Sanae, but she's kinda being a brat right now."
>"No, it doesn't look like it. But at this point, I'm starting to think maybe she's been possessed or something. Doesn't it seem like she had two voices back there, a moment ago? Or rather, like there were two different people with the same voice?"
>"Maybe I'm just hearing things."
>Approach Sanae. How's she doing?
>"Alright kiddo. It's time to make us understand. Or at least make Suwako understand."
>Give her a foot nudge around the belly.
> Yeah, she's done. "Well... I think it's time to take her home. Sorry 'bout the trouble, Suwako."
>No, not yet.
>"So, is this then? You're just going to lay here?"
>"She may not answer, but she can listen. And she needs to hear this."
>"Sanae, whether you're a god or a shrine maiden or whatever, you've seen this flood, right? Your people need you, no matter what you are. That's what I've been trying to help you with all morning. Whether or not there's anything to be done about what happened, even if nothing can be done about it, your people need you. They're suffering right now."
>"Just keep that in mind. People need you."
>Turn to Suwako. "She's all yours. Sorry about this, but there is an incident to solve."
>To no one in particular: "See, stuff like that is why she isn't a god."
>"Good work, Suika."
>"It's a long story. She's been asleep the last couple months or whatever, and Kanako ended up vanishing. Apparently she's been taking the faith or something? Hard to tell. But yeah, we've been trying to get her through it, and she just ran off. Always saying we didn't understand and never actually trying to make anyone understand. It's been a hell of a morning. What's happened here?"
>Do we know how old Suika is, specifically in comparison to the other devas?
>What do we know is out in those woods?
>"Right. Things still good underground when you left?"
>"Oh Suika. This may seem like an odd question but do you remember what Kasen and Konngara were like as kids?"
>"Because I saw Konngara as a little kid in that dream, and there was a little kid Kasen with her. I figured you knew one, so maybe the other too."
>"Bit of both. It was an annoying dream, really."
>"Yeah. So, what've you got planned today?"
>"Think I might head back underground, see if anyone's seen anything. Maybe go visit Eientei, I haven't been there yet."
>Where is Eientei, anyways?
>"You know where Might find Konngara, I might have some questions for her."
>"Sure thing!"
Eientei or Underground? I am thinking it's past due we visited Himiko's favorite character, myself.Yeah,
> How're we with Konngara?
>"Thanks, Suika. You're a pal."
>Let's take to the air and head underground.
>"Hey, are things calm in the city?"
>"Okay, good! And...have you had any sleep?"
> Well, she might've not had anywhere TO sleep: her place got flooded, right?
>"Uh, if you want a place to stay, I can ask Satori to loan you a room for awhile. As long as you don't kick any of the animals she'll probably be okay with it."
>"Just wanted to be sure."
>Let's see if we can pick out the hospital from here. If we can, point to it and ask, "Hey, it that the hospital? I've heard Konngara's been around there."
> "Huh. Well, thanks."
> To the hospital!
>Does this place tend to have any aquatic youkai, typically, in the river or such?
>Head down to the hospital, and let's get a look at these guys, see what they up to. Also if anyone who looks important or Konngara happens by, take note of them.
>Find an employee who doesn't seem to be immediately busy.
>Also take a moment to check out those aquatic youkai.
>Does it seem like Kongarra's shrine is underwater?
>Approach mug-haver.
>"Hey, excuse me. Is Konngara around here?"
>"Oh, thanks a lot!"
>Head outside and toward the canal!
>Scan around for Konngaras.
>Approach causally.
>"Got a moment?"
>"First off, things okay around here?"
>Well, that's to the point.
>"Second, have you seen anything like this laying around?"
>Show her a shard, but not the bloody one.
>"Where at?"
>A week, huh? That's a pain...
>"Know anything about them?"
> Wait , Kikuri? From the dream Kikuri? Lasers to the gut Kikuri?
>"So if they're her shell fragments, what are they doing laying all over the place?"
>"Some explosion. Any idea why Sanae had a bit of it stuck in her?"
> "She was sleeping a long while, she had one or two shards with her, she had a glow..."
> Hm... curiouser and curiouser. Let's see what THIS Kikuri has to say. Be prepared for cheating, though.
> "Hey, I didn't know about it until yesterday: I guess they were keeping it hush hush or something."
> Why does Konngara seem interested, anyways? Do they know each other outside of dreamland?
> "Why are you caring? You know Sanae? I didn't think you come up to the surface in, well, ever."
> "Huh." Didn't exactly answer our question, but... "So, where can I find this Kikuri customer (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X6iJRNHUOT4)? I gotta couple questions to ask her."
>Do we?
>If not, requisition directions.
>"Alright, thanks! I'll go look into that now."
>Once goodbyes are established, go hit up Garahaus.
> Land in front of the shrine and look about.
> Brr. Why is it so c- oh, right, no hellfire or nuclear reactors. We'll need to wrap up this flooding quick.
> Knock on that there door.
> Well, if she's here she's had her chance. Slide that door open and walk on in. "I'm coming in!"
> Take our shoes off and line them next to the flats before heading kitchenwise.
> Pick up the paper and read it.
>"Hey, you around here, Kikuri?"
>Head toward that shuffling.
> Swallow up our nausea and kick that door open with ofuda ready!
>"So, I hear you're the person to ask about them shard that keep showing up."
> Grip our gohei tightly, and keep our eyes on Kikuri as we look for a light source.
> Don't blast her JUST yet. "Hey. Hold up there."
> Pull out a shard and hold it at her.
> We warned her. Advance and poke her in the head with the rounded portion of the shard. If she tries grabbing us or lasering us, she gets a gohei to the head.
> Yeah. NO. Grab her arms and swing her into a wall to make her loosen her grip!>Don't do this yet.
> Yeah. NO. Grab her arms and swing her into a wall to make her loosen her grip!
>Don't do this yet.
>Bring our arms up between hers, and separate them forcefully.
>At the same time, bring a knee up to her groin with maximum force. No one likes a knee to the gravity center!
>then do the swing thing if she persists.
> Gurk. Let's, uh, use that to our advantage. When she pushes us, let her, then fall onto our back and use the momentum and our foot against her gut to flip her over our head.
>Take Gohei in both hands, slam the butt of it right into her jaw with a nice sweeping motion.
>Then follow up with similar blow to one of her elbows.
> Straighten up so her arms lock out, then her elbow as hard as we can. If she wants a broken elbow, she's getting one! Assuming we don't pass out, that is.
> Oh sod this. Release thekrakenyin yang orb.
> Roll over and put Kikuri on top so the orb can whack her more easily.
>Does this voice seem to come from anywhere?
>Think: Can't!
>Then sink our teeth right into her arm, as close to the wrist as we can get. Then grind our teeth back and forth.
>Can we breath yet?
>Just focus on breathing for now. Revenge can wait.
>Focus more on the conversation.
>Try to force ourself to take a visual check of the situation.
>"Konngara, why did a guest in your house try to strangle me?"
>"I can promise you she was."
>"She was the one attacking me! I opened the door, she came out and I tried to talk, and she started strangling me!"
>"Why are you asking me that? I only know what she did, not what she was thinking. "
>"It's complicated. Let's just say I have my reasons to think she'd toss aside spellcards."
>"Briefly. When I tried to throw her off me."
>Contemplate knuckles.
>"Probably got scraped up in the struggle."
> Touch our throat. Is it bruised or cut by Kikuri's fingers?
> "The orb wrecked Kikuri's face. You can't deny that."
>"Oh she would have. Let's just say that I have no reason to doubt it from past experience."
>Let see if we can sit up under our own power now.
>"And I can't answer exactly how she did it, but I can say she's not just some punk youkai, she's probably got some kind of abilities, and I'm sure she can be clever about them. So, I know what happened here. The question is, if she didn't attack me, then what caused it to happen? Right now it looks a lot more like she tricked you than tricked me."
>"I wasn't hallucinating. Does this look like a hallucination? Do you hallucinate not being able to breath? And okay, so where was she, then? Because I came here, looked around, called for her, and she wasn't anywhere til I opened that door."
>Gesture toward it.
>"Things aren't adding up here, Konngara. And all those things I told you were facts."
>"Alright Konngara, I'm gonna trust you with an oni's honesty with this one; does she usually sleep like a brick? Because I sure wasn't quiet about coming in."
>Glare toward that door.
>"So what the hell did happen?"
>"I didn't throw a single punch that whole thing, though... Last thing I did was sink my teeth into her, its wrist."
>"I think we need to solve this first, before it happens again."
>What is in that room? Or did we wake up inside it?
>"We get down to the bottom of why it happened and beat it into submission. Shouldn't you be more worried about his happening in your shrine?"
>"What about in there?"
>Point toward the room we opened?
>Follow her in, and see if we can intuit anything.
>"Let's check elsewhere."
>"Other rooms. C'mon."
>Move on to another room. It doesn't matter which one.
>We heard a sound before this all started, try to recall details about it.
>Before that, though. Wasn't there some kind of shuffling?
>Try to recall pertinent details about that shuffling.
>"Okay, thinking back. I was in the kitchen. And I heard something like fabric shuffling in that room..."
>"Might have been. Which makes it more likely it was her who did this. And...she said the first thing she saw was me taking a swing at her? Because that's not the first thing I did when I saw her."
>"I think maybe she lied to you. Because if she came in here and saw me, she would have seen the first thing I did was produce one of those shards and talk to her."
>"She's definitely left something out, if she's not lying. The question is why."
>"I can think of one reason why. But putting that aside, maybe it means she did do something she'd rather not have known."
>Let's put some thought into that ringing noise we heard, try to recall some more details.
>Is it a kind of ringing we may have heard before?
>Continue to stalk through the shrine, and see if we can feel anything unusual.
>"Yeah?"
>"We need to figure this out first before it happens again. You sensed anything?"
>"Let's check outside."
>Move to do so.
>Inventory.
>Hover around the outskirts of the shrine, looking for odd footprints in the snow or things that ping our intuition.
>Return to Konngara.
>"Nothing."
>"Let's go back in. Can I get a blanket?"
>Follow dat oni!
>Take it and wrap it around our shoulders.
>"Thanks. So, nothing out there or around here. You don't happen to keep any old evil artifacts around here, do you?"
>"It's not on some old burial ground for old hell torturers, is it?"
>"Any curses lately?"
>"Anything you can think of that I didn't?"
>"Then it's really looking like Kikuri did it, because I haven't found signs of anything else and we've been looking. What sort of youkai is she, anyway?"
>"What is she, then?"
>"Uh...huh..."
>"Okay, you know that gods can be in two places at once, right?"
>"It's a thing they can do. It doesn't matter how much you divide them, you know?"
>Why is it snowing underground?
>"I don't see why she can't, if she's a god. And yeah. we're going to have a talk with her."
>Follow.
>"I'll consider that. But I'm not wholly convinced just yet."
>Let the oni tend to our hands. Just scan the kitchen for anything that looks, or intuitively feels, cluelike. And be ready for it to sting.
>"Thanks, that was nice of you."
>Where did onis get all that bad reputation from, anyways? They've clearly been the best youkai we've had to deal with this whole mess.
>"So, do you have any alternate theories? The only thing I could think of would be a magician trying to place a curse, but I'm in rather good with all the magicians I know."
>"Not that badly."
>"I don't think stress gets that bad. And fevers don't go away so easily. And as far as I know, I'm not possessed. You can check if you want."
>"Why don't you tell us the story again?"
>"And I didn't say a thing to you? And how close did I get?"
>"Alright. And what talking did you hear?"
>"Weird. See, what happened was I went in there."
>Gesture.
>"And felt a little off; you know that feeling you get when something's wrong? That. The door on the left was rattling, so I kicked it open, and out you came, looking like death warmed over. I tried to talk with you, and you didn't say anything. I tried to show you something, and you didn't say anything. I poked you with it! Then you tried to strangle me, so I whacked you with my gohei, and things went downhill."
>"So what you're saying is I didn't say or show anything to you, then took a swing at you, right?"
>"Go on?"
> "You'd use lasers instead?"
> Stare at her with suspicion.
> Shrug, then take one of the shards and poke it out of our blanket. "Well, does this look familiar?"
> "Your... your whatnow?"
> Do we remember fighting her before, or her shell?
> Actually, didn't she have a shell in the dream?
>"Aha! so if I collect enough pieces, I can seal you in!"
> "It... sorry, that was a joke."
> Awkward silence.
> "Uh... so, uh, what happened to your moon? What're you doing outside of it, and why am I finding it all over the place?"
> "So you don't know why it drained a vampire or why someone that was asleep for a long while had it? Considering they started appearing right after everything started drowning, it's awfully suspicious."
> "When did you get unsealed, anyways? I remember you being in that moon when I was a kid."
> Put the shard away.
>"What friend?"
>"Did she say where she found it?"
> "And was she a tall purple rabbit, a short dark trickster rabbit, or some generic one?"
>"Hm. Interesting. And she found it a week ago?"
>"This is just a guess, but could there be more than one of you?"
>"You are a god, right? It is a thing you can do. And it'd pretty neatly explain why you'd be in two places at once."
>"Anyways, Konngara and I have combed over the place, and we haven't found anything unusual. Do you have idea how what happened happened?"
>"Go on."
>"Hmph. I wonder what Sanae was thinking."
>"Hmph. I wonder what Sanae was thinking."
>Let's not say this, Sanae isn't involved right now.
>Instead say, "That doesn't explain much, does it? How about you, Konngara, anything off?"
>"You gonna have to be more clear, Kikuri."
> "What do you think made me 'off'? Nothing happened to me to do that."
> Right?
> "Other than the pieces of your egg? Can't think of anything, unless those incidents did something else."
> Was there anything unusual that happened to us during a past incident?
>Think back to that Exorcism we did. Did it feel like we got any of it on us, so to speak?
>"I'm not convinced. But tell you what, can either of you do exorcisms?"
>Can we self-exorcise, via purficiation riturals? Or summon up that one deity that Yorihime did that one time?
>How long does it take?
>"Okay. I'm not really buying it and I think you're definitely not telling me the whole story, but I'll see if purifying myself does anything. Konngara, could you get a place ready for me?"
>PAINFUL SILENCE.
>Go join Konngara after a few moments of that.
>Follow.
>Follow dat oni. And mentally review the rite we're about to undergo.
>Let's get back inside to where it's warmer, then resume following.
>"Good. Just show me where to go."
>"The sacred space of your shrine is the bathroom?"
>"Same reason I wouldn't ask for a cup if I asked for some tea."
>Follow!
>Follow! Carefully.
> Do our part to prepare the room.
> "What's the story behind this altar?"
>Are there any candles to light?
>Light 'em up!
>Does this place feel proper sanctified?
> "How'd you come across this place? Seems weird to have a shrine down here."
>"Tell me about this accident?"
>"Huh. And you have no idea about the place?"
>"Ever ask around?"
>Is it reasonably clean down here?
>Does having someone around disrupt the ritual?
>"Might have to do that myself, then. Can't have this place stirring up trouble. Anyways, I'm gonna start. Lemme know if you sensed anything once I'm done, okay?"
>Get this show on the road!
>Presumably the way you'e supposed to. Are there multiple ways to do it, and if so, what are the differences?
>"What in the..."
>Examine feathers.
> Aw man, Kikuri was right after all. Now we look kind of foolish.
>"I don't know..."
>Do the feathers feel accursed or malevolent or suchlike in any way?
>"Sensed anything?"
>"Well don't keep it to yourself."
>"...Maybe some cotton candy. But otherwise, no."
>"Yeah, a little bit. Do you have something I can put these feathers in?"
>Prepare a talisman and place it on the bundle of feathers, just in case they get any ideas.
>Wait for Konngara to make with the thing to put the feathers in, then do so.
>"Thanks. Let's show these to Kikuri and see what she has to say about them."
>Go do this thing!
>Give a moment to wake up, and present the feathers.
>"What can you tell me about these?"
>"So you're saying they weren't enough to cause it?"
>"Me either. What can you tell me about them?"
>"That's a quite a thing to say there's no rush about, don't you think?"
>That's not what...Ugh.
>"Okay. Anyways, I guess you're off the hook for now. Konngara, mind if I change in your bathroom?"
>Go do so. Dry off, change, give the swimsuit a rinse if there's some water about and then store it away.
>Back to the kitchen.
>Did we ever get that shard off of Kikuri?
>"You said that Kikuri had one of those shards, right?"
>"Think I could take it?"
>"Okay. you know where it is better than I do."
>Do so.
>Does it look like she's gathering up ingredients for that recipe?
>"Oh, right! Um...sorry about the damages."
>Take the shard.
> Feathers... wait. What color were our feathers in the dream?
> Stand up and go gather up the orb. "Should I, erm, fix what I busted up? Enough's people busted my shrine, I can wave a hammer around."
> "Well, it would be crappy of me to complain about people messing up my shrine and not do anything when I wreck yours."
>"I-it's not like I want to fix your shrine!" >_> <_<
> What does it mean, the feathers? Could the "bad feeling" have something to do with the dream world? Maybe we carried something over from that world...
>"Anyway, you've been a real help, you know that? If you ever find yourself on the surface, stop by the shrine. Well, as long you don't try to throw Suika through the walls."
>Lets go nab that orb.
>"Once things settle down a bit, I'll see what I can do about this room, okay? Until then!"
>Head outside, and toward Chireiden. We need a Second Opinion.
>Let's hover til we get out of the snow, and head inside.
>Dangit Kasen.
>"Hey, Kasen. You awake?"
>Twas the night after an incident/And all through Chireiden/Not a pet was stirring/All snug on top Kasen
> Creep closer. We gotta see what she looks like after waking up in a furball.
>Keep our voice not-too rough: "Hey sleepyhead, I need you to hermit some things up for me."
>"Sorry about that."
>Present the feathers.
>"What can you tell me about these?"
>Pick it back up.
>"Hey, are you okay?"
>"You just about dropped on me, there. Anyways, next thing I need you do to: Tell me if I'm tainted or not."
>"It's not a bad thing, is it?"
>"Just some vague possibilities. the most likely one is kind of crazy. You know that lucid dreaming stuff I was asking about yesterday?"
>"Spectacularly. Maybe too well. See...part of what happened was I purified this room in a shrine, a real evil one. I mean, even if it's a dream you just can't ignore this stuff..."
>Let's see if she reacts before getting to the meat of it.
>"There was this shrine all by its lonesome in the forest, mostly a nice place, except for this one room, which...it was just bad news. You walked into and it just gave you the creeps. So I purified it, after asking some local kids about it."
>Had we really been there before today?
>"I might've my memory's hazy."
>"Hey, wake up!"
>"Okay, that's the second time you feel asleep in the middle of the conversation. Are you sure you didn't catch the Sanaes?"
>Does this match with our previous knowledge?
>Is there such a thing as a magical disease?
>or, say, a communicable curse?
>"If you say so. Just the last time someone became unaccountably drowsy she managed to be a pain in the butt all morning. Anyways, there's a reason I'm asking about this."
>ecount the incident at Konngarahaus, from the attack to the purification. Give Kasen a nudge if she drops on us.
>"Not a clue. I was hoping you could approach it from a different angle and tell me, being a hermit and all."
>Do we have one of those things?
>"I'll be sure to pick one up. Got any more advice?"
>"Right. Thanks Kasen, sorry for waking you up. "
>Let's go find Satori, we probably know where she's lurking this time of day.
>Give her onna them hugs.
>"Are you sure?"
>"Alright. But I still don't trust her."
>"Do you know what's wrong with me?"
>"Could you tell if something was off about Sanae, or was she just being, well, herself?"
>"Yeah, and I'm not gonna ask you to do anything like that."
>"Utsuho feeling any better now?"
>"Must be, if it took her mind off that reactor. "
>"Practically all of it. I've barely made any progress today, and it's frustrating."
>"But you're really just setting me up for post #1000, aren't you, love?"