Reimu Quest (Part 5)

[Hello Purvis]

>Head shrineward. Once we're away from the crowds, says. "She feels real bad about playing god and Kanako vanishing, essentially."

[日巫子]

>Head shrineward. Once we're away from the crowds, says. "She feels real bad about playing god and Kanako vanishing, essentially."

> You and Kogasa leave the shrine building, and take to the skies.  Once you're certain you're alone, you explain the situation.
> Kogasa looks down at the handle of her umbrella.  "She never told me about that."

> _

[Hello Purvis]

>"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."

[日巫子]

>"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."

> "Oh, I've been in her dream loads of times," Kogasa says.  "I don't think Miss Suwako is lying about her.  I remember when Sanae created the dream, but it was a really scary experience.  And I know scary--it's my job!"
> She looks down at the ground as she flies, her lips forming a thin line.

> _

[O4rfish]

>"About that: what would you say to having a new job helping Sanae?"

[日巫子]

>"About that: what would you say to having a new job helping Sanae?"

> "What do you mean?  I help around the shrine a lot already."

> _

[O4rfish]

>"Well, she's a god now, so she needs her own shrine maiden."

BTW Himiko, nice take on the Living Goddess thing.

[日巫子]

>"Well, she's a god now, so she needs her own shrine maiden."

> "But you just said you didn't..."  Kogasa cuts herself off. 
> "Shrine maiden?  Me?  I don't know if I'm really shrine maiden material."  She laughs nervously.

> _

[Hello Purvis]

>"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."

[日巫子]

>"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."

> "Well, if you say so," Kogasa says.  "I'll talk to Sanae about it."

> _

[Hello Purvis]

>Nod.
>"Right. Going to want me there while you're talking to her, or would you rather I just wait outside?"

[日巫子]

>Nod.
>"Right. Going to want me there while you're talking to her, or would you rather I just wait outside?"

> "Um, I don't think it really matters," Kogasa says.

> _

[Hello Purvis]

>Nod and continue onward.

[日巫子]

>Nod and continue onward.

> The two of you keep flying until you reach the Moriya Shrine, whereupon Kogasa lands by first bouncing off the gate and then onto the pathway. 
> Before you even get a chance to land, she's already darting towards the shrine.  You see the kappa giving her strange looks.

> _

[Hello Purvis]

>Follow dat umbrella!

[日巫子]

>Follow dat umbrella!

> You land on the shrine's pathway and have to run to keep up with Kogasa.  She stops at the front door to catch her breath, before proceeding inside without making as much of a sound.  Following her inside, you see her start to wander around the halls, peeking through doors and wandering around corners.
> She turns back to you and asks in a quietish voice, "Er...where is Sanae, again?"

> _

[Hello Purvis]

>"This way."
>Lead her in the proper direction.

[日巫子]

>"This way."
>Lead her in the proper direction.

> You lead Kogasa towards the kitchen, and then down the hall Sanae and Suwako went down earlier.  Kogasa goes ahead of you and stops short at the door leading to the outside porch.  From behind the screen doors, you can see Sanae sitting perfectly still on the porch outside.

> _

[Hello Purvis]

>Gesture toward her.

[日巫子]

>Gesture toward her.

> Kogasa looks back at you and gives a short nod, before slowly sliding the door open and tip-toeing out onto the porch.  Sanae, wallowing in her own misery, doesn't see or hear Kogasa coming.  She just sits with her chin in her hands, looking too exhausted to even sigh.
> She gets up behind Sanae, umbrella held high, and...
> "BOO!"
> "AAAHH!"  Sanae screams, flails, and nearly falls off the porch.  "K-Kogasa!!"
> "Haha, I totally surpriseed you!" Kogasa crows in triumph.  "...h-huh?"
> Sanae's eyes are brimming with tears.  Kogasa kneels down in front of her, fretting.
> "Ah, oh no, I accidentally went for full-out scary instead of just surprising you...!"

> _

[Kilgamayan]

> Facepalm.

[Hello Purvis]

>Don't laugh don't laugh don't laugh...

[日巫子]

> Facepalm.

>Don't laugh don't laugh don't laugh...

> Damnit, Kogasa.  You have to struggle to hold back your laughter.
> Sanae lowers her head and lets the tears flow.  Kogasa moves in to give her a hug as best as she can: it's a little awkward, because she's still holding her umbrella.  Sanae just cries and cries.
> You hear footsteps behind you, and feel the brim of Suwako's hat bump into your shoulder.  She looks out at the porch in concern for a few seconds, and upon seeing Kogasa, lets out a sigh and turns to leave.

> _

[Hello Purvis]

>Let 'em hug and cry it out.

[日巫子]

>Let 'em hug and cry it out.

> You stand back and watch as Sanae cries and clings to Kogasa.  Kogasa herself isn't crying, but rather trying her best to calm Sanae down.  She isn't having much success, at least at the moment.  It takes some time before her crying finally starts to quiet down.  Kogasa continues to rub her back until she stops completely.

> _

[Hello Purvis]

>Probably better that Kogasa gets the first words in, here.

[日巫子]

>Probably better that Kogasa gets the first words in, here.

> You stay quiet in the background and wait for Kogasa to say something.
> Kogasa doesn't say anything for a while, at least not until Sanae draws away from her and goes to mop her face off with her sleeve.
> "Um, did something happen?" Kogasa asks.  Sanae nods.
> "Do you wanna talk about it?"
> Sanae nods again, and starts speaking in a barely audible voice.  Kogasa interjects every now and then with an "oh" or an "ok" and so on.

> _

[Hello Purvis]

>Let 'em have their conversation for now.

[日巫子]

>Let 'em have their conversation for now.

> You keep listening.  It's hard to hear what Sanae's saying, and Kogasa seems to be doing more listening than providing any conversation fuel.  Five, then ten minutes pass, and they seem to be wrapping it up.  You have not been able to decipher a single word Sanae has said, between her mumbling and continued sniffling.  Kogasa, however, doesn't look confused at all.

> _

[Hello Purvis]

>That's fine. They'll raise their voices when they are ready.