Reimu Quest (Part 6)

[Cheez8]

I guess it couldn't hurt, although I think we know pretty well by now that our soul isn't in the best of shapes. Having Suwako check Sanae's soul too if she can sounds like a good idea, though.

We should probably also see if Sanae feels better yet, or at least up to talking. Now that we know more things, maybe we could think to ask her if she remembers Kikuri attacking.

[Sect]

> Let's continue heading shrineward: they should be done bothering Keine, so we might catch them at the shrine still.

[日巫子]

> Let's continue heading shrineward: they should be done bothering Keine, so we might catch them at the shrine still.

> You pass over the place the Human Village set up camp, and fly up up towards the top of the mountain.  Flickers of light dot the forest below.  From what, you don't know.  The calls of wild animals echo in the night air, and passing by the Kochiya Shrine you see lanterns lit for night visitors.  The Moriya Shrine is plainly visible from where you are, lit up like a beacon.

> _

[Sect]

> Ah, they must still be up then. To the Moriya Shrine.

[日巫子]

> Ah, they must still be up then. To the Moriya Shrine.

> You fly on up.
> The Moriya Shrine is moderately crowded tonight, with not a single human in sight.  Some youkai are making donations or ringing the shrine bells, while others are loafing around the front yard.  One of the sliding doors on one side of the shrine is open, with light pouring outside.  There are will-o-wisps lighting the shrine path, and arranged around the torii.  One thing that stands out to you is that there are many non-humanoid youkai here, a sight that is mildly intimidating.

> _

[Hello Purvis]

>We'll just have to intimidate them back.
>Any sign of Suwako among the crowd, or at her pond?

[日巫子]

>We'll just have to intimidate them back.
>Any sign of Suwako among the crowd, or at her pond?

> You're the Hakurei shrine maiden, you can't show them any weakness.
> You look around among the crowd, and over the roof into the backyard.  You don't spot Suwako here.

> _

[Hello Purvis]

>Hover around toward the pond.

[日巫子]

>Hover around toward the pond.

> You fly over the roof and towards the pond.  Getting closer, you see that Suwako's hat is floating in there.  However, it is dark enough that you can't see if the rest of her is in there.

> _

[Hello Purvis]

>Descend.
>"Hey, any news?"

[日巫子]

>Descend.
>"Hey, any news?"

> As you lower yourself to the ground, Suwako does a back flip out of the pond and lands in front of you.
> "The black-white broke into our kitchen," Suwako ribbits.  "She took all the tofu we had.  Any idea why she would do that?"

> _

[Hello Purvis]

>"We need to lure out a fox. Any news on Sanae?"

[日巫子]

>"We need to lure out a fox. Any news on Sanae?"

> "Oh.  Sanae got all riled up when Marisa showed up.  She's still moping around, but she's not a vegetable anymore," Suwako explains.

> _

[Hello Purvis]

>"That's something. Has she said anything at all that might be enlightening?"

[日巫子]

>"That's something. Has she said anything at all that might be enlightening?"

> Suwako shakes her head.  "She hasn't said anything about the incident yet."

> _

[Hello Purvis]

>"I meant in general, about her in particular."
>Did we have Suwako look at our soul before?

[日巫子]

>"I meant in general, about her in particular."
>Did we have Suwako look at our soul before?

> "She hasn't," says Suwako.
> You can't remember if you did or not, so you probably didn't.  You don't think Suwako knows about your current condition.

> _

[Hello Purvis]

>"Oh well."
>"Hey, can you have a look at my soul real fast?"

[日巫子]

>"Oh well."
>"Hey, can you have a look at my soul real fast?"

> Suwako blinks.  You swear her hat blinks with her.
> "That's sudden.  What for?"

> _

[Sect]

> "You'll see why."

[日巫子]

> "You'll see why."

> "If you say so."  Suwako gives you a skeptical look.  She rolls up one of her sleeves, exposing her hand.  It is closed into a fist, but when she opens it, there is a small black frog on it.  It hops into the grass, leaving inky residue behind, and starts hopping towards you.

> _

[Sect]

> "... What... exactly are you doing?" She better not be expecting us to eat it.

[日巫子]

> "... What... exactly are you doing?" She better not be expecting us to eat it.

> "Shhh.  Hold still," Suwako says as the frog gets closer.

> _

[Sect]

> "Ew, why? I thought you had a thing against people eating frogs!"

[日巫子]

> "Ew, why? I thought you had a thing against people eating frogs!"

> "No, don't eat it," Suwako chides.  The frog finally reaches you, and hops onto your leg.  It crawls up to your knee and stays there.  It feels slimy and warm.  Droplets of black liquid are left on your leg, but they melt into your skin.  You notice that the frog, too, is starting to disappear into your knee.

> _

[Sect]

> We used to be a shrine maiden once, then we took a frog to the knee.
> Shake our knee a bit. "Couldn't you've chosen a less... weird way?"

[日巫子]

> We used to be a shrine maiden once, then we took a frog to the knee.
> Shake our knee a bit. "Couldn't you've chosen a less... weird way?"

> [skyrim joke goes here]
> You squirm in discomfort.  The frog sinks into your knee and disappears.
> "Oh, please, at least I didn't make you eat the poor thing," says Suwako.

> _

[Sect]

> "No, but you made my knee eat it. I'm not sure which is worse. WHat happens now?"

[日巫子]

> "No, but you made my knee eat it. I'm not sure which is worse. WHat happens now?"

> "Oh, stop complaining.  I did what you asked," Suwako says, pointing to your knee.  "Look, since I'm controlling that frog it's completely harmless."
> As she says this, you feel a warm, tingling sensation in your chest.

> _

[Sect]

> "Wow, feels like when that librarian did it. Of course, she used lights instead of frogs."