Magical Lotus - Mahou Shoujou Byakuren - Episode 5

[Oldmansour]

>"She doesn't have to. Either she can drop the bike off or we can pick it up - wherever it is we're going to be doing this. Someplace a little out of the way seems best."

>"Kick is to that, Reisen's probably the best one ta ask about some out of the way piece of road for biking."
>"Not necessarily." Minoriko says. "After all, Marissa's a biker, too."

[DracoOmega]

>"Do you really think it's a bad idea to even mention this to Reisen?"

[Oldmansour]

>"Do you really think it's a bad idea to even mention this to Reisen?"

>Rin is silent for a moment. "I think Motormaster is- WAS- the same kind of person that Konngara was. To slaves like Reisen and me, they're the people we fear the most. Or hate the most. I don't think helping Motormaster would make Reisen happy. It'd be kinda like asking me to help Konngara. I know, I know." she adds quickly. "Motormaster isn't the same person anymore. Not even close to it. He needs help, whatever help we can give him. But I don't think Reisen's gonna forget the old Moto easily."

[DracoOmega]

>"No, I suppose you're right."
>Pause, then smile slightly
>"And I suppose it wouldn't do to give her something else to be distracted by if I want her to beat Drag Strip tonight and spare me having to run a motorcycle gang."

[Oldmansour]

>"No, I suppose you're right."
>Pause, then smile slightly
>"And I suppose it wouldn't do to give her something else to be distracted by if I want her to beat Drag Strip tonight and spare me having to run a motorcycle gang."

>Rin's return smile is broader. "Kind of a shame, though. You'd probably look good in leather."
>Minoriko, though, seems confused. "I think I've missed something."

[DracoOmega]

>"After we transformed the Stuntrons, one of them decided that I ought to become their new leader now that Motormaster was out of the picture. She was quite insistent about it and ended up challenging Reisen to a race with my leadership of their gang as the stakes if she wins."
>Grin
>"Though Reisen assures me that she won't."

[Oldmansour]

>"After we transformed the Stuntrons, one of them decided that I ought to become their new leader now that Motormaster was out of the picture. She was quite insistent about it and ended up challenging Reisen to a race with my leadership of their gang as the stakes if she wins."
>Grin
>"Though Reisen assures me that she won't."

>Minoriko has herself a laugh. "No, 'biker chief Byakuren' just doesn't sound right."

[DracoOmega]

>"I mean, I'm a little flattered in an odd sort of way, but I wouldn't know the first thing about how to go about running such an things - notwithstanding the fact that I can't even drive a motorcycle, which one might think would be a prerequisite."

[Oldmansour]

>"I mean, I'm a little flattered in an odd sort of way, but I wouldn't know the first thing about how to go about running such an things - notwithstanding the fact that I can't even drive a motorcycle, which one might think would be a prerequisite."

>"Maybe dat just goes ta show how bad a boss Motormaster was." Rin suggests with a chuckle. Then she stops, looking somewhat alarmed. "Uh, no offense intended, Mistress."

[DracoOmega]

>Laugh
>"That's quite alright. I'm not offended by the truth."

[Oldmansour]

>Laugh
>"That's quite alright. I'm not offended by the truth."

>Minoriko makes a thoughtful noise. "If you think about it, though, you already are the leader of a group, Byakuren. Two, actually, if you consider the tennis club. Perhaps you're not as unqualified as you think?"

[DracoOmega]

>"I'm a much better tennis player than I am a motorcyclist."

[Oldmansour]

>"I'm a much better tennis player than I am a motorcyclist."

>"Oh I know. I wasn't trying to say that taking charge of a biker gang, even a reformed one, was a good idea, only that you might be better at it than you think you are."

[DracoOmega]

>"Well, thanks for the vote of confidence, anyway."
>Stretch
>"Well, we've got another 2 hours or so before we need to be at the shrine. I wonder if there's any other business I should be attending to in the meantime?"

[Oldmansour]

>"Well, thanks for the vote of confidence, anyway."
>Stretch
>"Well, we've got another 2 hours or so before we need to be at the shrine. I wonder if there's any other business I should be attending to in the meantime?"

>"Might not hurt to get in touch with Breakdown now." Rin suggests. "Give her time to get used to the idea of doing a favor for Motormaster."

[DracoOmega]

>"Well, she was the one who volunteered to keep the bike safe in case a kinder Motormaster wanted it later. And I know he's not exactly 'kind' yet, but still."

[Oldmansour]

>"Well, she was the one who volunteered to keep the bike safe in case a kinder Motormaster wanted it later. And I know he's not exactly 'kind' yet, but still."

>Rin nods. "I guess I forgot about that." she admits.

[DracoOmega]

>Then let's inform our allies that weren't here about the shine appointment at 1, pass the remaining time in some light around-the-house task, and make sure we get to the shrine on time
>Assuming there's no wrinkles in any part of this plan

[Oldmansour]

>Then let's inform our allies that weren't here about the shine appointment at 1, pass the remaining time in some light around-the-house task, and make sure we get to the shrine on time
>Assuming there's no wrinkles in any part of this plan

>Downtime between missions. That doesn't involve healing up after a fight. That's a nice thought. Not enough time to arrange a job with Aya or hang with any of your non-magical girl friends. Even though school is out, you opt for brushing up a little on your studies. You'll have to get back to real life one day, and you'd rather not fall too behind. Besides, knowing VP Mima, as soon as school starts again, she'll expect her students to have been working twice as hard while they were away from the building. So, you and Rin return to your apartment and crack open your books. Instead of your own studies, though, you spend more time helping Rin in her studies of the Yamato language and writing system. Kanji is a long way from her strong suit, but she does keep working at it.
>You leave your apartment and collect Minoriko, heading for the Fire Bird shrine with plenty of time to spare, and with a personal dog escort for a while. Hyozan takes it upon himself to walk down to the bus stop with you. It does feel a bit weird, to see him act like a normal dog knowing what he is. But on the other hand, it may seem odd to him to see you and Rin act like normal girls, knowing what you are. The thought makes you chuckle quietly. You wonder if you'll have the fortune to meet other Kindred, as Hyozan called himself. Perhaps you already have, they just hadn't revealed themselves. Makes you glad you aren't more paranoid than you are.

>The bus that admits you is rather full at this time of day, and you and your two friends are forced to stand amidst the crowd on your way to the south shrine. You don't mind this part of the journey, but there is someone nearby that, judging by the smell, hasn't acquainted his or herself with their shower in too long. Which is obviously worse for Rin. Cat's nose and all. Still, she obviously keeps her mind on her duty as she asks, While we're up at the Bird Shrine, Mistress, do ya think we ought to check their Fire?

[DracoOmega]

>I suppose it can't hurt to swing by while we're there.

[Oldmansour]

>I suppose it can't hurt to swing by while we're there.

>Do you suppose Haruka-san might have mentioned something about it before now? Minoriko asks. From what you've told me about her, I think she may well have told you about her flame changing color if she thought you could help.
>Or she might've solved it herself. Rin says. She's a smart woman, and strong too, Kiku told us. She makes a face. And ya never know. Our luck, some new talky spirit will pipe up while we're there and give us some more riddles.

[DracoOmega]

>It would be nice if they would speak more plainly from time to time.

[Oldmansour]

>It would be nice if they would speak more plainly from time to time.

>Maybe that just comes with the 'mysterious voice' package. Can't talk plain. Or they're like that corpse girl, and they talk plainer but you can't trust 'em.

[DracoOmega]

>I'd like to know how the voice knew what it did, because it was clearly speaking about the Avatars before we even knew of their existence. If I had known what was coming earlier, then maybe....

[Oldmansour]

>I'd like to know how the voice knew what it did, because it was clearly speaking about the Avatars before we even knew of their existence. If I had known what was coming earlier, then maybe....

>I'd suggest goin' back to the Scale shrine to talk to it again, but who knows if it'd show up again.

[DracoOmega]

>I suppose I can put that on the to-do list as well. It's worth a try.

[Oldmansour]

>I suppose I can put that on the to-do list as well. It's worth a try.

>Ya think so? Rin ponders. I mean, do you think there's a chance you could get a straight answer outta that thing, if it's even still there? I'd hate to go off on a wild Tengu hunt.

[DracoOmega]

>A straight answer? No, I suspect not. But that doesn't mean it mightn't say something useful just the same.

[Oldmansour]

>A straight answer? No, I suspect not. But that doesn't mean it mightn't say something useful just the same.

>Wild Tengu hunt? Minoriko asks Rin. I haven't heard that one before.
>It's something the Oni say back in Eire. The kasha frowns. That ain't a bad phrase here, is it?

[DracoOmega]

>Are there any tengu one could rightly call 'wild' around here?
>Well, I probably wouldn't say it around a tengu, at any rate.