Neo Gensokyo Quest - Part 6

[Neovereign]

Seki:

> Will our horses, with the carriage, to dash straight at Saki!
> At the same time, twist our head fully around (controlling it to keep it upright and on our shoulders if needed) so we're facing Mayumi, and spit into her right eye!

Seki:

> You try to will, and your horses follow the command, leading the carriage for Saki.
> You also turn around to face Mayumi and spit in her eye.
> This... does absolutely nothing to her. She doesn't even blink... You almost see her eye twinkle.
> "I won't be deterred in Lady Keiki's orders." She responds. "Don't worry!"
> You hear a crash from Saki's position, then footsteps, picking up quickly and getting closer.

Aya:

> You watch Seki's horses charge straight for Saki, only for your lookalike to barrel straight through them as she charges for Sekibanki in turn.
>_

[Kilgamayan]

Aya:

> Ooh, that's unfortunate. Wonder how we're getting anywhere now?

Seki:

> Turn back around to get a gauge on where Saki is.
> If Aya is still closer to us than Saki, then yank the giant wolf spirit out of Aya and fling it into Saki.

[Neovereign]

Aya:

> Ooh, that's unfortunate. Wonder how we're getting anywhere now?

Seki:

> Turn back around to get a gauge on where Saki is.
> If Aya is still closer to us than Saki, then yank the giant wolf spirit out of Aya and fling it into Saki.

Aya:

> You ponder if you can have Yachie help her back up afterwards. You would like a fast ride, given your current state.

Seki:

> You turn back around, finding Saki starting to leap.
> You quickly try to pull the giant wolf out of Aya. It's corporeal, so this is just hopeful...
> Thankfully, it seems to be enough of a spirit to phase out from Aya. Though this doesn't stop-
> ...
> Does it? You can't see Saki since it's blocking her way, but the wolf didn't get hit yet...

Aya:

> Oh... There goes your new size. The two headed wolf looks content, though it takes on surprise after a second, and looks around.
> Saki looks like she's going to dropkick someone again, but stops herself with her wings upon almost sending the giant wolf to Hell 2.
> "Huh?" Saki questions.
> "Huh? Who?" Yachie questions, sitting on a couple other animal spirits as they float above the ground.
>_

[Kilgamayan]

Aya:

> ...Are we not supposed to interfere with anything and anyone, or are we only supposed to not interfere with Seki?

[Neovereign]

Aya:

> ...Are we not supposed to interfere with anything and anyone, or are we only supposed to not interfere with Seki?

Aya:

> Well, the thing seems to be over now. You suppose it resolved itself one way or another without you doing anything.
>_

[Kilgamayan]

Aya:

> Freedom! ...Of movement!
> How does the cart look?
> ...Wait, why is Mayumi holding Banki in place, again? Wasn't she enemies with Saki, at least?

[Neovereign]

Aya:

> Freedom! ...Of movement!
> How does the cart look?
> ...Wait, why is Mayumi holding Banki in place, again? Wasn't she enemies with Saki, at least?

Aya:

> It's still intact. The horses are getting back up.
> You think so? She wasn't attacking her before, but she wasn't really being nice either.
>_

[Kilgamayan]

Aya:

> There was definite sniping and arguing back and forth at times. And Mayumi was being nice to us - why would she be doing this now, when she claimed to be following Keiki's orders to keep us safe? We've seen how strong and fast Saki is - if she had drop kicked Banki, that would have ended really poorly.
> Come to think of it, why was Saki doing that in the first place? She's seemed perfectly reasonable up to this point, and certainly didn't seem aggressive toward Banki before. She mentioned a deal with Yachie...was kicking Banki the exchange for trying to pull that wolf out of our chest?
> Wait - the wolf's out now! It's not aggressive yet, but it's out all the same! That-
> -means their deal is off, isn't it?

[Neovereign]

Aya:

> There was definite sniping and arguing back and forth at times. And Mayumi was being nice to us - why would she be doing this now, when she claimed to be following Keiki's orders to keep us safe? We've seen how strong and fast Saki is - if she had drop kicked Banki, that would have ended really poorly.
> Come to think of it, why was Saki doing that in the first place? She's seemed perfectly reasonable up to this point, and certainly didn't seem aggressive toward Banki before. She mentioned a deal with Yachie...was kicking Banki the exchange for trying to pull that wolf out of our chest?
> Wait - the wolf's out now! It's not aggressive yet, but it's out all the same! That-
> -means their deal is off, isn't it?

Aya:

> You'd believe so. Saki shouldn't have reason to deal with Yachie anymore?
>_

[Kilgamayan]

Aya:

> Hmm. Given the situation, with all this weirdness, and us being okay with watching Banki get kicked into the afterlife which is EXTRA weird in retrospect, and that wolf being right bloody there, it...might behoove us to not call attention to ourselves.
> Saki's got wings, so might as well try! Give her a wind order to tell Yachie that, now that the wolf's free, the deal is off.

[Neovereign]

Aya:

> Hmm. Given the situation, with all this weirdness, and us being okay with watching Banki get kicked into the afterlife which is EXTRA weird in retrospect, and that wolf being right bloody there, it...might behoove us to not call attention to ourselves.
> Saki's got wings, so might as well try! Give her a wind order to tell Yachie that, now that the wolf's free, the deal is off.

Aya:

> You try to give an order to yourself. ...Well, not yourself, but the lookalike.
> "Is this that wolf you mentioned? It's certainly not one of my guys. Well, it's not one I know."
> "Boss, we don't know how, but-" "It was comfortable." The two heads speak.
> "Uh huh..." Saki looks over at you, then at the tailed girl. "I guess we don't need your help anymore."
> "You should still help me with my favor. I did prove I was stronger than you." Yachie argues.
> "Tch. I guess you have a point. After my fight, then, I'll think about it."
>_

[Kilgamayan]

Aya:

> That wolf - liked it in there? That's-wait no no no more important things.
> "Hey, whoa, hold up! Why are you three trying to kick Banki into next week? There's no way she'd survive that. Especially you, Mayumi. Were you planning to backstab her the whole time?"
> While speaking, walk up next to the wolf and gently pet its side.

Seki:

> Eye twitch. She's not wrong, but she doesn't need to say it! Especially not in this situation!

[Neovereign]

Aya:

> That wolf - liked it in there? That's-wait no no no more important things.
> "Hey, whoa, hold up! Why are you three trying to kick Banki into next week? There's no way she'd survive that. Especially you, Mayumi. Were you planning to backstab her the whole time?"
> While speaking, walk up next to the wolf and gently pet its side.

Seki:

> Eye twitch. She's not wrong, but she doesn't need to say it! Especially not in this situation!

Aya:

> "I was gonna hold back." Saki shrugs. " Not kill her or anything."
> "I'm following Lady Keiki's orders and keeping her safe, even if it's from herself." Mayumi tightens the grip a bit in emphasis.
> You... suppose you missed meeting Keiki at some point during your kidnapping.
> "I mean, if she could control this big wolf spirit, then she would probably get into bigger trouble. Especially if she tried such against one of us bosses." Saki explains. "The Animal Realm is no joke. Everything up in Gensokyo seemed really soft, aside from a couple people."
> "Lady Keiki would turn her into an idol in a heartbeat." Mayumi agrees.
> "Ugh, I don't want to imagine Yuuma getting a taste of her. That's why I want to get rid of her now." Yachie explains.
>_

[Kilgamayan]

Seki:

> "I literally said we were leaving! You'd be 100% rid of me once I left!"

Aya:

> Does the wolf seem to be reacting to our pettings at all?
> Frown at Saki.
> "You sure didn't look like you were holding back when you ran her cart over."
> "Look, as lovely as the three of you are, especially since one of you is literally just me, I think at this point that coming here was probably unnecessary for my mission. I'd be perfectly happy to get out of your collective hair and let you get back to whatever you were doing before we arrived."

[Neovereign]

Seki:

> "I literally said we were leaving! You'd be 100% rid of me once I left!"

Aya:

> Does the wolf seem to be reacting to our pettings at all?
> Frown at Saki.
> "You sure didn't look like you were holding back when you ran her cart over."
> "Look, as lovely as the three of you are, especially since one of you is literally just me, I think at this point that coming here was probably unnecessary for my mission. I'd be perfectly happy to get out of your collective hair and let you get back to whatever you were doing before we arrived."

Seki:

> "I didn't want to take the chance." Yachie says.

Aya:

> It still seems discintent.
> "Well those horses looked like they were challenging me. And I went lightly, I think. Look, everything lines up for our fight now, no more interruptions or delays."
>_

[Kilgamayan]

Aya:

> "Oh, right, that."
> Look to Saki.
> "Hey, if I win, can I keep this big friend here as a pet? Wouldn't want to deny them the comfortable place they were enjoying so much."

Seki:

> "Well, you've properly demonstrated that I'm not remotely a threat to you and that you can easily annihilate me with your mind control stuff, so can I leave now?"

Aya:

> Blink.
> "Wait, mind control?!"

[Neovereign]

Aya:

> "Oh, right, that."
> Look to Saki.
> "Hey, if I win, can I keep this big friend here as a pet? Wouldn't want to deny them the comfortable place they were enjoying so much."

Seki:

> "Well, you've properly demonstrated that I'm not remotely a threat to you and that you can easily annihilate me with your mind control stuff, so can I leave now?"

Aya:

> Blink.
> "Wait, mind control?!"

Seki:

> "It isn't mind control. I'm just good at convincing others." Yachie corrects. "Given that soul stuff you did, I assume I was trying to be convincing to someone that only follows the rules of death or something. You're still dangerous, but I feel this run allowed me to gauge what I can do. Subduing the other gangs should be easy. You can go."

Aya:

> "We're betting now? What do I get if I win, then?" Saki questions. "Hm, how about you agree to help me take out Yachie and the other bosses?"
>_

[Kilgamayan]

Aya:

> "...Er...I was kinda intending to be impartial here..."

---

Seki:

> "Great, thanks."
> Look at Mayumi expectantly.

[Neovereign]

Aya:

> "...Er...I was kinda intending to be impartial here..."

---

Seki:

> "Great, thanks."
> Look at Mayumi expectantly.

Aya:

> "Well I don't want to risk losing more of my troops without anything to gain. You see the issue?"

Seki:

> Mayumi still doesn't let go.
> "Right, you can let her go and go back to your boss." Yachie says.
> "Nope. I'm keeping her safe."
> "What do you mean nope? Don't you need to get new orders from her?"
> "If I leave now without her, I won't be able to ensure her safety, especially with you two around. Lady Keiki might even end up more than a bit mad with me."
> "Then bring her with you."
> "Ah, that works." Mayumi finally lets you go.
>_

[Kilgamayan]

Aya:

> "No, I get that, don't worry. Though, frankly, I'm really curious how this giant wolf came to be, since it seems like even they don't know why they are what they are. I'm surprised you seem to be taking it in stride."

Seki:

> Sigh and roll our eyes.
> Get back into the cart, making note of what Mayumi does.

[Neovereign]

Aya:

> "No, I get that, don't worry. Though, frankly, I'm really curious how this giant wolf came to be, since it seems like even they don't know why they are what they are. I'm surprised you seem to be taking it in stride."

Seki:

> Sigh and roll our eyes.
> Get back into the cart, making note of what Mayumi does.

Aya:

> "The animal realm has experienced some strange happenings. I hadn't found Yachie as convincing as earlier before all of this... She might have an advantage over us thanks to this and has realized it thanks to you two." Saki explains.

Seki:

> You board your cart. Your horses look a bit down, probably at failing to support you.
> Mayumi boards next to you, rather than in the carriage itself.
>_

[Kilgamayan]

Aya:

> "If you're that concerned about this potential new advantage of hers, particularly in the context of both of us apparently getting our minds messed with, then why are you suggesting we fight each other in this very moment while she's sitting right over there, presumably waiting to swoop in and metaphorically take the head of whichever of us wins?"

Seki:

> Speak in a calming voice to the horses.
> "Hey now, it's okay. I'm sorry I put you two in that position."

[Neovereign]

Aya:

> "If you're that concerned about this potential new advantage of hers, particularly in the context of both of us apparently getting our minds messed with, then why are you suggesting we fight each other in this very moment while she's sitting right over there, presumably waiting to swoop in and metaphorically take the head of whichever of us wins?"

Seki:

> Speak in a calming voice to the horses.
> "Hey now, it's okay. I'm sorry I put you two in that position."

Aya:

> "Doesn't have to be a fight. It could be a race, for example. I'm confident in both my strength and speed."

Seki:

> They still appear down in the dumps.
>_

[Kilgamayan]

Aya:

> Lighten up a bit.
> "Oh, well, a race I could certainly do."

Seki:

> Look to Mayumi.
> "So where am I allowed to go?"

[Neovereign]

Aya:

> Lighten up a bit.
> "Oh, well, a race I could certainly do."

Seki:

> Look to Mayumi.
> "So where am I allowed to go?"

Aya:

> You sure you're fit to go, with all that extra weight?" Saki gestures to her own chest.

Seki:

> "We're headed back to Lady Keiki to report."
>_

[Kilgamayan]

Aya:

> How large are we at the moment?
> Have we felt weighed down by this current size when traveling previously?
> Do we recall having anything in there other than a Banki head and a pile of karasu tengu?

[Neovereign]

Aya:

> How large are we at the moment?
> Have we felt weighed down by this current size when traveling previously?
> Do we recall having anything in there other than a Banki head and a pile of karasu tengu?

Aya:

> Big enough to struggle to get through doorways.
> A bit. Still fast enough to zip around Gensokyo, though. Judging by the two times she arrived, you think you could beat Saki at this speed. Unless that wasn't her trying to rush...
> You don't.
>_

[Kilgamayan]

Aya:

> "I don't really have a choice. Where are we going to?"

Seki:

> Say Keiki's name with the intent of identifying her location.
> Then travel there via carriage!

[Neovereign]

Aya:

> "I don't really have a choice. Where are we going to?"

Seki:

> Say Keiki's name with the intent of identifying her location.
> Then travel there via carriage!

Aya:

> "Hm... Where you came in here would work since you've been there already, but it's a pretty short distance... I wouldn't want to disadvantage you even more with making you head for places you haven't been. Maybe a round trip, there and back to this wolf." Saki gestures.
> "Go somewhere else. I'm planning on holding a meeting with my clan here, and this is still my territory." Yachie gestures for you to shoo.
> "Tch."

Seki:

> You head back to Keiki's place, once again ending up indoors.
> "Mission complete, Lady Keiki."
> "You stopped them from seeking out the other bosses of the animal realm?" Keiki questions. "Good-"
> "Ah... I-I'm sorry Lady Keiki, I failed!" Mayumi jumps out of the seat, banging her head against the floor in prostration.
>_

[Kilgamayan]

Aya:

> "Would you object to racing to where that haniwa's boss is? I still haven't met her. I also haven't met Yuuma, but I'm guessing she's probably off-limits as far as you two are concerned."

Seki:

> Look at Keiki with an exhausted deadpan expression.
> "No offense, lady, but this entire place is incredibly fire trucked up."
> Glance down at the prostrating Mayumi, then look back up.
> "Don't be too hard on your subordinate here, though, the blonde woman with the horns and the tail messed with her mind pretty bad."