Neo Gensokyo Quest - Part 8

[Kilgamayan]

> Check around the shrine for anything that isn't Reimu but is of interest, whether it's something that doesn't belong, something that might be a clue about where she went, or something we've found interesting in the past and want to ta-uh, borrow for a little bit while Reimu's out and not using it.

[Neovereign]

> Check around the shrine for anything that isn't Reimu but is of interest, whether it's something that doesn't belong, something that might be a clue about where she went, or something we've found interesting in the past and want to ta-uh, borrow for a little bit while Reimu's out and not using it.

> You mosey about the shrine. Surely someone would've come by stop you from intruding by now, but there's still no one around. No Yukari, no Kasen, no Eiki...
> There's a little doll house, but no one's home, and no treasures seem to be left behind.
> Not much to snack- no wait. There actually is a decent amount of food and snacks here for once. You're not sure taking some would go unnoticed...
>_

[Kilgamayan]

> ...No, let's not take food from Reimu. That seems unrevealed unnecessarily mean-spirited.
> Fold up Reimu's outfit and stuff it into our chest. We might not have the spatial pocket anymore, but our chest should be large enough post-transformation to be able to do this naturally, surely.
> Then take flight and head to the human village.

[Neovereign]

> ...No, let's not take food from Reimu. That seems unrevealed unnecessarily mean-spirited.
> Fold up Reimu's outfit and stuff it into our chest. We might not have the spatial pocket anymore, but our chest should be large enough post-transformation to be able to do this naturally, surely.
> Then take flight and head to the human village.

> You store Reimu's outfit. At least Marisa's house would have some interesting things to consider. Reimu's place is pretty empty.
> You start off for the Human Village instead.
> It seems quiet from a distance. The stuff that happened before hasn't made lasting chaos.
>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Land just outside the village and walk to Suzunaan.

[Neovereign]

> Land just outside the village and walk to Suzunaan.

> You land a less scare-the-humans distance away and enter the village, still bearing a scare-the-humans appearance.
> Thankfully, a majority of them are asleep and not wandering the streets, you suppose.
> Unfortunately, that seems like it might include Kosuzu, as Suzunaan is closed...
>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Feel the winds throughout the village for any humanoid movement.

[Neovereign]

> Feel the winds throughout the village for any humanoid movement.

> Even without doing so, you can tell there's still a bunch of humanoid movement. Most of it is in the usually most populated area. The market, so to speak.
>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Can we tell if any of it is Reimu?

[Neovereign]

> Can we tell if any of it is Reimu?

> You can't. But visibly from here, nor with your wind.
>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Darn. Well, at least we know there are actually people around, it was starting to get a bit unsettling not seeing anyone else for a long stretch of time.
> Make our way back out of the village, still on foot.
> Then take flight and head back to Reimu's pad. If nothing has changed and still no one is here, return the outfit of hers that we borrowed to where we found it.

[Neovereign]

> Darn. Well, at least we know there are actually people around, it was starting to get a bit unsettling not seeing anyone else for a long stretch of time.
> Make our way back out of the village, still on foot.
> Then take flight and head back to Reimu's pad. If nothing has changed and still no one is here, return the outfit of hers that we borrowed to where we found it.

> You head back to the Hakurei shrine. It seems like a quiet night. There were a few incidents lately. Perhaps no one has the energy to be out and about this late today. You haven't crossed paths with Rumia again, even. Though it's not like you know where she normally lives, just a baseless expectation that she mightve been around.
> You return the shrine maiden outfit. Nothing seems changed from when you left earlier.
>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Exit the shrine and fly on home.

[Neovereign]

> Exit the shrine and fly on home.

> You depart and start for the tengu village.
> A brief scan of the land below doesn't reveal Momizi nor Nitori. Everyone's really tapped out, huh?
> You return to your home. Your bed will probably need some improving to be comfortable like this,  but it should be bearable.
>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Is Suzaku here, by any chance?
> If not, stand outside our door and feel for her wind (amongst the others that are probably present).

[Neovereign]

> Is Suzaku here, by any chance?
> If not, stand outside our door and feel for her wind (amongst the others that are probably present).

> Nowhere in your house.
> You Check near your home and the general area.
> Seems most of the Tengu nearby are in their homes. You don't feel anyone familiar, even Hatate. Did she bail somewhere else? At least you'll be able to track her, unlike Reimu. If she came by, that is...
>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Hmm.
> Lock up our house, if we're able.
> Then take flight and speed toward the Shining Needle Castle, which is the last thing we remember Suzaku going toward.

[Neovereign]

> Hmm.
> Lock up our house, if we're able.
> Then take flight and speed toward the Shining Needle Castle, which is the last thing we remember Suzaku going toward.

> You ascend towards the inverted castle.
> There's a bit of a group outside the castle. No tengu, however... Seems to be Sanae, Kogasa, and Seija. A slightly strange group to see together.
>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Can we sense Boss's trail or Suzaku's trail?
> Which Sanae is present?

> Approach them. Given a wave if they look our way.

[Neovereign]

> Can we sense Boss's trail or Suzaku's trail?
> Which Sanae is present?

> Approach them. Given a wave if they look our way.

> You do not.
> You believe it to be the more divine one.

> You approach the trio.
> "Ahh, it's working now." Kogasa tiredly speaks. "I can see people suuper high above, pointing at us and-"
> Kogasa jumps a bit as Seija snaps near her.
> "That doesn't sound genuine." Seija crosses her arms.
> "Yeah, a bit too dry a reaction if it were the case." Sanae nods.
> "Come on, I'm tired..." Kogasa complains.
>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Look up to see what Kogasa is talking about.

[Neovereign]

> Look up to see what Kogasa is talking about.

> You look up.
> Nothing but the sky above... And the rest of the castle of course.
> "Alright, let's rest since someone's here..." Sanae speaks.
> "Good." Kogasa sighs.
> "So, what are you doing here?" Seija asks. "If you're hoping I'll make something for you, I'm not making anything until we get some progress with Kogasa here."
> "D-Don't make it sound like I'm the reason for-"
> "I'm not. I'm just saying it's more important business." Seija interrupts the Karakasa.
>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Give Seija a grin and a wink.
> "You've made it clear that I shouldn't expect anything from you, Mom. I intend to respect that. I'm just here to ask if any of you know where my Boss or subordinate got off to."

[Neovereign]

> Give Seija a grin and a wink.
> "You've made it clear that I shouldn't expect anything from you, Mom. I intend to respect that. I'm just here to ask if any of you know where my Boss or subordinate got off to."

> "Nope." Sanae answers.
> "They're probably in the underground." Seija says.
> "Can we not go telling everyone about the underground? It's not even supposed to be somewhere accessible to those on the surface." Sanae says.
> "And yet, you and your posse frequent there, right? And that'll probably change eventually, anyways. Maybe it'll be open to everyone."
> "Don't you feel like you're doing too much sometimes? You'll burn out if you don't have some simple rest..." Kogasa says.
>_

[Kilgamayan]

> To Kogasa: "That's my next stop, don't worry."

[Neovereign]

> To Kogasa: "That's my next stop, don't worry."

> "Then... Why'd you ask? It sounds like you're gonna go after them."
> "Maybe she was expecting them to be asleep in the castle." Sanae considers.
>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "I was going to pursue Suzaku if someone knew for sure where she was. But if no one knows for sure, then that's that. And even with the proposed idea, Former Hell's not really an option for me right now for reasons not worth going into. Anyway, I'll leave you three to your work."

[Neovereign]

> "I was going to pursue Suzaku if someone knew for sure where she was. But if no one knows for sure, then that's that. And even with the proposed idea, Former Hell's not really an option for me right now for reasons not worth going into. Anyway, I'll leave you three to your work."

> "Good."
> "So, should we try making her the cheat item this time?" Seija questions.
> "W-What happened to the break?" Kogasa says.
> "She is a Tsukumogami, but that sounds risky..." Sanae considers.
> "You won't have to do any work with this one." Seija adds.
> "It'll still be something happening to me."
>_

[Kilgamayan]

> To Seija: "Do be careful with what you do to her. Get her upset enough and she might just surprise you with how she reacts."
> Give the trio a small two-fingered salute-wave.
> Begin heading back to the Hakurei Shrine. Wile traveling, dwell on the implications of what we observed there earlier, both the fact that there was more food present than usual and the fact that absolutely no one was present for an extended period of time, not even any of the multiple people that would want to chase out a youkai that was freely poking around the interior.

[Neovereign]

> To Seija: "Do be careful with what you do to her. Get her upset enough and she might just surprise you with how she reacts."
> Give the trio a small two-fingered salute-wave.
> Begin heading back to the Hakurei Shrine. Wile traveling, dwell on the implications of what we observed there earlier, both the fact that there was more food present than usual and the fact that absolutely no one was present for an extended period of time, not even any of the multiple people that would want to chase out a youkai that was freely poking around the interior.

> "Making use of a surprise is the idea here." Seija answers.
> You depart, returning to the Hakurei Shrine premises.

> You start to brainstorm scenarios. Food being stocked up could mean a number of things... Yukari giving Reimu some supplies... Kasen stopping by... Reimu herself going out for it... unlikely, but it could be donations or from villagers. Either way, the possibilities are too numerous to get much insight from it. Just that someone mightve visited.
> Though that does spark a thought. Most of Reimu's visitors are the kind to partake in some of her snacks, whether unprompted or from her own offer. Suika's certainly hasn't been by given the number. It's not like she'd take all of it, just that you doubt she'll leave so much unused. Maybe same for Marisa and Remilia. If someone or multiple people did visit and bring food and snacks, they didn't take any themselves, and no one else had yet, which narrows it down a bit in your opinion.
> Yukari and Kasen immediately come back to mind. Again, you'd suspect them to bring stuff to Reimu, but why not enjoy some too? With Reimu's disappearance, you suppose they took her for something urgent, which leans you towards Yukari as the culprit. Though Kasen could snatch her just as well, you don't think she would in the short time Reimu was ahead of you.
> If you're considering sudden disappearance,  Miko is also a suspect for taking Reimu. Though you don't have any evidence to use, as you don't recall Miko coming by often with gifts.
> Marisa is fast, but again, she'd likely take some of that for herself,  and you'd notice her flying off, even if it wasn't your direction.
> Daiyousei is also capable of teleporting, but you can rule her out unless she suddenly decided not to go 9 bed.
> You consider that Sumireko could've done something. And on that point, Doremy. But the food once again suggests otherwise.
>_