Kryisme !8Gmg1K7oas 2011/06/24 (Fri) 22:57 No. 142942 ▼ File 130895626174.jpg - (446.93KB, 1020x616 , JPEG (21).jpg)
So just as a heads up, since no one voted for a name I have chosen one.
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[x] Go see Keine, that should provide a good distraction from the coma and the dream.
“Hey, Reisen, would you mind giving me directions to the village?”
“Hmm? Oh! Sure, follow this hallway down till you see the double doors on your left, go through those and follow the central path that leads away from the mansion. Do not stray from it, it should lead you to the village within an hour or so depending on the pace you walk at.” She pauses to think for a moment, “Please be back before dark, Master will want to check up on you then.”
Following Reisen’s directions leads you back to the path that you had seen when first arriving. You take a moment to look around, it is barely past noon and is a fairly nice day out. You begin walking down the path before you, there isn’t much to see just a bunch of bamboo trees all around you and the winding path beneath your feet. It takes you close to an hour, just as Reisen said it would, but you can finally see the exit of this forest.
With a sigh of relief you walk into the solid light of day, in the distance you can see the village that was mentioned to you. Surrounding the village is farm land that seems to have quite a large space between it and the forest. The village itself is of fair size, nothing compared to the cities from the outside but sizable none the less. From this distance you can make out people patrolling the wooden wall they have erected around the town. As you approach you notice that there is also two guards standing at the gate, apparently the youkai are more of a threat than you realized.
The guards give you a few odd looks but give you no more problems than that, nothing more than you usually get when going out into public. You start wandering around town when you realize that you had forgotten to ask where she would be at, or for that matter what she looks like… time to ask one of the villagers for directions to her. You walk more towards what appears to be the center of the town, looking for someone to ask her whereabouts.
As you are wondering around the town you don’t really find anyone, there is a lot of unmarked buildings that you assume are homes with the occasional shop with a sign that you can’t read. The only place that appears to be open is what obviously is the blacksmith based off of the sounds from inside and the plume of smoke coming from the chimney, considering you have seen literally no one else since the guards back at the gate you figure this is your best chance of finding her.
You walk over to the door of the blacksmith and wait for a lull in the hammering to knock rather loudly, from inside you hear a rough voice call out, “Doors’ Open!” The first thing you see as you enter the building is that there is a couple of different weapons mounted on the walls, mostly Katana’s with a few Axe’s, other than that there is some farm equipment. Once you move farther in you can see a man in the back working over a forge he looks up for a moment and says, “I’ll be right with ya’ once I’m done here,” he mumbles something under his breath that sounded akin to, ‘didn’t expect anyone this time of day…’
You nod in response to the burly man, not that he sees this as he is at work over the forge. The blacksmith has his black and gray hair tied back in a loose pony tail, his beard braided and seemingly singed, and his arm is moving like a well oiled machine trying to subjugate the metal into its desired form. Every time the hammer goes down and strikes the metal and ear splitting ring assaults your ears.
After what feels like an eternity, the smith finally finishes his work and sets the hammer and product aside. He then walks over to a counter and sits down, “I don’t think I’ve ever seen you in here… So what can I do for you?”
“I was actually hoping you could direct me to a person named Keine? I was told she was a good person to see and it slipped my mind to actually ask for directions…”
“Haha, would explain why I haven’t seen you then. Just follow this road down till you see a fountain. You should see a school to the left of it, she will be in there. You should wait till she lets the kids out though.” The man throughout this is practically speaking with his hands as well, he seems like a rather active fellow.
You frown a bit, “How does that explain it?”
He lets out a deep laugh upon seeing your confusion, “Everyone here knows where Keine is,” the man pauses to stroke his beard. “Not only is she easy to spot in a crowd but she teaches the kids and handles the outsiders.”
“Ah, I can see how that would explain it then… Thank you for the information.”
“You’re welcome kid,” the man says as he stands back up and gets back to work.
You exit the shop and head down the road until you see a rather large fountain in what seems to be the center of the town, and just to your left you see the School the blacksmith mentioned. The building looks similar to an old American schoolhouse, odd since most of the other buildings here have been of Japanese style. There is a rather large yard that is fenced in around the building, probably used for recess or something akin to it.
As you approach the school, you can tell that class still is in session. With that confirmed you look around this town square (?) in hopes of finding something to waste time on. There is a few café’s, some food vendors and what appears to be a tea shop across the way. All of it costs money, you let out a sigh as you resign yourself to sitting down on one of the four benches surrounding the fountain, making sure to choose the one that allows you a view of the school as well.
You notice a few people coming and going from the shops but the streets remain mostly empty. Your stomach groans in protest when the smell from one of the café’s makes its presence known to you… that’s right, you still have yet to eat. It has been almost a full four days since the last time you remember eating, you let out another sigh. You lay you head back, and look up to the sky, soaking in the warmth and wondering how you are going to get a meal without going back to Eientei… or for that matter going to hunt.
You are interrupted in your pondering by someone standing over you, a shame, that, you were actually beginning to enjoy the sun on your face. After a moment or two they are still standing there, you open your eyes to see a silver haired, red eyed woman standing over you.
“You shouldn’t sleep in a place like this, no matter how comfortable it may be,” she says.
“I wasn’t sleeping,” you say while resisting the urge to yawn, “I was thinking about what I wanted to eat.” Technically not a lie, but not the whole truth either. You stand up and stretch before turning around to face her. Now that you have a full view of her you notice that she is wearing a white shirt with red some rather comfy looking red pants, they have pieces of paper plastered all over them.
“If that’s the case I know of a good place, not far from here,” she says with a bit of helpfulness.
You rub the back of your head a bit, “Ah but you see the real problem is that I find myself without money. Hence why I was trying to figure out what I was going to eat.” As if to make a point your stomach protests loudly.
She gives you a look of understanding, “If you wait a while I will treat you. I have some business with Keine first though so you will have to wait a while.”
“Ah, don’t worry about it. I will be fine, it isn’t the first time I have gone without food and won’t be the last. Though I personally am waiting for Keine as well, why not take a seat and keep me company?”
“Even if that is the case it still is pointless to go on suffering,” she pauses to walk around to your side of the bench. “Hell for all you know I may just be offering so that I can have some company later.” She takes a seat next to where you were, while motioning for you to do the same.
Following her lead you sit down again, though now you are angled a bit towards her for easier eye contact. “Eh, I guess if you insist I will, but once I can you will have to let me treat you as well.”
“Heh, sure kid. Sounds like a deal to me. What’s your name anyways?” She says while nodding in your direction.
“My name is Kain, and before you ask I have no middle nor last. What do you go by?”
“The full name is Fujiwara no Mokou, but most call me Mokou.” She pauses to stretch a bit, “Haaa, that felt good. So if you don’t mind me asking, what do you need to meet Keine for?” Her eyes narrow ever so slightly.
“I was told she was the person I need to see,” you shrug, “They said that she handled outsiders usually. What about yourself?”
“Oh? I wouldn’t have put you as an outsider; not many have hair like yours. Though I suppose your clothes are a dead giveaway, but eh, you never know here.” She pauses to shrug, “I am just here for a personal visit, she’s something of a friend of mine.”
You let out a tired laugh, you get that a lot. Your Crimson hair was often commented on, “I hope I’m not going to interrupt any plans you had in the making? If so I will be fine without you treating me.”
Mokou waves her hand dismissingly at you, “I wouldn’t have offered if you were, so don’t sweat it kid. Besides even if I did have plans, the more the merrier,” she says, smiling.
“If you say so, though why do you keep calling me kid? Surely our age difference isn’t that great…” Not that it honestly bothers you but you are curious.
Mokou lets out a short laugh, “Heh, you have no idea. Just remember that not everything is as it seems in Gensokyo.” She reaches out to pat you on the shoulder, “You will always be a kid compared to me.”
“Eh if you say so, though I don’t look as old as I am. I age well,” you finish with a smile. “Not that I am in a hurry or anything but about how much longer do you think the wait will be?” you say while gesturing to the school house across the fountain.
She looks up at the sky for a moment, “It shouldn’t be too much longer, why?” a grin spread across her face, “you eager to get some food?”
“To be honest I would be lying if I said I wasn’t, but that isn’t why I was asking…” you are interrupted by a yawn, “Sorry. It’s just I have been waiting here for a while and I was merely curious.”
“Oh? How long have you been waiting here then?”
“Eh not too long. I would say at most thirty minutes before you showed up, but I was hoping to get some exploring done before I have to return.”
“Return? You sure work fast, where are you staying at?”
“At some clinic, the doctor there said if I tested some medication for her she would give me a new set of clothing, and a room for a week. Seeing no better option, since at that point I only had my pants,” you gesture to your cargo pants, “I took her up on the offer.”
Mokou’s eyes seem to flare, “So you’re staying at Eientei eh? Have you happened to meet this woman with long black hair?”
“No, no I haven’t. I have only met Eirin and her assistant Reisen. Why do you ask?” you ask mildly concerned at her reaction.
“Good, good, you want to watch out for her.” Mokou states in a very serious voice, “Wa—“
She is interrupted by the cheers of children getting out of school for the day.
“Ah, we should go before she gets too involved in anything.” Mokou says while standing up, “Hurry up now, it is a pain to talk to her once she gets focused…” she mutters something under her breath that you didn’t quick catch.
You stand up and follow after her, “I can wait outside while you visit with her if you wish?”
“Nah don’t worry about it, besides you were here first anyways.”
You merely shrug in response as she leads you into the school house, at a desk in the front (?) of the room there is a woman with long silver-blue hair wearing a blue dress and a hat that vaguely reminds you of a temple.
Mokou walks in excitedly and shouts, “Hey Keine! I found a new one for ya!”
Keine who was already beginning to work on paper jumps lightly in surprise, looks up, and says, “Do you have to shout?” She pauses to look around Mokou at you, and starts putting her paperwork up in her desk. “May I ask what your name is?”
“Ah yes, my name is Kain. I heard that you were the one to see if one is new to Gensokyo.”
Keine nods, “Well then Kain, to start with what do you know about Gensokyo?”
“I have heard that it is separated by some sort of barrier from what is referred to as the ‘outside’ world, that there is some sort of manipulation on language that allows me to understand you, and that there are creatures that are referred to as youkai, and finally that said creatures are a lot stronger than they appear.”
Keine nods, “To add to that, there are what we call Spellcard Duels here. It is a sort of magic fight that is used to ‘peacefully’ resolve fights. I say peacefully because for the most part, there is no lasting harm on the participants. There is a set of rules that must be followed. However, seeing as you are new here there is no reason to explain them to you just yet.” She pauses for a moment, “Was it Mokou who informed you of what you already know?”
“No, actually it was Eirin. She informed me that I should probably see you as well, claiming that you usually handle outsiders such as myself.”
“Oh? Why were you there, then? I do not see any injuries on you.”
“Ah, I was there for three days or so. It has had time to heal by now,” you pause to gesture to the already fading scar. “She does her job well. Thankfully enough she has offered me a place to stay in return for testing some medication.”
“Ah, well I am glad that you are well then. If you already have a place to stay, then that should be all we need to do here. Just be sure not to be out and around at night and you should be fine.” Keine says with relief, “So if that is all I would like to get back to work. I have quite a lot to do tonight.”
Mokou sighs, “Ah, I guess that means you won’t be up for drinkin’ then. Do you at least have enough time for a meal with us?”
Keine frowns a bit, “Us? Who else would be there?”
Mokou gestures towards you, “Says he hasn’t eaten in a while and I felt bad for the guy.” She shrugs, “So I offered to treat him.”
Keine thinks about it for a moment, “No actually, I don’t think I will have time for more than a small snack tonight. I am behind in my work… I am sorry Mokou,” she says with a bit of guilt.
Mokou sighs but says, “It’s alright, I understand, good luck on your work tonight. Bye, Keine.” She turns and drags you out by your shoulder. You wave goodbye to Keine who looks mildly distraught. Mokou doesn’t stop dragging you until you are back by the fountain, she is a lot stronger than she looks.
“So you want to go get that meal I offered now?” she sounds a little down.
Pick one:
[x] “Ah, that is if you don’t mind. If you would prefer to do other things then don’t hold out on my account.”
[x] “Actually, I was interested in meeting… Akyu I think it was?”
[x]”Sounds good actually, what did you have in mind?”
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