Magical Lotus - Mahou Shoujou Byakuren - Episode 3, Part 4

[Oldmansour]

>"If that's all, I'd like to check on Marigold and make sure she is fine."
>Produce phone! Call the CRA! Navigate the inevitable phone maze!

>Lily smiles. "Good idea!"
>Knowing that your 'daughter' was going to be at the CRA for possibly some time, you took the liberty of recording its number in your phones' memory earlier, which you now produce and dial.
>"If ya don't mind, Lotus, meybe we should head home as well." White Rose suggests as the phone rings. "Ain't a real good idea to stand about under dis kinda wet snow if you don't have to."

[Hello Purvis]

What you think, Draco? Head home, or we got more roaming to do?

[DracoOmega]

Well, we do want to check in with Kiku before too long, but I'm not sure where she is at the moment, and I think the last we saw her was in the direction of our place anyway (and she could just be gone back to the shrine regardless). So I guess I don't see why not; home's not that far away.

>"Yes, you're probably right."
>Let's drop our magical forms before leaving the alleyway, then walk back to our place while we talk

[Oldmansour]

>"Yes, you're probably right."
>Let's drop our magical forms before leaving the alleyway, then walk back to our place while we talk

>"Don't wanna be fighting with a cold." Rin says as she, along with you and Lily, shed your Magical guises and set off back towards home.
>Your phone connects with Kikuri at the front desk of the CRA, who puts you on hold after you explain the purpose of your call while she checks into the status of Marigold. Lily, perhaps unsurprisingly, starts to gush about the newborn youkai to Rin. About a minute later, Kikuri's voice returns, informing you that Marigold is presently attending a lesson at the moment, on how to read, she notes. She does say that she can put you through, if you wish.

[Hello Purvis]

>Let's have her call back when the lesson is through.

[Oldmansour]

>Let's have her call back when the lesson is through.

>Kikuri replies that this can be arranged, and records your number.

[Hello Purvis]

>With that done, let's head home.

[Oldmansour]

>With that done, let's head home.

>Rin's suggestion of getting out of the snow, you decide after a minute, was probably a good one. Weather in general doesn't bother you as much as the next person, but the large flakes currently falling from the sky are an unpleasant mix of water and ice. The sort of precipitation that leaves an unpleasant coating of slush on the ground.
>Not that this does anything to dampen Lily's spirits, as she regales Rin with the tale of how Marigold came about with a big smile on her face. She pauses, however, as you round the corner heading back up towards your flat. "Hmmm.... Now that I think about it, I oughta give Kyouko-chan a visit. Haven't seen her today." She produces her phone as she asks Rin, "You said you have work tonight, right?" The kasha nods. "About the time we're supposed to meet the cops and them later?"
>"Aye." Rin answers, looking a bit disappointed in the doing.
>"Don't you worry, I can be there, especially if you and Kiku can't." Lily assures her, giving your kasha a half-hug. "Unless you wanted me to hang around, Byakuren?"

[DracoOmega]

>"Whatever you'd rather is fine with me."

[Oldmansour]

>"Whatever you'd rather is fine with me."

>"Then we'll meet up later." Lily says as she gives you a quick hug. And with a hop, skip and a jump, Lily takes to the grey skies and leaves your party.
>"I wonder just how fast she can move when she wants..." Rin muses at the departing form of Lily White. "Some flyers can really fly." Her tails swish thoughtfully. "Come ta think of it, what kinda youkai do you suppose she is, Mistress?"

[DracoOmega]

>"She's a fairy, obviously!"
>Do we actually know?

[Oldmansour]

>"She's a fairy, obviously!"
>Do we actually know?

>Not actually, no. You would have assumed she was a fairy, but to your knowledge, fairies never have feathered wings. Your best guess would be some kind of bird youkai, but as to what kind specifically, you really don't know.

[DracoOmega]

>"Some kind of bird, maybe? I never thought to ask."

[Oldmansour]

>"Some kind of bird, maybe? I never thought to ask."

>"Big white wings.... Maybe a dove? Nah, they're s'posed to be all peaceful an' quiet." Rin says with an amused grin.
>A tennis ball bounces out of the entrance way into Moonside, followed just behind by Hyozan. The big malamute grabs the ball on its second bounce, then pauses in mid-turn as he spies you and Rin coming. His tail wags back and forth, almost like someone waving.

[DracoOmega]

>Smile back
>"Well, good afternoon to you, too."
>To Rin: "Yes, 'quiet' is certainly one word I would not use to describe Lily."

[Oldmansour]

>Smile back
>"Well, good afternoon to you, too."
>To Rin: "Yes, 'quiet' is certainly one word I would not use to describe Lily."

>Rin gives you a chuckle and the dog a somewhat restrained wave of her own, as Hyozan turns and heads back into the yard. You can hear Letty's voice calling after him, as well as what sounds like Marissa, as well.
>"Um, Mistress?" Rin says a bit cautiously, slowing down just a bit. "Before we get home, can I ask ya... A per-personal question?"

[Hello Purvis]

>"If you want to ask out here. But if you're a bit nervous, maybe it'd be easier to ask where we're less likely to be overheard?"

[Oldmansour]

>"If you want to ask out here. But if you're a bit nervous, maybe it'd be easier to ask where we're less likely to be overheard?"

>"If you want." she answers quickly. "I was just wondering something about Marigold."

[Hello Purvis]

>"Go on?"

[Oldmansour]

>"Go on?"

>"Hearin' Lily talk about Marigold, callin' her 'daughter'... She really meant it, I think." Your Rin chuckles quietly. "Alright, it's true, she says pretty much everythin' with dat kinda passion. But I still think she really meant it, really thinks of Marigold like she's her daughter. An' I... Well, I was wonderin' if you did, too, is all."

[Hello Purvis]

>"Mmm, well. That is a hard question to answer. I certainly feel responsible for her, at least. Though, between you and I, I'm glad the CRA is around to deal with most of the day to day issues with integrating her into society, it would run me ragged otherwise."

[Oldmansour]

>"Mmm, well. That is a hard question to answer. I certainly feel responsible for her, at least. Though, between you and I, I'm glad the CRA is around to deal with most of the day to day issues with integrating her into society, it would run me ragged otherwise."

>"Active kid?"

[Hello Purvis]

>"A lot of ground to cover."

[Oldmansour]

>"A lot of ground to cover."

>"Always is with young ones." Rin says with a nod. Queitly, she adds, "Plus, with... well, y'know. Safer there."

[DracoOmega]

>"So one hopes."

[Oldmansour]

>"So one hopes."

>Oh, it will be. Rin assures you, switching to your private channel as you approach Moonside's front gate. She gives you a confidant yet lightly teasing smile. You can bet I'm gonna keep your daughter safe and sound.

[DracoOmega]

>Chuckle lightly
>We all will.
>Then slowly shake our head with a smile
>Oh, but it's so strange to hear that word.

[Oldmansour]

>Chuckle lightly
>We all will.
>Then slowly shake our head with a smile
>Oh, but it's so strange to hear that word.

>Safe bet Marissa's never gonna let ya hear the end of it. Rin replies with a grin.

[DracoOmega]

>I'm sure she won't be able to resist.

[Oldmansour]

>I'm sure she won't be able to resist.

>The blonde in question, clad in a cold-defying ensemble of t-shirt and jeans, is indeed in evidence as you and Rin walk through the front gates of the Moonside apartments. She and the kimono-wearing Letty are tossing a tennis ball back and forth, Hyozan capering between the two women in pursuit. Minoriko stands outside her door beneath an umbrella, watching the three play with a smile on her face. The shiny black corvette that was here before is missing, by Reimu's merc is still in evidence. And you detect a vague sense of magical energy emanating from Patchouli's apartment.