Magical Lotus - Mahou Shoujou Byakuren - Episode 3, Part 5

[Oldmansour]

>"Not entering the grounds, as far as I could tell. Though remember that this is my school, and even if I were to be scolded for trying to sneak into it, I doubt it would seem suspicious in the way you seem to mean. I do come here all the time, under ordinary circumstances, after all."

>"Today yielded circumstances that were anything but ordinary, let us not forget." Kiku reminds you, more than a little unnecessarily. "And my presence here would not be so easily explained."

[DracoOmega]

>"No, but you've posted lookouts for the possibility yourself, no?"
>"I understand your concern, but of the many things we have cause to worry about these days, I think this is fairly nonthreatening among them."

>When we sensed the block in Lily's mind first, how did we do it? We were able to get at least some sense of it without touching rings, yes?

[Oldmansour]

>"No, but you've posted lookouts for the possibility yourself, no?"
>"I understand your concern, but of the many things we have cause to worry about these days, I think this is fairly nonthreatening among them."

>When we sensed the block in Lily's mind first, how did we do it? We were able to get at least some sense of it without touching rings, yes?

>"I am of a more cautious nature than you are." Kiku replies simply.

>You could sense the grey veil within Lily's mind before you touched rings, yes. You did so by focusing your will upon the connection you sensed between your ring and hers, though you were unable to glean much in the way of details before you brought your rings together.

[DracoOmega]

>Nod
>"Of course."

>"This may sound a silly question, but please bear with me - what do you recall us discussing just before I said I would come here in person?"

[Oldmansour]

>Nod
>"Of course."

>"This may sound a silly question, but please bear with me - what do you recall us discussing just before I said I would come here in person?"

>The miko's ears twitch. "All right." she says tolerantly. "We were discussing the idea you had of snooping around the shrine while Satori and I were involved in Toune's ritual. An idea which, I might add, I still have serious reservations about, Byakuren."

[DracoOmega]

>"And so you recall nothing of the veil in Lily's mind?"

[Oldmansour]

>"And so you recall nothing of the veil in Lily's mind?"

>Kiku scowls. "Yes. I do remember that.  Evidently you find it more pressing an issue than the other."

[DracoOmega]

>"Do you not think it is also cause for concern? Or at least caution?"

[Oldmansour]

>"Do you not think it is also cause for concern? Or at least caution?"

>"Evidently not as much as you."

[DracoOmega]

>"Well, will you at least permit me to have a look? It cannot hurt, surely?"

[Oldmansour]

>"Well, will you at least permit me to have a look? It cannot hurt, surely?"

>"A look? I thought you said you had solved the problem with Lily."

[DracoOmega]

>"At you, I meant."

[Oldmansour]

>"At you, I meant."

>"You believe I have been similarly compromised?"

[DracoOmega]

>"I am a bit concerned, yes, and would like to rule it out - particularly if we are to attempt something that is itself already risky."

[Oldmansour]

>"I am a bit concerned, yes, and would like to rule it out - particularly if we are to attempt something that is itself already risky."

>Kiku considers that. "Yes... And there is the fact that my memory has been affected once before by something. But the Tiger lifted that veil from my mind."

[DracoOmega]

>"Surely it cannot hurt to check, nonetheless?"

[Oldmansour]

>"Surely it cannot hurt to check, nonetheless?"

>"You tell me, Byakuren."

[DracoOmega]

>"It shouldn't be uncomfortable to you, no, if that's what you mean. You may sense me doing it, but Lily at least did not seem to find it unpleasant."

[Oldmansour]

>"It shouldn't be uncomfortable to you, no, if that's what you mean. You may sense me doing it, but Lily at least did not seem to find it unpleasant."

>Kiku lets out a measured breath. "I question the necessity of this, Byakuren. You seem to imply that you believe the Tiger left a problem within me partially unsolved. But on the other hand, if I was compromised once, I can't ignore the possibility that it happened in some other form. Especially if it happened to Satori as well. Optimistically, your efforts could grant us an insight into how to remove the dark force that shadows my home." She takes another breath. "Very well, proceed."

[DracoOmega]

>Do so. Let's reach out to her as we did with Lily and feel if anything seems off.

[Oldmansour]

>Do so. Let's reach out to her as we did with Lily and feel if anything seems off.

>As you did with Lily before, you focus on the connection between yourself and Kiku, joined through your rings. However, the connection between you and the metal miko is not as strong as it was with Lily. You cannot see the same detail in the colors within Kiku, merely a subdued mix of yellows and silvers mixed with traces of reds. There is something beneath this layer, however, you can sense that much. It feels distinct from the outer layer, somehow different. With the connection at this strength level, however, you can't tell much about it. It does appear to be grey in color, however, plainly different from the silver. Duller, less vibrant.

[DracoOmega]

>Does it feel at all similar to the veil we sensed in Lily's mind?

[Oldmansour]

>Does it feel at all similar to the veil we sensed in Lily's mind?

>Impossible to tell at this level. It's too well concealed beneath the surface level of colors and emotions. However, that veil was clearly out of place within Lily's mind. While you can't tell if the same phenomenon is at work here, it does feel different from what you sense on the surface. You can't be sure, but your gut says it something that didn't come from Kiku herself, at least not on any conscious level.

[DracoOmega]

>"I can sense... something. It is not as clear as it was with Lily, but I can definitely feel something that does not feel the same as the rest of you. Something that might not belong. I wish I could be more specific, but I cannot see it very clearly in this manner. But it does concern me enough to want to look more closely."

[Oldmansour]

>"I can sense... something. It is not as clear as it was with Lily, but I can definitely feel something that does not feel the same as the rest of you. Something that might not belong. I wish I could be more specific, but I cannot see it very clearly in this manner. But it does concern me enough to want to look more closely."

>"It may simply be the remnants of whatever He removed from me." Kiku counters. Although she seems her normal self, the fur on her tail is a bit stiffer than normal. If that's a sign like it is for Rin, you gather she's apprehensive about the idea of 'more closely', you would guess.

[DracoOmega]

>"That may be, but its presence feels strange enough to me that I do not feel confident to simply leave it unexplored. Looking deeper should not be difficult, I think, but it is... somewhat more personal. Our consciousnesses will touch each other, at least to a degree. I promise I will look only to what I am searching for here, as best as I am able."
>"I would not suggest this if I did not think it important."

[Oldmansour]

>"That may be, but its presence feels strange enough to me that I do not feel confident to simply leave it unexplored. Looking deeper should not be difficult, I think, but it is... somewhat more personal. Our consciousnesses will touch each other, at least to a degree. I promise I will look only to what I am searching for here, as best as I am able."
>"I would not suggest this if I did not think it important."

>Kiku's hesitation is obvious. "Exactly what do you mean, our conscoiusness will touch each other?"

[DracoOmega]

>"While the bond lasts, we will each be able to sense some of the thoughts and feelings of the other as though a part of our minds were briefly shared. It is not harmful, nor does it lay oneself wholly bare - there is privacy even then, and I will respect yours, I promise."
>"If it is any comfort, I will be exposing myself to you as much or more than you would to me. I feel it is important not to leave this unexamined."

[Oldmansour]

>"While the bond lasts, we will each be able to sense some of the thoughts and feelings of the other as though a part of our minds were briefly shared. It is not harmful, nor does it lay oneself wholly bare - there is privacy even then, and I will respect yours, I promise."
>"If it is any comfort, I will be exposing myself to you as much or more than you would to me. I feel it is important not to leave this unexamined."

>The miko's hesitation turns into something approaching anger. "What you ask is.... an unwelcome idea."

[DracoOmega]

>"I can appreciate why this might not sit well with you. I do not ask it lightly, but I know no other way."