User:NekoRex/YoukaiForest2

<>Ambiance<> An unseasonably-chilly wind blows through the charred remains of the Youkai Forest, rustling the budding leaves of tiny seedlings that are beginning to sprout again. They seem to straighten up somewhat, become a little stronger, as the lone figure, draped in lavish violet silks and gold jewelry, walks silently through the devastated landscape. * Marisa_Kirisame is flying around the forest with her two best friends, Alice and Reimu, searching, scanning between the sparse trees for any sign of any of Yukari's shikigami. Luckily, or perhaps wisely, they hadn't really run into anyone bothersome since they started this search. She seemed pretty confident that Yuyuko's information would get them to who they wanted, anyway. * Reimu_Hakurei flies quietly along, eyes scanning the surrounding area carefully, looking for any remainder of the youkai that were so numerous here. There seem to be a few flying about, but none worthy of attention. Although, Reimu does feel a stronger presence nearby, and she unconsciously begins to drift closer and closer to it. Idly, she glances around at where Alice and Marisa should be.  You feel that? An odd presence nearby. <>Ambiance<> She makes not a sound save the jingling of the tiny gold bells and other ornaments dangling from her impressive antlers. Yet though the air is silent, she still seems to hear something, her ears perking somewhat as she thinks she hears a voice off in the distance. * Alice_Margatroid drifts along with the two, perhaps a little more on-edge as they, but.. there's definitely something around here. She comes to something of a stop when Reimu starts off in an odd angle, looking over to Marisa once and following the shrine maiden.  "You think it's one of the ones we're lookin' for? Ya never know who you'll find around here." Marisa says, starting to follow Reimu now.  It's hard to tell. Maybe it is, maybe it isn't... it's a bit weird for there to be anyone significant around here, though..  Not really sure, but it feels a little different than the usual youkai around here. It might feel a little clearer when we start getting closer.  What is it you consider "usual", then..?  "Eh, well I guess it won't be a problem if it's not someone we're looking for anyway, heh heh."  You should already know what the usual youkai are like, Alice. The feral, savage ones that usually hang around the forest. * Alice_Margatroid gives Reimu a sarcastic look, a rare little smirk tugging at the edge of her mouth.  Yes, I'm sure you know all about those ones.  I certainly do. Hard to forget grinding people into the ground or something when they pop out and make you angry. * Reimu_Hakurei says, easily shrugging off the snide remark.  But why would they be in the ground in the first place?  Are you fighting jiang-shi?  Because I shot them down, of course.  "We actually did fight one of those once. Tough little brute, she was."  Kind of stupid, really. * Alice_Margatroid wrinkles her brow a bit at the use of the word we, still resenting being left behind. Turning to look ahead, she continues through the woods, being sure to skirt around the nastier weeds.  If this place is going to be full of such awful stuff, maybe whoever burned it should burn it again. * Alice_Margatroid sighs. * Kinshikako_no_Akira looks up slowly as she hears something off in the distance. Three young ladies, by the sound of it. What could they want in such a barren, unwelcoming landscape such as this? * Reimu_Hakurei pauses, coming slowly to a stop as she feels that she is sufficiently close to whatever she had been sensing before. And indeed, upon gazing downward, she catches a glance of the source of the feeling.  Mm... * Marisa_Kirisame is unconciously flying around the rampant weed growths, even though she should be able to just go through them. When she finally does remember, she gets a nasty surprise when one of the thicker-looking ones whacks her on the head instead. "Ow! What the heck?" she exclaims, rubbing her head. * Marisa_Kirisame nearly runs into/through Reimu after being occupied by the brief headache, but manages to stop when she does. "I wonder how I ran into that..." she mutters as she stops to try and find why Reimu had stopped. * Reimu_Hakurei ceases her stop, beginning forward again, but much more slowly as she approaches the figure. * Alice_Margatroid sighs, moving carefully unlike Marisa. She passes by, gently patting the witch on the shoulder in her best comforting way, before continuing to follow Reimu. * Kinshikako_no_Akira can hear the trio getting closer, but she doesn't bother to turn around to acknowledge them just yet. Taking a few steps away, she bends down, gently touching the leaves of some plant that's beginning to break through the ground. <Kinshikako_no_Akira> It's a wonder how tragedy can lead to such miracles, don't you think? <Reimu_Hakurei> Eh? What are you talking about?-- Actually, nevermind, I don't care. Who are you? You're obviously not any of the usual rabble here, so out with it already. <Alice_Margatroid> .. ? * Kinshikako_no_Akira 's ears perk up at the rather curt response, and she straightens up, the bells on her antlers jingling as she turns to look right at Reimu. She smiles slightly, before folding her hands into her sleeves and bowing slightly, eyes closing as she does so. <Kinshikako_no_Akira> Kinshikako no Akira, servant to the Sage of Gensoukyou, Yakumo Yukari. At your service. * Alice_Margatroid spurs on a little quicker to catch up, coming to a bit of a stark stop when she sights the person that Reimu's talking to. Giving the antlers a funny look, and not being all that certain what kind of youkai this is, she remains quiet for now. <Alice_Margatroid> .. Oh, well, there we go. * Marisa_Kirisame grins when she spots and recognizes the youkai, about to elbow Reimu to be a bit less blunt, but she revealed herself before she could really do much. <Reimu_Hakurei> Oh, a polite youkai. That's rare... -- Polite and useful. This is very rare indeed.Uh, do you think you could lead us to where Yukari is? I got something that I need to talk to her about. <Marisa_Kirisame> "See? I knew we'd find one of 'em around. I'll have to thank Yuyuko again later for helpin' me out." <Kinshikako_no_Akira> Hmm? You wish to see Yukari-sama? It isn't often that people go to her and live... For what purpose might you be seeking her? <Alice_Margatroid> "Polite and useful". Well, excuse you. * Kinshikako_no_Akira 's ears perk up slightly at the mention of Yuyuko, and her smile brightens a little. <Reimu_Hakurei> Shoosh, Alice; I wasn't referring to you. Anyway, I'm sure I'd be fine in going to...wherever it is that she does nothing but sleep. That's what it seems like, anyway. There's a few things I need to discuss with her; one being fixing my friend here... * Reimu_Hakurei points to Marisa. <Reimu_Hakurei> And the other would be a rather annoying curse that has supposedly been laid on numerous people of Gensoukyou. Yukari only seems to come around when she wants to bother ME into doing something, so it would be nice to switch things up a little. * Alice_Margatroid giggles under her breath. * Kinshikako_no_Akira frowns slightly at Reimu's tendency to be as forward as she is, but she doesn't say anything. Taking a moment to mull things over, she nods slowly, reaching up to touch the carved ivory rose on her necklace. <Kinshikako_no_Akira> So long as you promise to be polite, I see no reason not to take you to see her. <Alice_Margatroid> .. I'll try to keep the rest of them in line. <Marisa_Kirisame> "Sounds like a good deal to me if I've ever heard one." Marisa replies, grinning more. <Reimu_Hakurei> Polite she says. If anything else, I would be more worried about Yukari trying to tease me or whatever. But, if that's what you want, then I promise... * Reimu_Hakurei sighs, crossing her arms in a sort of up-tight manner. <Kinshikako_no_Akira> I make no promises that she will help, but being polite will take you a very long way. <Marisa_Kirisame> "Woulda ya be so kind as to help us out then, uh, Akiri-sama?" Marisa asks, having to do the mental excercise of actually adding honorifics to names. * Kinshikako_no_Akira smiles gently, before lightly tapping on the rose carving on her necklace. <Kinshikako_no_Akira> Of course I will. Now, you may want to stand back... <Reimu_Hakurei> (-sama...hah) * Reimu_Hakurei chuckles internally; it's always rare to hear Marisa say such things. * Reimu_Hakurei does as requested, taking a full step back to give this skikigami a bit of room. Idly, Reimu wonders how many shikigami Yukari actually has, she's only really met Ran before now. <>Ambiance<> As Akira continues lightly tapping the carved rose on her necklace, the wind seems to pick up, making the ornaments on her antlers jingle more and more. Finally, all the bells and ornaments stand straight out on either side of her and the rose begins to glow a faint violet. <>Ambiance<> Immediately, the air in front of her begins to crackle and pulse with violet energy, before a large gap--wide enough to easily accommodate Akira's antlers, opens up. * Kinshikako_no_Akira takes her hand away from the rose on her necklace before stepping back, motioning to the gap. * Alice_Margatroid feels a bit of a weird little chill start up her back at this whole process, shifting back a little. A couple of her dolls peek out from behind her shoulder. <Kinshikako_no_Akira> That will take you right to Yukari-sama's home. Whenever you are ready to return, she will provide you a gap right back here. <Reimu_Hakurei> Ah...? Can Ran do that, too, then? * Reimu_Hakurei says, eyeing the gap. Leave it to Yukari to allow her servants to wield this sort of thing. * Marisa_Kirisame can't help bug grin more at how simple this was turning out to be. Gesturing towards the gap, she jokes, "Ladies first, you two." <Alice_Margatroid> ... What? * Alice_Margatroid looks back at Marisa, looking partway offended and partway utterly confused. <Alice_Margatroid> Then you go first. <Kinshikako_no_Akira> All of Yukari-sama's serants can, yes. Now, run along, you three. Yukari-sama will eventually close the gap once she realizes it's open. <Kinshikako_no_Akira> ((servants. /me casually beats her v key.)) <Reimu_Hakurei> If you insist, Marisa. * Reimu_Hakurei steps through the gap, not finding much point in arguing about who goes first. * Alice_Margatroid just rolls her eyes and steps through as well. * Marisa_Kirisame shrugs and flies in the gap behind them, not wanting to waste time.