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 Posted: Tue Oct 16, 2012 6:48 am
"You told me to tell you what I am good at; there you go," Michiko responded, with a few more snickers from Ochiba. When Lumine picked the book, the wolf tengu raised an eyebrow. With the face the celestial made it made her feel like she was a dog being asked to perform a trick. "Alright then, Page 74 uh...?" "-- that fastens the left corner. The Harness it self is not a problem, but rather the possibility of a stake or carabiner failing mid climb; which could be potentially dangerous. Still, making sure the harness is well placed on the climber and that the rope is in perfect condition is just as critical.
You can check a rope's condition by wrapping in around your arm and tugging downwards with enough force to feel the rope tense.--" "Do I need to keep going? It's kind of a long page....." Ochiba looked at Lumine, wondering how right the tengu had been. "I can memorize everything I've read. So I've made it a point to read the pages too," The wolf crossed her arms," otherwise I wouldn't know where I read the information I remember came from." "That can be rather useful. Maybe you should be a Librarian," The rabbit responded. "I am a hermit. I won't get a job all of the sudden and leave my home just because some rabbi told me to," scoffed Michiko. "Suit yourself, pup," Ochiba snickered anyway, making the wolf blush a bit more once again.
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Posted: Tue Oct 16, 2012 10:09 am
Lumine stared, awestruck. Michiko had indeed read the page word-for-word; she knew because she had been reading along with the wolf as she did.
"Th...that's exactly right..!"
"WOW, Michiko!" She expanded her arms and lept to hug the wolf around her shoulders, tossing the book in some idle direction as she did. "That's amazing! You really are good!" Lumine pulled away after a moment, looking to Michiko with a warm smile. "Ochiba's right; that's a really cool ability! Y'know, if you've read all those books, and can remember everything you read, then you must be really, really smart!"
"But... that makes me wonder something else..." Slowly, Lumine let go of Michiko, returning a bit of her personal space. She kept her gaze level, looking into Michiko's eyes a bit pensively. "If you have all these books, and have read them, then that must mean you're interested in the world and how it works, right? Then why do you insist on shutting yourself away from the very thing that interests you the most? That doesn't make any sense to me... There are some things that you can't learn on a page, y'know?"
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Posted: Tue Oct 16, 2012 4:39 pm
"I can't remember it off the bat... That is why I have worked on connecting situations with material I have read," Michiko looked at Lumine, awkwardly letting hang off her. "But even so, I have a greater understanding of literature because of how much I read..."
Michiko looked at Lumine for the first time a bit confused. The confusion soon cleared, and the wolf lifted her chin proudly,"Yes I know certain things you can only learn in the world. But I have interest in the physical world. If I wanted to go out and personally experience the grief and pain the people I read about... I have no desire for that..."
"You are a fool then." Ochiba grumbled from where she was in the bed. Michiko threw her a glance at the rabbit that had remained silent. "The physical world is as much pain as the emotional... So you are book smart, but a complete ignorant knucklehead when it comes to actual experience."
"What was that ash-heap?"
"What I said...I think even Lumine will agree with me," Ochiba said looking to the celestial,"I think michiko needs to meet the real world, what do you think, Lumi?"
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Posted: Tue Oct 16, 2012 10:18 pm
"Of course I agree!" Lumine said, putting her arm around Michiko's neck in a side-hug. "Michiko, why do you think I left Bhavagra? It had everything anyone could want, except for one thing: Life. Pain and pleasure go hand in hand, and just like darkness and light, one cannot exist without the other. You gotta feel pain first before you can be--"
Even a scatterbrain like Lumine understood the irony of the words she spoke. She swallowed, before finally continuing, "...Happy." She pulled away from Michiko, uncurling her arm from the wolf and taking a step back. Somehow, through her grief and confusion, the things her friends had said seemed to have sunk in, with the realization finally hitting her.
Lumine realized she had been quiet for a while. Like a switch, she forced her usual energetic and happy self back to the surface. "Hey! I know what we should do, Michiko. Something to get you out of your house, and something that would interest you... We should go visit the Tengu Village. I'm curious to know what they did with Master Kazuko's stuff, and...m..maybe we should..."
She trailed off for a moment, mustering up the courage within herself to finish her thought. "...visit your momma's grave?" They were both Seijin's daughters in their own right, yet neither had seen her resting place yet. Lumine wasn't sure if she was strong enough on her own, but with company, perhaps she could bear it.
"A-And you can come too, Ochiba, if you think you're well enough!"
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Posted: Wed Oct 17, 2012 6:40 am
Ochiba smiled. Michiko may have missed it, but she registered the realization in Lumine's face. As the celestial continued to invade and retreat from Michiko's personal space the wolf remained chilled.
"Visit the village...? And Seijin's grave...?" Michiko seemed a bit hesitant in her sideways glance,"I suppose it is simple enough that I can handle it."
"Heavens no, I am too old to make a trip like that!" Ochiba waved a hand, perhaps not giving herself enough credit,"I am still tired, Lumine, besides, I have a feeling this trip is meant for two~"
"I guess we are going to go alone. I'll go get my blades and my lantern..." Michiko moved out of the room, and when she was ready she would wait for Lumine at the door.
Ochiba smile warmly still,"I think this will be good for both of you guys." The rabbit was on her side on her host's bed, she didn't want to get up yet. "Don't get in trouble, okay? I cannot go and save you this time, I need to resting time~! "
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Posted: Wed Oct 17, 2012 10:07 am
"I guess sooo..." Lumine said, pouting a bit. "Just don't do anything stupid while we're gone." Walking over to Michiko's bedside, she brushed away some of Ochiba's hair and kissed her forehead. "You stay here and rest, okay? We should be back in a day or two!" Another hug, and the Celestial left Ochiba to rest, and exited the bedroom.
In the living room again, she saw Michiko waiting for her by the door, and smiled. "That didn't take you long. Excited?" She began to secure her own arrangements, but paused before taking Maemi's Nodachi, staying her hand and leaving the weapon set against the wall. It probably would not have been the wisest choice of her life to walk into the Tengu Village, wearing the Nodachi of the Kenkaku family that had been stolen days before. She voiced this concern to Michiko; "Y'know...I think I'll leave this here. You don't mind, right? I don't wanna get us in trouble or anything - after all, I kinda...stole this."
However, nothing kept her from taking the rest of her things. With her hat tipped at an angle, she grinned widely to Michiko, putting her fists on her hips. "Ready for your first adventure?!"
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Posted: Wed Oct 17, 2012 5:06 pm
Ochiba squirmed silently as Lumine pecked her cheek. It had been a while since someone had been affectionate to the rusty old rabbit. "I'll behave don't worry~" She snickered,"Take care and have fun."
--
Michiko was checking the oil level on her lantern,"Well what was I going to pack, The brass chopsticks brought all the way from Sado?" She looked to the nodachi and nodded in agreement,"Yeah, that blade is not precisely discrete. It'd be easy to see us coming a mile away."
"Ah, I guess?" Michiko looked at Lumine,"Promise we won't be killed." She opened the door though and went outside her humble home. "You know the way there, so go on and lead, miss wayward celestial. You know the village better than do I anyway."
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Posted: Thu Oct 18, 2012 12:34 am
"The what from where?" Lumine asked, puzzled, but quickly dismissed the topic. "Whatever, let's go!"
...
Lumine lead Michiko through the forest and mountain along a series of paths, ones she memorized from her trek south a few days prior. It was late morning by the time the two neared the peak of Youkai Mountain, and they were soon approaching the Tengu Village.
The wooden walls that bordered the village and served as its first line of defense were at last in sight, through a clearing between the trees. Despite the title of "village", the Tengu's home bore high, multi-tiered buildings, some being quite large. It often reminded Lumine of Bhavagra, without the clouds and gold inlay, and without the fake air of perfection.
The presence of their military was interwoven into every day life within the village. Civilians and guardsmen and women flew the skies and walked the streets at all hours of the day, and the patrols continued at night. It was a society of warriors, proud of their bloodlines, heritage and traditions.
Lumine took note of their luck, having missed all the guard patrols on the way up. That's when a realization struck her that gave her a cold sweat: She didn't have the Academy Seal Seijin had given her anymore!
"H-Hey, um...Michiko?" She spoke up at last with a nervous laugh, as they neared the border of trees about fifty yards from the village's walls. There were two guardsmen stationed at the gates, flanking the thick wooden doors, though thanks to the cover of trees, they had yet to spot the Celestial or Lone Wolf.
"There might be a problem... a-a small one! See, the guards here only let me in when I was with Maemi, or later when Master Kazuko gave me a special amulet. I... I lost that amulet yesterday." Lumine said as she peaked out from behind a tree, feeling incredibly stupid for not thinking of this sooner. She didn't have anything else on her to prove she once walked within these walls - all she could do was hope either of these guards would recognize her.
"Um, I'm not sure what to do here. You wouldn't happen to have anything bearing the Academy's Seal, would you Michiko? Just in case?"
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Posted: Thu Oct 18, 2012 6:40 am
Michiko looked forward to the village, somewhat excited at the prospect of visit her home place and somewhat frightened by it. Of course she was not going to show any of it, she was still as solid as ever.
The wolf walked a few steps ahead not noticing Lumine lagging behind, but with the celestial's ushered comments on how she had lost the academy seal she had been given by her mother, she quickly returned to her. "The academy badge was it?" Michiko thought on it. She reach at her belt,"Ah...." As she started to undo her belt, she looked to Lumine, "Don't stand there, turn around."
With a small shove, Michiko quickly put her arms around Lumine and loosely tied her own belt; the one that held the dual blades. The wolf made sure that on the back , the blades were properly placed. "There. The blades where made by the academy, they have the academy seal on the pompel. It should be good enough to make them not bother you for the trips lenght." Michiko explained.
"Come on then, let's see if it is enough to make the monitors put their guard down and let us through," The tengu nodded towards the village,"If we don't get through, then maybe I can still get us inside."
Michiko would follow Lumine's lead for now, but if all failed, it'd be her way next!
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Posted: Thu Oct 18, 2012 5:22 pm
"Ah-?" Lumine squirmed a bit as Michiko wrapped her belt around the Celestial's waist. It took a moment, but the details finally sunk in. The seal on these two blades would hopefully be proof of her involvement with the Tengu, assuming the guards don't jump to the conclusion that she stole them, too.
"Well, here goes nothing..."
Lumine exited the trees, and lead Michiko towards the gate. She forced herself not to make eye contact with either of the guardsmen, instead opting to make it seem like she had nothing for them to question. The two guardsmen wore white mask-like helmets, with only a small slit for them to see through. Lumine could feel their eyes on her and Michiko, but she couldn't discern their expressions. Just before she would have passed between them, the two guardsmen extended their weapons towards one another, creating an X of their sword and spear.
"Where do you think you're going, outsider?" The guard with the spear inquired, slightly muffled. "What business have you within the Tengu Village?"
"My name is Lumine Mayflower!" Lumine responded, taking a step back from their weapons. "And I was given rite of passage by Kazuko Seijin. See?" She turned her hip towards the guard, displaying one of the blades and its pommel, bearing the Academy's Seal.
"We know who you are, Celestial." The sword guardsman spoke. "Your presence was allowed within the Village at Kazuko's request. With her death, you no longer have any ties to the Tengu society. Am I correct?" So, they were kicking her out? She knew nobody really liked her to begin with, but to go to this length..! Lumine turned to Michiko, a look of "help" written across her face.
"And who is this?" The swordsman continued, his head tilting slightly towards Michiko. "I've never seen your face before, and only exiled Tengu live outside our walls..."
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Posted: Thu Oct 18, 2012 5:39 pm
Michiko listened to the exchange quietly standing with her arms crossed under her chest. So they were not going to simply let them through? When it was her turn to be inquired, it was the lone wolf's turn to speak.
" Well, should I remind you that the code of the village allows the entry of those brought in by another of our kin, swordsman?" When called an exile she raised an eyebrow," Oh I pity your soul, sir. Only the weak are exiled, the wise leave places as this that teem with hierarchy and aristocratic ideas of superiority."
"Who am I? I am Kazuko Michiko." She responded," Kazuko's Seijin's daughter, as well as Rouki Raino's. I am sure you are well acquaintance with the names the Academy exploits in the way of role models."
"And Before you go an talk about none sense, of how Seijin had no daughter," Michiko rolled up her sleeve, she had a bracelet with a charm of a star in a glistening black background," This is the Rouki's seal; you should know the position of how the clan of the Rouki has turned but dust with Raino's death."
"So let us through, I want to see my mother's grave. Or else, I'll put a blade through those silly masks of yours."
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Posted: Thu Oct 18, 2012 10:10 pm
The guards looked upon Michiko, stumped. They turned their attention to one another, nodded, and then spoke; "...W-Well, yes, that is true. You know our laws well, Miss Kazuko," the swordsman spoke slightly annoyed. "Indeed, you bear the insignia of the Rouki Family. That alone is enough to grant you passage, as most of Gensokyo's residents wouldn't know the importance of such a symbol. Very well then." The two guards stepped aside, withdrawing their weapons and clearing the path between them. "Just keep your... 'associate' in check. Her presence here is not looked favorably upon."
The words stung Lumine, but she wouldn't let them see it. Instead, she propped her hands on her hips and lifted her chin in a display of attitude. "Hmf! About time! Come on, Michiko~" She took the wolf's hand and lead her between the guards and through the gate, not bothering to give the guardsmen another look.
Once a good ways into the village, she let go of Michiko's hand, and turned to her. "Hey, that was some quick thinking. Thanks!" She reached into Seijin's bag and withdrew a roll of parchment. Unrolling it showed that it was a map of the Tengu Village, worn and frayed from use. "So, where do you wanna go first? The Academy or..." She looked towards the far end of the village, where the mountain continued higher into the sky. "...Or the memorial site?"
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Posted: Thu Oct 18, 2012 10:34 pm
Michiko scoffed,"Wise of you to let us through. I may be a stranger to the village but you'd do well to remember than if I decided to appear all the power and responsability my name possess would be mine; so be nice or else you'd the first I'll remember." With Lumine dragging her out, Michiko followed the celestial, grumbling to herself this or that. It seemed the tengu was quite sure she could have gotten them inside the village even if entrance had been denied; still, she was relieved she hadn't had to jump to plan B.
"Mh?" The wolf looked at the map, taken away from looking at the buildings that had changed so much since her childhood. Following Lumine's eyes, the wolf's tail lower a bit more than usual,"I think our visit should be to the Memorial first; Get the dread over with, and see how the Academy buried one of their celebrated warrior."
This time, it was Michiko who took Lumine's hand, and lead the way, after the smallest hesitation at her own action. "I hope they buried Seijin by my father, that is what she would have wanted. The two were awarded warriors, so they should not be set too far apart even if the Academy decided to forgo any sort of formality due to the lack of family..." The way to her father's grave she knew well, and sincerely, she hoped it also lead to her mother's.
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Posted: Fri Oct 19, 2012 12:33 am
"Okay, you got it..."
Lumine let Michiko lead them through the village. They gained the stares of many passing Tengu along the way, but Lumine payed them no mind; she was used to the looks they gave. Some were curious, some looked annoyed... but certainly, no one was happy to see her.
After a short time, the defensive walls that surrounded the village opened up into the higher reaches of the mountain, into a more remote clearing. There wasn't anyone here, neither guard nor civilian, so interference was a non-issue.
A pathway of dirt and stone lead up the mountain, winding back and forth as it ascended, marked every once in a while by a stone light pillar. The air was still, despite being so high in the mountain, and somehow the noise from the village failed to carry, despite its proximity. It was peaceful in this place, and seemed to exist in a time and space on its own, independent of the world around it.
At the highest reaches of the pathway, the stone ended at the beginning of a shelf on the mountain. Rows and rows of shrines, some small, some large, marked the graves of the Tengu men and women who had met their end. It was a place Lumine had visited many times before. In the lower echelons were the graves of the common folk; a bit higher up, preceded by another, smaller stone pathway, were those belonging to the more prestigious families of Tengu. It was here where Maemi rested, and now, her mentor.
It didn't take long to spot the newly disturbed dirt from the rest. Seijin Kazuko's grave had indeed been placed near her husband's. A number of small offerings and an arrangement of flowers had been placed around her shrine, most likely coming from officials of the Academy or some of her former students.
Lumine breathed a heavy sigh as she gazed upon Seijin's grave. She placed a hand on her tunic, wondering if it still carried her scent...
"Michiko... I guess... this is it..."
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Posted: Fri Oct 19, 2012 4:15 am
Michiko went right along to the shrines that indeed belong to both her parents. Though she had seem umoved by the numbers of memorials, she stopped right on her tracks at the resting places of two of the sucessful guardsmen.
The shrine was modest, but rich in design, having intricate ornaments on its wood. It seemed rather small compared to other more extravagant memorials but to that Michiko muttered a,"Both where humble people; I am glad the academy respect this much at least." It was easy to tell which grave was newer; the soil looked freshly turned in one, while the other had been pressed by the decades of passing time and storms.
She went into the small hip back she carried pulling out a small paper wrapped packet. Unwrapping it, it revealed a small and shy arrange of flowers from the Forest of Magic, which was promptly placed upon either of the shrines. The wolf tengu seemed to have no comments as of then, simply resuming her staring of her parents' final resting place. Her tail was hung low, like her ears, which where oddly low as well considering the usual attentive perkiness they possessed.
The words were robbed from her, all she could do was follow the patterns and think this honor to her parents where not enough. Through her silence she whispered," Life had not been worthy of them and, so envious, it has left them.... "
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