Magical Lotus - Mahou Shoujou Byakuren - Episode 5, Part 2

[Oldmansour]

>"Then we probably shouldn't waste any time. I'm in - absolutely."
>Though if either of you still feel uncomfortable about this, I won't force you to come with us.

>No, I'm with you. Lily says. We save people. Doesn't matter if its from demons or giants different demons, we help people.
>I'm in, too. says Minoriko. If I can help cure people that have been infected with evil, then that's what I want to do.

[DracoOmega]

>Glad to hear it.

[Oldmansour]

>Glad to hear it.

>"Then if you will excuse me, I should leave you to your preparations." Razorclaw says, coming to his feet.
>"Um, just a second." White Rose says, stopping the big. "How do we know which plan she's on? I mean-"
>"I know what you mean." Razorclaw says gently. "The Flight is a Euroair 747. I don't know the flight number, but planes like that don't arrive here all that often. There should be only one within the next two hours."
>"I can find out anyway." says Haruka. "There are members of the staff at the airport we can contact in matters such as this."
>"Take care of yourself, White Rose." Razorclaw says to your kasha. "Your opponent is treacherous and will test you in ways unlike the Champions."
>White Rose gives the lion a confidant look. "We'll win. I don't care how dangerous this Succubus is, nobody can turn me against Lotus and my friends."

>Again. she adds apologetically on a private channel.

[DracoOmega]

>You know that wasn't your fault.
>To Razorclaw: "And thank you for bringing this to our attention. We will see that her trail of victims ends here."

[Oldmansour]

>You know that wasn't your fault.
>To Razorclaw: "And thank you for bringing this to our attention. We will see that her trail of victims ends here."

>Doesn't mean I still don't feel bad about it.
>The handsome lion nods to you. "Good hunting, Flower Warrior."
>Only once does Kenyu take his eyes from Razorclaw as the lion pads his way towards the exit, and he does so only long enough to glare at Cynthia and Wataru. You believe he silently warning them not to bother Razorclaw on his way out. "You believe him, Haruka?" he asks quietly.
>"Even if I didn't, Semitur is too great a threat not to react to."
>"Gonna have one of your birds keep an eye on him?"
>Haruka shakes her head. "No. That would just invite trouble. He didn't come here for trouble. In fact, he might be one of the reasons this town hasn't had more Blood trouble in the past couple of days. He wasn't lying when he said he hated chaos, I know him that well. He wants to avoid a Blood war just as much as you and me, Kenyu."

[DracoOmega]

>Assuming he is actually gone: "He is... not what I would have expected from a Blackblood."

[Oldmansour]

>Assuming he is actually gone: "He is... not what I would have expected from a Blackblood."

>"Don't let him fool ya." Kenyu remarks sourly. "Knowing what you can do, he'd be happy to gut all of you if he had the chance. He just needed you alive for right now."

[DracoOmega]

>"I don't mean to suggest I think he's benevolent, but he was able to put enmity aside for a greater purpose - one that stands to save actual lives. And no matter how much of that is motivated by self-interest, innocent people are still benefiting."

[Oldmansour]

>"I don't mean to suggest I think he's benevolent, but he was able to put enmity aside for a greater purpose - one that stands to save actual lives. And no matter how much of that is motivated by self-interest, innocent people are still benefiting."

>"I don't think it was all self-interest." says Rin. "He seemed to mean it when he talked about how much he hated the kind of thing Semitur does."
>"It's possible he was looking out for the well-being of his Coven as well." Chrysanthemum suggests. "If he's in tune with his animal nature as much as he claims to be, then the safety of his pack, or his Coven, is important to him."
>"We all have common ground." Minoriko says. "Mikos, Blood, Flower Warriors. Maybe that's how it starts."
>"How what starts?" Lily asks her.
>"Peace."

[DracoOmega]

>"That is what we're fighting for, after all - not just to keep people safe, but also to help create the kind of world that doesn't need bloodshed to defend it. A world where even a Champion can learn co-exist with us in peace."

[Oldmansour]

>"That is what we're fighting for, after all - not just to keep people safe, but also to help create the kind of world that doesn't need bloodshed to defend it. A world where even a Champion can learn co-exist with us in peace."

>"That's one hell of a dream you've got there." Kenyu remarks. There is no mocking or any hint of derision in his voice, but something in his tone leaves you to believe he doesn't believe such a thing is possible.

[DracoOmega]

>"It may be a distant or even impossible goal, but every step we take in that direction makes the world a better place."

[Oldmansour]

>"It may be a distant or even impossible goal, but every step we take in that direction makes the world a better place."

>"Well I'm all for it if you can figure out a way to let these Champions live here without hurting anyone. Best way to put out a fire is to keep it from igniting in the first place. Trouble is some hot spots take constant supervision to keep from going up." He nods quickly. "Not to state the obvious, but, none of you girls're gonna live forever."

[DracoOmega]

>"Perhaps not, but neither were our ancestors who first laid a path towards peace between humans and youkai, and yet here we are today, friends and family under the same roof."

[Oldmansour]

>"Perhaps not, but neither were our ancestors who first laid a path towards peace between humans and youkai, and yet here we are today, friends and family under the same roof."

>"Okay, ya got me there." Kenyu replies with a laugh. "Hell, I'm livin' proof! Son of a human and oni. Few thousand years ago, I'da never made it outta diapers."

[DracoOmega]

>"And yet, because people were willing to take those steps towards peace, even in the face of distrust and old bad blood, we're able to have the world we have today. So no, we won't be around to police the world forever, but if we set the right things in motion, we won't have to."

[Oldmansour]

>"And yet, because people were willing to take those steps towards peace, even in the face of distrust and old bad blood, we're able to have the world we have today. So no, we won't be around to police the world forever, but if we set the right things in motion, we won't have to."

>"And as a bonus," Haruka says, a wry smile on her face, "that is the sort of task I try to help with from time to time. And I have all the time in the world."
>Kenyu laughs again. "Well then, flower girl, your job's in good hands." he says with a grin.

[DracoOmega]

>Return the smile
>"But for the time being, I think we'd best waste no more time. We have a job to do."
>Let's get underway. Have Haruka contact the airport, get ourselves there and set up, etc.

[Oldmansour]

>Return the smile
>"But for the time being, I think we'd best waste no more time. We have a job to do."
>Let's get underway. Have Haruka contact the airport, get ourselves there and set up, etc.

>"Yeah, I'd better leave you girls to it. And I got some contacts to make myself." says Kenyu. "There's a few Blood on my side of the fence that need to know to stay away from that plane. Just a word of warning to you all first. Razorclaw said that his source was the sister of one of his Coven. That means she's Blood, too, and if she's been corrupted by Semitur, she'll even more dangerous than she already is. Stay on your toes. And good luck." He gives your group and Haruka a salute, which you and the big eagle return, before turning and heading for the door, gathering up his party as he goes.
>Haruka lets out a breath as he leaves. Then she puts her game face on. "Right. Let's get busy." Springing in to action, Haruka flies up into the air and calls out to a group of mikos, issuing orders from her airborne position. She delegates the responsibility of contacting the airport officials to a miko with dark hair, ordering Linia to organize what she calls a 'containment group', asking Youmu to contact the other shrines and inform them of the ongoing operation.
>As she does this, you wonder if the wisest thing might be to just do this without the mikos. You've already proven that you can handle threats to the world other than the Champions, and you do have the best odds at saving the lives of Semitur's victims without seriously injuring them in the process. But the shrine maidens do have a great deal of expertise in this area. Too, you know that you're still largely an unknown factor to the people of this town. More than just the Blood will be wondering exactly where you stand. If this makes the news, seeing you work alongside a team of Fire Bird shrine maidens should leave little doubt that you're on the side of good. This won't make you any more popular with the Blackbloods, but that's almost unavoidable, and if you're honest, something you can life with very easily. That, and it's not like you really have the authority to stop them.
>Reisen and Minoriko decide to take Haruka up on her earlier offer and head off to get a bite to eat, Lily quickly following suit behind them, while Kiku seems to withdraw a bit to meditate. Then Haruka lands in front of you again. "How would you handle this situation, Lotus, if your group was handling it by yourselves?"

[DracoOmega]

>"We lack the official connections you to do to deal with airport security and we'd obviously prefer to avoid causing a scene with so many civilians around. I might in fact have considered contacting you for the purpose regardless, or perhaps the police - Sergent Komachi Onozuka has been sympathetic to us in past, after all. But barring that, I think I would have us take up concealed positions outside the arrival gate to observe the passengers as they disembarked. I suspect I could detect Semitur's power, even if she were disguised, and discretely track her as she made her way out of the airport and to somewhere less crowded, with less chance for our confrontation to cause collateral damage or put civilians in harm's way, as I very much doubt she will restrain herself for their sake."
>"And then, either when circumstances seemed as good as they were likely to get or a forthcoming threat to someone forced our hand, I would have as many of us as possible strike her at once. As much as I prefer peaceful solutions, Semitur has long-established her pattern of malicious behavior; this is not an encounter to open with an attempt to negotiate and the fewer opportunities she is given to sway any of us with her powers, the better. That can wait until after she's incapacitated."

[Oldmansour]

>"We lack the official connections you to do to deal with airport security and we'd obviously prefer to avoid causing a scene with so many civilians around. I might in fact have considered contacting you for the purpose regardless, or perhaps the police - Sergent Komachi Onozuka has been sympathetic to us in past, after all. But barring that, I think I would have us take up concealed positions outside the arrival gate to observe the passengers as they disembarked. I suspect I could detect Semitur's power, even if she were disguised, and discretely track her as she made her way out of the airport and to somewhere less crowded, with less chance for our confrontation to cause collateral damage or put civilians in harm's way, as I very much doubt she will restrain herself for their sake."
>"And then, either when circumstances seemed as good as they were likely to get or a forthcoming threat to someone forced our hand, I would have as many of us as possible strike her at once. As much as I prefer peaceful solutions, Semitur has long-established her pattern of malicious behavior; this is not an encounter to open with an attempt to negotiate and the fewer opportunities she is given to sway any of us with her powers, the better. That can wait until after she's incapacitated."

>The old eagle smiles. "We obviously think alike. Our approach in situations like this is virtually identical. I would consider using a sniper solution, but against someone like Semitur, that wouldn't be a guaranteed victory. Semitur has proven very hard to kill in the past."
>"Sniper, like, shoot her in the head for a long way away?" White Rose asks.
>Haruka nods. "Some of us have that kind of magic. But she's resilient even against head shots. She calls for a more hand's on approach."

[DracoOmega]

>Nod
>"We will have power enough. I'll make sure of it."

[Oldmansour]

>Nod
>"We will have power enough. I'll make sure of it."

>"It's also possible that Semitur could employ a diversionary tactic. She's been known to send one of her corrupted victims out to cause a disturbance, enabling her to blend in with the crowd coming off a plane or a boat. I've no doubt that either one of our forces could handle that situation, but I don't know if you'd rather let Semitur blend in and deal with her later, or deal with while her diversion is ongoing. Presuming you've marked her, of course."

[DracoOmega]

>"It is my hope that my Violet Lotus will be able to free anyone held in Semitur's thrall directly, which should minimize her ability to use them to buy time. But assuming that's not the case and this corruption is more resiliant, will you be able to detain these corrupted victims without seriously injuring them? Because if so, I think we should prefer to pursue Semitur herself. I think the nature of our power and the link we share with each other may make us the more corruption-resistant of our two groups. ...er, no offense intended."

[Oldmansour]

>"It is my hope that my Violet Lotus will be able to free anyone held in Semitur's thrall directly, which should minimize her ability to use them to buy time. But assuming that's not the case and this corruption is more resiliant, will you be able to detain these corrupted victims without seriously injuring them? Because if so, I think we should prefer to pursue Semitur herself. I think the nature of our power and the link we share with each other may make us the more corruption-resistant of our two groups. ...er, no offense intended."

>"None taken. But I should point out that such a link could also be used as a point of attack for someone like Semitur. Afflicting just one of you would then have repercussions for the whole group beyond simply having a member disabled."
>"But to answer your question, yes, that can be done. I myself have such a power, as will the other two shrine maidens that will be accompanying us."

[DracoOmega]

>Nod
>"Good. And, while what you say may be true, I have faith in our collective resolve to be more an asset than a liability here - at least as much as one can be about a situation they've yet to experience."

[Oldmansour]

>Nod
>"Good. And, while what you say may be true, I have faith in our collective resolve to be more an asset than a liability here - at least as much as one can be about a situation they've yet to experience."

>A dry smile drifts across Haruka's face. "Yes, the temptations of a succubus can be a difficult thing to train for."

[DracoOmega]

>"I have faith in my convictions and in my friends."
>"Who of the shrine will be accompanying us, if I might ask?"

[Oldmansour]

>"I have faith in my convictions and in my friends."
>"Who of the shrine will be accompanying us, if I might ask?"

>"On missions such as this, I would like to have Linia as part of the team. But Razorclaw and Kenyu's concerns are justified, so we'll have to make do without her. Instead, I'll be taking Subala with me. And we'll be joined by a shrine maiden from the Black Tortoise shrine, Yuna Sekino. Her expertise is in conjuration magics."
>"Conjuration as in summoning creatures?" Kiku asks her.
>"That's right."
>"Doesn't that just give Semitur more creatures to bend to her will?"
>"Potentially, yes. But that means she won't be bending us to her will. The few seconds her attention is diverted by one of Yuna's creatures is a few seconds Subala or I, or one of you, have to set up an attack against her."

[DracoOmega]

>Nod
>"Understood."