KESSON Ride On
Index
KESSON Ride On
Parsee
Urgh... Wh-Where am I?
Kokoro
Wow, she's finally here. It's the great listener!
Parsee
Huh? What are you talking about?
Kokoro
We've been waiting for you. Thank you so much for coming.
Okina
I'm sure your journey was long and hard, but you are most welcome here.
Okina
Rest now and calm your mind. I'll explain everything when you're ready.
Parsee
Okina Matara, the secret god, and Hata no Kokoro, the menreiki... You aren't the only ones here, are you?
Parsee
Many of our friends have already gathered here. And more will come.
Parsee
In the end, me coming here was fate. But before that result could be observed, it was merely a possibility.
Parsee
I'm sure that's right... It must be...
Kokoro
Is the bridge princess OK? She suddenly started talking to herself.
Okina
Don't worry. My guess is that something's talking through her.
Okina
In other words, she's in a trance.
Okina
Thought paths shared with excitement and calm lead to the Spiritual Realm. She contacted something hidden there.
Okina
This technique is usually used to speak with the dead, but she seems to be using it to read this place's temperament.
Kokoro
D-Did you just make that up...?
Okina
What do you take me for?
Parsee
*mumble*
Okina
I knew Parsee had an affinity with oni magic, but still... This is impressive.
Okina
She immediately perceived that all kinds of people had gathered here and that more would come.
Okina
Already, she seems to know more than I, a secret god. Is that the power of her ability?
Parsee
*mumble*
Parsee
Hmm, I think I've got a handle on things now.
Parsee
You're all seeking the one word that has truly been lost in order to resolve the Lost Word Incident.
Parsee
The True Lost Word, the word that has been lost from every world... Call it what you will.
Parsee
But you're also looking for Yukari Yakumo.
Parsee
This world we're in right now is being isolated from the others. Either that, or it's collapsing. Or fading.
Parsee
No, not a world, a ship. This L80 provisional Gensokyo is completely mad.
Parsee
And if all the worlds contained within this ship disappear, there will be no hope or future.
Parsee
We need to escape or have a final showdown. But neither is possible without Yukari, the youkai who spirits people away.
Parsee
Is that everything?
Kokoro
Yep... Maybe we don't have to get you to listen to everyone, after all.
Okina
Magnificent. You won't believe how long it took us to realize all that.
Parsee
It wasn't hard. I simply listened and picked up on the conclusions you had already reached.
Okina
Is that thanks to your ability?
Parsee
Hmm...
Parsee
Probably. Why? Does that make you jealous?
Parsee
You're meant to be a god of abilities, too, right? Why don't you add this mystery to your list of things to investigate?
Parsee
After all, there's no guarantee that finding the True Lost Word will fix all our problems.
Parsee
If we're forced into a battle of bullets, we might not be able to win. Ultimately, what will be tested then is our abilities.
Okina
Yes, that had occurred to me. I'll take your advice to heart.
Parsee
Mask girl. You also have a deep connection with abilities, Noh, and the stage, right?
Parsee
Lend her a hand. She could definitely use your help.
Kokoro
S-Sure... (Mask girl?! Is that my name now?!)
Kokoro
Is it just me, or does she seem more like a shrine maiden than Reimu? She's already acting like our leader.
Okina
It actually seems kind of fitting that Reimu would get her position stolen by a youkai...
Reimu
Oh! Hey, Parsee! I didn't realize you were here, too!
Parsee
Nice to meet you, Miss Reimu.
Reimu
Why're you acting as if we've never met before? That's pretty cold.
Parsee
Because I'm not the Parsee you know. We might be from neighboring worlds, but they're still different.
Parsee
Both you and I being here at the time should make that obvious.
Parsee
Everyone here is the last survivor of their respective worlds.
Parsee
My world's Reimu fought bravely and disappeared, along with everyone else. Does that make you jealous?
Reimu
Why would I be jealous?! I'd much rather be alive!
Parsee
Even if that means sacrificing your friends?
Reimu
Grrr... How can you say that? You're in the same boat as me.
Parsee
Don't worry about it. I'm just messing with you.
Kokoro & Okina
...
Kokoro & Okina
Seems Parsee won that round.
Parsee
*sigh* Thanks, Reimu. That chat was just what I needed to calm myself down.
Reimu
Huh? I never agreed to act as your stress relief!
Parsee
Yeah, yeah.
Parsee
Now, let's begin, shall we?
Kokoro
Begin? Begin what?
Parsee
I'm here now, along with what's left of my memories and ability.
Parsee
But the subject, the Night Parade, I was a part of, has yet to arrive.
Parsee
From what I can tell, there seems to be a limit on the amount of information that can be sent between worlds.
Reimu
That sounds a bit like Akyuu's reincarnations.
Parsee
But you won't catch any fish if you don't pull in the net, so I'll try to drag in as much of the info I left behind as I can.
Parsee
We might find a hint that will help us achieve our goal or draw in a friend who has yet to arrive here.
Okina
I see... But that sounds incredibly risky. It'd be like directing a radar into a warzone.
Okina
Someone might notice. And that someone might not be friendly.
Parsee
You're right. They could be one of the masterminds.
Reimu
But isn't that what we want? It'd save us the trouble of looking for them.
Okina
I admire your courage, but we can't face them without a plan. That said, we cannot progress without taking risks.
Okina
All right...
Okina
Use your oni magic to call forth the information spirits. That will effectively replay the subject.
Okina
We'll prepare a defense in case things take a turn for the worse.
Reimu
Why bother? I can handle any enemies on my own.
Kokoro
But what if there's more than one?
Reimu
G-Good point. The past me wouldn't have cared, but since it's the masterminds we're dealing with...
Reimu
I'll go get Marisa and the others!
Okina
Please do. If there's anything we can trust, it's your shrine maiden instincts.
Parsee
I'll begin then, shall I? I'm going to use this tool.
Okina
Th-That's....!
Reimu
What's it called again? Oh, right. A Seal Crystal!
Kokoro
It's so shiny.
Parsee
If I remember right, Kourindou's shopkeeper had the ability to read memories stored within tools....
Parsee
But listening to spirits is essentially the same as traversing between worlds. The two acts are indistinguishable.
Parsee
Good. It seems to be working.
Parsee
Let's do this.
Parsee
It's funny. I'm looking back on my own past within my own mind.
Parsee
But it's a mind that I've forgotten.
Parsee
What's more...
Parsee
It continues to diverge and converge. There's no telling how much of my original past has been preserved.
Parsee
I'm sure this will feel like a whole new experience for me.
Parsee
...
Parsee
Well, whatever.
Parsee
It's starting.
Parsee
...
Parsee
Is this the world within my mind?
Parsee
It's like a train terminal shared by every version of me. So I guess that'd make this bridge the platform.
Parsee
...
Parsee
All that's down there is my face reflected in the water.
Parsee
I've seen that before.
Parsee
How many times have I stared down there waiting for someone?
???
Hey, can't you hear me?!
Parsee
What?!
???
Hashihime! There's something I wanna tell you!
Parsee
K-Kisume?!
???
Kisume...?
???
Kisume... Kisume... I've got no idea what that is! But I like the name! It is a name, right?!
Tsurubebi
I'm Tsurubebi, a youkai! The 18th youkai in the Night Parade and the fourth in the Yang section!
Tsurubebi
Did you forget, Hashihime?!
Parsee
Huh...? No, um, of course not!
Tsurubebi
Really? I don't stand out much compared to the other youkai, so I can't blame you if you did.
Tsurubebi
I prefer to watch everyone else while hiding away in narrow gaps and crevices. That's what calms me down.
Tsurubebi
Ah! You just thought I sounded like a cat or a cockroach, didn't you? DIDN'T YOU?!
Tsurubebi
It's fine. You can think that if you want...
Parsee
Umm, you seem in a pretty good mood today. I don't remember you being this chatty.
Tsurubebi
Nah, I'm only like this 'cause of you! I'm so glad to meet you again!
Tsurubebi
Normally, when I talk, I get all nervous and stutter. Either that, or I start shouting, like I've got a screw loose.
Tsurubebi
But not now! 'Cause now I'm talking to you, my lovely friend, Hashihime!
Parsee
Th-Thanks. I'm glad to hear that.
Parsee
Umm, Tsurubebi...
Tsurubebi
Wow, you finally said my name! I'm so happy!
Tsurubebi
Now give me your bones!
Parsee
What...?
Parsee
W-Were you just acting nice?!
Tsurubebi
Huh? No, no, no, no! You've got it all wrong!
Tsurubebi
Sure, I want flesh and bones, and I don't care if they're from a human or youkai. But that's not what I meant!
Tsurubebi
Please believe me! You're my friend, Parsee. I love how you listen to me and offer kind words of advice!
Tsurubebi
I love how you take my problems seriously! And I love how you check in with me later and ask how I'm doing!
Parsee
Th-Thanks...
Tsurubebi
You're my friend, so...
Tsurubebi
I want a piece of you!
Tsurubebi
I-Is that all right? *blushes*
Parsee
D-Don't you think you're asking for a bit much?!
Tsurubebi
Is that a no? Awww...
Tsurubebi
I knew it was a long shot!
Tsurubebi
Oh well!
Parsee
*confused*
Tsurubebi?
With the influx of information about Kisume, I thought this might be my chance―my chance to absorb you.
Tsurubebi?
Maybe I should've planned it better.
Tsurubebi?
Or maybe the information about Kisume interfered, making me more suspicious by diluting my will.
Tsurubebi?
It seems I'm pretty clever. Both the me who almost overcame my disadvantage and the other mes who got in my way.
Tsurubebi?
Don't you think I'm clever, too...
Tsurubebi?
Parsee Mizuhashi?
Parsee
I suppose. I've never once thought you were stupid.
Parsee
Rather, you make an excellent youkai. No one could mistake you for what you are.
Parsee
Most youkai suffer because they compromise on what makes them youkai. But you don't. That's what makes you clever.
Parsee
I've told you that before. Many times. I remember that.
Tsurubebi?
...
Tsurubebi?
I see.
Tsurubebi?
That's a nice way to put it. And the more I think about it, the more I find myself agreeing with you.
Tsurubebi?
I was always at a disadvantage. This is your territory, after all.
Tsurubebi?
I'll give up this time!
Tsurubebi?
I wanted some information fragments for Lady Green Eyes. But the cheap-skate Parpar won't even throw me a bone.
Parsee
(That nickname better not catch on...)
Tsurubebi?
Now that I know that, there's no point staying here. I'm going home! Bye bye!
Lady Foreign Land
Oh, I'm Lady Foreign Land, by the way! But you don't need to remember that!
Parsee
...
Parsee
...
Parsee
Was that one of the masterminds behind the Lost Word Incident?
Parsee
...
Parsee
...
Parsee
Since she appeared here, does that mean she has already interfered with this past?
???
Hey, Hashihime.
Parsee
Not again!
Tsuchigumo
How's it going? I'm Tsuchigumo, the 94th youkai in the Night Parade and the eighth in the Dawn section.
Parsee
Ts-Tsuchigumo?!
Tsuchigumo
Oh, um, d-don't be scared! I won't make you sick or anything.
Parsee
...
Tsuchigumo
Umm...
Tsuchigumo
I'm guessing Kisume surprised you earlier. But, umm...
Tsuchigumo
Please hear me out!
Parsee
I don't think you're suspicious because you're a tsuchigumo.
Parsee
And if I were worried about becoming sick, I would've never become friends with you in the first place.
Parsee
But you put us into this mess. You're one of the masterminds behind the Lost Word Incident.
Parsee
Aren't you, Yamame Kurodani?!
Tsuchigumo?
...!
Tsuchigumo?
Y-Yes. I won't try to deny it.
Tsuchigumo?
...
Tsuchigumo?
...
Tsuchigumo?
I'm Lady Kuzu. As you say, I'm one of the masterminds behind the Lost Word Incident.
Tsuchigumo?
But I don't wish you any harm. That's not why I'm here.
Lady Kuzu
Please believe me, Parsee.
Parsee
You want me to believe you?
Parsee
Did you really just say that?
Parsee
Argh! Now I remember. But I'm not gonna thank you for reminding me!
Parsee
"Believe me," you say?! How many people asked that same mercy from you?!
Parsee
But did you ever believe them?! No, you didn't! Not even once!
Lady Kuzu
I know.
Parsee
So many of us fell before you, never to return.
Lady Kuzu
Yes...
Parsee
And yet, you ask me to believe you? If I could, I'd strangle you right now with my own hands!
Lady Kuzu
...
Lady Kuzu
Parsee, if that's what you want, I won't stop you.
Parsee
...
Parsee
Why?
Lady Kuzu
I only ask that you hear me out first. That's why I'm here.
Lady Kuzu
Parsee. I came here, to your mind...
Lady Kuzu
...by following an impossibly thin spider's thread.
Parsee
...
Lady Kuzu
Parsee, listen to me.
Lady Kuzu
You might only be here to retrieve your lost memories, but this place is no different from a world that exists in real time.
Lady Kuzu
At least, for you, anyway.
Lady Kuzu
That's why you can actually take back what you find here. It's like you can turn something from a dream into reality.
Lady Kuzu
But...
Lady Kuzu
Coming here now was a mistake. It would've probably been fine any other time, but not now.
Parsee
What do you mean? We're within MY mind.
Lady Kuzu
You shouldn't assume that your mind only belongs to you. Minds connect to form a vast realm that can be traversed.
Parsee
No way...! That'd mean nowhere is safe.
Parsee
I should at least be able to find solitude within my own mind.
Lady Kuzu
You should've realized you're not alone when you saw Kisume and me.
Lady Kuzu
But it's up to you to decide whether we're a part of your mind or intruders from someplace else.
Parsee
What...? It can't be that simple.
Parsee
If every problem could be solved by simply changing your outlook, no one would ever ask for advice.
Lady Kuzu
I don't disagree, but I think you underestimate how difficult it is to control your thoughts.
Lady Kuzu
They are swayed by everything: your memories, your environment, and the words and actions of other people.
Lady Kuzu
To control your mind, you basically have to control an entire world. And what you need to do that isn't strength or smarts.
Lady Kuzu
It's beauty.
Parsee
Why...? Why are you telling me this? You're one of the masterminds. That makes me your enemy, doesn't it?
Lady Kuzu
You're so suspicious. Not that I can blame you.
Lady Kuzu
Still, it doesn't matter if we're on the same side or not. Not now, anyway.
Lady Kuzu
I'm telling you this because you're Parsee. There's no other reason.
Parsee
...
Lady Kuzu
Your consciousness only returned here recently. But this world's you has been standing there, waiting for an eternity.
Lady Kuzu
You've been standing on this bridge, staring into the water.
Parsee
...How long?
Parsee
How long have I been standing here?
Lady Kuzu
How long is an eternity?
Lady Kuzu
It's too many years for me to count.
Lady Kuzu
If you stay like this, that girl, whose name I do not know, will be the end of you.
Lady Kuzu
But you cannot leave unless that's what you really want.
Lady Kuzu
Until now, you've wanted to stay here. That's why the person you've been waiting for never came.
Lady Kuzu
She and her identity are trapped in a lost world.
Lady Kuzu
But this you is different.
Lady Kuzu
You should know who you're waiting for.
Parsee
...
Lady Kuzu
That's all I wanted to say. I've done what I came here to do, so now I must leave.
Parsee
...
Parsee
Then leave.
Lady Kuzu
...
Lady Kuzu
...
Lady Kuzu
Parsee. If you still want to strangle me, you can visit me any time.
Lady Kuzu
But, since you agreed to talk to me, I was able to wrap my thread around your neck.
Lady Kuzu
Thank you, Parsee. When we meet again, we'll be enemies for real.
Lady Kuzu
If you want to cut my thread, you'll have to fight me and beat me. You can wait as long as you like, but that's the only way.
Lady Kuzu
Until then.
Parsee
Yamame...
Parsee
...
Parsee
So I WAS waiting for someone...
Parsee
...
Parsee
I look so bored.
Parsee
I hate it.
Parsee
I really hate it.
Parsee
Who cares about friends?
Parsee
What've they ever done for me?
Parsee
All they do―all anyone does―is shove their problems onto me! Then they act like they're doing me a kindness!
Parsee
I've had enough!
Parsee
No more!
Parsee
I hate it.
Parsee
Hate, hate, hate!
Parsee
Hate hate hate hate hate hate hate hate hate hate hate hate hate hate hate hate hate hate hate hate hate hate hate hate!
Parsee
I hate myself!
???
What's wrong? Don't tell me you're gonna jump.
Yuugi
I wouldn't recommend it. Rivers in the Underworld are as cold as ice.
Yuugi
Wouldn't you rather take a dip in a hot spring?
Parsee
Yuugi...
Yuugi
Sorry, Parsee. Seems I kept you waiting for quite a while.
Parsee
...
Yuugi
...
Parsee
...
Parsee
*sob*
Yuugi
H-Hey. Are you crying?
Yuugi
I told you I was sorry.
Parsee
*sob* N-No... That's not... I'm not crying... I'm not...
Yuugi
You obviously are...
Parsee
Pfft... Hehe!
Parsee
Hahaha!
Parsee
Haha! This is just... haha... too funny!
Yuugi
Hey, don't be mean. I came here as quick as I could.
Parsee
Heh, sorry! It's just when I realized the person I was waiting for was you...! Pfft! How could I not laugh?!
Parsee
Gehehehe!
Yuugi
Your laughter's getting more and more unhinged.
Parsee
*sigh* I needed that. But now that I think about it more, I should've expected this.
Parsee
By process of elimination, the person I was waiting for had to be you. You're the only one left.
Yuugi
Wh-What do you mean?
Parsee
Don't worry about it. C'mon, Yuugi...
Parsee
Let's go home!
Yuugi
About that...
Parsee
What's wrong?
Yuugi
Sorry, Parsee. I can't go with you. There's still things I gotta deal with.
Yuugi
Once that's done, I'll come see you again.
Yuugi
Sorry. I know I'm asking a lot, but could you wait for me just a little bit longer? Please.
Parsee
...
Parsee
That's just like you. You're powerful, dependable, and, to top it off, you're an oni.
Parsee
But since you asked me so nicely...
Parsee
Fine. I'll wait.
Yuugi
Thanks. I'll come back. I promise.
Parsee
You'd better.
Yuugi
Watch out!
Parsee
Whoa!
Parsee
Wh-What was that?!
Yuugi
It's her! Run, Parsee! Don't worry about me!
Yuugi
You can collect my mind and will anytime. But you're different! Run! Now!
???
No one's running anywhere.
Yuugi
Argh!
Yuugi
I can't... move... Did you trap me with some kinda invisible, anti-oni seal?!
???
Wow, you figured that out quick.
???
An oni, huh? Shrine maiden's use kidou, oni magic, so I guess you count.
???
And it seems you've got a bit of Lady Vengeful Spring inside you. But that's just an added bonus.
???
...
Parsee
Who are you?!
???
...
???
You...
???
You're a shrine maiden.
???
I erase shrine maidens.
Parsee
But... I'm not a shrine maiden.
???
...
???
Hm?
???
Murder and maiden both start with M.
???
So do you, Mizuhashi.
Parsee
What the heck are you talking about?!
Parsee
D-Did I get her?!
???
I've stockpiled countless extra lives. Did you really think you could beat me so easily?
Parsee
No way!
???
Shrine maidens can't defeat me. And since you oppose me, that makes you a shrine maiden. Give up. You cannot escape.
???
My bullets will never stop following you.
Sakuya
She's back!
Youmu
H-How'd it go?!
Sanae
Are you OK, Miss Parsee?!
Reisen
Don't tell me something followed you!
Parsee
We gotta run! Now!
???
...
???
What's this?
???
A shrine maiden...
???
Magician and Marisa. That's a double M.
???
Maid, maiden, they're the same thing.
???
As a half-human, half-phantom, you stand on a boundary. That's what shrine maidens do.
???
You're a type of shrine maiden, too.
???
Rabbits are like the shrine maidens of the Moon Goddess.
???
Good.
???
I'll exterminate you all.
