Those of you that figure it out early might fare better...

Ryoko: "why is it you called me here? I'm a very busy person, you know. . ."
She huffs, acting prissy, however it's glaringly obvious that she's nervous.

"I'm quite sorry to interrupt your busy schedule with my request. As for why I called you here... I need a friend."

". . .seriously? I get all dressed up, forced out the door by my parents because apparently you're soooooo important just because you're LONELY?"

"I- err- sorry? You d-didn't have to get dressed up... and I never said you had to come-"

"Yes well, my parents thought orherwise."

"...that's the problem with being a royal. Even if we try to be casual a lot of people in the lower class think they have to be super fancy to talk to us."

"It's awful. And then there are so many royals themselves that act prissy."

"Yeah... and call me ungrateful, but I hate living in a fancy palace and having my every need tended to. I never get to do anything myself, I hardly see my parents, and I never have anyone to talk to."

"Exactly! I'm GREAT with a sword, but I'm not allowed to fight because I'm supposed to act like a lady."

"Yeah... societal standards make life hell."

"I wish I could just run away!"

"...couldn't you? Or rather... couldn't we?"

"No, because we don't know how to do ANYTHING DOR OURSELVES! ugh!"

"...I know how to hunt. That's a decent place to start."

"Hunting is unjust."

"...right..."

"That's it. Im going home. This is a waist of time."

Kugutsu winces for a moment as if someone just shouted at him.

"Wait, please don't go..."

"Why shouldn't i?"

"I... I can't give you a decent reason. Just... you're the first person I've met that actually understands how I feel."

". . .go on."

"I think we could be good friends if we just tried, and I doubt I'll ever meet someone like you again... so please. Give me a chance."

". . .fine."

"...thank you."

"So er- what do you want to talk about?:

"...do you believe in demons?"

"I believe in dragons, so why not?"

"Come with me."

Kugutsu heads to the palace library.

She follows

Kugutsu fetches a dusty old book and sets it on the table.

"...page 125. And be quick."

"Erm- ok-" She flips to the page

...this page says that the text on it has been copied from an ancient journal. Most of it is illegible.
"Saw something strange..." "...behind the king..." ..."seemed to be whispering commands into his ear..." "...telling him to start the war..."

The next part is from later.
"...the king..." "...brief freedom, lucidity..." "...explained it was manipulating him..."

The next section is from even later.
"...think it's an ancient demon..." "...research suggests it is similar to B-..." "...only some can see it..." "Only the old mage believes me..." "...said he's seen it before..." "...going to help me kill it..."

The last part is hastily scrawled.
"The mage..." "...got to him..." "...razed the village..." "...killed him, but it esc-..." "...whispered something about a prince..."

...odd.

". . .dude, who scribbled all over this?"

Kugutsu mouths the word 'her'.

" 'her' ?"

Kugutsu motions to the page with his eyes.

"So are you part of some sort of weird prophecy?"

Kugutsu shrugs. He mouths something else.

'Not so much a prophecy as a curse'.

"If you'd like to be down low about things, perhaps you should stop mouthing them."

'I have to mouth things or she'll hear me. She doesn't want me to talk about her.'

She squints- "I'm afraid I cannot lip read everything-"

Kugutsu flips the page in the book. There's only one section of text here, scribbled somewhat more recently than the ancient text.

"...this demon..." "...she gets extremely angry if the host discusses her..." "...she doesn't seem to notice if..." "...non-verbal communication..."

"Curious. . ."

A very faint, blurry figure seems to be visible behind Kugutsu but there's nobody there... right?

There's a panging noise that only she can hear. . .
"Who's there-?'

The figure seems to remain out of focus unless Ryoko REALLY concentrates her gaze on it.

Cam: Greetings your majesty

Kugutsu smiles.

"No need for formalities."

Cam: *nods*

Claire: That's strange...