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Reality Fault

Realms: Fukusei Crystals Logs

Episode 3: Goblins and Kitsune

(OOC) Sun Sep 18 1905 02:14 PM by "FukuseiGM" at "Fukusei Soundstage" (OOC)

Episode 3: Goblins and Kitsune

The rest of the week blurs by in homework and, for some, preparation. Daichi's restless dreams turn to riding horseback over rocky, uneven ground. While it helps him get placed firmly in his head how to ride a horse, it also keeps him yawning in class. Shinsetsu stays isolated with his crowd of groupies, but, on Friday, a note from him appears on Tara's desk stating where to go to begin the ride.

Tara raises an amused eyebrow, reading the note -- did Shinsetsu think she'd bite him or something if he talked to her? -but passes the information on to her other friends-of-the-crystals, so they can also attend should they so wish.

    Tara is a willowy, long legged girl of 16, with her curling mane of metallic golden hair pulled back into a high, neat pony-tail. It sways behind her almost to her waist, with the bangs framing her tanned face and her bright gold eyes alight with cheerful interest. She moves with coltish grace, like a dancer not quite grown into perfect form, and almost always has a ready smile for everyone. She's currently wearing her school uniform: the classic Japanese sailor-suit top and pleated skirt.

Tara changes clothes after school so she's in jeans and a nice shirt. Then she heads out towards the riding stables, her stride brisk and cheerfully anticipatory. If her friends are there she'll gladly walk with them as well.

Tara is mildly curious to see Shinsetsu's not there... but not really worried or anything until she arrives at the stated location -- where she finds no stables. She pauses, looking around in some confusion. "Hello?"

Seiichi didn't want to lie to Akina about where he was going, though it's partially true that they're going to do some schoolwork. As it is, Akina is putting the last bits of work on her first project of the term, and is going to be going right to sleep soon afterwards. Seiichi eventually arrives at the place, in fact right at the appointed time, though it seems more like he wandered a bit before he got there.

Daichi slips out of the temple after pausing only long enough to pick up a few drinks and a snack or two. He too makes his way towards the appointed meeting place on foot, Tsuin Kizu resting over his shoulders and wrists slung over the ends.

Ken rides up to the stables somewhat slowly until he spots Tara. He zips over to a convenient spot and clips his bicycle to some heavy object. "Good afternoon! Has your fiend arrived?"

Tara giggles, "I don't think he's necessarily a fiend?"

Ken says, "What enormous animals! How long have you been riding?"

Tara folds her arms and gives Ken an amused look, "Ha, ha, silly man."

The heavy objects in the area are trees. There aren't any horses yet, even. Just a clearing on the edge of the woods with a few foot paths leading away.

Tara looks around, her arms still folded, and calls, "Shinsetsu-kun, are you here? Show up, please?" There's a bit of an edge to her voice by now.

Daichi swings the staff off his shoulders and tucks it under one arm with quiet ease. He waves to the others with his free hand, "Our resident kleptomaniac not here yet?"

Tara gives Daichi a puzzled look, "Resident what? Did he take something besides food that I don't know about yet?"

Somewhere nearby a pair of glasses reflects the light from the moon, and the glinting light bobs and becomes larger as the glasses approach the two. Shortly Seiichi is saying pleasantly, "Oh, hello, Alcyone-san, Ryoushin-san."

Horses are not terribly quiet, even on soft dirt paths. The creak of riding leather, the clop-clop of hooves, the occassional snort all betray their coming before they actually enter the clearing down one the trails. There are five of them, walking in a line. Shinsetsu sits on the one in the middle, bareback. He's wearing an old fashioned outfit, mostly white. The other four horses have saddles. English saddles.

Daichi blinks, "There was the bowl at the noodle place..." He turns at the sound of the hooves on dirt, "Speak of the devil and he's at your elbow."

Tara brightens, "Ah! Hello, Shinsetsu-kun!" She eyes the horses thoughtfully, moving among them to get a feel for their temperaments in regards as to who should ride which horse, and grins, "So... are these actually horses?"

Shinsetsu looks amused at the question. "What else would they be?"

Tara grins over her shoulder up at Shinsetsu, "Who knows? I'm new to this mythology -- let alone to finding out it's not entirely mythical."

Seiichi blinks a little, and adjusts his glasses, wondering where Shinsetsu got the horses from, then wondering where he would get horses from -- in his dreams, of course. He briefly flirts with the idea that this is a dream.

Tara will try to give the gentlest seeming horses to the least experienced seeming folks, and if necessary help them mount up, adjust their stirrups, and figure out how to hold the reins.

Watching the approaching horses, Ken looks concerned. Watching the new student he says, "Alcyone-san, did you tell this one you would be bringing companions? It appeared to me your invitation this afternoon was somewhat spontaneous."

Tara nods to Ken, "Hai, Ryoushin-san, Shinsetsu-kun knew there'd be several of us. Look," she waves at the line of horses, "He brought enough for everyone."

Shinsetsu's horse is a pretty 'blue', which in horse colors means a sort of white-ish grey that looks blue in a certain kind of light. Of the others, there's a bay- tan with brown markings on the mane, feet, and nose. A brown- all of it the same color as the dark parts of the bay, except for a star on its head. And two blacks, one with white socks and a broken star.

Daichi walks up to the all black horse and looks it over for a moment before mounting and settling into the saddle.

Seiichi has ridden plenty of times in his dreams... but is reasonably certain that this is either reality or not his dream, and his real experience with horses has been effectively nil.

Tara decides she'll ride the bay, who seems a touch restless. Shinsetsu's already astride the other skittish horse -- the blue roan -- so the others, all pretty calm seeming, should be okay. She'll offer a hand up on the chestnut to Seiichi.

Tara says, "Ryoushin-san, if you want I can give you a hand up on the star-faced black in a moment. Shinsetsu-kun, could you lead, and I'll tail-gate the line?"

Shinsetsu nods and his horse turns and shifts to the edge of the clearing to wait for the others. How he commands it without saddle or bridle is difficult to see for those unused to watching bareback riders.

Unused to riding farm equipment, Ken steps to his bicycle and unlocks it. He pats it and says, "I'd hate to see you trapped here. You know the way home." With no good place to stow the chain, he thows it over a shoulder, shrugs and attempts to mount the horse.

Seiichi thanks Tara for being helped up onto the chestnut. This is pretty enlightening, actually. He's never been in someone else's dream. He mentally nudges himself. Reality, remember; when in doubt, believe it to be reality, that way you won't embarrass Akina or your family or yourself!

Tara grins over her shoulder at Ken while she shows Seiichi how to adjust his stirrups to his satisfaction.

Daichi quickly reviews his crash course in horseback riding, doing his best to not look completely inept in adjusting things to suit him.

Once she's helped Seiichi set up, Tara moves to see if she can help Ken.

Tara runs through the whole routine, since these are strange horses with strange tack. She even checks to make sure the curb chains, if any, are straight. There aren't any, but she's careful and thorough. Going riding with what might be a mischief spirit and several beginners is not a time to be frivolous!

Ken says, "I admit I've never been on one of these animals. Perhaps it would be better if I stuck to something I was more familiar with, and rode my bicycle. Surely the paths in this area aren't that difficult to navigate."

Tara thinks about that for a moment... then says to Ken, "Would you like to lead, then, so you're not boxed in among the horses?"

Daichi sighs and dismounts, 'Knew I forgot something'. He does a thorough check of his horse's tack, albeit more slowly than Tara before remounting.

Shinestsu chuckles. "Bikes are interesting, but they're not nearly as sturdy as a good horse."

Ken says, "Not particularly, since I have no idea where we might be going."

Daichi says, "Not to mention you don't get quite as tired riding a horse the same distance as you would riding a bike..."

Tara grins at Daichi, then goes to the bay. She pats him calmingly, checking the tack while she croons quietly to him. Once she's ready she takes the reins, then looks at Ken, "All right, so do you want to ride a horse or not, please?"

The big brown under Seiichi heaves a big huff and reaches out for some of the greenery down by one of the trees.

Ken looks at Alcyone-san a moment, and says "If that is what the group is doing, I would be happy to try," and studies the horse a moment. He approaches slowly from the front, taking the reins as he passes to the left of the horse. Doing his best to emulate the way the others mounted, he places his left foot in the stirrup, and trys to lift himself into the saddle.

Seiichi blinks, and peers over the head of the horse at what he's nibbling at. He pats the horse's neck lightly, and looks to the others.

Unhindered, the horse moves over, the better to get to its snack. It doesn't seem that concerned about what it's eating, just that it's green and leafy.

Tara nods once, turns and mounts up. She straightens her reins, adjusts her backpack on her back, and nudges the bay gently with one heel. "Excellent! All right, lead the way, Shinsetsu-san! Daichi-san, could you ride between Kazamora-san and Ryoushin-san maybe, and I'll follow last?"

The bay turns alertly in response to the nudge, ears perked.

Daichi nudges his horse over towards Seiichi's. Reaching over with a hand he grabs part of the reins and tugs on them firmly. "You have to show them who's in charge, Kazamora-san." He nods to Tara, "I was thinking that might be the best solution." Though I was hoping to ride a bit closer to Tara-chan, he thinks.

Tara smiles, "Thank you!" and nods to Ken, "There you go! Just have your horse follow Daichi-kun's, and I'll follow you."

The brown tries to just shake off the hand on the reins, but when that doesn't work, lifts its head to look over at what's hindering it.

Seiichi blinks to Daichi. "Ah. Thank you, Gensai-san." He takes a bit firmer hold of the reins, hoping not to pull them too hard -- he imagines that's a quick way to get thrown.

Shinsetsu tsks to his horse, and it turns and heads down one of the trails. All the horses besides the bay try to follow all at once.

Tara waits quietly, near Ken so she can shoulder block his horse if necessary.

Tara nods to Seiichi, "Just follow Shinsetsu-kun's horse, okay?"

Seiichi lets the chestnut follow along after Shinsetsu,trying to keep the horse's attention on the trail and not what other leafiness might catch its attention.

Daichi nods to Seiichi, "Do itashimashite." He let's go of the reins, and resumes a firm hold on his, keeping his horse in place until after Kazamora has started moving.

Tara says, "There we go!"

The horses mostly fall into line, except now Tara's bay shows no interest in following the others.

Tara grins, nudging the bay gently again to follow last.

The bay doesn't like being last in line, but Tara's firm checks on its antics keep it from causing too much trouble for now.

Tara gives a small, contented sigh. After almost an entire year of riding every day with the nomads around the digs, she'd missed riding. It feels good to be back in the saddle.

The forest is rapidly cooling as the sun continues to sink away. Little golden glints mix with growing shadows on all sides, as the path is barely wide enough for the horses to walk along with riders. Shinsetsu keeps the pace at a walk, moving smoothly around fallen logs and other obstacles. Branches brush into people and horses alike, slapping sprinkles of wet evening dew onto clothes and into faces.

Seiichi adjusts his glasses a little. No, those aren't just random reflections. Those are little golden glints. How strange.

Tara snorts in quiet amusement the third or so time a branch comes slapping back at her from a previous rider, and starts riding one-handed. The other is ready to block if necessary.

Daichi lowers his head after a few branches brush across his face, keeping the hooves of the horse in front of his in view.

Up over a little hill, down along a short ridge. Across a small stream. Nearly half an hour of riding before Shinsetsu comes to a halt on the edge of a circle of aspens, moving his horse a little aside to give the others room to stop.

Seiichi seems unperturbed by the dew. The branch slappings are another matter. At the very least, though, as he gets a faceful of coniferous, it's reminding him that yes, this is reality and not a dream.

Tara moves up next to the others, looking around curiously. "Is this the place, Shinsetsu-kun, where the path needs the key to open the door?" She blinks, considering... then giggles, "I can't believe I just said that!"

Daichi cants his head to the side and regards the aspen grove with a curious gaze.

Shinsetsu brushes back his damp hair out of his eyes, showing for the first time his sharply pointed ears. "I'm afraid I can't lead through here. Someone else will have to."

Tara gives the spirit a curious look, "Lead how, please?"

The trail ends right here, in a wide spot where people might sit or turn around.

Tara says, "Just ride?"

Daichi glances at Tara for a moment before speaking up. "I'll lead, I can at least get a bit of warning of things approaching, I hope, and I'm armed." With that he pulls his staff out of the back of his jacket, urging his horse next to Shinsetu's.

Seiichi looks around at the grove. Something bothers him. Whenever he comes upon someting like this in his dreams, Something usually Happens. Why are we doing this again? he thinks to himself, trying to keep himself alert for any changes to their surroundings as Daichi moves forward.

Tara shakes her head, "Wait, Daichi-kun, please. Let's at least find out as much as we can about what we're doing and where we might end up. I mean, we have to get home tonight too... so going too far isn't a good idea."

Tara looks at Shinsetsu, "So... how do we lead? What will happen, and what can you talk about despite the geas?"

Shinsetsu shakes his head. "I don't know how it works. She just held out hers and commanded it."

Tara says, "Who's she? Held out the crystal?"

Tara says, "What color was it, do you know?"

Shinsetsu says, "Karei-denka."

Daichi nods to Tara, "I wasn't going any further than this yet, I'm not completely reckless."

Tara says, "That's... the female, right. And the crystal?" She considers a moment, then says curiously, "Do you know where hers came from? Is she like you," she brushes her golden hair back to show her normal human ears, "-or more like us?""

Tara nods quietly and murmurs to Daichi, "I'm just trying to take your advice, and be careful in our dealings with spirits."

"Human, of course," Shinsetsu answers. "They do very little in the hands of spirits."

Tara blinks, looking a bit startled, "Spirits are ruled by humans in your realm?!"

Shinsetsu looks startled in turn. "Humans haven't been -seen- in my realm for hundreds of years! At least, until recently."

Tara says, "But... didn't you say Karei-denka... er... maybe I should just let you explain what's going on there, hai?"

Shinsetsu shakes his head. "Muteki-heika didn't make his move until Karei-denka was at his side. Where did she come from? Who knows?"

Tara says, "And is Muteki-heika human too? And did they both arrive recently in your realm? Does he not have a crystal of his own?"

Ken says, "That might be an excellent idea. I must admit I am more than a little confused. What, exactly, is going on here?"

Tara gives Ken the quick synopsis re Shinsetsu wanting to go home and needing a door opened, which can be opened only by a crystal.

"Muteki is not human," Shinsetsu states flatly. "And he does not have a crystal of his own."

Tara says, "Umm... ooookay. Is he more like you?"

Daichi says, "We're standing here while the sun sinks lower trying to learn more about what's going on without exposing ourselves to risk..."

Shinsetsu hesitates. "That's... difficult to say...."

Tara says calmly to Daichi, "Hai, we are... so we can actually go home again once we've helped Shinsetsu-san. In some of the traditions of Western mythology, those who walk into the realm of the spirits never return -- or return and find centuries have passed. I won't do that to my family."

Tara grins, adding, "And I have to get my homework done on time for Monday class, so I don't want to take all weekend doing this either."

Daichi pulls his crystal out from underneath his shirt, looking from it to the grove as he turns over some of the information Shinsetu has passed on. "Hai, Tara-chan, I understand; but we are also coming no closer to accomplishing the purpose we set out on this trip for by just standing here."

Tara nods encouragingly to Shinsetsu, "All right. Go on?"

Shinsetsu spreads his hands. "I'm really not sure. The distance depends on the measuring stick."

Tara snorts in soft amusement, "'Answer unclear -- try again later!' All right. So if we open this door for you, will you be able to go through on your own? Will we be able to resist being drawn through? What will happen to the horses?"

"Again, I'm not certain. Karei-denka stepped through and then went back."

Daichi mutters, "He who knows does not speak; He who speaks does not know."

Tara nods, thinking, then sighs softly. "All right, a little planning is not remiss, I believe." She looks at Seiichi and Ken, "If you have trouble with your horses, and it seems they might bolt into the strange land, let yourselves fall off, all right? I know it sounds weird, but I suspect it'll be safer than getting stuck there somehow." She looks at Daichi, "Same goes for you and I, if we can't control them." Then she grins, "So, Impatient-san, lead the way, since you're chomping at the bit to do so."

Seiichi blinks. He definitely wouldn't want to do that to Akina. "We can't very well ask, 'What can't you tell us,' considering." He nods to Tara. "Understood, Alcyone-san." He finds an odd emotion welling inside him: if this takes him away from Akina-chan, he's going to be... angry.

Daichi chuckles and winks at Tara, "The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step." He focuses on the grove and points his crystal at it, speaking in what he hopes is a commanding tone. "Open," is all he says.

Tara checks both Ken and Seiichi visually, making sure they're well seated and ready... then watches with interest.

Daichi's crystal flickers, but nothing happens.

Ken smiles politely and says, "I'm sure we'll be fine, Alcyone-san. How soon will you be done with... this?"

Tara murmurs quietly in an aside to Ken, "No idea, Ryoushin-san."

Tara says, "But I don't think spending the night here is a good idea. My Nanna-san would worry."

Daichi frowns and closes his eyes, taking a deep breath and clearing his mind of distractions before trying again. This time more calmly, "Open."

Tara tilts her head thoughtfully, then pulls out her crystal with one hand and considers it.

Again, the crystal flickers... then flares, filling the grove with white light. In the glare, there's a sense of mist and movement. When it fades, the grove ahead is parted, revealing a path under a deep archway, the leaves of the aspens on both sides quivering as if in a strong wind.

Tara smiles, waving a hand towards it, "There you go, Shinsetsu-san!" She grins at Daichi, adding, "Cool!"

Seiichi blinks at the light, then at the sudden open path. "Wow," is all he manages.

Daichi blinks at the light, allowing his eyes to adjust as it fades. "So we're just staying here? How anti-climatic is that? Where's your sense of adventure? It's a totally new place with new experiences and obvious things that need fixing..."

Ken blinks at the unusual brightness. He frowns deeply, and says, "That was not there before. I'm sure of it. Was it?"

Tara gives Daichi an amused glance, "My sense of adventure knows I'll get into trouble if I don't make it home tonight. If this door is this easy to open, it'll open again later, when we have lunch in our backpacks. And if it doesn't, we won't have walked into a possible ambush."

Tara nods to Ken, "Correct, it was not."

Seiichi says, "It was not, Ryoushin-san."

Daichi smirks, "I thought to bring food and drinks since I wasn't sure what to expect."

Shinsetsu seems to pay no attention to Tara and Daichi, right now. He slides off his horse and loops an arm under and over the blue's neck to hold it steady.

Tara says, "That's good planning on your part, Daichi-kun. If you'd mentioned it to us all, we all could have planned so." She watches Shinsetsu with interest, adding more softly, "And... bedrolls and tents... hm. Now what..."

The other horses seem a little nervous now, as well, shifting their weight and tossing their heads.

Tara glances around, making sure she's next to either Seiichi's or Ken's horses. "Hold them calmly, guys. Hm... do we want to dismount too?"

Daichi shrugs, "Minor details..." Following Shinsetu's example he slides off his horse and grips the reins under it's chin with one hand, staff in the other.

Tara nods to the others, murmuring quietly, "Let's dismount, okay?" and slides off smoothly. She ducks under her horse's head so she can take the reins of another horse as well, to help.

Ken says, "Aren't we heading back now? Is there some other task you hoped to accomplish?"

Tara says, "I'd like to make sure Shinsetsu can get through the door before we leave, Ryoushin-san."

Tara says, "And this way even if the horses bolt, we won't get accidentally carried into the strange realm."

Shinsetsu looks back at his name and nods, a slight look of worry on his face.

Ken dismounts a bit clumsily, and takes a moment, or two, or three to brush off the seemingly endless supply of horse hair. He is not entirely successful...

Tara smiles encouragingly, "Go on, Shinsetsu-kun. It should be fine, hai?"

Daichi says, "What else were you hoping to accomplish?"

Seiichi nods to Tara as he slips down off the horse as well. There's still that tingle of bother in his mind, and he looks around if anything more skittishly than hthe horses.

Tara shakes her head, still puzzledly watching Shinsetsu, "I don't know what he wants. Apparently his geas wouldn't let him talk about it. I don't know why he's not just walking through, either, considering how badly he said he wanted to go home...?"

Shinsetsu sighs, again looking dubiously at the archway. He releases the horse and gives it a sharp slap on the rear, causing it to bolt. The blue dashes past the other horses, unsettling them anew, and heads back down the trail the way the group came. The spirit straightens up, gaze suddenly neutral, and walks through the arch. He remains clearly visible as he walks down the revealed path.

Tara watches with puzzled interest, wondering what was wrong, and why Shinsetsu didn't say anything if there was a problem. Does the door close after him?

Daichi looks at the others before letting go of the reins to his horse. He whispers, "I'm gonna regret this, I know just know it." Smacking the horse's flank he follows after the spirit, only the grip on his staff giving away his tension.

Tara gives Daichi a shocked look, then drops the reins of her horse to grab his arm, "Daichi-kun, are you mad? What are you doing?! Night is coming on, we don't have any way to see in the dark or a place to sleep in there -- if Shinsetsu-kun wanted help he'd have asked us to come along!"

Daichi looks back at the golden haired girl. "That's just it Tara-chan, he did ask us to come along. Besides, I can't just let him walk back in there while I know there's at least one person who wants to hurt him, it's the way I am and you know that."

Tara says, "When? When did he ask us to come along?"

Daichi says, "When he asked us to help him get home, we've merely opened the door, he's not home yet..."

Tara says, "He said himself he has no home -- he just wanted to get back to this realm. And if he wants our help, why are we rushing in unprepared? He'll have to take care of us if he expects us to survive the night in a strange land!"

Tara says, "If you want to come back when we're better prepared, that's fine -- let's do that! But let's bring things like a tent and bedrolls and proper clothing, hai?"

Tara says, "And matches and food?"

Seiichi adds quietly, "And some way to garauntee that we'll come back."

Down the path, blue light flares. Shinsetsu is wreathed in blue fire, and, just beyond him, there can be seen the glints of feral eyes.

Tara blinks, then adds wryly, "I'm sorry, Seiichi -- you're right."

Seiichi's eyes flick to the blue light, and he blinks. At the eyes. "We're not alone..."

Tara nods a touch grimly, then calls, "Shinsetsu-kun! Now we know this works, come back, please? We can come back again tomorrow when we're better prepared."

Daichi stares at Tara, "Who says it is night there? For all we know it could be daytime." He shakes his head, "Does not your western philosophy teach, 'Strike while the iron is hot'?" He turns his attention back to Shinsetsu, taking note of the eyes and pulls away from Tara. "I'm sorry Tara-chan, if you want to come back later that is your choice, mine is to help him now." With that he breaks into a run, feet pounding the trail, closing the distance between himself and Shinsetsu.

Tara sighs and shakes her head, murmuring quietly, "Hai, there is... and there's one about fools leaping where angels fear to tread."

Tara looks at her other two friends, and wonders how on earth they're supposed to help a spirit against a large predator. Daichi has a stick, but that's it between them all... and while she's had several years of aikido, she's never faced wild animals. She's not willing to sacrifice a poor horse either, even if she knew how. Helplessly she says, "Suggestions, guys?!"

Daichi pounds down the trail. Shinsetsu seems to dance in front of glinting eyes and dark bodies, the blue flames lining his body and casting a net of flickering shadows.

Ken says, "My suggestion is to let strange "spirits" go about their business. I can think of nothing in the legends I know that talk about the happy endings of people that pursue them. If this "person" wanted my.. our help, he might have had the courtesy to discuss it with us."

Daichi growls in frustration, no matter how fast he seems to be going he knows he's not going to make it to Shinsetsu before he reaches whatever it is he's facing. "Just a little faster," he huffs.

Tara looks at the other two, seeing the same shock and dismay mirrored on their faces that is on her own. She thinks furiously for a few seconds... then takes a deep breath, "Well, let's see if we can maybe jam the door open?" She pulls out her crystal again, focusing on it, and murmurs quietly, "Okay, we need to keep the door open. How do we do this?"

Tara blinks... then grabs the reins of one of the horses and trots forward towards the gate, "Guys, bring your horses! Maybe we can block the gate open for a bit if we tie them there?"

The glint of metal can be seen as Daichi whips open his staff to reveal the surprise within. He leaps at one of the figures with a loud, 'Kiai'.

Seiichi blinks to Tara, and starts to tug his own horse after her, hurriedly. He moves quickly, fighting down the rising panic in himself even as he's quite certainly telling himself that this is not a dream.

Ken goggles at her, but moves to bring the horses, "Oh, yes," he thinks, "I'll get the horses. I'll just drop them in this bag and trot them right over! Would you like a side order of bulls or camels, perhaps? Or just a bit of moose? It's fresh...." as he mumbles under his breath. It's almost certain Tara's not heard these words in her Japanese classes, but Kazamora must have. Soldiers and Sailors share much of the same vocabulary.

One of Daichi's sword blades sinks into dark flesh, dimming the bright sheen of the metal as it comes away bloody. The bodies suddenly break away and reform. Daichi can see livid burns on some of them, and the addition of another combatant has made them cautious.

Tara tries to gauge where the archway is thickest, then flips her horse's reins around a branch in a loose knot. Mentally she winces, already hearing the shriek of horror this callous treatment of tack would gain her from her first riding instructor. She grins ruefully, pausing to pat the horse's nose gently, "Be calm for a bit, please? Help us out? With luck we'll be only a few minutes... and we'll actually come back. And the reins aren't that tightly tied, so you can get away if you really need to." She blinks at Ken's muttered imprecations, then tries hard to stifle a very nervous giggle!

Daichi glances at Shinsetsu, "Never a dull moment, eh?" His swords dance in the air, slashing at whatever moves too close.

Tara will help the other two tie their horses also, in the hopes the three large equine bodies will help hold the gate open. Then she looks at the combat. A bit breathlessly she says, "Okay... um. What now. Ah... shall we all concentrate on our crystals? That's what worked before, right?" She pulls hers out and whispers intensely at it, "Do something! We need to keep Daichi-kun and Shinsetsu-kun safe -- without getting us all hurt!"

And light spills around Tara, one end of a multi-colored expanse stretching up towards the sky.

Seiichi says to Ken, "Actually, if you can get any, that might help, please, Ryoushin-san." In his mind is a tangle of priorities. He certainly owes Daichi a great deal, for the times he got the bullies off of him. But the doorway, if it closes behind them... he might never see Akina again. He sighs, and hopes that Shinsetsu-san will be forthcoming with explainations when this is all done. He digs the little pendant out from his shirt collar. "Concentrate on what?" he asks quickly.

Tara, Seiichi, and Ken cluster just inside the archway. Daichi and Shinsetsu are fairly far down the trail by now. They are, momentarily, not fighting as a cluster of short bodies rearrange themselves just out of their reach.

Tara blinks, a small, startled, "...eeep?!" coming from her. She stares in amazement for a moment -- then laughs suddenly, "Concentrate on whatever you think might help our friends, Kazamora-san! I think I got... //Bifrost//!" The word is in a foreign language, and she carefully sets a booted foot on it, testing to see if it will hold her. She thinks a moment, then laughs again, tossing her hair back, and... sings at the top of her voice one of the first phrases of the Flight of the Valkyrie, where the valkyries are calling to their horses and each other. This has gotten so dream-like to her... that seems as likely a response as any!

The rainbow will not hold her, but she is answered by a dark, horselike figure at the top of the span.

Tara grins, her eyes shining golden in the odd light, and calls to it, "Are you coming? We've got a battle here to go to!"

Daichi is doing his best to hold the little dark figures at bay with his weapons, hoping the wound he gave the first will make the rest think twice about coming within striking distance.

Seiichi blinks startledly at Tara, then looks at his crystal. What to do, what to do? Help them, how? He closes his eyes, trying to focus only on the crystal, keeping it in his mind's eye. Of course, this is not the best way for Seiichi to (usually) concentrate, and he feels his mind wandering between the waking world and the dreaming, as he thinks of what in the world(s) he can do to help them, considering he's not much of a fighter.

The horse figure charges down the slope towards Tara, hooves ringing heavily in an odd, quadrupled gait, accompanied by the creak and jingle of leather and metal.

Tara watches, half in awe and half in delighted wonder. Is she dreaming? She'd always so wanted to be a Valkyrie!

Daichi glares at one of the little figures and shouts at it, "Begone foul oni!" So it's not the whole ritual, but maybe it'll work...

All Daichi's statement gets is attention. The oni seem to have sorted themselves out for now, and a sharp twang and buzz sounds as something strikes Shinsetsu's flame and flares as it's consumed.

The huge glowing horse comes to a smart halt next to Tara, who reaches out and gently touches its nose, her golden eyes wide. She whispers, "Well, hello there, big guy. What's your name?" She blinks as it tosses its head and gives a low nicker, then grins, "Gullinfaxi, eh? Golden-mane... it suits you!"

As if in a dream, Tara gathers up the reins and swings easily into the saddle. She settles, and the golden glow intensifies, swirling brilliantly around her as well. When the brightness fades a bit she can be seen again, caparisoned in glowing armor which matches the horse's barding.

Gullinfaxi snorts, shifting restlessly, and Tara laughs delightedly again. Her helmeted head turns, taking in the battle in the darkness beyond. She gathers up the reins in one gauntleted hand, settling the spear (where did that come from?! Er, later, later!) firmly into the other.

Tara nudges the big horse's side with one booted heel, and it whirls, almost leaping into a thundering, eager gallop towards the shadowy figures. She shouts, "Get away from my friends!" and aims the heavy horse and the spear's point at the nearest monsters.

Looking down, Ken notices he's passed through the archway. His head snaps around, and he glares as Tenshi. "We deserve more respect than this," he thinks and begins striding down the path toward the ..things.. menacing Tenshi and Gensai-san. As he approaches he shakes his fist at them and shouts, "Hey! You! Don't you have some rice or sake to steal somewhere?"

As he gestures, faint streamers of light follow the tips of his fingers. "We didn't ask for your attention! We've got homework to do and texting to do!" The light around him grows stronger as he challenges them, and begins to arc.

Ken stops several paces from the group and booms, "Stop bothering honest folks, and just go!" As his hand sweeps across them, a wave of crackling energy leaps from him to wash over the attackers.

Tara settles firmly into the saddle, the spear carried lightly in her hand. At the last moments before impact she firms up her grip and aims the point more carefully.

The mighty horse and its rider scatter oni in front of it, the tip of the spear slicing one open and staggering it to the ground.

Shinsetsu raises his hands, cupping them together. "Foxfire!" Blue flame curls from his hands towards an oni.

There is a sharp crackle as the goblin in front of him is wreathed in flames much as Shinsetsu is, but the blue flames actually burn the little oni, raising a squeaky shriek from it.

The wave of lightning crackles around the oni and then leaps to the surrounding trees and stones. Dumbfounded, Ken looks from the oni to his hands, glowing with the colors of a wrathful sky, white and green fire playing around his arms. Still uncertain, he raises his hands and the light and color flow down around him, forming a carpet of hissing energy, and a flood of lightning streaming into the air.

Daichi's leg muscles coil like springs for a brief momenet before propelling him into the air. His blades describing a silver arc above his head, aimed towards a single bleeding Oni like some fiendish flashing fish. Another 'Kiai!' echoing amidst the din.

The oni is struck again, its head tumbling from its shoulders, but the second blade hits the ground, grinding in the dirt and sending Daichi sprawling to the ground.

The two goblins still on their feet in front of Daichi and Shinsetsu swing their clubs wildly, missing by a country mile. A flurry of arrows follows soon after, one striking the flames around the kitsune. The arrow is consumed, but the flames are as well.

Tara brings the heavy stallion whirling around at the end of the charge, and a surprised, "Golly!" escapes her as she realizes they actually did some damage. Then she clicks to Gullinfaxi again, hastily nudging him back into the fray and shifting to take the spear two handed for more close-up work.

Shinsetsu unleashes another torrent of fire onto one of the two uninjured goblins, who falls, twitching and rolling, to the ground. The other oni that was flamed before continues to burn as it tries feebly to crawl to its feet.

Daichi rolls back to his feet, swinging at the lone uninjured goblin once he regains his balance, the other blade dancing in the air to fend off incoming blows.

With a ringing swish, the sword slices the air inches away from the goblin's face as the lucky creature moves to its next attack.

As the oni bound toward him, Ken relaxes into a balanced pose. He reaches for one and a burst of energy leaps from his hand, streaming past them.

The remaining club-weilding goblin kamikazes at Shinsetsu, landing a solid blow that is quickly followed by a pair of arrows. The total force drives him back against a tree with a heavy thunk. The last oni decides to fire upon Ken, but the arrow gets no farther than the crackling dome around him, falling, singed, to the ground.

Tara glances around, noticing three bow-oni, two of whom are concentrating on Shinsetsu. That's enough of that! she decides, and the heavy horse thunders towards the oni. Rearing, it slams down huge hooves as Tara stabs with her spear.

One of the goblins notices fast enough to throw down its bow and attempt to flee. The spear just misses it, but Gullinfaxi's hooves turn it into a smear of bloody pulp.

Daichi spins on his heels, following the goblin who swings at Shinsetsu. He springs (quite literally) into action, arms crossed over his chest in preparation for the swing.

The blades flash, and two lines through the goblin seperate into four bloody, astonished quarters.

At this point, the last two goblins decide that this is enough. They throw down their weapons and run away as fast as they can.

Tara looks around, relieved, and Gullinfaxi thunders over in a high-stepping trot, snorting and tossing its head, towards Shinsetsu. Tara flips up the face plate and calls to Shinsetsu, "This is your home? Why so unpopular? Is the geas gone yet?"

Daichi wipes the blades off on a dead goblin before sheathing them with a quiet swish. "Nice little melee..."

Tara eyes the dead goblins and looks away abruptly, turning an unpleasant shade of green.

Shinsetsu struggles up, leaning against the tree for support. "I suppose you could say that." He kicks at a goblin, seperating a piece of cloth from its body. "It's obvious, isn't it? This is Muteki's colors." He winces.

Gullinfaxi nickers, tossing its head to look at Tara.

Daichi turns away from the carnage to look up at Tara. "Are you alright, Tara-chan?" His tone betrays a hint more concern than just for a friend.

Ken looks to the fallen. "Who are these people? Why did they attack you? We should call the police!" He takes out his cell phone and trys to make a call.

Ken says, "I'm not getting any signal. We'll have to get closer to town."

Shinsetsu laughs a bit weakly.

Tara sighs quietly, nodding to Daichi as she runs a gloved hand along the crest of Gullinfaxi's mane... er... sort-of mane, and says, "No, Shinsetsu, it is not obvious to me. I've just killed people... um... living things for you, and I'd like to know why you were attacked. At the very least I'd like to know why you were thrown out in the first place."

Tara nods to Ken also, "Hai, we should check and be sure Kazamora-san is still all right." She stares towards the gate, one hand shading her eyes to see if the gate is still open.

Seiichi is untouched, with the horses, and the path is still there. One can assume it's still usable.

Tara looks relieved, waving to Seiichi and calling, "We're fine here! We'll be there in a moment, okay?"

Tara looks back inquiringly at Shinsetsu, and says mildly, "Anything you care to share with us?"

Seiichi looks up and waves back vaguely.

Tara tilts her head to regard the leaning spirit, then leans from the saddle to whisper to her friend, "Daichi-chan, do you know any first aid?"

Daichi nods to Tara, absently reaching up to pat her leg. "Good." He looks towards Shinsetsu, and grimaces. "Hai, get me cloth from the fallen and I'll attend to him."

Shinsetsu flushes and places a hand next to one of the arrows still sticking out of his chest, a faint glow just visible in the gloam. Now that the battle's over, the forest is amazingly quiet. Stars, barely visible, shine through a haze of pale moonlight above. It's as light as sunset, but the effect is completely different. "I got used," he says with controlled anger.

Tara wraps her arms around herself, trying not to shiver as the immensity of what's happened hits her. She murmurs, "We... look very different, don't we..." She gives Daichi a rueful look, "Um... I don't know if I can dismount, Daichi-san. I'm not sure it's a good idea to have no armor here?" She looks around, reassuring herself -- the gate's not far, true... "But I'll try." She takes a breath, sternly reminds herself she's an Alcyone, darnit! ...then carefully dismounts and studies her hands, waiting to see what happens.

Tara snaps at the spirit, "So did we! So are you going to be honest with us or not?!"

Tara blinks... then looks a bit embarrassed at her outburst.

Tara blinks again as she realizes she's still wearing armor... but the horse seems to have vanished in a sudden flare of golden light -- as she was dismounting!

Tara says, "Er... okay... this is... different..."

"Do you want me to stay or not?" the spirit snaps back. "I can disappear into the forest, now, and never bother you again if you'd prefer."

Tara straightens her shoulders a bit angrily. Darnit! She is not scared! She mutters irritably under her breath, "I'm going to have to practice this more, I can see..."

Tara puts her hands on her hips and stares at the spirit for a while... then simply says, "You're welcome."

Daichi narrows his eyes at Shinsetsu, "Sit down." His tone all business. "We can have this out after you stop bleeding."

Tara turns and finds a largish piece of cloth, rips it angrily off the body, gets a queasy look again as it rolls away from her, and hastily hands the cloth to Daichi. She goes and stands away from the carnage, her arms tightly folded, and takes deep breaths for a few moments.

The kitsune lets himself down to the ground. "If you can.. get the arrows out, I can handle the bleeding."

Daichi nods, "I can get the arrows out for sure one way, but I think I'll try slowly first..." He takes hold of an arrow shaft right where it's sticking out of Shinsetsu and pulls on it gently.

Shinsetsu grunts. He lets out a long breath, then braces for the other one.

Daichi lets out a slow breath as he sets the first arrow aside. "One more and you'll be fine, trickster."

"Just get it over with."

Tara carefully does not turn around.

Daichi takes hold of the other arrow, his touch quite ginger. "Awfully touchy, someone pull your tails?"

Shinsetsu unhs! "Do you always treat the injured this way?"

Tara winces internally, stiffening and refusing to look. No looking! Not for another minute at least.

Daichi winces, "This is my first actual battle wound, alright. Give me a break." He takes another deep breath and tries again, praying the head isn't barbed.

Shinsetsu lets out another sigh as this one comes free. The arrows have chipped flint heads, very simple.

Ken kneels down near Tenshi and glances toward Alcyone-san, "Different does not begin to describe what we have seen and done tonight." He turns back to Tenchi and continues, holding up his crystal, "You know much more about these things and what has happened here. You led us to this place, and to this fight. Perhaps now you would be so kind as to complete your story?"

Tara vaguely wonders (desperately trying not to listen to what's happening behind her) if anyone has a first aid kit. She glances down at her armor, for the first time taking careful note of it. The anthropologist in her is aghast at all the fantasy touches she notices... but the imaginative child is utterly delighted!

Shinsetsu eyes Ken. "My mother warned me about being cornered by badgers." He moves his faintly gleaming hand over the freshly bleeding wounds, and the ooze slows a little.

Daichi gets up and steps on the shafts, snapping the arrows, rendering them useless should any of the goblins return. Now that Tenshi is stable he walks over to Tara and places an arm over her shoulder. "To paraphrase a popular movie, 'We have just taken our first steps into a much larger world'. I personally would not have it had been with anyone else, Tara-chan."

Tara curiously taps on a boxy shape she finds on the outside of one thigh of her armor... then blinks as she recognizes the characteristic red cross pattern. She whirls around, "Hey, guys! I have a first aid kit! Uh... I think? Do you need it?"

Ken thinks Tenshi's comments sounds like a threat, and shifts his weight so he is not caught unaware. Perhaps Tenshi even notices...

Tara starts at finding Daichi suddenly so close, then grins, "Um... I'll take that as a no?

Daichi nods, "He's healing just fine on his own, which is a bit startling but not entirely unexpected." He blushes a bit at coming face to face with Tara quite so quickly.

Shinsetsu gathers his thoughts, keeping his focus on his wounds. "It's war. I told the truth when I said I didn't know much. I've spent most of my time trying to not be part of it. But the cause is Muteki, and the reason is the crystals."

Tara nods silently, watching the little fox spirit and missing the blush. Quietly she says, "We should go. I do not think we mean anything to the fox spirit, outside of being a useful tool to return him home... and I do not want to be caught up in any more of his battles as just another tool to him."

Daichi blinks suddenly, whether from Tara or Tenshi's comment is uncertain. "I'm can't be sure we were just tools, Tara-chan."

Ken says, "What would make you say that? We were led to this place, and told 'stand here! do this!' by this ..person. Did you know what would occur? He did."

Tara says, "I'm not certain either... but we just, in effect, saved his life, and his response was to snap at us about leaving when we asked for some information on what was going on." She looks up at Daichi and says honestly, "Doesn't sound too grateful to me. Sounds downright manipulative."

Daichi nods, "I'm aware, but he didn't abandon us to fight those things by ourselves either. Which is unusual if he were just worried about getting home."

Tara points at the oni, "If this is about the crystals, we know part of our answer already -- someone with purple and someone with red is here already. The hengeyoki told us those were their colors." She folds her arms, and adds, "Okay... there's someone here with crystals. It looks like the hengeyoki wants us to fight them, and is giving us information only extremely reluctantly. Why is that? Why should we fight and kill people for a spirit known for its trickery and fickleness?"

Ken shrugs, "That is certainly one way of seeing Tenchi's actions, Gensai-san."

Tara grins dryly at Daichi, "How do we know he even could have abandoned us? I don't think he could -- he had two arrows in him."

The kitsune looks up. "I haven't heard of a red crystal, yet."

Tara tilts her head at the kitsune, "How many have you heard of, and what colors are they?"

He shakes his head. "Yours. Karei's is orchid-purple. And there's rumor of a grey one somewhere."

Tara raises an eyebrow, honestly surprised at a straightforward answer.

Tara does a doubletake, "Er, wait... Karei?! Karei Murasaki?!"

Daichi ers, "Before he got shot he could have easily run off and left us to our fate, but he stayed and helped." He turns and looks at Tenshi and asks him plainly. "Are you just using us for your own personal gain?"

Shinsetsu shakes his head. "I can't be sure. Most of us don't have or use family names." He looks up at Daichi. "Well, no. Otherwise I'd have taken off as soon as I could. I don't have to stay visible."

Tara says, "I'm an idiot! How could I not have realized?!" She smacks the palm of her hand against her forehead -- then looks slightly staggered at the unexpected, KLANGGGG!!. A moment later she mutters, "...ow...""

Rising, Ken brushes off his pants and says, "Gensai-san, you realize that the oni that fled our little 'random encounter' here will tell whoever sent them about what happened here tonight. Do you think they won't come to find out more about us? Where we live? Our family and friends? Our school? They may be on their way right now. What he wants from us is no longer important."

Tara winces, rubbing her head slightly, then says carefully, "All right, guys, let's take this logically. We have a wounded kitsune here, even though he's getting better. We have someone from our earth with a crystal here. We have homes we have to be getting back to, and somehow I doubt this will be like Narnia, and no time will have passed at all. So... here's my suggestion. Let's go home, and Shinsetsu can come along and rest someplace safe. Tomorrow we don't have any school, so let's pack up a proper adventuring pack and come back then. We'll find Murasaki-san, tell her she should come home, and be done hopefully in a day or two. How's that sound?"

Tara mutters under her breath, "I hope..."

Daichi asides to Tara, "He's telling the truth." He looks at Ken, "We should be able to close the door just like we opened it, since Murasaki-san seems to be able to. Granted she could also open it and send them after us, but that would seem to be ill-advised since her power base is here and not in the 'real' world."

The kitsune lets out a sigh. "Finding her wouldn't be hard. Getting there would be. Unless she's with Muteki's army giving speeches, she'll be at his castle."

Tara nods, holding out a gauntletted hand to the injured boy, "All right, then come with us for tonight to be safe, and we'll return in the morning better prepared."

Shinsetsu takes the hand and leans on it gratefully as he stands up. "This is more than I can take care of in one night, anyway," he murmurs.

Tara nods, carefully sliding his arm over her shoulders and one of her arms around his waist to support him, "Then you should definitely rest someplace safe." She smiles at Daichi, "Can you get the gate after us?"

Daichi nods, "Hai, and I'm going to add a bit of extra protection once we're all through."

Ken says to Gensai, "I'm not going to argue 'real' world, 'spirit' world, mass delusion or any of that crap. I've seen what I've seen, and we've all heard plenty of stories and legends about 'benevolent spirit star alien brothers'--you and I more than most--but I'm not going to trust any of these ..people.. any further than I can throw them," and turns toward the gate with the others.

As he walks away, he says "...and why the hell would somebody masquerade as high-school girl if they didn't have to?!? If it were me, I'd be somebody much more important."

Tara blinks, looking over her shoulder at Ken, "Er... who, me? I'm not masquerading."

Shinsetsu hmms. "Speaking of that.." he says to Daichi, "I rather like the temple, but it's uninhabitable to me right now."

Tara says, "Don't worry, Shinsetsu. If you're well behaved, Nanna-san will let us all stay at the house."

Tara grins, "And if you're not, she's likely to chase you out with a broom!"

Ken says, "No, the Murasaki girl. Isn't that who we've been talking about?"

Daichi nods to Shinsetsu, "I'll speak with the Old Man, after you've had a chance to rest there overnight."

Tara looks back at Ken, "Oh! Well, my guess is she is now becoming someone much more important. She wasn't very popular in school, remember?"

Tara blinks... then mentally shrugs as her offer is ignored. Maybe fox spirits have a thing for temples instead of houses.

The kitsune looks up hopefully. "Does your nana make miso soup and rice balls?"

Tara looks ahead, planning rides... then grins down at the smaller boy, "Nanna-san is Japanese, not a gaijin like me. Of course she does!"

Tara says, "She and her son have worked for my parents for as long as I can remember." She considers, then grins, "I think I'm the only Norwegian-Greek-American ever raised on Japanese food!"

Daichi hides a frown by examining the path while he walks back towards the gate.

Shinsetsu grins broadly. "Sounds like heaven!" He sighs, losing a bit of the happy spirit. "Unfortunately, there's going to be a lot that needs to be said, even over a dinner like that."

Tara glances at the others, "Once we're back through the gate, we should have cell phone coverage, I hope. I can call ahead and Nanna-san can have dinner ready for us all, and if it's all right with your parents you can all spend the night too." She thinks, then adds, "I'm not sure what to do about the horses though... maybe they can just graze overnight near the house?

Ken says, "It feels wrong to just leave those bodies in the woods, but I don't think the police would be very sympathetic."

Tara smiles quietly, "Nanna-san can be like heaven, hai. She raised me while my parents were away. She's wonderful... and discrete. We can talk as we'd like once she's retired."

Shinsetsu shakes his head at Tara. "They're smart enough to find their own way home. I wouldn't strand poor dumb animals like that. It's just not fair."

Tara nods ruefully to Ken, then nods again to Shinsetsu, "Good, I'm glad to hear that. We can ride them back to where we met you, then?"

He nods.

Tara hms... "Can you ride on your own, or should you ride pillion with someone?"

Daichi considers Tara's offer, "Well, I'm probably already in for at least one lecture from the Old Man, what will another hurt."

Tara grins at Daichi, "Pessimist! He's not that bad, surely?" She thinks a bit, then adds cautiously, "If you wanted... I could have Nanna-san make the call for you?"

Daichi blinks, "Who said anything about calling?"

Tara gives Daichi a puzzled look, "Me, of course... just now."

Tara says, "Don't you want him to not worry?"

The kitsune thinks about it for a bit. "It's a shame I can't get really comfortable in the human realm. That would be best... but this'll have to do. I should probably ride with somebody else. It's not like I weigh all that much. Hey- could you get that great warhorse back? I'm sure it could carry lots."

Tara nods absently to Shinsetsu, then gives Daichi an honestly puzzled look.

Daichi shakes his head at Tara, "He's going to worry even if we call. I'm spending the night at an American girl's house, with a kitsune, and two friends from school. What's there to worry about?"

Tara looks a bit huffy, "Hey, Nanna-san keeps a very proper and honorable house!"

Daichi nods, "And my uncle is an old man..."

Tara strides back through the gate, not quite carrying the (perhaps somewhat startled) fox spirit, and stops by the horses. "Hmf. I think I shall ask Nanna-san to call, then! If he thinks I'm just some easy gaijin girl because I don't have my shorts in a knot about some guy touching me, he's got another think coming!" She metaphorically steams a bit as she briskly tosses Saiichi back up into the saddle and hands him the reins, then turns to Ken, "You next."

Seiichi looks relieved to see everybody back safe, and even more so to find out that everybody is going to go somewhere else reasonably safe now.

Tara gives Ken a leg up also, unties the reins and hands them to him, then turns to Daichi, "Why don't you shut the gate first, then I'll try calling Gullinfaxi. That way if the horses startle they can't accidentally bolt back into the other world."

Tara moves so she's in the lead, standing a bit away from everyone else since she's not sure precisely what's going to happen.

Ken makes a mental note, Next time, bring the bike. Ignore the self-important pretty-boy.

Daichi winces, "That's not what I meant..." He sighs, "Look, it's not you he doesn't trust. Besides having me over will undoubtedly filter back to school somehow and that will involve you with my reputation even more...." He nods, "Sure, I'll give it a shot."

Daichi merely focuses on closing the gate this time, his crystal hanging against his shirt.

Tara says smoothly, "Then how fortunate for you, Daichi, that my Nanna-san was there along with I, Kazamora-san, and Ryoushin-san, to provide models of exemplary behavior." She tilts her head at him... then gets a mischievous grin, "Besides... if Nanna-san takes a liking to you, you're //in like Flynn// with my parents, as they say!"

Tara wonders if there's a way to translate that into Japanese... she tries to convey the humor of the euphemism as well as the understanding. Her mood is starting to rise again.

Daichi barely gets started when the path, the archway, and the starlit realm dissolve away in a sudden rush, leaving the ordinary aspen grove once again.

Tara blinks... then claps her hands, "Oh, well done! Now me. Let's see..." She focuses a moment, concentrating, then murmurs quietly, "Gullinfaxi... I need you again!"

Tara blinks as she's suddenly hoisted into the air, feeling much like the time she sat on a reclining horse -- which then startledly leapt to its feet! A moment later she whews as the characteristic brilliant glow dies down -- and she realizes she's once again mounted. "There we go!" She happily and companionably slaps Gullinfaxi's shoulder, then wheels him to stand next to the little fox spirit, "Daichi-kun, can you give him a bit of help up, so he doesn't strain himself?"

Daichi nods and drops to one knee, lacing his fingers together. "Up you go, fox boy."

Tara says, "And can you tail-gate, please? Just sing out if there's any problems." She makes sure Shinsetsu is comfortable and has his arms wrapped around her once he's lifted up behind her, then turns Gullinfaxi gently to lead the way back. She keeps a moderate pace, not wanting any problems, and calls ahead to home with her dinner requests."

Daichi calls out, "Wait! I want to take care of something before we leave."

Shinsetsu steps up and swings into place without too many winces. "Thanks," he says to Daichi, then puts one arm around Tara's waist and the other over his still-healing wounds.

Tara pauses, turning easily to look back, cell phone in hand.

Daichi unslings his bag and sets it down. Rummaging inside for a moment he produces a brush and a bottle of ink. Taking a few minutes he paints wards on the pair of aspen that form the arch and a few of the nearby trees. With that accomplished he puts everything away and nods, "There, that will at least slow anything down that tries to get through."

Tara watches interestedly, "Ooh, good idea. What do they say, please?"

Daichi blinks, "They're prayers for protection, I'll give you the whole translation on the ride back if you really want it."

Tara smiles, "I would love that, if you don't mind. I've been trying to read up on Shintoism and fox spirits."

"All lies," Shinsetsu puts in.

"Okay, maybe not all."

Daichi smirks, "Not all of them."

Tara grins over her shoulder and doesn't reply to that obvious whopper.

And the group rides back to the clearing, where the normal horses are sent off, and from there to Tara's house. Her nanna is happy to cook for such a crowd, and the food is ready as soon as they come in through the door.

********

Tara's parents' house is the old former village daimyo's house, out past the edge of town, on a cliff. It's been heavily worked on and tidied up again, and the grounds and house itself look as if the old daimyo himself could move back in. Inside there are modern amenities, of course -- as well as an old, bent, wrinkled, cheery old woman who briskly gets them all fed and warm and comfortable.

Tara eats with gusto along with her friends. Once the voracious tide of the little fox spirit's appetite has been somewhat slaked, she curiously asks him, "So, Shinsetsu-kun... can you really turn into a little white fox?"

Shinsetsu coughs around his next bite. "Not white, no."

Tara grins mischievously, having read about the incredible sweet tooth kitsune have, and wondering if it's true, "Could you... for chocolate?" She giggles and turns her hand over, revealing a gaily wrapped piece of chocolate candy.

He blinks. "Ah, not here, unfortunately. And I couldn't manage a little white fox under any circumstances. It's not my color."

Tara grins, setting the box on the table for everyone to have some. "I'd say I'm sorry for teasing you so, but, um... Daichi-kun would know I was fibbing!"

Daichi looks up at Tara, mid-bite on a rice ball. "Merf?"

Tara grins at Daichi and has a piece of chocolate herself, then cheerfully says, "All right! So, should we make a list of things to take tomorrow? Like... I don't know... do we expect to be overnighting? Do we want to bring horses? Bicycles? Anything else?"

Tara makes an amused mental note: kitsune do not have embarrassing moments of loss of self control over chocolate!

Daichi ums, "You're asking the wrong person..."

Tara looks curiously at Daichi, "How so?"

Daichi says, "I'm not exactly the outdoorsy type normally."

"Food, water, and a place to sleep," Shinsetsu says. "Fire if it's cold out. Of course, you don't need to take food and water along if you don't need to travel very quickly. You can find it instead."

Tara says, "Oh." She thinks about it, then pulls a pad of paper out of her school backpack, "Well, common sense should help here." She nods to Shinsetsu and starts scribbling notes and mumbling quietly to herself, occasionally having a sip of tea, while the others eat. After a while she looks up and smiles, "Okay, I think I've got a working list! Daichi-kun, I'll show you how to make a bedroll. All you need is some blankets, your pillow, and a bit of rope. We can split up everything else we need between us all, hai?"

Tara curiously asks, "Who here has been camping?"

Shinsetsu stretches out on the floor. "All my life..."

Tara gives him an amused look, "Not you, silly. I meant of the humans here."

Daichi says, "Day hikes, a very long time ago..."

Tara nods, then looks around at the others inquiringly.

Tara says a bit startledly again, "Oh," when she finds out she's the only one who's done any camping, then changes the list accordingly, "Okay, how's this?"

Daichi considers for a moment, "Anyone else know how to cook?"

Tara gives Daichi an apologetic look, "Um... I can make a fire real well?" then looks at Shinsetsu, "Are you going to stick around, or do you want to vanish once we're there?"

"Oh, I'm sticking around. I can't ignore this," he answers.

Tara laughs!

Tara says, "Surely we're not that bad?"

He frowns. "Not you."

Tara looks puzzled for a moment... then ah!s and nods.

Tara hms, then asks Daichi, "Um... can you cook?"

Daichi nods, "OF course, I live with my uncle, you think he's going to cook most of the time?"

Oh, yes. Seiichi can cook, too.

Tara flashes him a relieved grin, "Good point!" then checks with Shinsetsu, "So... do you know if compasses work in your world?" She thinks a bit, then adds to the others, "Did anyone know how much time passed over there, as opposed to here?"

Daichi shakes his head, "I wasn't paying that much attention."

Tara worries about that a bit, absently chewing on the end of her braid, "So... it looks like we have at most two days to get this done."

Shinsetsu turns on his side so he can look at the others as they talk. "Compasses? You mean lodestones?"

Tara nods to Shinsetsu, then bounces to her feet and trots out of the room. A moment later she returns with a nice walking stick that belongs to her father. Set in the carved wooden head is a good compass, "Like this?"

He looks at it curiously. "Seems to do the same thing.. always points south, anyway."

Tara giggles, "North! But hai, like that."

Tara pauses, looking at the compass. It is behaving correctly and pointing north, right?

The red part is pointing north.. the white part south.

Tara nods, reassured, and goes to put the walking stick away.

Daichi looks at Tenshi, "trying to confuse her?"

Tara blinks, looking over her shoulder at the fox spirit. Interesting... white is a dominant color to red, to him.

Shinsetsu looks at Daichi curiously. "what do you mean? All lodestones point south."

Tara comes back a moment later and settles, her legs curled under her at the low table. "Another point of difference in our worlds, I guess?"

Daichi smirks, "Well, maybe if that's the sacred direction, like China. As opposed to the Western world which uses north."

Shinsetsu waves a hand. "My father told me it's a human thing, anyway. I don't even use them."

Tara says, "Anyways... so, food, bedrolls, waterproof matches, flashlights, batteries, tarps, water... anything else? Does anyone have a compass they can bring along?" She grins, "I doubt the GPS in our cell phones will work there."

Tara says, "Change of clothes, backpacks... horses? Bicycles?"

"After all," the kitsune continues, half to himself, "how useful is a lodestone around a bunch of guys in iron and bronze armor?"

Tara looks curiously at Shinsetsu, "You can hunt, hai? Can you hunt for five?"

He looks them over. "Can you live off of bird eggs?"

Tara grins, "No, not that alone, and I can't turn into a fox either!"

Shinsetsu nods. "Fish and rabbits are a lot harder to get. Takes longer."

Daichi says, "Fishing pole or poles..."

"Oh, it's not too difficult to catch them in your hands.."

Daichi says, "For you maybe."

Shinsetsu chuckles. "Even goblins can catch fish that way, if they bother to learn."

Tara frowns, drumming her fingers lightly on the table, "Okay, we'll have to pack all our own food for the two days."

Tara says, "And water."

Tara says, "We need to move briskly, after all." She looks at the group and asks again, "So... horses? Bicycles? What? We need to move faster than a walk.""

Daichi says, "I'm not sure how useful bikes would be, and horses we'd have to bring food for..."

Tara says, "If I'm on Gullinfaxi I know I can carry one other person easily. I might be able to carry another in front of me, but it might not be comfortable, or something we should try at any speed."

"Horses would be more inconspicuous," the kitsune points out.

Tara says, "A handful of grain each per day? That wouldn't be too bad, I'd think -- and let them graze during lunch and in the evening?"

Tara scribbles on the notepad, muttering, "Hiking boots!"

"Though it's also true that you don't actually travel much faster on a horse than on foot," he further observes.

Tara grins, "You get there less tired, though, on horseback, and you can make hastier retreats too!" She checks with the kitsune, "Were you controlling the horses or anything? Did you call them or something?"

Daichi looks at Shinsetsu, "As if we're not going to be conspicuous enough in our normal clothes?"

Shinsetsu looks over at Tara with raised eyebrows. "Do you really want to know the answer to that question?"

Tara listens to Daichi, then curiously studies the kitsune's clothes. Are they relatively normal looking -- aside from the arrow holes? They looked the same in the other world, hadn't they? Puzzledly she says, "Hai, of course I do or I wouldn't have asked. And..." she looks between Daichi and Shinsetsu, "-aren't Shintoists supposed to purify themselves after they've touched blood?"

Shinsetsu's clothes are actually in a rather archaic style.

Tara says, "Hmm..." She looks at Daichi and nods once, wryly commenting, "Hai, we'll stand out regardless, I think."

Tara looks back at Shinsetsu, waiting for answers to her questions.

Daichi nods to Tara, "Hai, we are, and I probably should, but I'm not quite as strict a Shintoist as the Old Man would like."

Tara grins at Daichi, then curiously asks, "What do you have to do?"

Daichi says, "Go back to the temple for starters."

Tara says, "Ah. Um... sorry?"

Daichi says, "I'll just do it after we get back, I have a feeling I'll need it again anyway."

Tara nods to Daichi, then looks inquiringly at the fox spirit.

He looks back innocently.

Tara gives him an amused/exasperated look, and asks again, "So, were you controlling the horses, or what? Do you need to purify yourself before we go back?"

Shinsetsu laughs. "Now why would I follow a human religion?"

Tara says cheerfully, "Beats me, but all the legends I've found say fox spirits are Shintoists, and that's how you exorcise them when they get cranky -- with Shinto prayers! Now, about the horses...?" She grins.

"I found them," he says simply.

Tara nods, "All right... so we can't assume you can call them if they wander off. Hm..." she ponders a bit, then looks at the others, "Frankly, while I'd rather be on horseback, I'm thinking it might be easier all around for us to be on foot."

Tara adds apologetically, "I'm sorry. If you'd all rather ride, I'm happy to try being the wrangler."

Daichi says, "I'm fine either way, honestly."

Seiichi absently agrees with Daichi.

Ken shrugs, "If not riding these animals is going to be a difficulty I had better get used to it."

Tara looks at Shinsetsu, "You walk everywhere, don't you?"

"Not always," he answers, with a grin.

Tara blinks, "No? How else do you get around?"

"Horse. Boat. Wagon. Whatever's handy."

Daichi says, "You sure you don't mean whatever's at hand?"

Tara grins, "All right, we'll walk unless something else turns up, since I don't have a convenient wagon handy. So... we've got our plans, we have a place to sleep, we've eaten... what's next? Sleep?"

Shinsetsu raises an eyebrow at Daichi. "Whatever's at hand isn't always the best thing to use, though. I mean, I might be able to ride off on a general's war horse, but that'd be a really dumb thing to do for more than an hour or so."

Tara giggles quietly at that image.

Daichi nods to Tara, "Yeah, I think sleep is in order. It's been an eventful day."

Tara will, with Nanna-san's help, set up the guest room for the four boys, then head off for bed herself.

Shinsetsu drops right off to sleep once he gets himself tucked in.

Tara lies awake for a while, turning over the events of this very strange evening in her head. She finally falls quietly asleep, smiling to herself and one hand curled around the golden crystal. Wow... a real Valkyrie!

Ken finds himself in strange bed, in strange house, and in a newly strange world. "I wonder exactly when it was I stepped off the end of the world," he thinks as he falls asleep and dreams of flying.

Daichi lies awake for quite some time after the other boys have drifted off, turning over the day in his head. He keeps finding his mind wandering back to Tara as opposed to planning for the rest of the weekend, or what he's gotten himself into.

Seiichi accepts the use of Tara's guest room gratefully, comfortable in that he had already told Akina and his family that they would be doing an all-night study session or such, and go to sleep, exhausted.

********

end episode

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