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Realms: Fukusei Crystals Logs

Episode 4: Focus, then Strike

(OOC) Sat Sep 24 1905 05:56 PM by "FukuseiGM" at "Fukusei Soundstage" (OOC)

Morning arrives. Daichi and Tara are already up and in the kitchen as the rest of the house wakes up to interesting smells.

Tara is sitting at the low table, grinning quietly as she watches Nanna-san and Daichi in the kitchen. She's pretty sure Nanna-san approves of respectful young men who can cook!

Daichi has been busy helping Nanna-san prepare a traditional breakfast; rice, miso soup, grilled salmon, and pickled squash.

Seiichi, as the others discover, doesn't quite sleepwalk. It seems to just take a little while for him to realize he's awake. He does seem to get dressed, though, and it isn't until a few minutes have passed after he's come in and sleepily said 'good morning' to everyone that he blinks and looks around. "Oh... good morning. Or did I wish everyone that already?"

Tara giggles, "Hai, you did, Kazamora-san! Come have a seat and have some breakfast?"

Ken comes in and takes a seat. His clothes from yesterday are a bit "dayworn," but takes a seat. "Good morning. I have a question about your 'plans' for the day, once breakfast is over."

Shinsetsu is shortly in the kitchen as well. "Ahhh, salmon!"

Tara will thank Daichi and Nanna-san for making breakfast, then dig in -- she's hungry! She nods to Ken over her bowl of miso, "Hai, me too."

Daichi waits until everyone else is served before joining them at the table and digging in.

Tara will eat and chat with the others about school and other things while Nanna-san is present. Once the grandmotherly woman has finished eating and heads off to take care of some errands, however, Tara looks at the others and says, "All right, let's talk! We might want to make sure we have a very clear set of victory conditions for this weekend before we head off, yes?"

Daichi blinks, "Victory? I didn't think we were planning a battle."

Tara grins ruefully, "We aren't, but if you're going to be leaping into combat again, we'll be dragged into conflict regardless... so I figure let's plan ahead of time first!"

Tara says, "And victory conditions don't always imply battle. They just mean we know what our goals are ahead of time."

Daichi grins, "We won didn't we?"

Tara says, "Let's make sure we continue to win, by planning first."

Tara looks at the kitsune, "So, Shinsetsu-kun, you can lead us to Murasaki-san, right?"

Shinsetsu looks up from another bowl of soup and blinks. "Whatever gave you that idea?"

Ken thanks Nanna-san with the clean-up and returns to his place at the table. "Where exactly are you people planning to go, and why? This ..person.. masquerading as one of the students at school has told you some tale, and you're going to go running off into the woods with it? him?"

Tara says, "Well, if you can't it sort of defeats the purpose of our going there. Wandering around randomly would be a waste of time."

Tara looks up at Ken, "Frankly, I'm not sure where we're planning to go at this point, if Shinsetsu-kun can't show us how to get there."

Daichi looks over at Ken. "So how do you explain the lightning coming off your fingers yesterday?"

Tara says, "Hold on, guys, please? One thing at a time? If we can't find Murasaki-san, there's not much point in running off into the woods, as Ryoushin-san puts it."

Ken says, "I don't. It certainly happened, and I don't deny it. Why should that make you want to wander off into the woods with this guy and murder some more folks?"

"I've never been to Muteki's castle, and I don't know where his army is right now," Shinsetsu explains. "While these aren't difficult things to find out, until I know I can't lead anyone there."

Tara sighs, "Ryoushin-san, stop it! No one wants to murder anyone. As far as I know, we just want to find Murasaki-san and ask her to please come home."

Daichi says, "Murder? You call killing goblins that were attacking Shinsetsu murder? They're spirits, oni, demons, or whatever you want to call them. Not people."

Shinsetsu looks askance at Daichi.

Ken becomes quiet and says, "I'm sorry if I offended you. Please forgive my interruption. Do go on."

Tara stands up, "Okay, that's enough. If you guys want to squabble, feel free, but not in my house! And Daichi, please remember Shinsetsu is a spirit too!"

Tara glares between both boys, hands on her hips.

Daichi glances at Shinsetsu, "You're not exactly a person, at least not in the sense I normally think of them."

The kitsune heaves a dramatic sigh.

Tara says, "Are we through now? Can we talk about this calmly?"

Daichi sighs, "I was being calm, but I'll do my best not to cause any more arguments."

Tara sighs in the quiet and says softly, "Thank you." She sits back down, muttering in English under her breath, //'Not people.' Sheesh. Thank goodness I'm an American.// She sighs again, feeling faintly ashamed of herself, then says, "All right, let's start over. Do we even want to go there, or not?"

Tara looks around, "I'd like to hear everyone's thoughts on this, please?"

Daichi cuts off another piece of salmon with his chopsticks. Lifting it to his mouth, he chews thoughtfully.

Shinsetsu shrugs. "I can't go back by myself; I don't have the ability."

Ken says, "Go where? Back through that ..passage.. we saw in the woods? Where did it go? Will it be there again? Will you be able to get back? Why whould you want to go there? The first person through it was attacked. Do you think it won't happen again?"

Tara thinks a minute, then answers in order, "Yes, that's where I'm talking about. I don't know, although Shinsetsu-kun says it's his home. Probably, from what I've read and been told. Ditto. To find Murasaki-san, since her parents are probably sick with worry about her by now. No."

Daichi keeps his attention focused on his food for the moment, letting everyone else have their say first.

Seiichi eats quietly, listening to the conversation. He sighs a little. "I admit I am loathe to admit it... but if I were to suddenly disappear without a trace, I would like to know that someone with the ability to find out what happened to me would take that opportunity, if for no other reason than to be able to tell Akina-cha-- er, Nakayama-san, and my family what happened." He pauses. "It's the right thing to do, as much as it distresses me." Pause again. "Please pass the miso?"

Tara smiles and does so.

Tara looks inquiringly at Daichi.

Daichi looks up at Tara after a moment. "I want to go back, if for no other reason then, as Kazamora-san said, it's the right thing to do. I'm also curious as to what else we might learn while there." His eyes flick over each of his peers in turn. "Is no-one else curious about these crystals? Maybe we can find some answers there."

Tara says, "Of course I'm curious. That doesn't mean I'm going to rashly risk my life and the lives of others to find out more, though. Also, I think Murasaki-san is a bit more important than my curiosity." She smiles, "Although I don't mind combining goals if we can. I just want to be clear that our first goal is to help Murasaki-san get home safely... so we don't get all tangled up in things that aren't really any of our business on the way."

Daichi says, "What if she doesn't want to come back?"

Tara says, "Then she doesn't. We're not her jailors."

Tara says, "But at least we can let her family know she's okay."

Daichi says, "What are we going to tell them? 'Your daughter is fine. No, we can't tell you where. Why? Because you wouldn't believe us.'"

Tara laughs! "No, silly. We'll ask her to write them a note."

Ken says, "Until yesterday, all I knew about the stone I found was it was hard to identify. Now I'm wandering in the woods on farm equipment, lit up like some tavern sign, and being shot at. So far, this crystal has been much too exciting. Gallooping off into the woods in search of "answers" sounds more like something one of my on-line characters would do, and they're none too bright..."

Shinsetsu laughs. "Dear mom, I'm with a very handsome man who's 200 times my age..."

Ken says, "Yes. I suppose he could pass as one of the students as well, eh Tenshi-san?"

Tara blinks at Shinsetsu... then ah!s and nods, "That's it, of course. She believes he loves her." She looks curiously at Shinsetsu, "Is there any chance he does actually love her?"

Tara says gently, "Ryoushin-san, we are not your jailors either. If you do not wish to come, you need not do so."

Daichi nods, "And they'll ask us how we got the note, if we saw her, how she looks.... This is still none too promising a situation."

"The only way he could pass for a student is by magic," Shinsetsu tells Ken. "And no, there's not much chance he does. Vampires normally don't."

Tara sighs, smiling, "All right, Daichi-kun, you don't have to-" she cuts off and gapes at the kitsune, "She's with a vampire?!"

Tara says, "EEEEeeeeeeew!"

Shinsetsu shrugs. "Nobody asked yesterday!"

Tara shudders, "That's disgusting!"

Tara laughs again, although it's not very happy sounding, "Do you ever volunteer information, Shinsetsu-kun?"

Daichi umms, "Our vampires are different than yours, Tara."

Seiichi almmost -- but not quite -- drops the cup of miso soup. "Er... a gaki?"

Tara blinks at Daichi, then looks back at the kitsune -- then at Seiichi, "Er... is there something I should know here?"

Daichi ers, "Gaki are ghosts. I think you meant Pennaggolan."

Tara looks confused, "I did? Wait, someone just please tell me what this thing is supposed to be like?"

"Any vampire? Or Muteki?" Shinsetsu asks.

Tara says, "Um... one at a time. Muteki, please?"

Daichi shrugs, "there are many different types of vampires in our mythology."

Ken says, "What is a muteki? Is this something I should recognize?"

"All right," Shinsetsu says. "Muteki's your typical handsome bastard with sharp teeth and long nails. He's a lord among his kind, commanding practically all the others for as far as a horse can run in a week's time."

Tara says, "Muteki is the leader of the conquering army in -- right. What he said. We've been talking about him and Murasaki-san for a while, Ryoushin-san."

Tara tilts her head, curiously studying Shinsetsu's hands and teeth. He's certainly got the 'handsome bastard' part down, she thinks... so why is this one different?

"From what I've heard, he's also the oldest vampire in that area," Shinsetsu adds.

Tara says, "This is all fascinating, but does not tell me much about what a Nipponese vampire is like, when compared to a classic western vampire?"

Tara looks faintly relieved to note the kitsune's teeth and nails aren't really much different from a human's... just the ears. Well, and the hair, she thinks, self-consciously brushing back her own oddly colored mane.

Daichi says, "It depends on what you're comparing really..."

Tara says, "Just tell me what the Nipponese ones are like, please?"

Daichi says, "Which ones?"

Tara says, "Or at least the Muteki version?"

Daichi shrugs, "I don't know. He sounds like your typical Western vampire, though his diet could be different."

Tara winces, then says carefully, "Um... is it just me, or does anyone else think you'd have to be stark raving mad to want to go up against an ancient vampire?!"

Tara counts off on her fingers, "They can turn into bats, they can make people do things against their will, they can turn into mist, they're ruthlessly amoral, they kill without compunction, they heal swiftly and easily, they drink people's blood, they turn others into vampires that will do their bidding... did I miss anything?"

"They're incredibly strong and fast, heal from practically everything, and are difficult to keep dead," Shinsetsu adds.

Tara murmurs dryly, "Yes, of course, how could I forget. Thank you so much, Shinsetsu-kun."

Tara grins a bit into her tea... then sighs and takes a sip.

Shinsetsu leans back. "It's said that sunlight is a powerful weapon against vampires, but that's not exactly an everyday commodity in my realm."

Tara thinks, then looks hopefully at the kitsune, "Holy symbols? Running water?"

"I don't know about water. But a blessed weapon would certainly be more effective than a normal one. Those can still be found from time to time," he answers.

Tara leans her chin in her hand, resting her elbow on the low table, and sighs softly, "Well. This certainly puts a very different spin on things."

Shinsetsu looks up at the ceiling. "When I could head my own way, I'd planned to go find a tengu I know and ask him about things."

Daichi nods at Shinsetsu's comment, though he's mostly gone back to eating again.

Tara says, "How long would that take?"

Seiichi sets the cup of miso back on the table, carefully. "Information about things is a good thing. Where is this tengu?"

Tara adds to the others, "Those are... the crow people, right?"

Daichi nods, "Also master martial artists and known for their holy teachings."

Tara nods to Daichi, then looks back inquiringly at the kitsune.

Shinsetsu sits up again. "From what I could see, his mountain is about a day's travel north of where we were.

Tara says, "Shinsetsu-kun, I'm very sorry, but I only have two days available. Unless your homeland is like Narnia, and we discover no time has passed, I at least don't have the free time to run around extensively there."

Tara adds, "And I have to do my homework during those two days."

Tara says, "And Gullenfaxi can't carry all of us."

Daichi says, "But we can return later. Perhaps we should find this Tengu first and try to plan before going back in another time."

Tara looks at the other two, wondering what they think.

Seiichi makes a quiet sound, and nods, "That seems possible."

Tara sighs, full of misgivings, but just says, "Approximately a day's travel how, please? On foot? What does 'about' mean -- almost a day, or a bit more than a day?"

Shinsetsu shrugs. "About a day's travel in a world that does not have motorcycles or automobiles. If you wish to travel more quickly, it's best to find some way to fly. It could be longer or shorter depending on whether bridges are safe to cross and who's in the way."

Tara considers asking Shinsetsu to go and then report back -- then shakes her head. That'd never work. The kitsune would at best give an incomplete report, which would handicap them all later. She sighs again, "So you want us to spend our entire weekend hiking cross country to go talk to a... um... tengu, through terrain that's unknown -- and then come home again." She rubs her face tiredly, "I must be nuts... I'm actually considering this."

Tara looks up hopefully, "I don't suppose there are any equestrian nomads in your homeland? Those I might be able to talk into giving us a lift... maybe? Hm... no, there's no guarantee they'd be like the ones we have here on Earth, is there..."

Tara sighs and shrugs, "Well, I'm an American. Do you guys want to vote, or do you want to just all decide for yourselves?"

Shinsetsu shakes his head. "You might be able to find a friendly ki-rin if you're exceptionally lucky, and he could get us all there, but it's rather doubtful."

Daichi says, "I already said I wanted to go..."

Tara's eyes widen at the thought of a ki-rin -- how wonderful! She'd love to see one. She wonders if there are Western unicorns there too.

Ken shrugs, "If you are determined to do this, you should not be concerned with what others think. Other folks will follow you, or not."

Tara shakes her head at Ken, "I am not determined. I am very confused, and leaning tentatively towards giving this a try."

Tara looks at Seiichi.

Seiichi blinks, and looks around. "I'm sorry. I thought I'd said what I wished. I am willing to visit the tengu this weekend, and return, and consider what he tells us."

Ken turns to look out the window, "Then do it. It's not like you're going to be able to buy another ticket on this particular trip if you decide later you shoulda' outghta' done it." He turns back to face her. "You're going to do it anyway, aren't you? You might as well decide to than let it happen to you."

Tara nods, rising, "All right. In that case, we made up lists last night of stuff to gather to take with us. Shall we all go do that, then meet here in an hour or so, to go?"

Daichi sets his dishes and chop sticks aside slowly, keeping his gaze away from Ken. A slight nod to Tara, "Hai, that seems like a decent plan."

********

The group assembles again later on and returns to the aspen grove, the sun already high in the sky. The leaves quiver in the faint breeze, making a steady shushing sound almost like running water.

Tara studies the aspen grove, then looks at the others, "We should be sure Daichi-kun isn't the only one who can open and close the gate."

Tara holds up her crystal experimentally, then grins and says in English, //Open sesame!//

The crystal responds, creating a glittering, golden shower. When the sparkling motes fade away, the path is again there, framed by unusually disturbed aspens.

Tara looks a bit startled, then laughs! "Well, it seems Ali Baba was right!" She paces cautiously forward, looking around for possible ambush.

Shinsetsu strolls forward. "There's nobody around," he says.

Tara regards Shinsetsu, then smiles and shrugs. His hearing is exceptional, so she'll guess he's right. She happily strides forward, looking around interestedly, "So... which way to the tengu?"

"North," he answers, pointing off into the thick of the forest. "Of course, travelling through underbrush isn't fun, so I'd suggest we stick to the trail until we get somewhere where there's fewer thorns."

Tara says, "Mm... would it help any if someone larger than us pushed through first on the trail?"

Shinsetsu shrugs. "Maybe, but it'd be slow going if you did it right."

Daichi shrugs, "We could always make our own trail...."

Tara says, "Did what right?"

Tara says, "Oh, I didn't mean making our own trail. I was wondering if having Gullenfaxi and I go first on the trail would help push back the branches a bit."

Tara says, "For the rest of you, you know?"

Tara adds, "We could carry all of your packs too, if you wanted."

Shinsetsu looks up the trail. "But it's plenty clear..."

Ken says, "Wouldn't that make a lot of noise, too? You'd be easy to spot as well."

Tara says, "Okay. Just asking." She smiles, "Hai, Ryoushin-san, but I figure if most folks around here are like Shinsetsu-kun, they're going to hear us regardless. Still... it's not yet necessary, so no worries." She heads briskly down the trail, "Let's get started!"

Shinsetsu adopts a 'casual stroller' look and follows along.

Seiichi follows along, not quite trusting himself to bring up the rear.

Daichi is fairly relaxed, though alert, Tsuin Kizu held in one hand.

It's cool and dewy under the trees. There doesn't seem to be any sun. Instead, a vague light suffuses the sky, as if it had swathes of silk or mesh drawn over it. Right now, it's tinged a bit yellow, like daylight. Last night, it was more silvery, like moonlight.

Tara looks around with puzzled interest, then calls over her shoulder, "What's with the sky, Shinsetsu-kun? Do the stars and sun and moon never show?"

"Stars do," he answers.

Tara says, "Huh. Why don't the other two show -- do you know?"

Shinsetsu says, "Nope."

Tara studies the sky for a while, puzzled... then finally decides she'll ask the tengu about it. For now it's a lovely day, and she hasn't had a chance to exercise like this in a while. She starts singing a hiking song softly to herself, settling into an easy, ground-covering pace.

Daichi offers, "Perhaps it is because Lord Sun and Lady Moon actually make their homes here..."

Tara looks curiously over her shoulder at Daichi, "If they did, though, why would they put up with Muteki's conquests?"

Tara says, "And... I thought Amaterasu-sama was Lady Sun?"

Daichi blinks, "I said those reversed, didn't I? Must have been drifting somewhere..."

Tara grins cheerfully at Daichi, then turns her focus back to walking.

After an hour of walking, a stream joins up with the trail, running alongside and sometimes over it. Shinsetsu, barefoot, just wanders right through the water on the many little crossings, not worrying about getting wet.

Tara grins at the kitsune, who seems to be shedding the proper student and fitting in here quite easily! She'll stick to carefully picking her way across, trying to keep her hiking boots dry.

Seiichi tries to keep from getting himself wet, but being the son of fishing folk, he isn't quite so concerned about getting wet.

Daichi doesn't seem to mind if his feet get wet, jumping from rock to rock where he has to.

Soon, a mightier river can be heard through the trees, and they begin to rapidly thin away. Shinsetsu slows a little. "Frogs," he notes. And indeed, the sound of frogs croaking can be heard. Big, deep croaks, little creak-creaks, a host of frogs.

Tara smiles, listening. So far this has been very pleasant.

Daichi has long since put the staff away, idly practicing strikes and blocks as he follows along.

Tara glances at Shinsetsu, "Didn't you say we might be slowed depending on who's holding the bridges? Should we approach cautiously?"

"We should," he agrees.

Tara nods, slowing down a bit and starting to look ahead more carefully for the river through the trees.

A small hut, made mostly of sticks and mud rather sloppily assembled, sits by the side of the trail as it widens. It's only five feet high or so and a little wider. The opening faces the trail and can just be seen from where the group is.

Tara grins, murmuring very quietly under her breath, "Oh, please don't eat me, Mr. Troll... my bigger brothers are right behind me!"

Seiichi frowns slightly. Why would Shinsetsu warn them about frogs? He walks forward slowly with the others, and pauses when he spots the hut, glancing to Tara and Shinsetsu.

Tara is also looking curiously at Shinsetsu, wondering how he tells who is friend or foe.

Tara says, "Now what, Shinsetsu-kun?"

Daichi stops moving, letting his arms fall to his sides and just listening.

Shinsetsu grins. "Take a look around?" he suggests.

Ken sets down his pack for a moment, digging out a quick drink. He wipes his face and says quietly to Kazamora, "Bad vibe behind us. Dunno what. Pass it on."

Seiichi blinks at Ken, then nods, and moves up to the other three, murmuring, "Ryoushin-san says he's getting a bad feeling about behind us."

Tara nods firmly, "All right. I'll go see who's there, then." She turns to head for the little hut.

Daichi glances back over his shoulder, gaze falling on Ken for a moment before moving beyond, searching for something out of place.

Tara paces up towards the opening of the little hut, stopping a few feet away, and says politely, "Excuse me, is anyone there?"

Shinsetsu looks bemused for a moment, then follows along.

Daichi reaches back and pulls Tsuin over his right shoulder, settling into a slightly more alert stance. "Don't look now but there's a group of something up the trail and several all around us."

Two large eyes blink at Tara from inside the hut, then out hops a large... frog. With breechclout, dagger, and trident. It's a little taller than the hut would suggest, but not by much. It croaks deeply, then opens its mouth and burbles a garbled stream of language.

Tara carefully doesn't look, instead keeping her eyes on the little hut. To the kitsune she whispers, "Can you understand him?"

Tara concentrates on not recoiling. This is... more than she expected!

The kitsune chuckles. "Of course, though the accent's a bit much, I think. He's asking who we are."

Tara says, "Oh." She thinks a bit, then grins and says, "Um... who are we?"

Daichi motions to Shinsetsu, "Let him make something up, he's the native, besides he's good at tricking folks."

Seiichi looks curiously a tthe frog-creature. Oh. So that's what Shinsetsu meant when he said 'frogs.' He'd hate to see what they'll run into if he says 'Elephant' or 'Badger.'

Tara nods, "Hai, I'm thinking so too, Daichi-kun."

Tara looks curiously at the kitsune, wondering what he'll say.

"Well, I wouldn't suggest telling folk that you're a bunch of humans." Shinsetsu eyes the frog for a moment.

Tara wonders what's wrong with being human, here, but doesn't say anything.

Ken mumbles, "well, god forbid we tell the truth..."

Tara grins at Ken.

The kitsune must have come up with something, because he replies to the frog in a liquid language that manages to sound almost like and almost entirely unlike what the frog said. The frog croaks again and quickly hops down the trail.

Tara looks curiously after the frog, then looks at the kitsune, "So... now we cross?"

Daichi says, "I'm pretty sure I don't want to know what you said."

Tara giggles at Daichi's comment, then asks, "So what's wrong with being human here?"

Shinsetsu looks at Tara. "Aside from being unique? Nothing." And he walks down the trail.

Tara thinks about that, then shrugs and follows the kitsune across the bridge. "What's wrong with being unique?"

Ken says, "If nothing else, we're collectible--if we're in good condition."

Tara laughs at Ken's comment, then cheerfully adds, "Trade with your friends!"

"Something like that," the kitsune agrees.

Daichi nods, "Being unique gets you noticed..."

Tara gives him a curious grin, "What, more than usual?"

Daichi shrugs, "More in the reported sort of way, I'd guess."

Tara smiles, "All right," and goes back to singing softly to herself. Being an American in foreign lands, and having golden eyes and hair has given her a rather laissez faire attitude about being 'unique.'

The last of the trees give way to a muddy stretch of bank on which are a couple dozen mud huts, larger than the one by the trail but otherwise identical. The river is wide and slow here, but just a short distance away there's a drop in the land where the waters get considerably rougher.

Tara says, "Um... bridge?"

"No bridge," observes Shinsetsu. "But it's a good ford." He glances at the common footwear. "At least, if you can keep the mud from sucking your shoes off."

Tara snorts amusedly, "I don't think so! I'm going to ride."

Daichi says, "That may not be wise..."

The frog folk seem a little excited, hopping away into huts or upstream, giving the intruders a wide berth.

Tara eyes the rougher water, adding, "I know I'm not the world's best swimmer."

Tara looks curiously at Daichi, "Why so?" She looks around at the frogs, then gives Shinsetsu a suspicious look, "Who did you tell them we were?"

Daichi says, "Summoning an armored horse is unusual, at least it seems that way to me."

"Scouts," the kitsune answers. "And I don't see why you'd worry about a little mud." He continues at the same casual pace.

Daichi steps into the slowly flowing water, trying to pick his way carefully and not lose his shoes.

Tara sighs, lamenting quietly, "But I don't swim that well!" She sits down on a dry part of the trail and takes off her boots and socks, tying them securely to the back and top of her pack. She rolls up her pants a bit, then sighs again as she steps into the mud. She pauses, wiggling her toes, "Well, at least it feels nice..." then walks carefully forward after Shinsetsu.

Tara mutters under her breath, "Next time I wear shorts -- propriety be damned!"

Seiichi has already taken off his boots and socks, and is pacing beside the group, a couple of paces downstream of the others.

Ken mutters to the group, "Not everyone in the water at once, please, in case his guards or whatever decide to try something."

Daichi says, "I'd rather be all together than separated if the do try something."

"Don't look worried," Shinsetsu warns.

Tara nods to Ken, then pauses. If she remembers correctly, Ken's on the swim team, and Seiichi swims too, so each of them can keep an eye out for the non-swimmers.

Tara says, "Go ahead, guys. Ken and I will follow you once you're on the other bank. We can cover each other."

"These are just peasants," Shinsetsu explains. "If we seem to be afraid of them, they won't believe that we're nobles. Caution right now would look wrong."

Tara tilts her head amusedly at Shinsetsu, then just smiles and follows. "Nobility... peasantry. Gracious. I'm in a fantasy movie."

Tara wades carefully in, "So, Shinsetsu-kun, if one of us goes under because we followed your advice, will you be pulling us out?" She grins mischievously at the kitsune.

"Go under?" the kitsune asks, now halfway across. "Why would you do that?"

Tara laughs! "I presume it wouldn't be deliberate."

Daichi follows after Shinsetsu, falling back into his typical mode, eyes sweeping over the huts.

Tara looks back over her shoulder at the frogs, then asks a little sadly, "Shinsetsu-kun, does might really make right here? Are the peasantry looked down on, and the nobility full of themselves, here as well? Are there no nobility who understand power really comes from those below them?"

Seiichi for his part is keeping an eye on the group from a few paces downstream alongside them. He remains ready in case any loose their footing, just in case.

Shinsetsu blinks at Tara. "Even if might does not make right, what's the point of being right but dead?"

Tara studies the little fox spirit for a while, then asks, "Do you believe in an afterlife?"

The kitsune laughs. "You mean, someplace for the spirits of the dead to go?"

Tara says, "Wait... I asked the wrong question, didn't I. I should have asked if you have a conscience, right?" Her tone is curious -- she's genuinely asking."

Shinsetsu seems a bit surprised. "You should?"

Tara thinks a moment, then says reasonably, "Well, if you don't have a conscience, then appealing to a better nature, a reward in the afterlife, or a sense of responsibility or loyalty or whatever would be pointless, right?"

Tara grins quietly to herself, realizing she's in an impossible place, wading a ford manned (frogged?!) by supernatural beings, following another supernatural being, quizzing him on his personal beliefs! Life doesn't get much more fun and weird, she decides.

It doesn't take long to get across the muddy river. Beyond the trees are a bit rarer, but the ground steeper. "Why do you need a reward?" asks Shinsetsu. "People will act in their nature no matter what you tell them. If you're just bribing people to do something, then are they not greedy in spite of their actions?"

Tara smiles, "I don't think so." She sits down and dries her feet, then puts her hiking boots back on, "I mean, if that's the only reason they're doing something, then sure, that's kinda greedy. But if they're doing something because they believe it's the right thing to do... well, doesn't that let them somehow transcend their nature and become something more?"

Daichi murmurs, "Heaven and Earth are not humane; they regard all things as straw dogs."

Tara gives Daichi a curious glance, "Explain, please?"

Daichi says, "Straw dogs were used in sacrifices and then discarded."

Tara says, "Ah!" She considers, then says, "Yuck. I'd like to be more than that, personally."

Shinsetsu chuckles. "But to answer your first question... if this is a realm of spirits, and an afterlife is where the spirits of the dead go, then where would you expect us to go when we die?"

Tara blinks, "Oh... I'd not thought of that." She considers a bit, walking steadily along behind the fox spirit for a while. Finally she reaches out and touches his arm gently. When he glances at her she says softly, "I'm so sorry."

"What for?" he asks.

Tara says, "It sounds like you expect oblivion after death." Again, her tone is quite sincere, "I'm so sorry. It must be terribly lonely sometimes."

"You're not really thinking it through, are you?" Shinsetsu admonishes.

Tara smiles, "All right. Enlighten me."

The fox spirit grins. "What's the difference between the spirits of the dead and dead spirits?"

Tara says, "The former used to be human. From what I've seen, the latter is not necessarily so."

"Right," Shinsetsu says. "Actually, I've met a few that used to be human. Pitiful things, but not anything you'd want to get too close to."

Tara says, "All right. So you haven't told me yet -- where do dead spirits go?"

Daichi says, "They don't go anywhere."

Daichi says, "You're thinking too hard."

Tara says, "They're stuck here forever?"

Tara says, "They can't die?"

Shinsetsu shakes his head. "I thought humans knew this stuff. Sure we can die. But this is the realm of spirits. Where else would we go?"

Tara considers a bit longer, then murmurs dryly, "Considering I myself can indeed die, and have no desire to spend eternity here, I'm not sure how this would encourage me to want to muck about here much, what with there being a war going on."

Tara adds equally dryly, "This is not the realm of the spirits of Hinduism, Islam, Christianity, Judaism, or most of the other religions I've read about. Are you telling me they're all wrong about the realm of the spirits?"

Shinsetsu shrugs. "Don't know any of those names."

Tara nods and falls silent, walking and thinking.

The path leads to a fork. Shinsetsu looks around and sighs. "Neither one goes where we want to."

Tara looks around curiously at the scenery. Can they see the mountains ahead over the trees yet?

There aren't many trees here, which is helpful, but the ground is hilly and the group is in a trough, which isn't. But peeking over the tops of the hills in one direction is a band of mountains. The closest's crest can be seen clearly, a wide bald patch splashed over a dark and folded mound.

Tara points, "Is that where we're headed?"

Shinsetsu nods. "That's it. The old bird lives halfway up."

Tara looks a bit relieved -- she'd not been looking forward to climbing over the snow line. She looks at Shinsetsu, "So you're saying there are no roads to the tengu's place?" She shakes her head amusedly, no longer surprised the kitsune would leave out such details in his descriptions of what they're up to.

Shinsetsu grins. "Why would there be? He can fly, after all, and doesn't need supplies delivered." He pauses and thinks about it. "Though there might be a path or two, now, if he kept doing what he was before."

Tara says, "Which was...?"

"He's the hanshi here, and was asked to be a general by one of the armies. Last I knew, he was planning to accept."

Tara looks blankly at the others for a translation.

Ken says, "An exemplar of the type. A model for others to follow."

Tara says, "Oh! Got it, thank you." She thinks a bit, then nods, "Interesting. So Muteki is starting to create an opposition, whether he wants it or not."

Tara curiously asks the kitsune, "So how do you know he's still up there, and not leading an army currently?"

Daichi blinks, "He's got a ninth or tenth dan ranking in some martial art. Hanshi is the instructor of instructors..."

Tara nods, "That makes sense. I wonder what discipline he's in."

Daichi shrugs, "Nothing we've probably heard of."

Shinsetsu smiles mirthlessly. "Call it a hunch."

Tara sighs at Shinsetsu's comment, but only says, "Could I implore you to try trusting us a little more than that?"

"I know him personally," the kistune says. "He's the one who taught me how to survive in the wilds. Do you really want me to just tell you my whole life story? Perhaps I could write it down so you could look it over at your leisure?"

Tara laughs, then says calmly to the kitsune, "Considering how stingy you are with most information, I accept."

Daichi shakes his head, "The fox knows many things, but the hedgehog knows one great thing."

Tara grins, "Lead on! We can talk as we go." She doesn't expect the kitsune to do any such thing, but it is amusing to tweak him back once.

Ken says, "So this person we're going to meet... he may even now be the general or the leader of the oppositon to the Big Bad Guy that threw you out, right?"

"There's more than one," Shinsetsu answers shortly.

Tara says, "More than one what?"

"What, did you think there'd only be two armies in the entire place?"

Tara rolls her eyes, "Oh, god, now what?!"

Shinsetsu shakes his head. "Your world doesn't have just two kingdoms. Why should ours?"

Tara sighs, "All right, all right, I'm braced. How many armies are we looking at here?"

Ken says, "..and you're his student of many years, come back for a visit, in the company of a group of 'highly collectible' folks, with a reason to (at least) go take a look for the BBG. We're also deep in the spirit world, at an isolated mountain retreat..."

Tara nods amusedly to Ken, "Hai, I was starting to wonder that also."

Shinsetsu sighs and stops. "And why should I lead a bunch of extremely powerful people to somebody I know if they treat me like a criminal?"

Tara laughs! "Oh, I'm sorry, Shinsetsu-kun, but that is too funny! Us, treating you like a criminal?! From where I stand, it was originally you who wanted our help but wouldn't trust us with anything!"

Tara adds dryly, "And apparently still is having trouble. I still don't know if you want to be considered a friend and trusted. You won't tell me."

Tara sits down on a rock and opens her pack, "I think a nice snack is in order."

Shinsetsu walks up the trail and has a seat on the ground. "Go ahead."

Ken shrugs theatrically, "I'm just making an observation. My guess is we're near the end of the third issue, just before the adds for the collector's edition, and I'm expecting either dramatic weather, grumpy guards, or sparkly faeries in bikinis."

Tara will have a drink and a piece of candy to calm herself down. She's getting quite irritated with this whole situation.

Tara eyes Ken amusedly, "Hey! Fan service demands guy fairies too!"

Ken says, "...or droopy eyed, black clad, rose-petal dripping, fancy boys with ginormous swords and a melancholy air..."

Daichi steps off into a (relatively) clear area. Unslinging his pack he settles onto the ground, staff settled across his knees, and eyes closed.

Tara laughs in spite of herself, her mood cheering up a bit as she rests. "Why are there never any smart pretty boys? They're always full of themselves." She smiles at Shinsetsu, "Well, would you like a drink or piece of candy? Or to answer any of my questions?"

"No thank you," the kitsune replies, not bothering to look.

Ken mumbles, 'if they were smart, they wouldn't be in this situation'

Tara nods to Shinsetsu politely, even though he's not looking at her, "All right." She grins at Ken, then finishes her candy. Once she's done she stands and shoulders her pack with a faint sigh, "Well, let's get this over with. Maybe the tengu will be more interested in chatting."

Tara curiously asks the kitsune, "Did it really not occur to you how this might look?"

Shinsetsu stands up. "I never asked you to come along for my sake, you might recall. I didn't tell you to come with me when I mentioned what I was doing. So why are you worried about all this now?" He clambers up to the top of the ridge, setting off towards the mountain.

Tara smiles a touch wearily at yet another non-answer, but just quietly follows.

Daichi gets back to his feet, shouldering his pack as he moves after the others.

Ken stuffs a bit of crumbled wrapping in his pocket, says, "Are we ready to move on? Answers to a bunch of this is right ahead. Let's go talk to your old teacher, and see what there is to see," and readys his pack.

The kitsune sets a tough pace over the rough ground. Without a trail, there's a lot of climbing over bits of rock and pushing through small patches of scrub, though the terrain itself seems to be relenting as the group approaches the mountain, with more forest and less bare rock. The almost-daylight fades to the almost-moonlight after a brief flirt with red and orange colors.

Tara will, after a while, keep a surreptitious eye out for Seiichi, as the least fit member of the group. She'll help him where she can.

Shinsetsu stops suddenly for a moment a the top of a ridge, waiting a moment, then starts again just as suddenly, if at a slightly easier pace.

Tara curiously eyes the kitsune, but doesn't bother asking questions. To Seiichi she simply says, "Hopefully just a little further. How're you doing? Here, let me give you a hand over that bit..."

Daichi seems to have slipped into himself again, his eyes never really straying from the person in front of him, legs moving almost on their own as he walks, and hands tucked into the pockets of his jeans when he can manage.

Shinsetsu stops again and mutters to himself, looking around.

Tara mentally crosses her fingers that they're not lost. Poor Seiichi's getting tired.

Tara looks around herself, wondering if she can tell anything about a possible path beaten by hopeful supplicants to the tengu.

Loud enough for the group to hear, Ken says, "On the right, folks!" He does a quick head count, and scans for more.

Tara blinks, looking to the right.

Daichi turns his attention off to the right.

A shadow flicks among the trees, moving from trunk to trunk to the right of the group. It moves swiftly down the hill.

Tara blinks -- then swiftly checks her back!

Tara says, "Um, Shinsetsu-kun... friends of yours?"

Shinsetsu watches it suspiciously. "It isn't making any sounds..."

In the blink of an eye Daichi has the staff readied in his hands. Where does he put that thing?

Tara's eyes widen when she hears that, but she keeps silently scanning to cover everyone's backs.

The kitsune adds, "I'm not sure who or what it is.. I lost track of something just a moment ago."

Tara nods, but remains silent so as to not mess up the kitsune's ability to hear.

Shinsetsu doesn't move, apparantly dismissing the shadow entirely as he waits.

Daichi waits patiently, eyes scanning the twilight shadows, trying to get a feel for something.

Tara keeps watching their backs. She figures enough folks are staring forward.

Shinsetsu finally shakes his head. "Can't find it."

Tara murmurs without turning around from her guarding position, "So... go on, or what?"

Ken says, "No reason to stay here."

Daichi says, "You sure?"

Tara says, "Well, this isn't the tengu yet, right?"

Shinsetsu says, "I doubt it. When he hides, he does it in plain sight."

Ken says, "No, I'm not sure. If it's a friend of neutral, we don't care if we can't find it. If it's an enemy, I'd rather not wait here while it sets up an ambush." He shrugs and says, "Pick one."

Tara says, "All right, then let's carry on and find the tengu."

Shinsetsu nods and continues on his way, as quickly as is safe.

Tara follows, wishing it weren't quite so dim... or the moonlight were a bit brighter.

After some scrambling, the trees begin to spread out. There's no real clearing or path, but the undergrowth is fairly clear, leaving only a bed of pine needles. It's almost park like. A stream chuckles away in the distance, getting steadily closer as they climb the increasingly steep slope.

Tara is starting to worry a bit. She tries to make sure the group doesn't get too straggled out, and keeps looking around as they go.

Ken says, "Some of the folks here are archers or mages, right? An open field is dangerous. Should we skirt the edge of the woods?"

Daichi says, "And you throw lightning...."

Ken nods, "So let them cross open ground to get to us."

Tara nods, "Makes sense. Let's go." She keeps her shadow under that of the trees as much as possible.

Shinsetsu bears towards the right after a bit, steering the group right to the stream they'd been hearing for quite some time now. A slick track covered in large bird foot prints and smaller human-like foot prints runs up the side.

The kitsune steps into the stream, using the branches of the trees nearby to steady him as he walks up the pebbly bed.

Tara stops, "Are we supposed to avoid walking on the path, or what?"

Shinsetsu shrugs. "It's steep, slick, and muddy. You can walk on it if you'd prefer."

Tara sighs, then crouches to test the water temperature.

The water is bone-chillingly cold.

Tara shakes her head. This is getting bad. "Shinsetsu-kun, how much farther are we looking at going tonight?"

Shinsetsu looks back and grins. "There's a fire at the top of this path," he says.

Tara folds her arms, "I assume that's metaphorical, then, because I can't see one. Also, that doesn't really answer my question."

Daichi unsheathes his blades and starts up the path, thrusting the blades into the ground for extra purchase.

Shinsetsu starts moving again. "No, it's not. I can hear it. But there's a ledge up there, too. You won't see it until we're almost level." He reaches for the next branch. "This is the path they use to get down to the pool a little lower."

Tara says tiredly, "Well, thank you for at least answering." She looks at the water, then shakes her head again and follows the kitsune, murmuring under her breath, "Just a little longer... this too shall pass..."

Daichi says, "Maybe find a staff or summon your horse...."

Tara says wearily, "I would have gladly summoned Gullenfaxi hours ago, except people told me he'd be too obvious."

Daichi says, "That was when there were other people to see him. Who else is around right now?"

Tara says, "The shadow people whom Shinsetsu-kun says he can't hear?"

Daichi says, "And your horse comes with armor and a spear..."

Tara sighs and shakes her head again. "None of this makes any sense, but I don't think I care any more." She stops where she is and says, "Gullinfaxi, I could sure use some help."

There is a rainbow-colored ribbon of light which arcs out of the sky, landing by Tara's feet. A brilliant spark of fire shoots down the rainbow, enveloping Tara in a dazzling orb of intensely golden-glowing light. A moment later the vivid light fades slightly -- and Tara can be seen once again, astride the fiery Gullinfaxi, attired in glowing golden armor.

Tara leans down and offers Seiichi a hand up behind her.

Tara says, "All right, let's get this over with."

Tara says, "Daichi-kun, Ryoushin-san, I think I can maybe get one more person on Gullenfaxi if you want to try?"

Daichi shakes his head, "Thanks, but I don't want to risk things getting awkward. I'll be alright."

Tara nods, then glances at Ken inquiringly.

Ken says, "It will be easier for you if you only have one to worry about. I'm fine, but thank you."

Tara nods again. "All right. Tell you what -- I'll go last."

The kitsune keeps moving, unwilling to stop for long.

Ken follows close.

Tara waits for everyone to pass her, then follows quietly, lighting up the path all around her.

Daichi continues to plod up the path, testing the placement of his blades before trusting them with his weight.

After another 15 minutes of struggle the trees suddenly fall behind, the stream turning to the right along a clearing covered in soft grass and tiny flowers. To the left is a craggy ledge, and back from that a large stone arch leading to a flickering light and a structure that looks half built inside the mountain itself. The path runs towards the arch, fading into obscurity when it reaches the bare rock. Over it all looms the huge shadow of the peak, blocking out the sky behind the mountain saddle.

Tara rides up to the craggy ledge, Gullinfaxi's hooves ringing suddenly against the stone after the muffling muddy water. She walks him through the arch, studying the structure built half into the mountain. "Is this it, Shinsetsu-kun?"

"It is," he replies. On one side of the path past the arch is a forest of posts, some leaning at unstable-looking angles.

Tara runs a hand down Gullinfaxi's mane, absently smoothing it while she watches the kitsune and the little building. Hopefully hearing a fire means there's someone home, but until they're welcomed in she's not dismounting.

Ken wipes his face and straightens his cap and says, "Well, not the worst hike I've ever been on. Damned steep, though. How are we doing? Do we need to rest here, or shall we press on?" He checks each of his companions, paying special attention to Kazamora-san and Tenshi-san.

The building itself looks worn, as if it'd been tended to, but had simply been here for a very long time. Its front is a boxy shape with a traditionally shaped roof. The doors are open, and flickering firelight would spill out of them, but Gullinfaxi's glow is far too strong for it.

Tara leans a bit to see if she can glimpse anyone inside.

Tara says, "Hello? Is anyone home?"

Daichi wanders over to the pillars, absently reaching out to lay a hand on one of them almost reverently.

The slap of bare feet precedes a brown-haired... boy? girl? wearing brown clothes that match the longish hair. Grey, almost colorless seeming eyes compete with freckles for the most outstanding feature of the young face.

Tara looks down at the young person and says politely, "Hello. Do you speak our language?"

The child nods. Shinsetsu asks, "Kibou?" The child nods again. "Go tell Kouketsu-sensei that he has company, please," the kitsune says. And Kibou turns and pads off into the building.

Tara sighs softly to herself, and looks around while she waits.

Tara glances at the kitsune, wondering why he doesn't like the child.

Daichi takes off his pack and leans against the pillar, hands stuck firmly in his pockets as he gazes up at the sky.

It isn't long before the child returns, followed by a taller figure. He doesn't have a very pleasant look to him- his eyes are too far apart for a human, but too close for a bird. His beak is hooked in a way that suggests that a nose would suit him better, and his feathered arms seem to stick out at an awkward angle. He's dressed well, but it seems almost redundant, what with him being covered with feathers.

Tara blinks, and carefully remains silent, so the student can talk uninterrupted to his master.

Shinsetsu bows, the model of politeness. "Greetings, Kouketsu-sensei. I and those with me need lodging for the night. May we stay with you?"

The tengu nods. "Hai, youngster. Come in, all of you, and get warm." He stands aside and waves one arm into the building.

Tara waits until Seiichi's slid off before she also dismounts.

Tara slides off Gullinfaxi in a smooth dismount. For a moment they're both wreathed in a brilliant golden glow -- and then, when it clears, Tara can be seen again, standing alone and in her usual clothing.

Tara bows politely to the tengu, then follows the kitsune into the house.

Daichi glances over at the others but remains where he is for the moment, taking a bit of time for himself.

Ken hesitates, but follows the old ..person.. into the building. Watching the big gold horse disappear, he mumbles, 'convenient, that.'

Tara grins over her shoulder at Ken, her golden eyes flashing in the reflected firelight.

Tara looks at Daichi inquiringly, wondering if he's all right.

Daichi seems to be studying the sky with the way he's looking up, though his posture suggests otherwise.

Tara hesitates, then waves Seiichi in -- she'll follow in a moment. She paces over and murmurs quietly, "Are you all right, Daichi-kun?"

Daichi shrugs, "Just feeling a little off, I guess."

Tara studies him a moment, then says, "Do you want company, or a moment alone?"

Daichi's body language has fallen back into his default 'Leave me alone' mode. Eyes dropping to Tara's face, "I wish I knew..."

Tara tilts her head thoughtfully, watching him. Finally she says, "Well, why not come inside and have something hot to drink?"

This first room is large, with the fire in the center. The slightly muddy stone of the floor is warm underfoot. The next room is a step higher, shielded from the outside by a curtain. Through that curtain is a more traditional room, with a low table in the center and simple mats on the floor. Sandals rest neatly to one side outside the curtain; just one pair.

Daichi's eyes shut for a moment. "Used to watch the stars with my dad when we got away from Tokyo..."

Tara's expression softens in sudden understanding -- she has precious memories also of star-watching on the steppes with her father -- and she steps forward to give him a gentle hug.

Daichi stiffens at the unexpected gesture, but only for a moment. "This whole day has just been... I don't know... It started out fine." He sighs, "It just got me to thinking..."

Tara's hug isn't tight or pushy -- if Daichi remains tense she'll step back smoothly.

Kouketsu doesn't remark upon the lack of two of his guests, instead sending Kibou back even farther into the building. "I'm afraid I don't have very much to offer; just rice and water right now. But that is enough for a simple life." He takes a seat at the head of the little table. Kibou quickly brings in a plate of rice balls and a pitcher of water, then leaves again, to bring back small, clay cups.

Daichi doesn't stay tense for long, it was only for a second or two. His eyes open again and linger on Tara's face. "Been trying not to get distracted. It doesn't really seem to be working."

Tara smiles, pleased Daichi doesn't seem to mind the hug. "What were you thinking about? Was that what distracted you?"

Daichi says, "Quite a lot of things have run through my head today..."

Tara leans comfortably against Daichi (as long as he doesn't seem to mind) and softly asks, "Like what?"

Ken's and Seiichi's shoes join the sandals by the curtain. They step into the building, settling their gear near the door. "That would be plenty, uh, sir. We've had a long day. You're not the easiest person to visit, after all." Ken rustles around in his pack for a moment, and brings out few cookies, "..for later," he offers.

Daichi doesn't seem to mind at all, though he's not quite sure what to do. After a brief mental tug of war he pulls one hand out of the pocket of his jeans and slips his arm around Tara. "Like trying not to make a fool of myself next week."

Kouketsu hides his amusement well, the only sign a sparkle in his eyes. Of course, the very bird-like face isn't the easiest to read, either. He simply pours himself a cup of water and takes a ball of rice, nodding for his guests to do likewise if they want to.

Tara sighs quietly, starting to warm up again, then puzzledly asks, "Um... what's happening next week? Do you need help with your homework? I'd be happy to work on it with you if you'd like?"

Shinsetsu does take a rice ball and a cup of water, but doesn't seem inclined to converse.

Daichi blinks, "I could probably use the help on my homework, but I meant..." He hesitates for a moment, "We talked about it this morning...."

Tara shifts slightly so she can see Daichi's face, "Doing something together? Why would you make a fool..." her voice trails off. A moment later she says cautiously, "Are... you having second thoughts, and you don't know how to tell me that?"

Ken takes a rice ball, and sips at his water. He says, "Thank you for having us. Your home is kind of stark, but very nice. Tenshi-san has told us you might not be here at the moment. I hope we're not disturbing you?"

Daichi ers, "What? No, but you asked, and...." The faint hint of a smile can be seen at the corner of his mouth. "That's just it, I don't want to make a fool of myself and so I'm suddenly worrying about everything that could go wrong..."

Kouketsu arches a feathery eyebrow. "Tenshi?" he asks.

Ken looks at "Tenshi" for a moment, and says, "Perhaps you know him by another name, sir. That wouldn't surprise me at all."

Tara sighs softly again, relaxing a bit... then grins at Daishi, her golden eyes bright, "That's funny... 'cause I was worrying some too! I tell you what -- why don't we plan it out together, so neither of us are awkwardly surprised or anything?"

Tara says, "But later -- I suspect we shouldn't keep our host waiting too long, hai?"

Kouketsu looks at Shinsetsu, who sighs. "This one insists on referring to me by an assumed family name, sensei."

Tara takes Daichi's hand, her eyes bright and laughing, "Come on -- let's go get some hot food into us, all right?"

Daichi nods, "That sounds reasonable. I'll ask the Old Man for some ideas still and we can decide on something together." Squeezing Tara's hand he leans down and grabs his pack. "Alright, let's go. We don't want the others getting ideas."

The old bird goblin nods, then turns back to Ken. "Family names are rare in this realm."

Tara laughs, then heads for the house with Daichi.

Ken pointedly does not look at him, "I certainly don't know you well enough to call you anything else, Tenshi-san. I read a poem once with some advice I found interesting from an American. He said, 'Good fences make good neighbors.' It think it means more than it says, don't you?"

Ken says, "May I ask why family names are rare? They seem quite useful, to me."

Tara will carefully remove her hiking boots and socks and leave them with the other shoes, making a small face at their soggy condition. She waits for Daichi, then steps into the eating room just in time to hear Ken's comments.

Daichi takes of his sneakers and socks, wincing slightly as his feet touch the floor.

Kouketsu shrugs. "They aren't normally necessary. Even if two people have the same name, they likely aren't the same kind."

Tara looks back and forth, then simply bows politely to the tengu and settles comfortably in an open space by the little table. She'll help herself to a rice ball and a clay cup of water, commenting quietly, "Frost. Nice poem."

Tara watches Daichi settle, then leans to whisper to him, "Are your feet all right, or do you have blisters? The first aid kit is in my pack if you need it?"

Ken nods, "That makes sense, I suppose. If there's no need to make the difference clear, then one name should be plenty." He turns to "Tenshi" and says, "What name do you wish me to call you by, if I may ask?"

Tara gives Ken a puzzled look, "He has a different name than the one he gave us?"

Shinsetsu smiles bitterly. "Shinsetsu. Of course."

Daichi nods and whispers back, "I'll give them some attention later. I've probably got a few blisters, not to mention just generally sore feet."

As "Tenshi" speaks, Ken watches Kouketsu out of the corner of his eye.

Kouketsu is the model of relaxed calm.

Tara grins at Daichi in quiet sympathy, then politely returns her attention to the group.

Ken presents the others to Kouketsu-sensei, himself last. He tells him they are students at the same school and that, "Shinsetsu-san has suggested you might be able to help bring some ..clarity.. to many of our questions."

Tara gives a carefully respectful bow, like she'd give her aikido sensei, and murmurs, "Domo arigato gozaimas, Kouketsu-sensei, for your kindness. I hope we do not inconvenience you."

Ken says, "Oh! We also saw some strange shadows lurking in the wood around your home. I thought we should mention it, should that be of some concern to you."

Tara does a quick mental review of her training, trying to make sure she doesn't make any terrible social gaffes that would embarrass her companions.

Kouketsu smiles, an odd look with a beak and gives the proper slight bow in return. "I am here to be inconvenienced. Ask me whatever you wish." He nods to Ken. "I am aware of those in my lands."

Tara glances a bit uncertainly at the others, not really sure what would be polite to ask an ancient tengu.

Ken pauses for a sip of water, sure the American will not be able to resist leaping in.

Tara's gaze flickers with amusement at Ken's reaction, then slides to Daichi and Seiichi, hoping one of them will have some idea of what to say.

Daichi looks at the avian goblin. "So what are you the Hanshi of?"

Tara blinks. Not what she'd have opened with... but okay... that works.

Kouketsu says, "You could call it Teng-jutsu. I believe that's close enough."

Tara thinks a bit... in her head that translates roughly as the crow people martial art. Well... seems appropriate for a tengu, she guesses. She waits a bit to see if the sensei has anything further to say before she comments.

Silence prevails for a moment.

Tara thinks a moment, composing what she wants to say, then says carefully, "Honored Kouketsu-sensei, I believe Shinsetsu-kun led us here because he and we both would like more information on how we might reach our school friend Murasaki Karei, and successfully disentangle her from the vampire's clutches. Is that information you can share with us, sensei?"

Kouketsu says, "'The vampire', eh? That would be Muteki, I'd guess, considering the name of the lady by his side now. And you want to remove her? A difficult task."

Tara says, "Well, we'd like to remind her of her family at home, who are worried sick about her. However, while I don't know much about, er, the local style of vampire, I would guess he's not above ensuring she wishes to remain by his side?"

"Certainly not," the tengu replies. "I wouldn't be the least surprised if he has already taken steps to make sure she can't go home at all, though it would damage her usefulness to him."

Tara winces a bit at the phrase 'damage her usefulness to him,' feeling suddenly very sorry for the poor unpopular girl who probably truly believes now she's found her true love.

Kouketsu pours another cup of water for himself. "She has bodyguards and handmaidens, and Muteki has guards posted everywhere she goes. Getting to her would be difficult. Finding her alone practically impossible."

Tara nibbles her rice ball and listens quietly.

Daichi gets a cup of water and a ball of rice for himself finally.

Ken says, "Is there any way to be certain this girl is even the student that is missing from our school?"

Tara considers, worrying over that a bit, then looks at the tengu, wondering if he has an answer.

Kouketsu says, "Having never seen her before she arrived here, I can't tell you. My communication with the human world is very slim. If you know her or have some picture, you could look yourself. However, I cannot supply you with such a picture of her from here. Scouts have a hard enough time without trying to paint a portrait as they hide."

Tara smiles ruefully, then looks at the others, "Well... I've never seen her. Ryoushin-san, Daichi-kun, and Kazamora-san have, though."

Tara says, "And it does seem to strain credulity to think it is not she, considering the names and that she's human and missing."

"Yes, humans are rare here," Kouketsu observes. "And I have four more under my roof; a truly momentous occassion."

Tara smiles, unsure how to react to that.

Daichi blinks, "Four more?"

Tara grins at Daichi, "I think he means us."

Daichi nods, "That means he already had at least one here before we showed up..."

Tara tilts her head puzzledly at him, "I thought he was referring to Murasaki-san being in this realm?" She looks inquiringly at the tengu.

Kouketsu shakes his head. "Kibou is also human. He's lived here for some time, now."

Ken nods. "I thought as much. How did he come to be here, if I may ask?"

Tara says, "Oh." She looks interestedly at the boy, then says quietly, "I'd love to chat about him more later, and about Shinsetsu, but... shouldn't we concentrate on Murasaki-san first?"

Kouketsu says, "Strangely enough, he opened the door to come here on his own. Ougon and I found the boy and brought him here."

Shinsetsu stands up, says, "Excuse me," and leaves.

Tara glances at Shinsetsu leaving, then says quietly to the tengu, "Ougon... that would be Shinsetsu-kun's father?"

Kouketsu nods. "It would."

Daichi slips out Tsuin Kizu holding it lightly in his hands. "Perhaps you could answer a few other questions, Kouketsu-sensei."

Tara looks at the open doorway thoughtfully, remembering both Shinsetsu's amazing hearing... and how he hadn't been able to bring himself to ask the venerable sage about what had happened to his father. She hopes this is polite, and that Shinsetsu will want the information... she politely says, "Honored Kouketsu-sensei, may I ask for Shinsetsu-kun why you sent his father on a mission which you most likely knew would result in his death?"

Kouketsu nods. "Indeed I could," he says to Daichi. He looks at Tara, head slightly bowed. "I did not send him. He and I discussed the issue. He argued that he was a better thief than I am, and so he went."

Tara nods, somehow not surprised to hear that. "Thank you, Kouketsu-sensei. I hope the information is of some help to Shinsetsu-kun."

Ken notices Gensai limbering his weapon and slowly begins taking a closer inventory of the surroundings.

Daichi holds the staff out to the tengu. "All I know of this is that it was once the weapon of a hero in my land. He used it to defeat a 'great evil'. I didn't really think it was true until a short time ago." He pauses, "Can you tell me anything else about it?"

Tara sighs, pondering as she watches Daichi. If a thief as skilled as an adult kitsune couldn't steal whatever this goal was... she hopes Shinsetsu doesn't get it into his head to try for it. She worries about vampires. She wonders about poor Karei. She worries about their all getting back home in time. She looks over her shoulder, wondering if she can spot poor Shinsetsu.

Kouketsu takes the staff and examines it, turning it over in his clawed hands. "It is well made, and has the power of virtue in it. Where did you find it?" He holds it out to return it.

Shinsetsu left through the curtain, and thus isn't visible.

Daichi takes the weapon back. "In an out of the way alcove dedicated to the samurai that wielded it at the temple my Uncle tends."

Kouketsu smiles. "A temple near here? Along the coast?"

Daichi nods, "Hai, that would be the one."

The tengu nods. "And does the Gensai family still tend it?"

Daichi blinks, "Hai, we do..."

Tara looks a bit worried, glancing back at the others... then she too rises, bowing and murmuring softly, "Please excuse me for a moment." She slips out as quietly as possible, looking around outside for the slender kitsune.

Kouketsu says, "I'm pleased to hear that."

Shinsetsu sits in a corner of the front room, watching the fire.

Daichi is at a bit of a loss. He bows his head to Kouketsu. "Thank you, Sensei."

Kouketsu nods in return. "You may give your uncle my regards, if you think he'd believe you."

Tara steps over to kneel next to him, studying the fire. Very softly, so as to not disturb the others inside, she murmurs, "Are you all right, Shinsetsu-kun?"

Daichi chuckles, "I think he might..."

Shinsetsu shrugs.

Tara sighs slowly... seems to be the night for folks to find themselves facing things they didn't really want to. "Would you like some company, or would you prefer time to yourself?"

Shinsetsu shakes his head. "You need answers. If anybody has them, Kouketsu does. So, go ask. I'll be fine."

Daichi regards the staff again before slipping it away.

Tara studies him quietly a moment... then nods, "All right. Call if you need us, please?" She rises and quietly slips back into the inner room, settling back in her former place.

Tara sits silently for a while, slowly turning her clay cup in her hands and thinking.

Daichi stifles a yawn and blinks his eyes several times.

Kouketsu waits a bit, then says, "It's late, and you are doubtless tired after climbing my mountain. Would you like to get some sleep? I will still be here tomorrow."

Tara glances at Daichi, then back at the tengu, and nods, "Hai, Kouketsu-sensei, we would appreciate that." She's still very troubled, but... maybe it can wait.

Daichi nods, "It would be best. We'd be able to think more clearly after some rest."

Kouketsu nods. "I'm afraid it's not very elegant, but there is plenty of floor." He stands. "Sleep well, and don't worry tonight. If there's any place safe in this land, it's this house." He goes back into the back rooms.

Ken says, "You have been most kind, sir. Thank you for seeing us."

Tara smiles ruefully, wondering if 'safe' is conditional here, but still bows politely as the tengu leaves, "Domo arigato gozaimas, o-sensei."

Tara sighs as she pulls out her sleeping bag, murmuring worriedly, "This... is getting complicated... and it appears no one wants to just tell us what we need to know to find Murasaki-san."

Daichi stakes out a patch of floor and unrolls his sleeping bag. Slipping inside he drifts off almost immediately once he's comfortable, the day of travel apparently having been more wearing on him then he had let on.

Kibou unrolls his own sleeping materials from where they were against the wall, lying down near the curtain.

Tara smiles ruefully at Daichi... then sets the first aid kit next to him so he can find it easily when he awakens. She unrolls and arranges her bag slowly enough that she can be sure none of the others have any trouble with their bed rolls. Then she curls up in hers, against a wall to reflect back as much of her heat as she can. She lies silently for a long time, listening and thoughts drifting, wondering if Shinsetsu's ever going to come in out of the cold... metaphorically as well as actually.

Ken sets up his sleeping gear, and sits on the unnaturally colored bag. He examines his gear, making sure everything is secured. Making sure his shoes are in easy reach, he finally settles in, saying "...and so ends the first night of the great adventure. Sleep well, everyone."

Daichi's only response is a muted snore.

(Log stopped Sun Sep 25 1905 01:01 AM by "FukuseiGM" at "Fukusei Soundstage" OOC)

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