Yokoshima Village

After decent food and a good night's rest with more over their heads than stars Seijo set out with more determination the next morning, although he insisted they leave before the sun had even risen. They had been unmolested by the guards the former night, but he was unwilling to strain their good fortune by lingering too long. After a short breakfast they were once more upon the road, with him taking point as before unless the others attempted to do so. Had he been alone he knew he could have made this journey in a mere two days, however towing along the others they took three with some of his prodding. While they weren't, strictly speaking, on a timetable, Seijo was all-too-aware with the current climate lingering could be the difference between meeting a war party on the roads. Or, even worse, a Yōkai.

Although reluctant to ask for directions, Seijo did not stop the others from asking for directions. He did not relish the thought of being followed, however he doubted if they were that they could truly escape at the pace they were travelling. That was the last time, it seemed, they would get a full meal and a warm bed. Ten days they travelled for the next leg of their journey. Conserving rations and water and a few times Seijo simply went without, although he'd made certain not to tell the others. Never was he so foolish as to let his gruff kindness compromise his fighting strength, however and though Ayame, primarily, would see no major difference in rations he trusted the two men might have to take care.

The travel through the forest was a tense one for the ronin, and for much of it he kept his hand firmly on the hilt of his sword. Ambushes, wild animals, and even darker things may lurking these woods and as such his watch was longer and more intent than ever.

At last they reached their destination. Yokoshima was a speck on this great country, one most people would likely merely pass their lives never knowing. He himself had never been here, however he had been to many places like it. It was often places such as this, so remote and in communion with kami that granted them great protection and, at times, great evils. Slowing his mount as they entered he stopped it completely when approached by the elderly woman and he bent at his waist in his saddle in a bow.

"Yes, honored elder, I believe we are."

It would seem that the journey had taken its toll on Brandalf and with his body needing a well deserved rest, Ayame and Seijo were forced to leave him behind for now. Hopefully Brandalf would rejoin the group in the future and once again being able to offer his aid and moral support.

Right now it would seem that the quiet little city presented few incentives for the group to linger there very long, but going into the mountains looking for an ancient shrine could take them weeks and most likely yield no result if they were without a guide or some pointer.

The older woman then bowed for the Seijo and Ayame as they passed by, though she suddenly seemed worried.
"Oh..! You two aren't heading up in the mountains are you?" the old lady asked, probably figuring out that they would have little other business in Yokoshima village besides passing by into the mountains. "I must tell you that the mountains are said to house a foul tempered and violent forest spirit, and we rarely go there anymore since it turned against us!" she warned the group.

At the same time the group would notice a guy close to them that seemed to listen intently to what they had to say. A young and pleasant looking fellow with skin that seems to have witnessed little hardship through his life.

Seijo Ito and Izanami Ayame Hisakawa Taro Yamada

Had Taro Yamada been standing safely on his left, he would have had nothing to fear peeking at them coyly over his fan. Seijo's remaining, hardened eye, however, spotted the furtive glances in their direction. Not breaking contact with the old woman he cast a glare at the prying lad, placing his hand on the hilt of his katana while his single eye narrowed in suspicion.

"I'm afraid-" he began, his respect for the elderly woman the only thing that prevented him from breaking off his conversation to pursue their unwanted stalker. "-that we have little choice but to do so. Our pilgrimage is most dear to us. But do not fret, honored elder, as I have much experience destroying or purifying violent spirits, and I travel with a miko." As he spoke he broke his gaze from Yamada to look politely once more at the woman, although Izanami's perfectly proportioned features kept up his vigilant stare. It was slightly more comfortable being under her stare, yet something about it would likely make most people uneasy. If Seijo's stare was a furnace, fircely hot and difficult to escape, hers was an icy cave. Cold and empty, where one could easily become lost.

The old lady's jaw dropped slightly as she listened to Seijo's words.
"Ooohh... would you really slay the spirit for us?" she asked as a few other towns people started gathering around them at the prospect of being rid of the spirit that had plagued them so. "A miko... I see..." the old woman said and looked at Izanami. "I'm honored to be in a presence of such a powerful warrior and his beautiful Miko." she said and bowed with a wide and nearly toothless grin.

The elder looked at Ayame slightly surprised at her questioning.
"And who are you darling? Are you travelling with the spirit slayer and the miko?" she asked inquisitively and chuckled slighty. "You know what dear, I'll cook you up some rabbit stew while the brave spirit slayer and his Miko goes into the mountain and I'll tell you a couple of legends about this most foul spirit. No reason for a young girl like you to get into danger, no?" she said and nodded.

The old lady then turned to Seijo and Izanami again.
"UnfortunatelyI think you'll be hard pressed to find anyone in this town who dare come close enough to the shrine to work as a guide, and the forest gets treacherous up there." the old lady said reluctantly as the villagers started mumbling and exchanging doubtful gazes among each other.

Seijo couldn't contain a flicker of amusement as the woman seemed to misidentify his compatriots. Before he could reply to it, and the woman's warm offer of hospitality, he was cut off by a stirring in his consciousness. He faced once more towards the feminine figure that approached them, eye narrowing in suspicion once more. He wasn't certain of what to make of their intruder but as he spoke to the woman and alerted him of his knowledge of the surrounding area he seemed to consider the words.

"You would do well to introduce yourself, boy, before you go offering your services." he replied, his words sharp but revealing. He seemed to notice that the figure before him was no woman, and his demeanor reflected it. What the woman had said was concerning, however. While he knew he could eventually navigate the woods alone, he doubted he could do so in as timely a manner as they sought, especially with Ayame tagging along. He was tempted to leave her behind, but it would be foolish to deny himself of her services and training when facing down a spirit of any kind.

So, accepting this strange boy's offer seemed the most logical act. He grumbled somewhat as his mind finally reached the conclusion of his cascading thoughts, and he noticed that Izanami had cast him a disapproving stare at his churlish response to the offer of assistance. Glancing back at her he attempted a different approach:

"Very well, boy, I suppose we can use your knowledge of the area. Can you fight?" He was making this decision without the input of Ayame or, seemingly, of his other fair companion.

"Hmm?" the old lady said and looked at Izanami before turning to Ayame. "I see... You just don't seem to have that particular aura of a Miko." the old lady said with a wide grin.

The group of people surrounding the group seemed more and more excited about what was going to happen. Maybe after all these years of being tormented by the evil spirit, these brave adventurers might finally vanquish the foul oni.

However before the team would venture up into the mountain looking for the malign spirit, they would need to rest as the sun's last rays were just barely illuminating the town. But it would definitely not be a quiet night and from the mountain you'd hear moans and roars that would fit with an evil spirit and word went that the spirit had not made such a ruckus before.

This had had an impact on the group too, and taking Izanami's advice of not facing such an angry spirit head on, he left the party in the night excusing himself. Taro, while very enthusiastic the day before, suddenly felt very compelled to see to other 'urgent' duties in Kiyonai City. As Ayame woke up she'd realize that the mission was hanging in a thin thread, and although heartbroken as she felt unable to continue herself another women entered the small inn.

Mitsuki had been a couple of days late for the initial briefing at Hizashi Embassy in Xuandao but had been sent to reinforce the mission with Homura's blessing and had made the trip a bit faster to reach the now scattered party. Relieved to hear that the mission wouldn't end with this, Ayame passed the precious Glass Dragon to Mitsuki and provided with a map of the mountain Taro had made the evening before and left in the inn, she was ready to head out seeking out the truth of the myth!

The woman looked surprised at Mitsuki. First at her shoes - or the lack of - and then directly on Mitsuki. The woman was carrying a basked full of mushrooms which looked to have been picked just now.

"Oh hello, I'm Koike-san." she said and bowed to Mitsuke with a smile from lips. This woman was not very tall but carried herself in a genuine and straight forward manner that had often made people want to come chat with her.

"The spirit of the mountain!" Koike-san said and chuckled slightly. "I can tell you more about that. Everyone knows the story and we'll gladly tell it to any wanderer coming to Yokoshima." Koike said and motioned Mitsuki on so they could sit down a place where not too many people would disturb them.

"The spirit of the mountain used to be a friendly spirit, a spirit of good fortune, but suddenly the spirit became hostile and no matter what we offered it it wouldn't accept it and make peace with us. Many says that one day the spirit will descend from the mountain and eat the city! For sure what we heard last night was a sign that this day is not too far away!" she explained with a worried face and offered Mitsuki a mushroom. "These are good and fresh have a try! What was your name again?" she asked kindly.

"Ahh Mitsuki-san, nice to meet you!" she said and bowed. "Well... if we knew why it turned hostile we had probably appeased it by now, but it happened quite suddenly. We tried to contact shaman's and even to send brave men against it but all failed." she said and bowed her head slightly. "Are you a story teller since you're this curious about it?" the lady asked.