Captured! Threaded Trap at Kojiwaka Inn

[Koneko]

Noticing how quickly her companion was hoarfing down his food, Koneko almost felt more worried he was eating too fast, though his comments about the food had given her enough insight that part of it had to do with enjoying a nice, hot meal. Taking the lacquered container as it was handed, she claimed her own fish and set it over her rice, taking a moment to dig in herself now that she got at least some explanation out. Taking a hefty chunk and popping it in her mouth, even she couldn't hold back making an exclamation with her mouth full and chopsticks still just past her lips, "Oishiiiii!!" Her tail wriggled fairly pleased in the air behind her, having been awhile since enjoying a meal this nice herself from all of her traveling.

Before she got too lost in how tasty it was, she figured she should make sure to clarify, "not just kill, but..." She looked to the bowl in her hand, then back to him before she took another fair scoop of the rice and saba with her chopsticks before setting that serving in her mouth. She chewed a bit more politely this time, speaking again after she'd fully swallowed, "you'd need to take the life essence into you, let it become part of you." Proceeding to continue eating her food much less ominously after that, she too seemed to also have a fairly healthy appetite, chowing down fairly hungrily before the food could get cold, even pausing between bites of rice and fish to sneak a pickled vegetable or two into her mouth. Part way through another mouthful she then caught the next thing he had to say, one ear flicking lightly at the statement, "I suppose I will have to cross that bridge when we come to it, but I am prepared to cross it if it means that I can learn more to better take on stronger enemies." There seemed to be just a second's worth of hesitance in her before she finished off what was in her mouth to speak again. "Just... Be careful, Mitsuyoshi," Koneko warned, a despondent look crossing her face with slightly folded ears, her eyes staying on the food she was eating before she snapped herself to.

Quickly she refilled her bowl with more rice to enjoy with more of the vegetables, then slurped down the rest of her current cup of sake so she could refill it too. It wasn't lost on her this was his first time learning this knowledge, yet she knew he had a decent air of responsibility to him from the earlier joking scolding he gave her after they got into the room. At worst she was worried he'd get over eager in a moment he felt the need to defend her or if they were in a truly desperate bid. Having learned the hard way herself in the past, in a way it was her responsibility to at least make sure in some capacity she lay out a warning, even if it wasn't an in depth one. She already was starting to trust him regardless as well as enjoy his company, though it was hard not to between his manners and zeal to enjoy his still freshly found freedom.

Now trying to make sure she hadn't dampened the mood too hard, she shoveled down more of her bowl and washed it down with some of the sake. "Ahh! I don't think we could have asked for a better meal, ne?" Koneko moved into complimenting the meal to bring a lighter air back to the conversation, "that old man really can cook quite well despite everything!" She proceeded to finish off bowl before relaxing back, taking a moment to digest the meal. "Really this is probably the most I've relaxed in awhile, it's been really quite fortunate so far that we met!" She gave him a toothy grin once again, "I think the least I can do is try to help you figure out any abilities you might have and help train you to use them once they become apparent."

[Taishou89]

Pondering the thought further, especially after Koneko's word of caution, he understood what she had meant, but at the same time combating newer and stronger youkai enemies was a concern. He could fight almost any human warrior and win but '... In this new world and this new life, I have to better my skills to be able to fight more effectively. That last battle...' As he reflected on the battle with the Hounengyo. '... I was severely hampered by being in the water.' Although he knew that it was really more of a strategic disadvantage for someone like him who's battles have primarily been fought on land, there had to be a better way to still be able to help out in such instances.

If there was one thing that Mitsuyoshi didn't want to do, was not be able to keep up and carry his own. If not just for his own pride, for his own sense of duty and belief in being a team player, as well as protecting his new friend, although she could undoubtedly handle her self and didn't actually need him, it was just in his nature to want to help and protect his friends. Though he was of a wolf daiyoukai descent, having been raised among humans and intentionally to serve, it was hard not to get the impression of him behaving like a domesticated dog at times, but having only lived this way all his life, he really didn't know any better. As she turned the conversation to the food, he nodded in agreement. "I honestly haven't had such a fine meal in so long, even before I went under that spell. Even then Saba wasn't very common so far inland, it really was a treat when any merchant carried it in their inventory after traveling down to the coast." He said picking up the skeleton of the fish and licking it a couple of times to relive the taste before putting it back down in his bowl realizing how uncouth his actions were. "Sorry... Maybe I am behaving a little too liberated." he chuckled.

"Really this is probably the most I've relaxed in awhile, it's been really quite fortunate so far that we met!" This level of luxury was indeed always a welcome comfort, especially for a warrior returning from the field, though it wasn't all too unfamiliar to him having grown up in the castle. "You must have been on the road for a while now." He replied to her comment.  "I'm very pleased to have met you as well. I definitely owe you big time." he gave her a smile, knowing full well that if it had been someone else, he might have been killed or entered a new life as yet another tool of war. This new ronin life wasn't too bad when you had a friend. "I suppose we should enjoy these comforts to their fullest extent, since, well I know It's been 90 years but if the direction we're heading is the same as it was then, I don't think we'll find much comfortable places like this. I suppose it'll all depending on however the current Daimyo of the province is running things. If he's more focused on war than it's likely we will find a lot of hardship and poverty."

As she mentioned helping him learn some new abilities, he responded "Well, I can already leap higher and farther than a normal human... maybe with a little training, I can increase my distance and leap height. Though... I wonder what other abilities I may be able to discover... Either way I'm sure I'll learn to master something new from you Koneko-sensei" he shot her a grin to imply he was joking, knowing full well how she didn't care for formal titles attached to her name. Although she could be considered a bit of a Sensei or at the very least a Senpai. "I do wonder though... Could I have inherited some of the powers and abilities my mother may have had? Or even if she had anything special? I was so young that I don't remember her very much." He thought aloud as he tried to remember her. He could just make out her kimono and her brown hair, but he could not remember her face or any other special features.

[Koneko]

Waving her hand to excuse his apology, Koneko still held her grin, "it's fine, enjoy every last bit if it pleases you around me." Then she heard his assumption she'd been on the road for awhile and his returned pleasantry about their meeting, closing her eyes lightly with a softer smile and nodding in reply before looking over to the fire. "You're correct, really I'm usually always on the move, most inns I stop at are just for a moment to rest while keeping my ears out for any trouble or leads." Returning her gaze to Mitsuyoshi, she added, "it was the same the other night when I woke you, but I don't relax often unless I happen across a good place to rest or seek out a little company for a change of pace. Though, as far as owing me, having the help with negotiating and the help watching my back is already enough, it's even nice to know my ability to have a real conversation hasn't diminished."

Making note of what he had to say about humans, poverty and war, she let the conversation drift on to discussing what he knew of his abilities first. She took into consideration there was no doubt they could push his already natural abilities further with a little extra training and guidance. Even another couple scuffles they were sure to encounter would likely push him to start finding new limits on that, though anything new she wasn't sure what might draw it out, but she was willing to consider options that might help. Then her ears perked as he called her sensei. "Oi, oi!" she replied with a pout as she gave him a slight look, soon catching the grin on his and replying with sticking her tongue out at him playfully. It was nice to see him easing up on the formalities so quickly that he was willing to at least joke with her about her general disdain for it aside for being polite when it mostly counted. Becoming more attentive as he spoke back up, thinking over his question with interest. "From the scent of you alone when I found you I could tell you have daiyoukai blood, meaning I can safely guarantee she was a pure daiyoukai. I've not known a daiyoukai that didn't have any significant abilities considering we're stronger than most, so I'll also put bets on her having some kind of special talents, and that there's a strong likelihood you at least gained something from her out of that." Returning to casually sipping sake, she began to think about it. "I'm really not entirely sure how being half human would affect any of that, but I'm certain there has to be at least one inherited power, and we'll work together to find it," Koneko encouraged strongly with a confident grin. She had said she'd help him learn to like more like a youkai, so this was absolutely just par for the course to doing so since knowing his powers and honing them would still be relevant to surviving among what she perceived as their kind in spite of any out-casting they'd still at least in occasion be subjected to.

An interesting thought then passed through her. "I wonder... do you think there's a possibility we'll come across her?" She remembered he mentioned his thoughts on being left to humans might be because he was impure as a half breed, but part of her could only imagine she'd done it to give him a chance to live and his mother likely longed to see him. Then again, she only really had her own mother's sacrifice to compare to, but it was enough for her to at least have an inkling a mother would want her child to thrive best they could. To some degree she hoped they would chance upon her as they traveled for his sake, though, that was of course on assumption she was right and it would come down to clearing the air on a misunderstanding of intent. Watching his reaction, she'd realized fairly quickly she'd asked a pretty difficult question for how simple it was.

Thoughts ran through his mind as he tried to imagine what kind of abilities his mother had, if she was as fierce and ferocious as he had heard of other powerful youkai he'd heard tales of as a kid, though these tales were often meant to instill a sense of fear and obedience among the children of the castle, there had to be some truth them as he'd just witnessed recently. When she asked if he thought there was a possibility that the two may eventually come across his mother, he perked up a little. Part of him yearning to know his mother and her love, but yet a dark question remained. 'Why had she never sought me out after all these years? Was I too impure to be wanted?' He'd only ever been told by his father it was for his own good, but he'd always questioned whether it was really because he was unwanted for being half blood. He didn't know that his father's words were true, but he had a hard time grasping the idea that she couldn't even come to visit him, even if she were married to another youkai lord.

"I... I don't know... I've never really thought about it... If she is alive, then she's out there somewhere... But... why has she never sought me out?"

"I really couldn't say since I only know what you've mentioned... But sometimes there's a reason why one might stay away or keep their head down..." The sentiment was perhaps a bit more inward focused, a slight bias of intent given the fact she herself kept her own remaining family in the dark in hopes her father's clan wouldn't attempt to take his life too. "Sorry, perhaps that wasn't the greatest question to ask, I'll leave it be," she apologized, attempting to move the subject on and reduce dwelling on something that seemed to bug him. Her mind soon looped around to his mentioning they should enjoy the comforts while they could in lieu of the fact humans waging war could bring poverty and that it had been that way since before he was put under the sleeping spell. "It's interesting to know that even much of what I've traveled through in the last few decades has been an improvement in the time you've been asleep." She quickly realized how odd her remark must have seemed. "Ah, forgive me, I was... Not anywhere around these areas 90 years ago, where I was didn't know nearly as hard of times as even currently. Though if hard times were to fall over humans like you say it had been, I imagine aside from helping stave off attacks as I've done, it would be incentive to remove my presence more from human livelihood again after I at least have the answers I seek. I prefer to not involve myself too deep in warring between humans without reason, and I'm sure there is more we'd find of interest in the places youkai are more common." Giving a reassuring look, she mentioned the last bit in a bid to remind him there was now more for him out there than just what humans of the area were up to. A whole different side of everything he'd yet to really get to learn and come to know.

"I'll admit humans can be very intriguing, though it's only been through the last few decades of wandering that I've even slightly tried coming to know or understand anything about them. I don't know that I exactly belong among humans, but I want to try to get a better insight while I still walk among them." It wasn't as if she was going to stop wandering around them any time soon, but she could at least fathom this life of wandering wasn't itself going to last forever either. Though, deep down, her hope was to replace wandering with a place to call home again one day, a home free of the worries that kept her constantly moving.

[Taishou89]

Mitsuyoshi chuckled at Koneko's reaction to being called 'Sensei' it reminded him a little of Mitsutada's reaction when he'd behave a little too informal, except he'd often be the one taking advantage of Mitsuyoshi letting his guard down and scolding him just to see his reaction. Listening further to Koneko as she mentioned his scent as being that of a Daiyoukai, assuring him that his mother was indeed not just a youkai, but a Daiyoukai. It was something of interest to take note, but he still couldn't help what special abilities he might have inherited from his Daiyoukai bloodline, much less he further wondered what his mother's abilities were and what she looked like until she asked "I wonder... do you think there's a possibility we'll come across her?"

- Thoughts ran through his mind as he tried to imagine what kind of abilities his mother had, if she was as fierce and ferocious as he had heard of other powerful youkai he'd heard tales of as a kid, though these tales were often meant to instill a sense of fear and obedience among the children of the castle, there had to be some truth them as he'd just witnessed recently. When she asked if he thought there was a possibility that the two may eventually come across his mother, he perked up a little. Part of him yearning to know his mother and her love, but yet a dark question remained. 'Why had she never sought me out after all these years? Was I too impure to be wanted?' He'd only ever been told by his father it was for his own good, but he'd always questioned whether it was really because he was unwanted for being half blood. He didn't know that his father's words were true, but he had a hard time grasping the idea that she couldn't even come to visit him, even if she were married to another youkai lord. "I... I don't know... I've never really thought about it... If she is alive, then she's out there somewhere... But... why has she never sought me out?" -

"I really couldn't say since I only know what you've mentioned... But sometimes there's a reason why one might stay away or keep their head down..." such a deep thought for both to dwell on as the topic drifted into an inward pondering of each other's family. Mitsuyoshi didn't know very much about Koneko's history, but even from her response he picked up that her answer also may not have entirely been directed to him. "I've only been awake in this era for a day and I can already tell that the climate of this age is more turbulent than long ago. Then again, because of my Father's careful maneuvering, Nishino managed to dwell in peace, so perhaps the times haven't changed at all. Though... I can't help but feel that you may have had it much worse than I have." All in all, it seemed like from Koneko's persona, that he sensed that there was a reason she had become so strong and that in most circumstances when one becomes strong, it usually required a lot of suffering and silent pain and not just physical, something he felt like he could recognize in her and it is because of this, that he felt a kind of bond and mutual respect for her. 

"Sorry, perhaps that wasn't the greatest question to ask, I'll leave it be," Although the topic was just as much painful or troublesome for him, it was in her response that he found that it was likely equally so for her, and for her own reasons. Mitsuyoshi decided to agree with her and not press the topic further, as they were still new friends. In time if she felt comfortable, she'd speak of it when she was ready. Perhaps too, by asking why his mother had never tried to see him after all these years, it may have been a bit out of turn to expose such a sensitive topic.

As the topic shifted the mention of 'places youkai being more common' suddenly piqued his interest. "Places where youkai are more common? Do you mean... Like... Are there actual Youkai settlements?" He asked, although the thought dawned on him that there must be if his mother came from a land where there were Youkai Daimyo. "...Fascinating..." He muttered as he tried to imagine a town of youkai living together like a community. As she mentioned how intriguing humans could be, his mind began to wonder just how different the two worlds actually were. Having lived his entire life among Humans, living a life of comfort and enjoying the status of a Samurai, even if he was looked down upon as less than human by most of his counterparts. What then would the youkai world be like? It was certainly a new world to explore, even this world was something to explore. Having been forbidden to travel beyond the province, he'd only had the comfort of books and scrolls to give him an idea of what lay beyond out there. Mitsuyoshi was certainly looking forward to traveling with her. "In all your travels, what have you seen?"

[Koneko]

Koneko was mildly surprised to hear him say things were perhaps more turbulent, yet even she realized her mistake was trivial given she'd admitted absence and lack of knowledge. Though, even previous to it, the world she knew among youkai, while at times tumultuous, was still far different than her time among humans. She found the insight valuable given she was hiding among humans and having that further inside view would come in handy for them both. "Though... I can't help but feel that you may have had it much worse than I have." Her ear soon twitched as she caught what he said, the only tell that he was in fact picking up on things she'd decidedly left unsaid while the expression on her face remained as it had been before he asked, all before she'd slid out her apology. In the previous night she already knew she'd let a few things slip normally she'd never dream to say to someone she'd first met let alone even known for months at least, but, she was keen on avoiding having to say much more aside from deem-ably harmless knowledge. Plus, in her mind, it wouldn't be right to demand a heavier subject than need be of him if she herself wasn't so willing to divulge hard-to-say information about herself.

Grateful he seemed to have his interest piqued quickly as she mentioned worlds she was more familiar with, her rigidness seemed to thaw once again as if the uncomfortable subject never happened. "There are some settlements and those do bear some similarity to humans in ways. Many are comprised of youkai of the same kind in clans though perhaps more tightly woven communally than I've known humans to be when you do find them. Not all are welcoming to outsiders, but some are," the feline elaborated, glancing at the sake in her cup in thought. "However, individual youkai will sometimes gather for various reasons and there are rare places much like this inn to go to enjoy, though it tends to be more lively than in human ones I notice from the time's I've come across them, be it disagreements or a pleasant time."

Raising her cup for another sip, Koneko pondered his next question before answering. "Hmm, I suppose I've seen more than most my age would. The seas to the West, incredible cliffs standing alone among mountains and other steep ones leading right down to rivers winding through. So many areas covered in beautiful green foliage and vast bamboo forests. Then there were the grand human cities I came across, bustling with more humans than I could fathom, large statues and incredible buildings. I'd known even less about humans back then, so to think they could make such things like that was a shock. I even remember the food around those areas always smelled amazing, though I was hardly sure how to hide well among humans at the time, so I'd do my best to steal a taste if the opportunity arose." She paused to chuckle at the slight trouble she'd caused then, much more innocent than she'd become in the time after that, but forgivable she felt in wake of the fact she'd never have thoughts she'd get to try such tasty things any other way at the time, being little more than very young daiyoukai with nowhere to go and having to figure out what her place anymore was or how to survive by herself. "Probably better food than much I've eaten anytime recently. I've even come across a few kinds of creatures and youkai unlike anything I've ever seen around here. I lived a good portion of my life far away from my home land."

Making it as inconspicuous as possible, even in the recounting she told she was trimming details. As grand as the sights were and things she could say to play it up, it was a huge shift for her to have to figure out living entirely on her own without anyone to turn to as well as fear and rejection of her appearance around humans. She hadn't quite mastered disguising herself as she did now, but she eventually got away with it for short moments to snatch food and drink from human areas along with getting fairly good at finding ways to hide and keep out of sight - fitting for the tiger half of her blood. Yet even among those creatures she met, there were few who were all that kind to her given she was not only an outsider, but unusual to them as well. It was awhile after, when she had thought she'd found someone who did care, she'd found herself turned into something darker she'd avoid admitting to anyone at this point, being her main drive to be something better now and help humans she came across anymore if she could. "You could say I was gone so long I sometimes mix up my manners," she let out a cheery laugh once again.

[Taishou89]

"Fascinating..." He responded as she told of the Youkai clans and communities, that even youkai will gather and form commune. His mind wandered as he imagined a group of strange looking Youkai living together in a community.  Strange looking Women with long, almost eel or snake like necks, gossiping whilst going about their daily routines in the town, Samurai whose faces were much like a traditional Oni Mempo, but being their actual faces, Children with animal ears and tails or even fish scales running around playing together, Kappa ferrymen, Strange imp like Youkai vendors selling fish and other food items. As she mentioned that there were Youkai Inns, he imagined Youkai Hot spring Inns and various strange looking Youkai relaxing in the onsen.

Sipping his sake as her conversation moved onto her travels abroad, he was even more awestruck and almost choked on his sake. "You've been to the continent???" he asked as he leaned in to listen more intently. Listening to her describe the grand cities bustling with people, different types of foods, even the scenery of such a foreign land. His mind tried to imagine it being much like Japan but larger, but he never could have imagined how far off his imagination was. "Intriguing!" He'd only learned a bit about the continent, but only in reference. Living in isolation within the province, his only real source were the tale told by other travelers, books, or information from more scholarly men. He began to wonder if it would be possible to one day travel there and see these very things that Koneko mentioned. The world was indeed a lot larger and full of interesting things, things he hoped to see one day.

As their conversation continued and the night went on, he began to feel a bit drowsy, not a lot, but more noticeable to him than he had ever experienced. It couldn't have been the sake, he barely had enough to even come close to being intoxicated, especially as a Hanyou. He'd experienced being tired before to the point of passing out, but that was usually after a long and hard battle. Deciding to fight it a little more since the evening seemed young yet, a thought crossed his mind: 'It couldn't be the food could it?' as he looked to Koneko who seemed to be entirely fine. 'Nah...' It was then as he looked at her that he noticed a little spider on the floor next to her. "It seems... we're not.. the only ones escaping the weather." His speech seemed a little slower, but not quite slowed as he raised his hand and pointed to the little spider sitting next to her. To him felt like his mind had slowed down and from outward appearances one could have suspected that he may have had enough sake for the night. He certainly hoped he wasn't getting intoxicated from the sake, not only had he barely had enough of it, but even as a hanyou he expected to be able to handle it better than most humans, not to mention it would be terribly embarrassing if he couldn't hold his liquor.

His vision began to slow, as Koneko and the room began to trail in movement, and his head began to lightly ache. Mitsuyoshi gently raised his right his hand to his brow and gently massaged it as he shut his eyes, using his hand to shield. "Perhaps, I should turn in for the night... It has been quite a day ne?" He said as he attempted to rise to move over to his futon, before stumbling over on top of it face first. It must have looked somewhat funny to see it and if he wasn't so distracted, he probably would have felt a lot more embarrassed. Rolling over onto his back he removed his father's tanto from his obi and rested it next to his bedding. Still feeling the swirling and drowsy motions, it wouldn't take long for him to pass out, having left the blanket near where he sat by the irori.

[Koneko]

Having captivated him with what she had to say, Koneko was pleased to have brought the conversation back around to at least be outwardly more pleasant. She seemed to beam even a bit when he took great interest in her travels to the continent, feeling a rare sense of pride about it seeing him so enamored. Continuing to explain more about her travels that she could at least trim for the sake of at least keeping things that she felt should stay private as such, she then started to notice Mitsuyoshi trying to stave off some tiredness.

Starting to assume maybe the sake was just hitting him a little bit, she then caught what he was mentioning, noting his speech was a little slow. "It seems... we're not.. the only ones escaping the weather." Her eyes trailed over to next to her, seeing the little spider near her on the floor, placing her cup down so she could lean over slightly to start poking at it curiously. She almost seemed a transfixed on it, like she was pondering something as she nudged and watched it. "A little spider found it's way in here, huh?" Her tail swayed, a small instinct in her wanted to see it run so she could chase it, like that would give her a little thrill as she focused on it and shifted slightly. Though her ears twitched as she heard her friend speak again, now seeing him with his hand over his face. "Looks like turning in for you would be a good idea," Koneko said, holding back a giggle with a sly look on her face as she watched him get up and stumble to his futon, just managing to situate himself to sleep. She was convinced maybe the sake had suddenly hit him a little all at once, quietly chuckling to herself.

'Poor boy, guess it was a little more than he thought,' she deliberated to herself, picking her cup up once more and knocking back the rest of the sake in it so as not to waste any on her part. Focusing back to where the spider was, she'd noticed it moved, 'darn... I'll keep my eyes out, I really want it!' Disappointed the little cause of her instincts to play had wandered off, she opted to be at least somewhat responsible in lieu of her companion's sudden turn in stability, thinking maybe she'd tease him for it in the morning. Gathering anything for the food brought to them onto the tray, she moved it over towards the door and left it there so the old man wouldn't have to come in far to get it should they still be asleep. Then she made sure to cap off the rest of the sake and set their cups aside while placing the the jug itself back into the basket for safe keeping along with the scrolls at the top before grabbing the blanket abandoned by the irori and placing it over Mitsuyoshi.

Sweeping her eyes over the room for the spider once again, she caught a glimpse of it and leapt softly to pounce with both of her hands, intending to fulfill her sudden urge with the satisfaction of a catch. 'Drat, it's a fast little bugger,' she thought as she'd missed, trying to slap her hand down on it quietly as she could, though swatting to hard and accidentally squishing it instead. "Got it!" Koneko elated in a whisper, then a slight disappointment, "oh I squished-" Her mind cut her off statement, reasoning with herself, 'what's wrong with you?! You just had a nice dinner, you don't need to eat a spider too!' Finding a general cloth to wipe her hand, she sighed, glad her own instinctual behavior hadn't been seen, and moved to where the top half of her kimono was laid out to check how dry they were. Feeling at least her hadagi was not only dry, but very lightly toasty from the fire as well, she placed it back on with a pleased grin on her face and left the other half to finish air drying until morning. 'Perfect, just liked I'd hoped and I can have a little extra warmth under my blanket!'

Lastly putting out the flame in the center, the feline quickly scooted to her own futon and slid right under the blanket to preserve as much of the heat trapped in her hadagi as possible. "Aaa, that's nice she," whispered, curling onto her side with her tail tucked into herself and snuggling in to allow herself to slowly drift off. She shot one more contented smile over in her companion's direction, rather happy to know she was in good company before fully relaxing in her curled state.

[Taishou89]

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 Later that night, long after the two had gone to sleep, the shoji door to their room was quietly slid open revealing a shaodwy figure of a woman dressed in a black kimono with red and gold floral pattern slowly slipped in until her foot accidentally touched the tray and knocking over one of the bowls. A look of concern crossed her face as she bared her long fangs ready to leap on the occupants of the room if they suddenly woke, but noticing that neither had woken her fangs retracted. Carefully she removed the tray and set them outside on the walkway for the old man to gather later before slipping into the room and sliding the door closed to avoid letting the cold air in. A mist descending from within her kimono and blanketing the floor of the ground as she moved, almost gliding across the floor with no foot movement. It didn't take long for the entire floor to be filled with the intoxicating mist. "Mmmm two ronin in this room... and Fresh ronin from their looks, not those starved and impoverished ones... Much more delig-" The woman softly spoke, suddenly stopping when she noticed the appearances of these ronin. "Youkai?" She leaned in and sniffed the wolf first. "Half breed... I can smell the human in him... Not terribly bad looking either." The woman traced a long skinny and bony finger along Mitsuyoshi's face while he slept, gently caressing his hair and ears. "A special treat from normal human... My Miasma seems to be taking well with him."

She glided over to where the other slept. "This one is cute as well..." Until she noticed the Tiger's ears responding to her voice. It appeared that this one wasn't under the effects of her miasma. As she leaned in to sniff her scent. '... A powerful Youkai, I've never smelled this scent before... that explains why my miasma hasn't had an effect this one is strong.' she thought to herself as she held her bony hand out, wanting to touch the cute tiger's face but not daring to given the ineffectiveness of intoxicating miasma. '... It will take a little longer for it to work, but when he finally succumbs, he will provide me with a source of nourishment to last a month, nay several months if I don't over eat... Well, a girl's gotta watch her figure..' She smirked. Not only would a hanyou and a youkai last longer than a normal human, their own rich blood could enhance her own powers by consuming it. 'There's another guest staying at the Inn, a Human... He will provide me with what I need for tonight... and tomorrow night... I will have a feast to remember... Heh heh heh' a smirk crossed her face as she held her laugh within to avoid waking them.

Gliding across the floor she would silently exit exactly as she entered, this time careful to avoid the tray. With any luck if they did hear the noise earlier, they would have thought it was the old man retrieving the tray. Taking one last glance at her good fortune to have such fine stock of sustenance lately. First the rich merchant that passed through 3 days ago and a lesser monk yesterday, although he was not as tasty. Such was the life of simplicity and forsaking of the luxuries of the world, now she had a very powerful youkai, a hanyou, and a low ranking samurai traveling home from a funeral, at least the samurai was still in service and well fed and hopefully well marinated by the courtesy sake the old man had provided.

Gliding down the hall towards the Samurai's room, she entered much like did for Mitsuyoshi's and Koneko's room. Several minutes later she would emerge from the room and with the dozy samurai and proceed down the halls. "Yes my love... I've come to take you home..." She softly said as she walked with the warrior. His eyes were blank and his speech slurred as he spoke as if he were talking to his wife barely managing to say her name "A..suka..." As the woman placed a finger to his lips. "Shh, My dear... We don't want to wake the others..." As she led the drugged warrior down the hall to the stairs of the basement.

Down in her lair, she held the young warrior in her arms as she bound him in her silk nice and tight before pricking his neck with her claw and spitting over the small wound, her saliva would sober her prey help to sober her prey so that he could bear witness as she fed. She found them to be much more tasty when fear ran through them before she consumed their liquid life force. Her fangs extended and her eyes turned black with gold red irises as her kimono came undone and exposing her bare human chest but further more the arachnid like legs that extended out from her back and took hold of the samurai's face was left exposed.

 The young warrior would sober up just enough to see the horrific sight before him and just as he gasped and a bit of his scream got out, her fangs would sink into his neck, injecting a paralytic toxin that would prevent him from resisting, but also from screaming further, his scream fizzling out as his vocal chords were paralyzed. Releasing from her bite, she sat back to gaze into the helpless warrior's eyes. Normally she'd welcome their screams even for a brief moment, but she dared not wake the other guests, so she had to take the satisfaction of watching the terror in their eyes as the gazed upon her hideous sight before the time was right and enough fear had circulated when she went in for the final strike. Blood spurted out until her lips enclosed around the wound to prevent it from leaking as she sunk her fangs into his jugular artery and began her feast. "Mmmm" She moaned as the man's fear laden blood was drained from him. 

Come the next Morning, Mitsuyoshi would not wake like his normal body clock would usually do. Even when Koneko would wake before him, she would find it hard to wake him as well which would have been unusual since he was used to always being alert and waking at the slightest suspicious sound. When he did wake, however, he looked like he didn't sleep at all, ironic since he had slept for 90 years. "My head feels like a blacksmith has been working on it..." he complained as he rubbed his eyes. He'd never before experienced this and for the first time since he got sick as a child during his human annual, he felt terribly unwell. He had never before experienced this even when he was permitted to consume Sake by his brother, he'd never before experienced these kind of symptoms, further more the smell of the incense that originally permeated the premises, seemed stronger to him or at the very least his symptoms made it seem more noticeable and intolerable as he would fall back into his futon with a loud groan of misery.

[Koneko]

Waking with a fairly rested yawn by morning, Koneko stretched her back and arms out before sitting up and stretching her arms a bit more, a refreshed air emanating from her. "Ahhh, that was actually pretty nice," she commented, thinking Mitsuyoshi would be waking around that same time too if not already given his samurai training. Though the lack of response from him soon had her a little confused and concerned as she looked over at him. "Mitsuyoshi?" Noticing he didn't stir, she got up and moved over to him, shaking him lightly, "Oi, Mitsuyoshi? You alright?" Her mind started going over different scenarios of what might be wrong, vaguely remembering faint noises she'd heard last night, like a bowl tipping over, though, the tray was gone, so she simply assumed Mr. Kojiwaka had been awake enough yet to come pick up the tray and just moved wrong or jostled the try too much. A tiny panic was starting to come over her that there could have been something she'd not realized happened as it took a little bit more of nudging him before she finally got some responsiveness out of him, sighing in relief that he'd at least stirred.

As he woke, she saw the still exhausted look in his face, her worry-riddled thoughts soon soothed as she came to the conclusion perhaps he was a bit more intoxicated that they'd thought he'd gotten last night and he was just experiencing a hangover. "My head feels like a blacksmith has been working on it..." Giving him a little space to wake a bit more, she responded to him, "Looks like you had a little much last night, take it easy. I'll check how the weather is looking outside in a little bit, but I don't think it's too much trouble if we stick around another night even if the conditions outside have improved." Koneko could see just how awful he felt in his expression, though she really didn't suspect anything deeper as she remembered a handful of occasions she'd had opportunity to drink a little too much and paid for it the next day. "I'll see about getting some water to have around for you to drink, it should help, maybe either some of the provisions to eat or if we can have something brought in would be good for you too."

As it was, the feline didn't really mind tending to him as need be, especially if the weather was going to keep them stuck here it would at least keep her occupied in time she wasn't figuring out maybe what temple would be the first to check through. Getting up she retrieved the remaining piece of her kimono from where it had stayed to finish drying and replaced it on her person, making sure she looked well together before moving towards the door. Intentionally folding her ears back for a quick peek out, she slid the shoji door open just a crack at first to make sure no one was nearby, then slid it open a little more just to take a better look. Observing the rain and hail they'd encountered the day before had transformed to a thick snow over the course of the night, sliding the door back closed, she could say for certain they were going to be sticking around a little longer. Moving back to Mitsuyoshi, she knelt down and placed a hand on his shoulder to assure him as she spoke. "I'm going to go ask about what I mentioned, it snowed overnight and there's likely a little more on the way. Do you need anything else before I slide out for a moment?" He would be fine as far as she knew with what she'd figured was wrong, but anything she could do to at least leave him set to rest alright while she was out for the few moments to get things set to help him for the rest of the day.

[Taishou89]

"But, I didn't even drink that much..." Mitsuyoshi groaned as he lay back down and pulled the covers over his head. 'Ugh... Was it really the sake? It couldn't have been I probably didn't drink nearly half as much as I did the previous night.' Finally gathering enough courage and strength, he lowered the covers and tried to sit up. "I think that sounds marvelo-" He was caught off guard by the daylight shining through the open doorway, seemingly amplified by the white of the accumulation of snow outside. "Ack!" he threw the covers back over his head and lay back down huddled up. "Whhhyyy???" He groaned, having never felt this way before.


It wasn't long before he felt her presence next to him and her hand on his shoulder. "I'm going to go ask about what I mentioned, it snowed overnight and there's likely a little more on the way. Do you need anything else before I slide out for a moment?" she asked as he then peeled the covers back down to look at her. "medicine for a throbbing head?" He asked. His reactions may have seemed over dramatic or overreacting for a Hanyou, much less a Samurai at that, but Having almost never experienced such a literal pain in the head or the light headedness and nauseating feeling accompanying it, to him it felt like he were dying. As Koneko nodded "I'll see what I can find. Maybe old Toothless might have some kind of herbal remedy." He saw her smirk as he managed a chuckle. "Koneko?" he spoke as she got up to leave. "Please be gentle..." Mitsuyoshi pointed at the door before. Koneko turned back slightly to look at him, seeing his gesture towards the door. Smirking lightly, she replied, "I'll do my best." Continuing towards the door, she assumed her disguise and tried to slip out the door as slightly as possible as he'd requested.


As Koneko stepped out of the room, quickly exiting and shutting the door behind her so as to minimalize the amount of cold air and light that invaded the room, she'd bumped into a surprised Kojiwaka who had been walking down the hallway from the room of the other guest. Caught off guard, the old man had jumped, startled a bit by her. In his left hand he held a sword in it's sheath. "Oh! Good morning Kind sir, Keiji-dono right? I hope you and your companion had a well rested night." He gave a large toothless smile to her and bowed slightly. It would also be the first time that she would notice the smell of his breath, smelling of sour milk mixed with a copious amount incense as if he had eaten the ashes of the incense to add to the already permeating scent of it on him. "There seems to be more Snow on the way, I don't think it would be wise to depart so soon..." He spoke though his actions seemed a little questionable. Why did he have a sword and why did he behave as if he'd been caught doing something he shouldn't have. Seeming to pickup on her suspicions Mr. Kojiawaka spoke "... Unlike our other guest..." The old man held up the sword. "...It appears he left in the dead of night, but I can't imagine to where or why. He left all his belongings and even his sandals."

When Koneko would finally  get a chance to ask him, she'd ask him if there was a place to get some water near by. "Oh Yes, we have a small well just out back, if you don't mind waiting a little while I clean out the other room, I can come back and bring you some water." But his smell alone was enough for even a normal human to not want to have as much dealings with him in person. Koneko would turn him down as politely as she could before setting off to collect some water from the well. "Oh! You wouldn't happen to have any herbal remedies for a headache, would you?" She turned around to see the old man still standing there smiling at her oddly. "Unfortunately with all this snow, my herb garden is likely buried if not killed off, but it too would be in the back." Kojiawaka replied still gawking at her with his toothless smile. It seemed almost creepy and if she might not have known better, she would have suspected him of having some kind of perverse thoughts despite being disguised as a man. Not wanting to hang around for the old man to continued to stare or worse, start up another lengthy story of his life, she quickly made her way out behind the Inn to find the well. She would notice some strange things however, such as the lack of any foot prints in the snow that would have been made by the other guest had he left nor that the herb garden in back seemed to be abandoned and barren for a long while and not a single plant or bush was visible beneath the blanket of snow.

[Koneko]

Hand still on the door from sliding it closed as she noticed the old man, Koneko observed the oddities at the sight of him, her eyes narrowing on the sword before shifting her gaze to his face. Nodding once in confirmation of the question about her name was all she could muster at first form getting a decent blast of the rotten breath as the old man spoke, taking every ounce of her not to recoil from the hideous smell for her next response. "A-ah... Good morning, Mr. Kojiwaka, we rested fine, though I was to let you know we'd be staying an extra night as it was," she lied slightly, doing her best to keep her words short to be pleasant enough while also trying not to let on to too much of her sudden curious suspicions, "I appreciate the warning about the weather, though. I assure we aren't nearly as in a rush as the other guest."

"...It appears he left in the dead of night, but I can't imagine to where or why. He left all his belongings and even his sandals."

She considered his words again for a moment after she'd replied, eyes trailing over the sword again before staring at the old man. "As it was I was just interested in getting some water, I'm hoping you know where I might be able to draw some up," she asked, deciding to only ask about water at that moment with her growing concern something might be going on. As he offered to get the water himself, she refused the idea of having to smell his breath again any time soon if she could help it, "N-no, no thank you... I assure you I'll handle it myself just fine so you may carry on." Waving him off, she started to walk down the way he indicated before realizing one last thing she'd needed to ask. "Oh! You wouldn't happen to have any herbal remedies for a headache, would you?" The question was asked just before she turned back around, her eyes opening in slight surprise before narrowing again as she saw such an uncanny smile directed at her from the old man. It wasn't enough to scare her entirely, but it still unsettled her quite a bit as if he were perverse or just plain creepy, almost questioning if she'd actually disguised as a man despite knowing she must have from him having already addressed her as such from the start. "Souka... That's unfortunate, I'll be off for water then..."

Making her way towards the well as quickly as she could after that with a brisk walk before any further conversation could come of it, she swore she'd felt his eyes on her still until she was well out of sight. Taking a moment to sigh out relief, she then looked over the snowy ground, no foot prints visible and the garden seeming long dead despite the snow covering it. 'That other guest... It already didn't seem right a human would run off in this weather, especially without all his items, but there's no sign of anyone running off...' Koneko began thinking over everything she'd just bore witness to along with this new bit of oddity before leaving her own trail of footprints in the snow as she made her way to the well and drew up some water. 'The old man's breath... Had he been eating incense as well? I suppose he could be senile, but even that seems not quite right with how he was staring...' Gazing at her reflection in the water, she could visually confirm she did indeed look just as she'd expect to with her disguise intact. Her mind even considered that he'd seemed to be looking to convince them to stay over making sure everything was alright despite the initial wishing they'd slept well. "Something's wrong..." she whispered to herself quietly, an urgency washing over her to get back to the room as fast as possible and a hope she'd not left Mitsuyoshi alone too long.

With a bucket of water in hand, she made her way back to the room, about to jump right into the room before she paused. In all her urgency, she almost forgot about the request to be gentle about opening the door, and, now with the odd way the old man had been, she reasoned with herself she should be extra cautious on giving any indication there was something wrong with her friend. Softly opening the door enough to fit herself and the bucket barely through, she slid in and closed it behind her, moving further in next to Mitsuyoshi before dropping her masculine look. "How are you doing?" she asked, placing the water next to him and taking a moment to see how his condition was progressing herself while he answered. Then proceeding to give him the unfortunate bit of news before she'd mention the suspicious things she saw. "Regrettably it looks like toothless out there didn't have any herbs to help with a headache, but... it didn't seem like he's had any for awhile," she started, letting the concern in her thoughts show on her face, "the other guest seems to have... disappeared without much of a trace aside leaving his items. There's something wrong with the old geezer too, but I really can't place what it is yet, he's just... Eerie."

Shuddering slightly as a little bit of the fur on her tail stood up thinking about the stare he'd given her, she spoke up again. "Save your strength as much as you can and recover, I'll keep an eye out and we may just head out as soon as you're able, weather be damned. I can try warming a cloth for your head instead if you think it'll help ease your headache at least, but if you need anything, have me get it for you so you can just rest." With the amount Koneko was insisting he stay down and still, it was pretty clear she was at least slightly on edge and seeming to be more on-guard. A slight thought was even running through her his illness could have something to do with the place, but she couldn't be sure what would cause it or even how, given as even a half breed shouldn't be nearly as susceptible to things most humans were. She kept her hope and assumptions on it being a hangover yet, intent now on helping him recover so at worst, if there was a reason to concern, whatever was bringing them potential danger would have to face them both or they could just take off. Even if leaving in this weather would mean flying them both herself, that would be what it was, but she'd need him to at least be more upright and able so they could get down the road first and out of sight of the potential of stray eyes before even considering it. "The moment you're feeling like you might be able to travel, let me know. We'll figure out a plan to head out then..."

[Taishou89]

Fortunately he had his forearm resting across his eyes as he heard the door slide open so any light that might have pierced through the brief opening of the shoji door didn't affect him. "Regrettably it looks like toothless out there didn't have any herbs to help with a headache, but... it didn't seem like he's had any for awhile. The other guest seems to have... disappeared without much of a trace aside leaving his items. There's something wrong with the old geezer too, but I really can't place what it is yet, he's just... Eerie." He heard her say as he lowered his arm from his eyes and peeked at her. "He's probably just very awkward from being isolated out here in the mountains without much interaction..." Speaking as he forced himself to sit up so that he could drink some water. Massaging his temples the movement to sit up caused his head to throb more. 'Maybe it was the Sake and maybe I dehydrated my throat is feeling quite dry.' He thought as he noticed the feeling in the back of his throat.


Even with his head throbbing, he was able to pickup on the concern in her voice and it wasn't hard to tell that something unnerved her other than the old man. Under normal circumstances, he might have even felt the same unease about things, but he just couldn't focus. "Ugh...." He groaned as palmed his forehead in frustration, but quickly regretted doing so soon after. "Ow... That was foolish." He cursed as he resumed rubbing his temples. 'The other guest... vanished?' but even thinking seemed to have become painful. He beckoned to Koneko to bring the bucket of water and as she did, he hung his face over it and scooped some water up with his hands and drank, after drinking he then dipped his hand back into the water and brought it up and splashed some of the ice cold water on his face and rubbed his eyes. "Gah!" the shock of the ice water was a surprise, but it did offer some very brief relief as he tried to remedy his ailment. Grabbing his Father's Tanto beside his futon, he stuffed it under his Obi to keep it close if he needed it as Koneko's unease was convincing enough. "If your instincts tell you that something is amiss, then perhaps we should de- Ahhh!" he suddenly recoiled backwards and off his left hand propping him up. Looking down to where it was previously, was a spider not unlike the one last night and to him, probably the very same one. "Grrr!" Frustrated by his throbbing head, feeling helpless, and now being bitten by a spider he brought his right hand down and smashed the spider in rage. 

As he looked to the back of his left hand and began to rub where it had bit him the area around the bite began to swell and redden. "Stupid Spider..." He grumbled. He did not like feeling like this, he did not like feeling helpless, and he especially felt frustrated that he couldn't even sense the spider had crawled onto the back of his hand. Now he had to deal with a throbbing head and a spider bite, that was probably harmless given his hanyou abilities, but still caused him much frustration and misery. The scowl he wore at present would have only deepened if he had realized that he was blushing from embarrassment of being so vulnerable and inept. 'This is truly unbecoming of a warrior...' He grumbled to himself in thought. Little did either of them know that the little spider was no coincidence nor that the timing of it's bite would have occurred just as Mitsuyoshi was about to mention that they should depart regardless of his condition. Seeming to have suddenly calmed down a bit he spoke "Maybe the other guest felt just didn't like the old man's breath." He said as he laid back down again, feeling suddenly a little more drowsy "... I think I'm going to sleep a little more..." as he drifted off to sleep again. Meanwhile In the basement of the Inn, a voice spoke having just witnessed the death of the little spider "My my what a temper... but spirited heh heh heh" 

[Koneko]

As her concerns were given a little bit of alternative push back, a little extra deliberation went on in the feline's mind. 'Could he really have just been awkward from loneliness? That stare and the smell incense on his breath though... Unless he has a secret yearning for men, I can't shake something being very wrong about him.' Koneko solidified to herself something wasn't adding up, then she noted the additional sounds and groans her companion made in attempt to do something she couldn't quite grasp had her looking at him with a different concern that he might be a bit more of a danger to his own well-being at times. Her ears perked as he began speaking a thought, but soon her look changed to that of slight shock and concern as he jumped and reacted to being bitten by a spider and killing it in a stint of frustration. 'Another? I killed the one last night, and it wouldn't necessarily be unusual for there to be more, but...' She couldn't help a growing concern that everything wasn't as separated as it seemed, yet there wasn't enough for her to really grasp what had been going on or even say outright even this second spider was little more than a coincidence among bigger issues with the old man, suspecting he was behind the oddities.

Yet, seeing the embarrassed blush across her friend's face at least lightened her thoughts for a moment, keeping her grin only slight as she didn't want to mention it and bring him further frustrations given he'd blatantly been irritated feeling so awful and, not to mention, it seemed like the bad luck was stacking on him suddenly since the night before. The grin on her face ebbed slightly as Mitsuyoshi suddenly suggested that perhaps it was just that the other guest didn't like the old man's breath, knowing that couldn't be it with there being no footprints, but chocked the comment up to the fact he seemed to have been hit with a tired spell, which wasn't necessarily a bad thing for him in his state. "Go ahead and get some extra rest, you need it. I'll keep watch." After he'd passed out, Koneko moved to pull the blanket back over top of him, trying to at least keep him insulated. The room had held the heat decently well, but, with the snow blanketing the outside now, she knew she'd have to take advantage of the irori in the near future just to make sure she kept it comfortable for them both.

Now that he was asleep, the feline mainly held her guard while glancing over the scrolls quick to determine the first location they should head towards. Picking out a couple locations to determine with him sometime after her companion would be more capably upright, it was at least something to put her mind at ease for a direction to go once they were ready to get out of here, however that would come to happen anyways. Though, after a short while, she felt herself getting restless, never exactly having been the kind to entirely just wait for danger to drop into her lap, and with the few inconsistencies on her mind bugging her... Glancing back at her companion, he was the reason she felt hesitant to leave the room outright and attempt to slake her curiosity and need to know just what was going on in this place. 'He'll probably be alright, but I'm concerned about risking too much. Then again, if I have my eyes on the creepy geezer, there might not be reason for worry,' she started working it out in her head, then considering with some detest, 'then again, if he's in my sight, that likely means talking to him and smelling that atrocious breath again...' It was a bit of a tough choice in what to do, the tip of her tail flitting about as she could tell she was already in a slight hard spot with the circumstances.

Standing and heading towards the door, Koneko just stood there a short distance in front of it, her mind determining she should at least snoop around a bit further, but the rest of her not wanting to leave the room knowing what she'd be putting up with and that she'd be leaving Mitsuyoshi wide open. She finally came to a middle ground thought with herself: she could check if the old man was in the immediate area and, if not, she might be able to listen out for him to be in that other room the last guest had been in. If he wasn't there, she might be able to slip in quick and check for anything that stuck out as a clue to what their 'generous' host was up to. That way she wouldn't be far from her companion and could keep her time out of the room short, plus, at worst, it would let her at least feel like she'd tried to do something to stay ahead of whatever may lie in wait for them. She placed her hand on the door, assuming her disguise with her mind made up, and quickly slid through to the other side, glancing around first as she quickly slid it shut again behind her, then keeping alert for anything around her as she chanced shuffling off towards the other guest's room.

[Taishou89]

As Koneko would sneak into the other guest's room, almost immediately her nose would be assaulted by the strong smell of fresh incense and a faint musty, almost earthy kind of smell. If she were to touch the floor with her hands or even her bare feet she would almost immediately notice a fine layer of some kind of dust or residue, she wouldn't know it then, but it was remnants of the woman's miasma. As she entered deeper into the room, she would find that the old man had yet to actually clean the place, despite saying he would have. Next to the irori sat a similar tray with used dishes, much like their own the night before, remained along with the remnants of the food that was in them.

On the floor directly next to the man's bedding lay the remains of a smashed spider, and the samurai's tanto poking out from under the covers. What ever occurred here was indeed strange, as the man who supposedly left in the middle of the night barefoot and without his sword, left even his tanto. What warrior would depart completely unarmed in the middle of the night? Stranger still, what man would leave with out his coin purse? as the man's coin purse lay next to his bedding as well. Now, because of the strong scent permeating and contaminating the room, she would not be able to smell the traces of the man or be able to track his scent if she wanted to. It was indeed a strange situation.


As Mitsuyoshi slept, a very faint feminine voice called to him in his dreams. "Mitsuyoshi-dono..." In his dream he was standing in the middle of the Garden at Nishino castle on a summer day, the sound of cicadas singing their song. Turning around to face the direction of the voice, he found no one. "Ayame? Is that you?" he called out, confused by the circumstances. "Mitsuyoshi..." The voice called from the direction opposite of him again, but this time it sounded very much like his wife and he spun around straining his eyes to try and find it's owner, but nowhere to be found. "Ayame, Where are you?" he called out again as he began to run through the garden searching for her. "Ayame!?" he called a 3rd time. "I'm right here silly." The voice came from directly behind him. As he spun around he found her sitting right there on the grass where he had just passed. "Ayame!" He dropped down before her and grasped her, pulling his beloved wife into desperate and strong embrace. Tears welled in his eyes, causing him to promptly shut them as he held the young woman. "I thought I lost you." For a dream the feeling was real enough, he could feel the summer heat and the warmth she emitted, the very fabric of her cotton summer kimono, and her soft skin.

Stunned, she wrapped her arms around him and returned his embrace. "Ehh?! Why would you think that?" She asked eager to know what troubled him. "Nevermind, it's nothing... I'm just glad to be here with you." He spoke as he held her tightly not wanting to let go over her. Her hand reached up to comfort and ease his anxiety by petting him on the head and gently massaging and scratching behind his ears as they remained together. It always did seem to have that calming effect for him, and there were only few people whom he would allow to do it, much less allow to see his puppy like reactions as he nuzzled into her hand and playfully nip at her hand as she ran it down the side of his face.

Suddenly she stopped and recoiled as if something had happened. "What's wrong Ayame?" his ears bent back low in worry, as he pulled back from their embrace to see what was wrong. Her eyes were wide open and small pin prick of a wound suddenly appeared on her neck and dribbled blood. Whimpering like a wolf as the terrible memory was rudely disrupting the moment. As she gasped for air, her body began to convulse. "No! Ayame!" He cried out as her body suddenly went limp in his arms. "Ayame! Ayaame!" He cried out in his dreams, not knowing that his whimpers and calling out to her was occurring in the real world. Her body suddenly rapidly decayed horrifically in his arms, quickly the flesh rotted away and turned to bones, before the bones themselves collapsed and turned to dust and ash, smelling of incense. Outside, footsteps approached from the office of the Inn Keeper, it was Mr. Kojiwaka. Lured by the sounds of Mitsuyoshi calling out to Ayame, he made his way down the hallway. As he approached if Koneko were to emerge in time, she would see the old a light trail of smoke from the old man as he walked down the halls directly to their room, it would be up to her to intercede before he got to their room and discovered Mitsuyoshi's ears. 

[Koneko]

Koneko glanced around the other guest's room, noticing how strange it all was from the fact alone it hadn't been cleaned as the old man had said, but the small kicking of dust, the smells, even the remnants of a meal and the weapons and money left behind. Then her eyes focused on the squashed spider - it couldn't be a coincidence anymore, that was the third, similar spider. She grit her teeth: it was becoming clear this place might be a trap of some kind, and now she began to suspect their 'kind and lonely' inn keeper was perhaps not nearly as human as he seemed. 'Damn it... As long as I'm imposing enough I doubt he'll strike, but I shouldn't leave-'

If her ears had been visible, they would have undoubtedly been seen swiveling to better hear Mitsuyoshi's cries, yet even in disguise her hearing was unhindered. '!!! Who is... No that doesn't matter! I need to get back and make sure he's okay with the state he's in. I have to keep the geezer away at all costs!' Quickly she slid out of the room and nearly broke into a sprint down the way to their room. 'Damn it! He's just about there!' The feline thought desperately, trying to hide the concern on her with a stoic look as she noticed the smoke coming from him. Just as he was reaching to open the door and beginning to slide it open, her hand grabbed out and held it in place, preventing him from opening it further and pulled it closed. Now it was up to her to think on the fly, to drive him off and keep him away.

Letting her male look tower over him with a slight menacing aura, Koneko attempted to keep her tongue even and only use her imposing presence to make him back away from the room. "Ah, my apologies for the sound of my companion, Mr. Kojiwaka. He decided to take a nap, but he is occasionally subject to night terrors that overwhelm him. I would have kept him eased, but I had a call of nature to heed in a more private place," she began weaving the tale on the fly, attempting to dismiss where she'd been and explain away the sounds and calls coming from Mitsuyoshi. Now she just needed a threat to spin on top of it to make him really back away aside from her own defensive aura, "It would be best to let me tend to him, I'm afraid. These terrors could cause him to lash and harm anyone who wakes him that he is unfamiliar with. I apologize again for the racket, I will ease him." Holding firm and staring him down, her hand never left holding the door in place despite giving a slight bow of her head as if apologizing and she herself refused to move until he backed away no matter how long it would take for him to turn tail.

Once she'd backed him off, she waited until he was well out of sight before going into the room herself, the amount she was on guard had only increased from all she'd been witnessing around them. Even on entering the room, she slipped in and shut the door behind her quickly, not even bothering with dropping her disguise at this point as she made her way to the hanyou quickly, seeing he was in fact tossing shifting and crying out in his sleep. Using one hand to shake him, she placed the other on his face in hopes to assure him it was her presence next to him should he wake from her attempts. "Mitsuyoshi! Mitsuyoshi wake up!!" she called in an urgent yet hushed voice, "please wake up! Are you alright?!" From all his fidgeting and crying out, she was worried her decision to step out temporarily had endangered him and that something else had happened while she'd been away. Yet, aside from all his shifting about, he seemed mostly untouched and she'd stopped the innkeeper from making his way in, so she tried to convince herself he was fine and it was perhaps just a bad dream.